Pitino on Sports Huddle 10-21-18

Gopher Basketball coach Rich Pitino was on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio on Sunday.

Bullet points:

--closed scrimmage gave both teams an opportunity to look at different lineups. not trying to win. Liked it - thought it was beneficial. thinks you get more out of a scrimmage than you do from exhibition games. Thinks the Gophers are ahead of where they were at the same time last year.

--(rules of scrimmage) not allowed to publicize it, or open it to spectators.

--(how did Curry look). Curry, DuPree, Amir, Oturu all got good minutes. Curry was on a 20-minute limit. moved well. He does so many little things to help team.

-- (plan for Washington). team has options at point. Started Amir in scrimmage. Like players with versatility. Washington is really talented on offense, with passing and pushing ball up court. His defense has to catch up to his offense. He's growing and maturing. Needs to keep working in practice.

-- (Gabe K) Gabe is a no-nonsense player. Comes in 30 minutes before practice starts to put up shots and work on his game. Defensively very good. limits his mistakes. very impressed. Gabe, Jarvis, Daniel will be very good FR class.

-- promotes Coaches versus Cancer fund-raiser coming up at Interlachen golf course.

(asked if basketball should have red-shirt rule like football) -- I think the NCAA got that right. It would benefit certain guys.

I can believe, to some extent, that the Gophers are ahead of where they were last year at this time because last year at this time Pitino had to be thinking "What are we going to do when we have to go to the bench?"