BleedGopher
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per Amelia:
Already Minnesota has seen big improvement from the Mali native, who averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.9 minutes a game on the year.
Konate kicked up his point total from 1.9 points in the first 19 games to 2.7 in his final 13 (he sat out eight games in all) and had four or more rebounds in a game six times throughout the year. Perhaps most notably, the African recruit looked much more at home on the court as the year went on. His defense improved, he developed a knack for grabbing rebounds out of his area, and his post moves began to really take shape.
“The biggest thing is foul trouble,” Pitino said. “That’s something we saw him get into a lot, so we’re working hard on him playing one-on-one and not fouling, and him being able to operate while guys are in his lap and coming around, slapping down.”
The good news? While Pitino can expect his young center to have plenty of challenges in the rugged Big Ten, for now, Konate appears to be absorbing his lessons quickly and impressively.
“If you saw him in an individual instruction without defense, you’d be blown away,” Pitino said. “You’d say this guy is going to be a pro. Now, you throw people around him slapping at him, fouling him, crowding him, that’s where he needs to operate.”
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/300667401.html
Go Gophers!!
Already Minnesota has seen big improvement from the Mali native, who averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.9 minutes a game on the year.
Konate kicked up his point total from 1.9 points in the first 19 games to 2.7 in his final 13 (he sat out eight games in all) and had four or more rebounds in a game six times throughout the year. Perhaps most notably, the African recruit looked much more at home on the court as the year went on. His defense improved, he developed a knack for grabbing rebounds out of his area, and his post moves began to really take shape.
“The biggest thing is foul trouble,” Pitino said. “That’s something we saw him get into a lot, so we’re working hard on him playing one-on-one and not fouling, and him being able to operate while guys are in his lap and coming around, slapping down.”
The good news? While Pitino can expect his young center to have plenty of challenges in the rugged Big Ten, for now, Konate appears to be absorbing his lessons quickly and impressively.
“If you saw him in an individual instruction without defense, you’d be blown away,” Pitino said. “You’d say this guy is going to be a pro. Now, you throw people around him slapping at him, fouling him, crowding him, that’s where he needs to operate.”
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/300667401.html
Go Gophers!!