Shama: Pitino to Face another Prove-It Year

per Shama:

The Gophers 11-7 league mark and overall 24-10 record resulted in an invitation to the NCAA Tournament—only the fifth for the program in the last 17 years. The turnaround season was reportedly the best among NCAA teams. This month brought a wall-full of awards from the Big Ten, with Pitino honored as coach of the year and four players recognized for their achievements.

But a year from now Gophers fans will feel down if the team isn’t turning in a report card at least equal to this season. Give the Gophers a B+ or A- for their work in 2016-2017, but ambitions need to go beyond one season, and target success next year and for those following.

The standard for consistency is right next door—just four-plus hours away by car. In Madison there is no doubt each year the Badgers are going to have a winning record, be in the mix for the conference championship, and spend March competing in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers have finished fourth or higher in the league standings every season since 2001-2002.

It appears the Gophers have the coaches and players to be better next season. The nucleus is even present to create optimism about the team two years from now. Pitino, 35, is still the youngest head coach in power-five college basketball. He has experienced highs and lows in four seasons at Minnesota but has been here long enough now to put a program in place that should annually be consistent and successful.

Pitino made a smart move when during the last offseason he hired former Tulane head coach Ed Conroy, 50, as one of his assistants. Conroy has been a college coach, either as an assistant or head man, since 1990. His presence and experience complements Pitino and the rest of the staff including East Coast recruiting specialist Kimani Young.

Pitino used an eight-player rotation this season and all of those players return next season except for senior guard Akeem Springs who was the team’s fourth leading scorer. That scoring absence could be filled and then some by incoming freshman guard Isaiah “Jelly” Washington, a flashy point producer and playmaker. Close observers will watch to see how the four-star player from New York City fits in with his teammates.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!

On a slow day, I clicked this article. Put me in the Shama is an idiot category. Who reads this stuff without it being listed in high class places like this?

He suggests Coffey might be most valuable coming off the bench next year.

He trashes the three point defense without acknowledging that they were top 20 or 30 in the country in three point defense. His sample size is the last two games "exposing" the three point defense. How about the challenge of replacing your best on ball defender in those last two games? Three point defense was directly related to foul trouble on the inside players.

I wonder if the guy even attends any games, or just spews his editorials by looking at a box score or chatting with a neighbor who goes to a few games.

He won't make the list of "best takes on Gopher basketball" in the local media.

His headline premise was correct, though. With increased expectations next year, a lot changes and it will be a test for Coach Pitino.

Every year is prove it regardless of the sport.

Madison is 4 plus hours away? I make it to downtown Chicago in 5.5 hours from Minneapolis.

Someone asked who is the worst columnist in this town a couple weeks ago.

Shama should've been top dog on that list.

The premise is correct though. Michael Rand Star Tribune wrote a very similar article in Star Trib. I'd link but I'm outta free links. Think about teams who are champions and how difficult it is to repeat....doesn't happen very often. KC Royals baseball were gonna be a dynasty...floundered. Wisconsin has been amazing...that's not easy to do in any league let alone the Big Ten. Look at Indiana and Ohio St in basketball...they seem to get the guys but they are all over in the standings. Tons of examples. Next year as a coach will definitely be harder than this year for Pitino. This year was easy. Nobody had ANY expectations. Next year most people agree we should be a top 3 Big Ten team. Great year this year!!! Lot harder to get to the same place next year. Hopefully, his dad and Billy Donovan taught him the formula...because most people don't know it. Richard, however has two of the very best mentors for just this very situation.

Not a prove it year. I'd call it a no turning back or fall back year.


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#coacheslivesmatter

Big difference will be level of expectations. Going into this season, a lot of people would have been happy with a .500 or better record. IMHO, the Gophers exceeded most people's expectations with a winning B1G record and a #5 seed (deserved or not) in the NCAA tournament.

But, the new question becomes - what will the expectations be for next year? I have heard pundits suggesting the Gophers could be the pre-season favorite to win the B1G title and make a real run in the NCAA tournament. Let's say they go out in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney next year - would that be a disappointment - for some people, definitely.

Among all of the stupidity in that article, Pitino is 34, not 35. I guess Shama must've fired his fact-checker.

60's Guy said:

The premise is correct though. Michael Rand Star Tribune wrote a very similar article in Star Trib. I'd link but I'm outta free links. Think about teams who are champions and how difficult it is to repeat....doesn't happen very often. KC Royals baseball were gonna be a dynasty...floundered. Wisconsin has been amazing...that's not easy to do in any league let alone the Big Ten. Look at Indiana and Ohio St in basketball...they seem to get the guys but they are all over in the standings. Tons of examples. Next year as a coach will definitely be harder than this year for Pitino. This year was easy. Nobody had ANY expectations. Next year most people agree we should be a top 3 Big Ten team. Great year this year!!! Lot harder to get to the same place next year. Hopefully, his dad and Billy Donovan taught him the formula...because most people don't know it. Richard, however has two of the very best mentors for just this very situation.

Click to expand...

This year was not easy. Had to win back a fan base, change the public perception of the program, get 5 new guys in rotation to gel, and all this while knowing the head coach had this year to get something done or would be out the door. Yes, expectations were low but every step along the way they were toeing the line of losing all of us to some extent. Now next year provides new challenges with the level of expectations being raised. Just another step in building this program.


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He really suggested Coffey should come off the bench?

Think I'll pass on this opinion piece.

Coffey will be Gophers' most talented and best player next season.

short ornery norwegian said:

Big difference will be level of expectations. Going into this season, a lot of people would have been happy with a .500 or better record. IMHO, the Gophers exceeded most people's expectations with a winning B1G record and a #5 seed (deserved or not) in the NCAA tournament.

But, the new question becomes - what will the expectations be for next year? I have heard pundits suggesting the Gophers could be the pre-season favorite to win the B1G title and make a real run in the NCAA tournament. Let's say they go out in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney next year - would that be a disappointment - for some people, definitely.

Click to expand...

Expectations for next year should be sky high. This team proved they could play with pretty much everyone this year and basically the entire team is back next year plus the addition of some promising young players as well. We are not used to having front runners around here in basketball or football recently but baring catastrophic injuries or off the court issues there is no reason why this team should not be in the mix for the Big Ten Title next season.

A first round loss in the NCAA next year would probably be a disappointment however much of that also hinges on matchups. But if this team is not seriously in the mix for the Big Ten title next year I really don't know how anyone could not be disappointed. This year's squad may have preformed better then most (myself included) expected, but now that they have shown what they are capable of expectations absolutely should go up for next year given that basically the entire roster is back.