Italy Trip 2018

Ignatius L Hoops

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https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...-gophers-headed-to-italy-for-trip-abroad.aspx

For just the second time in program history, the Minnesota women's basketball team is embarking on a foreign trip as it is scheduled to travel to Italy, August 8-16.

The team will depart for Rome on Wednesday, August 8 with its first game taking place on Friday evening. In between, planned highlights include a walking tour of local sights and a visit to Vatican City.

Saturday's schedule includes a tour of the Colosseum before traveling to Florence where the team will face German squad TK Hannover Sunday night. While in Florence, the Gophers are also planning to see the Accademia Gallery which is home to Michelangelo's "David."

The final stop on the trip has the squad travel to Venice on Tuesday for a matchup with Italian Select that night. The team will then have one final day in Venice on Wednesday before returning to the United States on Thursday.
 

Sweet!! Build that team chemistry. Not really sure why it has taken so long for the program to go on these foreign trips. I look at it as a way for teams to develop a bond for each other. Lay the foundation for the program. Good luck, ladies and have fun.
 

So Lindsay Whalen will miss the trip.
 


This is a shame:

Minnesota Lynx fans who saw the news Wednesday about the Gophers women’s basketball team traveling to Italy later this month probably had some instant questions about their favorite point guard.

Lindsay Whalen, pulling some historic double duty as Lynx point guard and Gophers coach, will not be joining her new team on the Aug. 8-16 trip overseas. The trip was scheduled under previous coach Marlene Stollings.

Whalen and the Lynx have three games during that time (Aug. 9, 12 and 14), and one on both ends: Aug. 7 and Aug. 17. The Lynx have just one more regular-season game after the 17th as well (finale is the 19th). Impossible timing for a nine-day work trip away from a team battling for a WNBA playoff seed.

The Gophers are headed overseas for exhibition games and practices. They’ll visit Rome and play games in Venice and Florence.

http://www.startribune.com/lindsay-...ing-lynx-while-gophers-go-overseas/489824661/

Go Gophers!!
 


The Gophers are leaving in less than a week, and still no new players listed on the roster.

Even softball have the freshman listed (no numbers or bios yet).
 

There are three stories on gophersports.com about incoming freshman that you can view. So, while the roster isn't updated, they are certainly here and hard at work. They have also appeared at the two Lynx games I've seen the team attend.

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...l-introducing-delaynie-byrne.aspx?path=wbball

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...introducing-mercedes-staples.aspx?path=wbball

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...ing-houlfat-happy-mahouchiza.aspx?path=wbball

As an international player, Tomancova can't "start" with the team until school starts in September, so I wouldn't expect a similar introductory story until then.
 

The Gophers are leaving in less than a week, and still no new players listed on the roster.

Even softball have the freshman listed (no numbers or bios yet).

Yes I find it a little odd. I think the Gophers and Ohio State are the only B1G teams not to have updated rosters. And another minor note: on the Minnesota WBB twitter head I think we've welcomed coach Whalen long enough. I'd like to see the players featured again.
 

Will the entire coaching staff including the trainer and DOBO go on the trip minus Lindsay Whalen?
 




It is too bad that Whalen can't make the trip with the team. I understand the NCAA allow teams to go overseas and play every four years. That will be the next opportunity that Whalen has to be with the team.

Will this be another reason for her to consider retiring from the Lynx? She is almost a second coach on the floor is probably why Reeve wanted her to reconsider retiring this year.
 

It is too bad that Whalen can't make the trip with the team. I understand the NCAA allow teams to go overseas and play every four years. That will be the next opportunity that Whalen has to be with the team.

Will this be another reason for her to consider retiring from the Lynx? She is almost a second coach on the floor is probably why Reeve wanted her to reconsider retiring this year.

Does she need another reason? I think its pretty obvious this will be her last year, theres just not much left in the tank.
 

Michael Jordan played in his last season of pro basketball in 1995 at age 32.

Whalen turned 36 this year. Her playing this season is fulfilling a request by Cheryl Reeve not to hang it up this season. You can see a drop off in her playing compared to two years ago.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/w/whaleli01w.html

She'll have a nice segue and adjustment this season transitioning into her new role as a coach.
 



I so agree. Watching the games lately, you can see little signs here and there that the drive is there. Just not much left in the legs.
 

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Rosters been updated and its exactly what everyone expected.
 

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Minnesota volleyball asks:
 

Lamke looks at least a foot off the ground in that one shot. If she’s in shape, that would be an unexpected bonus.
 

Lamke looks at least a foot off the ground in that one shot. If she’s in shape, that would be an unexpected bonus.

Remember this from early July:

https://lacrossetribune.com/sports/...cle_c5fcac17-c734-5e07-b5cf-73c005064e47.html


Lamke didn’t play much in Minnesota’s successful journey that ended in the NCAA Tournament last season, but her senior season may be different.

“There’s no one else on our roster like Annalese and I think she sees that,” O’Banion said. “She sees herself as a senior to really make the impact that she hoped she could.”

O’Banion says that Lamke has lost 10 pounds since the Gophers’ season ended, which has helped with her mobility.
 


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Game 1 is at 11:30 AM CDT.

Hopefully the SID over there will have a game report up by 2:30.
 

Halftime of first game, Gophers up 37 to 25

-Pitts has 12 points
-Taiye has 7
-Lamke has 6
-Brunson and Hubbard each have 5

-interesting that there has been no mention of Bell in stats or today's photos but she was in first day photos/video.
 

-interesting that there has been no mention of Bell in stats or today's photos but she was in first day photos/video.[/QUOTE]

Liam Nieson is looking into her disappearance.
 


Arkansas played the same team yesterday and needed a late comeback to win 67-59, and dayton played them the day before and won 53-50, so seems like a solid game without Bell.
 
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From the highlight video Carly Thibault-Dudonis tweeted, Bell and Mahouchiza were at game but both not in uniform.
 

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The above referenced video:
 

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...gophers-open-italian-tour-with-69-43-win.aspx

The offense has some "new structure". Destiny with 5 threes.

"It was exciting to see some of the things that they've been working on happen in a game environment, and it was encouraging to see us make some in-game adjustments," O'Banion said.

"I thought the scoring was good," she added. "This team has never been shy about offense, and it was good to see it tonight within some new structure. It was a little more evenly distributed, I thought."

Sophomore Destiny Pitts was one of three Gophers to reach double figures, leading the team with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Junior Taiye Bello finished with 13 points, while senior Annalese Lamke added 12 to join Pitts in reaching double digits.
 




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