BleedGopher
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per Marcus:
There could be a different Gophers backcourt rotation forming than the one we saw for the first 13 games — the one we saw before their biggest victory of the season.
It’s been no secret Richard Pitino has been frustrated with the inconsistency of Isaiah Washington. The coach didn’t let that hold the Gophers back, turning point guard over to Amir Coffey. The junior quickly grew into the role and now leads the Big Ten in scoring in conference play at 24 points per game.
Washington, a four-star recruit from New York City, went from being Coffey’s backup to not playing at all in Thursday’s road victory over then-No. 22 Wisconsin, the Gophers’ first in Madison since 2009. So does that mean Washington rarely sees the court moving forward?
“It’s not like he’s being buried on the bench,” Pitino said. “That doesn’t mean Isaiah is not going to play anymore.”
The backcourt of Coffey, senior Dupree McBrayer and freshman Gabe Kalscheur worked well against the Badgers, though, and graduate transfer Brock Stull was the main spark off the bench. We will see if Pitino sticks with this rotation Tuesday, when Maryland visits Williams Arena.
You could make the case the Gophers (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) played better without Washington, especially defensively. Still, Pitino has to decide if the 6-1 sophomore’s playmaking ability — last month he had 22 assists in a two-game span — is worth more than having Stull’s maturity and experience on the floor.
“If [Stull’s] playing well, it’s very hard to play 9-10 guys,” Pitino said. “I thought he was adjusting well throughout the course of the game. I thought the game fit him. That’s why Isaiah didn’t play.”
http://www.startribune.com/brock-stull-might-get-more-chances-to-provide-gophers-a-boost/504029952/
Go Gophers!!
There could be a different Gophers backcourt rotation forming than the one we saw for the first 13 games — the one we saw before their biggest victory of the season.
It’s been no secret Richard Pitino has been frustrated with the inconsistency of Isaiah Washington. The coach didn’t let that hold the Gophers back, turning point guard over to Amir Coffey. The junior quickly grew into the role and now leads the Big Ten in scoring in conference play at 24 points per game.
Washington, a four-star recruit from New York City, went from being Coffey’s backup to not playing at all in Thursday’s road victory over then-No. 22 Wisconsin, the Gophers’ first in Madison since 2009. So does that mean Washington rarely sees the court moving forward?
“It’s not like he’s being buried on the bench,” Pitino said. “That doesn’t mean Isaiah is not going to play anymore.”
The backcourt of Coffey, senior Dupree McBrayer and freshman Gabe Kalscheur worked well against the Badgers, though, and graduate transfer Brock Stull was the main spark off the bench. We will see if Pitino sticks with this rotation Tuesday, when Maryland visits Williams Arena.
You could make the case the Gophers (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) played better without Washington, especially defensively. Still, Pitino has to decide if the 6-1 sophomore’s playmaking ability — last month he had 22 assists in a two-game span — is worth more than having Stull’s maturity and experience on the floor.
“If [Stull’s] playing well, it’s very hard to play 9-10 guys,” Pitino said. “I thought he was adjusting well throughout the course of the game. I thought the game fit him. That’s why Isaiah didn’t play.”
http://www.startribune.com/brock-stull-might-get-more-chances-to-provide-gophers-a-boost/504029952/
Go Gophers!!
