DM Register: Former U of L Cardinal Matz Stockman finds his groove with Minnesota

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per the Des Moines Register:

Richard Pitino was asked all the Rick Pitino/Louisville questions you’d expect during the Minnesota head coach’s press conference Wednesday at the NCAA Tournament.

He gave many of the answers you’d expect, too.

There was an interesting nugget, though. During their conversations leading up to this week, Richard Pitino said his father would ask about Matz Stockman. Amid the Pitinos vs. the Cardinals noise, it might be easy to forget the other Louisville-Minnesota tie — that Stockman, a reserve post player for the Gophers, played for Rick Pitino at Louisville.

"I bet you the NCAA didn’t think about that one," Minnesota forward Michael Hurt quipped.

Stockman stayed at the team hotel Wednesday, still resting after sustaining a concussion during Minnesota’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Purdue. He’s been held out of practice, and Richard Pitino said he’s questionable for Thursday.

His teammates hope he’ll get the chance to play his former team.

Gophers forward Jarvis Omersa rooms with Stockman during road trips. He said Stockman’s quiet and doesn’t say a whole lot, but the two have grown close. Omersa transferred in high school, and he knows what it feels like to play — and beat — a former team. He wants the same for Stockman.

“It was always fun,” Omersa said, smiling.

Stockman was part of Louisville’s 2014 recruiting class. The Norwegian 7-footer appeared in 45 games over his three years at Louisville, playing sparse minutes from deep off the bench. Stockman transferred to Minnesota after his junior season.

“He really enjoyed his time at Louisville,” Hurt said. “He loved his teammates there, loved the experience he had. But obviously, I think he’s excited for the opportunity to play those guys.”

Stockman sat out his first year at Minnesota due to NCAA transfer rules, and nearly transferred again to California before deciding to stay in the Twin Cities for his final college season.

Minnesota is glad he did.

Stockman has assumed a larger role in the rotation since early March, when star forward Eric Curry went down with a season-ending foot injury.

https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...ay-face-former-card-matz-stockman/3224915002/

Go Gophers!!
 




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