BleedGopher
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per Fox 9:
Minnesota opened practice earlier this week, and it’s Pitino’s first real chance to get a look at his team since they got back from Italy. Gone are Jordan Murphy, Dupree McBrayer and Amir Coffey from last year’s squad. That’s 39.9 points out of the 70.6 the Gophers averaged per game last season, or 56.5 percent.
“Seven new guys, totally different team and you’ve got to get them to not use that as an excuse and just find a way to get caught up as quickly as possible,” Pitino said Tuesday.
Pitino won’t be able to replace the numbers Murphy and Coffey put up. Both are pursuing NBA careers, and Murphy left the Gophers as the program’s all-time leading rebounder and in the top-five in career scoring.
The hope is new players emerge, and it allows the Gophers to thrive in a different way. They won’t be relying on interior play and physicality in the post. Rather, get to the basket with their guards and make shots from the perimeter.
They also need to stay healthy, which was an issue for Eric Curry last season. He returned from a major knee injury and played in 15 games last season, but it was cut short after suffering torn ligaments in his foot. Pitino said Curry started the week with non-contact work, has been cleared for some contact and he should be ready for the season’s start in November.
https://www.fox9.com/sports/with-7-new-players-pitinos-gophers-a-totally-different-team
Go Gophers!!
Minnesota opened practice earlier this week, and it’s Pitino’s first real chance to get a look at his team since they got back from Italy. Gone are Jordan Murphy, Dupree McBrayer and Amir Coffey from last year’s squad. That’s 39.9 points out of the 70.6 the Gophers averaged per game last season, or 56.5 percent.
“Seven new guys, totally different team and you’ve got to get them to not use that as an excuse and just find a way to get caught up as quickly as possible,” Pitino said Tuesday.
Pitino won’t be able to replace the numbers Murphy and Coffey put up. Both are pursuing NBA careers, and Murphy left the Gophers as the program’s all-time leading rebounder and in the top-five in career scoring.
The hope is new players emerge, and it allows the Gophers to thrive in a different way. They won’t be relying on interior play and physicality in the post. Rather, get to the basket with their guards and make shots from the perimeter.
They also need to stay healthy, which was an issue for Eric Curry last season. He returned from a major knee injury and played in 15 games last season, but it was cut short after suffering torn ligaments in his foot. Pitino said Curry started the week with non-contact work, has been cleared for some contact and he should be ready for the season’s start in November.
https://www.fox9.com/sports/with-7-new-players-pitinos-gophers-a-totally-different-team
Go Gophers!!