Gophers Basketball
So far, the Gopher basketball season has had its fair share of ups and downs. There have been quite a few spectacular feats and amazing plays made that have lifted the Gophers to a national ranking so far this season. Let's take a look at what I believe the top-five moments for the team are thus far.
1. Rodney Williams surpasses 1,000 points in his Gopher career.
Williams remains six rebounds shy of 500 and 21 blocks short of 150in his illustrious career. If Williams can attain 500 career rebounds and notch 200 career blocks he will become the sixth Gopher in history to do so (Kevin McHale, Randy Breuer, Michael Bauer, Mychal Thompson and Ralph Sampson III).
2. Andre Hollins scores 41 points vs. Memphis.
This was a crucial game for the Gophers who wanted to get out of 'The Battle For Atlantis' with a winning record after coming up short vs. #1 Duke. Hollins showed Memphis head coach, Josh Pastner just what he missed out on. Several guys Hollins grew up playing with or against also witnessed Dre put on a show.
Hollins also made some Gopher history as the second player in history to score 40+ points in a game. Ollie Shannon still holds the Gopher record when he dropped 42 points at Wisconsin in 1972.
3. Rodney Williams 360 slam dunk vs. NDSU.
For the second straight season, Rodney Williams cracked the Sports Center Top 10 plays with an emphatic 360 slam dunk. Williams has been a highlight reel his entire Gopher career. He has had some other fantastic dunks, but this one ranks among the best break-away dunks college basketball has seen this season.
4. Minnesota opens up conference play at 3-0.
The Gophers hadn't been 3-0 to start conference play since the 1996-1997 season. The Gophers succeeded under a lot of pressure. Convincing wins over Michigan State, Illinois, and Northwestern were the three crucial opening victories. These wins landed the Gophers into the top-10 for the first time since the 1996-1997 campaign.
5. Gophers crack the top-10 for the first time since 1996-1997.
We can all remember how the 1996-1997 team was the most feared group of players in the Big 10. Many fans lost hope in the Gophers after Clem Haskins was dismissed after being involved in the scandal that essentially turned the program in the wrong direction. There were many long seasons in which Minnesota failed to get off the bottom of the Big 10 after the Haskins era. To see the Gophers ranked in the top-10 excites many fans.
Top 5 Hoops Moments This Season
By Andrew Koch
Q: How is your high school season going?
A: I think it’s going pretty good right now. I’m looking to make a run at state.
Q: How did your AAU season go?
A: From last year, I think that my AAU season was – I’m not going to say it was a really good AAU season – but I think I played decent. I could have played a lot better. The competition I played against…I think helped me get a lot better.
Q: Are you hearing from any schools yet?
A: I’ve been hearing from a lot of colleges since my freshman year. I’ve been hearing from Virginia Tech, not so much Minnesota anymore. I think I used to be on Minnesota’s radar a lot more than I am now. I’ve also been hearing from Iowa.
Q: You said you think you dropped off Minnesota’s radar. Have you talked with them or developed a relationship with anyone on the staff?
A: I had a relationship with Coach Ron Jirsa a little bit. He came over for open gym at my school when I was going into my sophomore year. And then going into my sophomore year, that summer, over a month or two, I went to a game at the U, and I developed a relationship with Coach Taylor. I have talked with Tubby before in person, but never over the phone. Saul, too.
Q: Are you hoping to get some more interest from Minnesota in the future?
A: Yeah. Yes, definitely. That’s one thing I’m really trying to pull for, to get back onto Minnesota’s radar.
Q: Do you have any scholarship offers?
A: No, not right now.
Q: Have you thought much about what you’re looking for when making a college decision?
A: I would like to stay around home, but if I’m going to stay around home, it would have to be a good school.
Q: Do you know what you want to major in?
A: I’d probably like to major in broadcast journalism, journalism, or language.
Q: Did you have a favorite team growing up?
A: I don’t know… maybe the Texas Longhorns.
Q: Would it mean a lot to play in-state at Minnesota?
A: Yes, it would.
Q: What do you see as your strengths?
A: I think finishing around the basket. Also, playing defense, being a leader, and talking to my teammates while playing defense. I can score, too.
Q: Are you working on anything to improve skill-wise?
A: Yeah, I’ve been shooting more from the outside. Working on my ball-handling more and my overally confidence. I’m trying to get to the top of the ranks. I want to be separated from the other kids.
Q: Do you have any goals for next year?
A: I want to sign with a Division-I school before 2013 is over. For high school, I want to win state. I want to finish my high school career the way I can best imagine it.
Q&A with Markus Taylor-Knighten - talks interest from Minnesota, staying close to home, and more.
A 6'5" shooting guard from St. Paul Central, Taylor-Knighten has led the Minutemen to a tied-for-first place standing in the St. Paul City Conference. Taylor is averaging 15.7 points per game this year.
The Gophers played arguably their best game in their last meeting against Illinois about a month ago. Minnesota came charging into the game with a 14-1 record and left all smiles after blowing the Fighting Illini out of their home gym 84-67.
The last meeting featured Joe Coleman who scored a career high 29 points. The Gophers were efficient as a team knocking down 9-15 from behind the arc. Their 52.9 percent shooting was the highest vs. any conference team this season to date.
Sunday night will feature an Illinois team coming off a shocking win vs. #1 Indiana 74-72. Illinois Forward Tyler Griffey snuck past the Hoosier defense and made a last second layup clinching Illinois’ first win against a number one ranked team in several years.
In order to hand Illinois a loss, the Gophers will look for production out of their starters. It was Andre Hollins, Joe Coleman, and Trevor Mbakwe who did a bulk of the scoring in the last meeting, but each Gopher starter contributed greatly.
Illinois has its back to the wall. With a 3-7 conference record, and a 15-8 record overall, a win at Minnesota could mean getting off the bubble. I fully expect Illinois to show up, and the Gophers have to be ready to handle what's coming.
Minnesota on the other hand has had their fare share of struggles lately. After beginning the conference season 3-0, the Gophers dropped four straight and are now sitting at 5-5. There are some convincing wins, and some losses that will be overlooked, but the Gophers have been in this position before and have not handled the adversity well.
The Gophers must gain their poise back. They still have a national ranking of #18, and they need to play like they deserve it. More production from Rodney Williams is critical for this team to succeed. Williams has not shown up so far this season when his team really needs him to perform. The most athletic forward in arguably college basketball has to use his strength’s to his advantage.
Illinois counters with solid guard play. D.J Richardson and Brandon Paul can be lights out shooting the ball. This is troubling for the Gophers as Tubby coached team historically have not done well defending the three-point-shot. Both Paul and Richardson are capable of blowing open any game with three balls.
This game is going to be a tough battle between two teams hungry for a crucial conference victory. Illinois has always been somewhat overrated, but this year features a Senior guard Brandon Paul, who is the heart and soul of a team who just knocked off #1. Minnesota is once again falling back on its heels in conference play. This game marks the time that the Gophers must prove a point and win convincingly at home.
Prediction:
Minnesota 70 Illinois 66
Preview: Minnesota vs. Illinois - Gophers look to sweep Illini
By Andrew Koch
Q: How is your high school season with Apple Valley going?
A: We’ve been doing really good. We’re 19-1; we’ve won 15 straight. We’re #1 in the state, now.
Q: How did your Pump N Run season go?
A: We did good. We finished 10th in the nation. We had a good run in Las Vegas; we got second.
Q: Who are you hearing from?
A: I’ve got letters from Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin. I’ve also heard from Minnesota, California-Berkley, and Creighton.
Q: Do you have any offers?
A: No, I don’t have any offers.
Q: Have you ever talked with anyone on the Minnesota staff? Or, has it mostly been just letters? I know you attended a game.
A:I went to the Minnesota-Michigan State game, and I talked to all the coaches there.
Q: Have you developed a good relationship with anyone on the Minnesota staff?
A: Not really. I’ve just talked to them at the games and stuff.
Q: Have you thought much about what you’re looking for when making a college decision?
A: It has to have a (good) education, academics, and tradition.
Q: I know it’s very early, but have you thought about what you might want to major in?
A: No, I haven’t really put much thought into that,
Q: Did you have a favorite team growing up?
A: I’ve liked Minnesota a lot. I like Wisconsin, too.
Q: Would it mean a lot to play in-state at Minnesota?
A: Yeah, it would. I have a lot of respect for Minnesota. They have great fans and tradition.
Q: Are you working on anything to improve skill-wise?
A: I’ve been basically working on my strength and agility – running faster and getting stronger.
Q: You’ve played some baseball. Are you planning to play baseball for Apple Valley this year?
A: No, I’m just going to stay with basketball and concentrate on that.
Q&A with Brock Bertram - "I've liked Minnesota a lot. I like Wisconsin, too."
Apple Valley's 6'9" freshman center is averaging 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and has a 63.5 FG%.
Q: Tell me about your visit to Creighton.
A: It was really fun. I really enjoyed the crowd. There was so many people in attendance; it was just a packed house. They’re always supporting the players. They also have really nice facilities. Their weight room is nice. I didn’t get a chance to talk with all the coaches, but (the coaches I talked with) seemed nice.
Q: Do you have an offer from Creighton?
A: No, I don’t. They’re just interested.
Q: How many offers are you up to?
A: I have eleven: North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Milwaukee, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Vermont, Toledo, St. Louis, Utah State…I think that’s it.
Q: You’re scoring a lot of points this year for Lakeville North? Do you think your recruitment has picked up due to your numbers?
A: Maybe a little bit. Maybe a few coaches have been hearing about it and given me a call. Most coaches just text me after games and tell me I had a good game, because they’re checking MN Basketball Hub or some website.
Q: How do you think your season went with Pump N Run?
A: I think it went really good. We had a good season; we had a good record. I’m pretty sure I’m playing with them this summer.
Q: Are you hearing a lot from the Gophers?
A: Yeah. When I went to the game, they just told me to continue what I’m doing – to continue scoring and winning. They said to get back to the state tournament like last year.
Q: Do you have any favorites yet?
A: I haven’t really decided who my favorites are. I’m trying to get to most of the schools. I’ve been to Wyoming, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, North Dakota State. I’ve been to Saint Louis, too. I’m going to Utah State with Carson Shanks and his dad.
Q: Who have you talked with from the Minnesota staff most? Have you developed a relationship with any of the coaches?
A: Not really. The coach I’ve talked to the most is Ron Jirsa.
Q: Have you thought much about what you’re looking for when making a college decision?
A: I want to be able to get along with the coaches and players. A place that feels like home – you treat them well and they treat you well.
Q: Do you know what you want to major in?
A: I haven’t really thought about that yet, but I kind of want to do something with business.
Q: Did you have a favorite team growing up?
A: For football, it was USC.
Q: Would it mean a lot to play in-state at Minnesota?
A: Yeah, I think it’d be fun. My parents would be able to go to every home game. I think it’d be great.
Q: Are you working on anything to improve skill-wise?
A: Tomorrow I’m shooting with my AAU coach from last year. Just shoot with him, get the basics of my shot down, practice routine, and keep shooting.
Q: Do you have any goals?
A: This year our goal is to get to the State Tournament again. It’s the same for next year; I think we can get there.
Q&A with JP Macura - talks Creighton visit, AAU season, and more
After helping lead the Panthers to a 30-2 record last year, Lakeville North's junior guard is scoring 24.1 points per game this year. Macura took an unofficial visit to Creighton last week.
After Andre Hollins intercepted the Hoosiers’ inbound pass and dribbled out the clock against top-ranked Indiana, students stormed the court; Tyus Jones signed with the Gophers; the state of Iowa fell into a black hole, and Jesus came down from heaven. At least, that’s what it felt like.
The Gophers were in desperate need of a big win. After losing 8 of their last 11 games and greatly underperforming, critics were ready to fire Tubby and pencil the Gophers into the NIT. Trevor Mbakwe hadn’t been playing at his pre-knee surgery level, and was coming off a 4 point performance against Ohio State. The bench had been non-existent throughout Big Ten play. And a problem with turning the ball over – the rain cloud perpetually hanging over Minnesota’s head – was looming as dark and gray as ever after amounting a whopping 24 turnovers in a 26 point loss to the Buckeyes. However, the Gophers dodged all of their common self-inflicted bullets Tuesday night.
With the Barn rocking, Mbakwe dominated the opening minutes. Everywhere you looked, he was hitting jumpers, grabbing rebounds, emphatically rejecting Cody Zeller, throwing down slams and letting loose his signature scream. The 24 year old was undeniably a man among boys tonight. Trevor scored a season high 21 points and recorded 12 rebounds – dwarfing Cody Zeller. Trevor wasn’t the only one making Zeller look bad. As Mbakwe headed to the bench after picking up his 3rd foul with the Gophers trailing by 8, things looked grim for the Gophers. Enter Elliot Eliason. The sophomore center has struggled to score – he only leads Ingram, Ellenson, Halvorsen, and Shell in points – but scored 7 in a row which, with help from Mav Ahanmisi’s three-pointer, leveled the score. Elliott continued the rattling of Zeller with his aggressive play; he picked up 5 rebounds and 4 fouls in his 13 minutes.
As the crowd rushed the floor for the first time since 2002, a weight was lifted off of the Gopher’s shoulders. They are no longer a bubble team, they reasserted that they have the ability to play at the talent level that they displayed in their 15-1 start, and with their remaining games against Penn State, Nebraska and Purdue, they have the chance to build some momentum heading into the NCAA tournament. Although we still don’t know about Tyus, we still have to put up with Iowa, and we likely won’t be seeing Jesus in the Barnyard (except in student section cardboard cutouts), this win has Gophers fans believing that anything is possible.
Wrap-Up
Player of the game: Trevor Mbakwe - Trevor really showed what he can do last night. He energized the team and the crowd from the start with 10 of Minnesota’s first 14 points. He and Eliason also turned pre-season National POY favorite Cody Zeller into a non-factor. Mbakwe finished the game with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 1 monstrous block, a steal, and an assist.
Play of the Game: Rodney Williams’ block of Victor Oladipo- No one has ever questioned Rodney's jumping ability, but this play was something else. With 18 seconds left, Oladipo received the ball open in the corner and put up a 3 which could have made it a one-possesion game. That is, if Rodney Williams wouldn’t have come soaring out of nowhere to block the shot. The athletic play essentially sealed the deal for the Gophers.
Lasting Image: Fans flooding the court- Despite security brought down by the student section, when the horn sounded, students rushed onto Williams Arena’s elevated floor. The pure joy of the scene showed how much the win meant to the Gophers and their fans. It was their first win against the #1 team since 1989 and the first time fans have stormed the court since 2002.
Minnesota had a chance to legitimately clinch a birth in the NCAA tournament for the first time in two years last night at Nebraska. They came in as the heavy favorites, but left disheartened losers, 53-51.
Poor shooting, particularly from the free-throw line, hurt the Gophers all night. Minnesota made a mere ten of twenty shots from the charity stripe. They also found themselves in familiar territory on the road – having trouble scoring, shooting just 31 percent from the field.
Scoring and execution are big hurdles for the Gophers when playing on the road. At home, the they hit their free-throws, limit turnovers, and make correct decisions. Minnesota has won just one road game in the Big 10 against Illinois in January. Failing to score and/or poor execution is becoming the norm for the Gophers on the road.
Their upcoming game at Purdue will not be an easy task. The Boilermakers are playing well, and Mackey Arena is expected to be packed for senior night. The Gophers may be playing with their backs against the wall; the loss to Nebraska may have put the Gophers closer to the bubble.
One can only wonder what happens to this team when they play on the road. Convincing wins over then #1 Indiana, followed up by a blow-out win vs. Penn State – a team coming off a big win vs. Michigan – made fans believe the Nebraska game might be a cakewalk. For fans, it’s hard to fathom how the Gophers can play so well at home and fall on their faces on the road.
There seems to be a set schedule for the Gophers – impress in the non-conference by beating top mid-majors and a top 25 team, then collapse throughout Big Ten season with a free fall in February.
To be successful, the Gophers have to play with the intensity and confident attitude they posses during non-conference play. Outside of simply changing their mindset, it’s possible that the Gophers fail to meet expectations, because they don’t match up well in the physical Big Ten. Tubby’s long and athletic teams are best fitted for running the floor, yet often find themselves disastrously trying to play a slow half-court game with teams like Nebraska.
Whether the Gophers lack a winning mindset or don’t match up well in the physical Big Ten, it’s important they fix their issues if they want to make a late-March run similar to last year.
Big Win Has Fans Believing Again
The lonely road ahead - The Gophers look to figure out how to win on the road after a crushing defeat at Nebraska
By Stephon Tracy
By Andrew Koch
Q: How do you think your season with Findlay Prep is going?
A: It’s going real well. We finished the regular season 34-0. We have an upcoming tournament in DC (Ed. Note: He continued to talk about the post-season, but it became very staticky.)
Q: Do you talk much with Alvin Ellis or Alex Foster?
A: Yeah, I still talk with them. Me and Alvin text a lot. Last week I went home before I took visits, and I saw him and we hung out. I text Alex, too.
Q: Do they try to recruit you to Minnesota?
A: Yeah, they’re trying to recruit me and trying to make me come there.
Q: What do you like about Michigan State?
A: I like the coaches there. (Izzo) is a winning coach. Getting to know his players a little bit is also great. I got to spend some time with them off the court. Obviously, on the court, they’re winners. I like the assistants, too, and the Big Ten Conference.
Q: How about UCLA?
A: Their tradition is really, really cool. I love the city – the great weather and all of that. Allerik Freeman and some other recruits are going there that I’d love to play with. There’s a lot of playing time available, because they’re missing a rebounder and that’s one of my strengths.
Q: Villanova?
A: I like Coach Wright a lot and how close he is with his players. It’s a family atmosphere with the coaching staff. It’s really nice – a private school. I like the way Coach Wright uses his players and develops them. I like the way Villanova plays and their system.
Q: Minnesota?
A: I like them a lot, too. Coach Smith is a real nice guy. I like the way he develops his bigs. It’s in the Big Ten Conference. There’s a lot of playing time available for me as a freshman especially with Trevor and Rodney leaving.
Q: What coach on the Minnesota staff do you have the best relationship with?
A: Probably Coach Taylor.
Q: Do you already know what school you want to attend, but are just waiting to announce on Wednesday?
A: No. It’s a tough decision. I don’t know, for sure. I’ve visited every school.
Q: Will you be watching the UCLA-Minnesota game?
A: It’s definitely an interesting game, because it’s two of my top four schools. It’s definitely an interesting game to watch.
Q&A with Gavin Schilling - "Coach Smith is a real nice guy."
Gavin Schilling attended high school with Alvin Ellis and Alex Foster before transferring to Findlay Prep for his senior season. Schilling is announcing his decision Wednesday night on Twitter.
By Stephon Tracy
On Sunday, it was announced that Minnesota is an 11 seed in the NCAA tournament and will face 6th seeded UCLA in the first round on Friday. This appears to be a favorable matchup for the Gophers, who are now a trendy upset pick in brackets around the country. However, in order to pull off the upset there are a few key issues that they must take care of. Here are the major factors that will determine the game’s winner.
1. Which Gophers team will show up?
Minnesota has confused everyone with their up-and-down play this season. They looked like a top-10 team after their 15-1 start which included wins against Michigan State and on the road against Illinois. However, they ended the season on a 5-11 stretch that ended with three straight tumbles against not terrific teams. The Gophers have struggled with turning over the ball, defending the 3, and finding a way to score. Although sometimes dominant, Trevor Mbakwe has been a non-factor in several games, and Austin Hollins, and Rodney Williams have gone through slumps. On multiple occasions, Minnesota’s effort and mental discipline have been questioned. Despite their slump, they still displayed their ability in a hope-inspiring victory against then top-ranked Indiana in mid-February. If the Gophers play to their potential they can beat anyone, but if they continue to make costly mistakes expect another hasty exit from the tournament.
2. Inside Advantage
In order to win on Friday, Minnesota must exploit their big man advantage. No one on the Bruins’ roster is listed as taller than 6’10, and none of their bigs are truly dominant. Although owning the glass is nothing new for the Gophers, they frequently struggle to work the ball inside and score points in the paint that do not come off of offensive rebounds. As shown in his performance against Indiana, Mbakwe can be a scoring threat inside, but has too often failed to contribute many points. Rodney Williams has also failed to live up to scoring expectations this season, but is definitely capable of putting up points. Whether or not Minnesota can get their offense clicking, limit turnovers, and take advantage of their inside edge could make the difference in this one.
3. Stopping Shabazz
UCLA’s star player is 6’6 freshman Shabazz Muhammad. The #1 recruit in his class, Shabazz is a dangerous, athletic scorer (17.8 ppg) who can also rebound (5.3 rpg). He has been able to put up big numbers against solid teams this year (27 against Missouri, 23 against Arizona). If he goes off on Friday, it will be hard for the Gophers to win. However, the Gophers are an extremely athletic team, and both lockdown defender Austin Hollins and the incredibly athletic Rodney Williams should be capable of containing Muhammad.
4. Injury Troubles
In their win over Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, UCLA freshman Jordan Adams broke his foot, putting him out for the rest of the season. He won’t be the only one hurting. Adams is currently 2nd on the team in scoring, and according to an ESPN article, his teammates were crying and swearing in the locker room after hearing of his injury. The Bruins had a tough time in their one game without him against Oregon. To beat Minnesota, UCLA will have to figure out a way to replace his scoring.
Overview
The Gophers couldn’t have received a much better 6-seed opponent than UCLA. UCLA is relatively weak inside, and reeling from losing one of their best players. Minnesota should be focused and motivated for their first NCAA tournament game since 2010, and although it won’t be easy, they should defeat the Bruins for Tubby Smith’s first NCAA tournament win as the Gophers coach.
Prediction: Minnesota 69 UCLA 64
Minnesota vs. UCLA- Keys to the Game
Q: Gophers fans don't know much about UCLA outside of hearing the names Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson. Who are some of your other key players?
A: Muhammad and Anderson definitely get the most attention because of their recruiting hype, but there's plenty of other players that really make up UCLA's nucleus. It all starts with point guard Larry Drew II, a senior in his only eligible year at UCLA. Drew II is among the best in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, and in the past month, he's really started to get into a rhythm with his shooting stroke. He'll probably be the key component of UCLA's offensive attack in Friday's game. Aside from him, UCLA will make plenty use of the Wear twins, both of which are also transfers from UNC, like Drew II. They're not really "big men", despite playing the five and being the tallest guys on the team, but both David and Travis are dangerous when they're getting open off of screens and knocking down mid-range jumpers. Sophomore guard Norman Powell will also be a wildcard in Friday's game, as he's filling in for injured guard Jordan Adams. Powell has the potential to shine with his athleticism, but he's very much an unpolished player on both ends.
Q: How much will Adams' injury impact the game?
A: I think Adams' absence will probably have a huge impact on Friday's game, just because Adams did just about everything for UCLA. He was their most versatile offensive option. And defensively, Adams led the Pac-12 in steals in conference play, so he was probably the Bruins' best defensive stalwart, as well. Losing him will force Powell, who is less of a jumper shooter and more just an athletic specimen, into the fold, which will require a great deal of adjustments to UCLA's offense before Friday's game. Given the youth on this team -- only one player has played in the NCAA Tournament -- making those adjustments on the flash could be asking too much.
Q: Describe UCLA's style of play.
A: The Bruins' ideal style of play is one that takes advantage of transition buckets and creates lots of turnovers, while taking care of the ball on the other end. When UCLA can control the pace of the game and make it a marathon, then the Bruins will be in good position to win. However, if they get stuck in a halfcourt offense, they need to be able to knock down jump shots, or else they often drift into a pattern of quick possessions and bad shot selection. They don't use the pick and roll that often on offense, and a lot of times, it seems to bog them down. Defensively, UCLA is as dedicated to man-to-man defense as it gets, and it has definitely improved over the course of the season. The Bruins almost always double big men in the post -- that'll likely be the plan with Trevor Mbakwe -- and sometimes they're left susceptible to open perimeter shots that are created out of the paint.
Q: You're only a 6 seed despite winning the Pac-12. Were you expecting higher?
A: I didn't expect higher, just because UCLA didn't really do anything to inspire confidence that it'll bounce back from the Jordan Adams injury. I'm sure the committee was watching UCLA's Pac-12 title game with Oregon closely, and the Bruins looked uncomfortable on both ends -- that likely dropped them down at least one line in the bracket. UCLA has some solid wins this season, but it has also looked pretty bad in some of its losses. No one really knows what to expect out of the Bruins in this one, so I think the six seed was a pretty accurate seeding.
Q: Prediction for the game?
A: This game is probably about what team can overcome its shortcomings more completely, and given Minnesota's depth and clean bill of health, I'm going to go with the Golden Gophers in this one to beat UCLA in a close game, 69-65.
Q&A with Ryan Kartje of the Orange County Register
First, Tubby’s statement provided by the Pioneer Press: "I want to thank the University of Minnesota and the people of Minnesota for giving me the opportunity to lead the Golden Gopher basketball program for six years," Smith said in a statement provided by the school. "Our staff did things the right way and will leave knowing that the program is in far better shape than when we arrived."
Tubby also told the Pioneer Press, "I'll take some time and evaluate about what's going on, do some soul searching and we'll see."
Eamonn Brennan - ESPN
Frustrated Minnesota fans clapping along during this post should at least brace themselves for the other side of the coin: Minnesota is not a particularly desirable job. There are no practice facilities to speak of. It is cold. The Barn is charming, but 17-year-olds typically prefer futuristic and flashy to charm. Recruiting against the rest of the Big Ten is hard enough already, but now that Iowa is locking down more and more in-state talent and Iowa State is becoming a resurgent power under Hoiberg -- not to mention the huge money Nebraska is investing into its program right now -- well, let's just say Gophers fans ought to be realistic about what to expect. The ceiling is limited. It's a challenge.
...
Many will cite Smith's 46-62 record in the Big Ten, but even more damning is his record in February. To wit:
2013: 3-4
2012: 1-7
2011: 1-6
2010: 4-3
2009: 2-5
2008: 4-4
Bits and Pieces of Teague’s Press Conference
Q. In the old Williams arena that the fans love, like I wrote this morning. Recruits come here, they think it's a dump. You don't have a basketball building which every other school in the Big Ten just about has. You have a budget which isn't as high as a lot of schools. And you've got Tubby Smith has recruited these kids for three or four years, a new coach comes in and he has to start all over. Why couldn't you wait till next year?
NORWOOD TEAGUE: Again, I make the decision based on, as I said, a whole body of work and evaluate where we are now. I feel like it's by far the best decision that we can make right now.
There's a lot of you said there's limitations. Sure, there's some limitations. We've got a lot of great things, too, with this program. We have a great state to sell. We have an unbelievably passionate fan base and we have an unbelievable university. That's a lot to sell right now.
Q. It's a theme for the university where you are actually buying out contracts for coaches; this has got to be getting expensive for the school.
NORWOOD TEAGUE: Any time you spend money for buyouts it bothers me, as well, just like it bothers citizens of Minnesota. I hope fans will look at this one as an investment, rather than an expenditure. I don't take that lightly, it's a good question and I think we have to consider that when we make these decisions.
Q. How do you pay for this one? Do you expect some private donors, that there will be money?
NORWOOD TEAGUE: This will be out of athletic department funds. We have budget meetings every week, figure out how we can do things and it's my job to figure that out.
So it will be out of the athletic department funds. Going forward, we are always going to raise money. I don't really like to raise money for something like that, but this will be out of athletic department funds.
Q. Word of Tubby's firing was out there before he found out about it; how does that happen?
NORWOOD TEAGUE: Everything leaks, all the time. We know that. No one intentionally did that. Things leak and that's just the way it is.
Q. How much are you aware already that I think this is true there's not a black Big Ten basketball coach or football coach at this point. Does that enter into your thinking?
NORWOOD TEAGUE: Oh, it always does. We want to hire more minorities, both on the coaching side and the administrative side. I think about it all the time. And want to do our best to do a better job there.
We have hired Quincy Lewis recently, and want to do a good job there in the future in a number of different areas. I think about it all the time, very important.
Q. Is 2.5 the number this year, is that the total?
NORWOOD TEAGUE: Yes.
Q. How do you think this will affect recruiting? They have recruited these kids for two years and they have the best crop in the State of Minnesota. I know Ron Jirsa had a fantastic relationship with Jones, and remember the family told me if Minnesota had a chance to get him, because of that. Now your new guy comes in, he might not get a guy, and you've got to start all over with these guys, and the Mike Krzyzewskis and the Tom Izzos and all these people have recruited these guys all this time, and now you're going to bring in a fresh guy to compete with those guys.
NORWOOD TEAGUE: Well, it's my intention to bring in somebody that will compete
Who will be the next coach? The CBS guys take their dream picks, realistic picks, and best guesses.
All Things Pioneer Press
The University of Minnesota's decision to fire basketball coach Tubby Smith has left one of college basketball's most prominent commentators "sick."
"Tubby Smith fired and bought out at Minnesota," Bilas tweeted (@JayBilas). "Wow. Just, wow. Clearly, these schools have PLENTY of money laying around."
"I'm sick at the firing of Tubby Smith," Bilas tweeted. "This is the business we've chosen, but that doesn't make it right. Not a better man in the game.”
Tom Powers thinks firing Tubby is a risky move.
Gophers basketball: Tubby Smith's firing 'sad,' Blake Hoffarber says
The Gophers' all-time leading three-point shooter, Blake Hoffarber, said he was "pretty shocked" when he heard the report his former coach, Tubby Smith, had been fired Monday, March 25.
"I honestly thought once they won the first (NCAA tournament) game, I thought he was safe," Hoffarber told the Pioneer Press, referring to the University of Minnesota's victory over UCLA on Friday before Sunday's loss to Florida. "I love Coach Smith. He was always great to me. It's just sad to see him go like this.
"I know there's always pressure from the administration and the AD to win, win, win. This business is about, 'What have you done for me lately?' I guess they didn't think this was good enough." http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_22868539/gophers-basketball-tubby-smiths-firing-sad-blake-hoffarber.html
"Like everything else in life, you have to move on," Smith told the Pioneer Press. "Life doesn't end now. Time doesn't stop for anyone."
All Things Star Tribune
Trevor Mbakwe on Smith: 'We let him down'
“I had heard the speculation and everything, especially the way we ended up the season, but once we won our first game, I thought it would give him a little more time,” Mbakwe said on Monday afternoon. “But I guess they had their mind made up that they wanted to go in a new direction.
Mbakwe said that he sensed a change in Smith over the years. The senior came to Minnesota after playing at Marquette University and then at a junior college in Florida, playing for three seasons under Smith, although his 2011-12 year was shortened by a knee injury that resulted in Mbakwe getting a sixth year of college eligibility.
“When I first got here, he was able to be more aggressive,” Mbakwe said. “We had 6 a.m. practices every day and things like that. Over the years, he’s changed more toward players because he knew that our personnel wasn’t the same, and some guys deal with situations different than others.
“So he wasn’t able to be how he wanted to be all the time.
Mbakwe added: “We let him down and I guess we [allowed] him to get fired.
Michael Rand - Tubby Smith has been fired as Gophers men’s basketball coach, U of M Board of Regents Chairwoman Linda Cohen confirmed Monday. Cohen said she received a phone call from U of M President Eric Kaler on Monday telling her of the news. The Gophers athletic office later put out a press release confirming the news.
Smith’s contract comes with a $2.5 million buyout — a number that jumped from $1.5 million after he signed an extension last summer shortly after Norwood Teague took over as Minnesota’s athletic director. He also gets $150,000 for making the round of 32 this year, a $250,000 retirement contribution and three months severance (base plus supplemental salary), which totals about $450,000. That’s a total of $3.35 million.
“I think it’s a national issue. I hope maybe across the country we’ll begin to address it,” Cohen said of the big money in college athletics. “But I think the athletic director will figure all that out and how they’re going to address it.”
Scoggins thinks it was time to pull the plug.
Twitter reactions to Tubby firing
By Andrew Koch
The draw for the Gophers in the NCAA tournament could not be better. The #11 seed is high, but an expected outcome for a team that underachieved all season. The Bruins were selected as the #6 seed, but that mark is a little bit deceiving considering that the Gophers are better than them in almost every major category.
Rebounding:
Minnesota is the best offensive rebounding team in the country. In order to win, UCLA will have to counter this in some other way. The Bruins have size, but are not as physical as the Gophers. If Minnesota can control the boards, and grab 43% of its shots off misses, they will roll over the Bruins in this one.
Conference RPI:
Minnesota has been battle tested all season playing in the B1G, which has the second best conference RPI in the country. The PAC-12 ranks among the lower conference RPI among all of the major conferences in college basketball. The Gophers SOS ranks at #2 of any team in the country, while the Bruins rank #20.
The B1G is also a much more physical conference. UCLA relies on scoring over being physical to win its basketball games. The Gophers played many teams where final score remained in the 50′s.
One would say that the Gophers have played tougher teams than the Bruins. Regardless of each teams’ conference schedule, Minnesota has the edge when it comes to playing quality teams this season. This could pay off in this game.
Neutral Court:
Minnesota made a run to the NIT finals last season. This year they were able to beat Stanford and Memphis on a neutral court. The only loss was to Duke, but the Gophers played reasonably well without full production from Mbakwe. Neutral courts have been the Gophers friend in the past. This game will be played in Austin, TX.
There are a few potential problems for the Gophers in this one – turnovers and shooting. UCLA thrives in transition off turnovers – if Minnesota commits 20 turnovers similar to their final BTT game vs. Illinois, the result could become ugly.
It’s also important the Gophers limit the production of the Bruins’ guards. Freshman Shabazz Muhammad and Larry Drew II combine to be one of the top duos in the country. Drew averages an astonishing 7.4 assists per game, while Muhammad averages 17.8 ppg.
I see this as the best possible match-up as an 11-seed for Minnesota. I expect Minnesota to play well, but notching a victory relies on rebounding, limiting the turnovers, containing the Bruins guards, and shooting at a good rate.
Minnesota - UCLA Preview
Major news struck the heart of the Twin Cities area yesterday as Athletic director, Norwood Teague, announced the firing of Tubby Smith.
In six seasons at Minnesota, Smith went 121-84, but only managed to go 46-62 in Big 10 play. The team was never able to finish higher than sixth in the Big 10. The Gophers poor conference play and various other reasons led to Teague's decision, but was it the right move for the Gophers?
Tubby Smith was fired from Minnesota yesterday. He spent six seasons as the head coach of the Gophers.
As a personal advocate against Smith, I like the move. As a fan, I like to see tournament wins. Smith only managed to win one NCAA Tournament game in his six seasons with the Gophers - which does not cut it. Minnesota fans expected more, but were let down time and time again.
Many fans believe there was a poor atmosphere surrounding the program with Tubby at the helm. Good players that he recruited transferred: Iverson, Joseph, and Cobbs. Smith's style of coaching can be attributed to these players transferring, but what really stood out to me was his inability to develop his recruits into prime-time basketball players. Ralph Sampson III and Rodney Williams were among the best recruits Smith got to commit to the Gophers, but neither of these players vastly improved their game. Many argue that Sampson III even got worse as time went on. A good coach gets the best out of his players and creates a positive atmosphere.
Bo Ryan at Wisconsin and Buzz Williams at Marquette are two coaches that do a wonderful job developing their players. Smith, in my opinion, put fear into his team, prompting poor play and a careless attitude to succeed among the players - something you would never see in a team coached by coaches like Buzz Williams, Tom Izzo, or "The Grinch," Bo Ryan.
A good team will be disciplined. The Gophers were not. Minnesota may have been the only team to lead their respected conference in turnovers and still make the NCAA tournament. The Gophers particularly struggled when they had to inbound the ball and run an effective half-court offense. Fans became disappointed with head scratching and disappointing offensive possessions.
This team often lacked a quality leader and often played without any composure. Smith, instead of laying blame on others, should have taken responsibility.
Consistency is crucial to have as a successful basketball team. Without it, you lose too many games that you should have won. The Gophers were never able to remain consistent. In the Month of February when teams are supposed to get better, the Gophers always got worse. Smith was 15-29 in February with the Gophers. The team began the season 15-1, but lost 11 of 16 at the end, and ended up barley squeaking into the NCAA Tournament as a #11 seed. Good teams will remain consistent throughout. The Gophers just never could never finish a season strong under Smith.
You can point the finger at anyone, but when it comes down to it all, Tubby Smith was the manager, the guy making the big bucks to lead his team to victory. He promised his players and the fans ultimate success, but never got the best out of his players. Watching the Gophers play basketball under Smith it was hard for me to say that the team was heading in the right direction. Teague agreed; it's time for a new face at head coach in Minnesota.
Media reacts to Tubby firing
Compiled by Matt Gravett
Firing Tubby Was the Right Call
By Andrew Koch
Star Tribune
Amelia Rayno - "In his short career, Pitino has gained the reputation of a tireless worker and an active recruiter"
Pioneer Press
Tom Powers writes Tom Powersy things
Bob Sansevere – Gopher’s bet Rick Pitino’s name helps Richard, too - "The Gophers failed all attempts to land a big-name coach. So they went another route. They went after a recognizable last name.
Appear to have gotten one, too."
***
Jon Krawczynski and Tim Reynolds - "The great thing about Billy and my dad, they're always willing to give me advice,'' Pitino told The Associated Press in February. "They understand where I'm at. I call Billy every single day, almost like I call my dad, and I'm so appreciative that they give the time to try to teach me. It's so exciting. For me, I can't try to be Billy Donovan, I can't try to be Rick Pitino. I've got to be my own man and play my own style, and it's been fun trying to figure it out.''
Miami Herald - "Though Minnesota resides in the tough Big Ten, the job obviously presents less of a reconstruction than Pitino encountered at FIU. The Panthers’ lone NCAA appearance occurred before most of the players were old enough to remember. Actual home fan attendance numbered in the hundreds. Player classroom attendance made the fan base look devoted – the program’s Academic Progress Rate for 2010-11 was 833, a number so low that combined with the APR for 2011-12 (yet to be released) could lead to NCAA sanctions against FIU.
The APR and 26 wins through three seasons prompted the firing of Isiah Thomas, an act several players felt was handled so badly, they protested by walking out of last year’s athletic awards banquet. Only six players remained from the 2011-12 team, and not all of them were on scholarship.
Pitino, despite being hired with the main recruiting period long past, cobbled together a team that won 18 games with a high-pressure defense that finished eighth in the nation in steals. One of Pitino’s first recruits, junior college transfer Tymell Murphy, led the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game and shot .573 from the field, the latter number ranking 17th nationally."
SB Nation Richard Patino Profile - "Between 1999 and 2012, Florida International never saw a season in which it won more than 13 games. If that weren't injury enough, insult came in the form of self-reported NCAA violations in 2008 that resulted in four years probation and the forfeiture of nine conference wins from the 2002-03 and 2006-07 seasons.
As bad as it had been, it was never worse than when Pitino first arrived.
With the program still on probation and dreaming of mediocrity, FIU got desperate. They became a national story for the first time in over a decade by hiring Thomas, the Basketball Hall of Famer whose post-NBA career had become one public disaster after another.
The much-maligned thousands of college basketball experts on Twitter have never been more right about anything than the Thomas era at FIU.
In three years with the Panthers, Thomas won 26 games and lost 65. FIU finished at the bottom of the Sun Belt's East Division in all three seasons, and won just one game in the conference tournament. Still, Thomas had enough support from his players that six of them walked out of the team's 2012 awards banquet to protest the firing of the former coach of the Knicks and Pacers.
Richard Patino arrived in Miami 10 days later.
During his first 72 hours on the job, Pitino had five different Panthers come into his office and tell him they were transferring. He was left with a total of three scholarship players on his roster. No one was surprised when FIU was picked to finish 10th in the 11-team Sun Belt before the season.
Pitino's debut effort exceeded expectations during the non-conference portion of the season, only because there weren't any. The Panthers went 4-7 before the calendar turned, their only notable achievement being a trip to Louisville for a game in which Richard and Rick became the first father and son head coaches to square off against one another in 12 years.
Since New Year's Day, the younger Pitino has been at the center of one of the more inexplicable runs in recent memory. Over a two-month span between Jan. 2 and March 2, FIU won a school-record 11 conference games, broke the school record for overall wins in a season and secured its first non-losing season since 2000.
"We start two walk-ons; we really only play five scholarship guys and I think the lesson to be learned is, in Year 1, you've got to have great kids," Pitino told the AP last month."
Tweets
Jay Bilas @JayBilas
Great call by Minnesota to hire Richard Pitino: http://cbsprt.co/11njOOU Richard is a really smart basketball mind, and fine young coach.
Andy Glockner @AndyGlockner
Minnesota is getting plaudits for hiring Richard Pitino, 30 years old, with one year of head coaching in a modest conference. Interesting. (SI)
GopherHole.com @GopherHole
AAU coach in Minn who's players have been recruited by Rich Pitino at LVille & Fla told us hes a "tireless recruiter" & "bright hoops mind"
PiPress Gophers Now @GophersNow
Sounds like Billy Donovan really sold Teague on hiring Rich Pitino. He had to trust him since Shaka worked out so well. #Gophers
Trevor Mbakwe @TMbakwe32
Congrats Coach Pitino on becoming the new Coach. Look forward to watching you do great things at the U.#GopherBasketball #skiumah
Tom Crean @TomCrean
Welcome Richard Pitino to the Big Ten. He is very bright, hard working and a relentess recruiter. Been a key figure in consistent winners.
Jim Polzin @JimPolzinWSJ
Looks like Minnesota is going from Tubby Smith, 61, with 1 national title on his resume, to Richard Pitino, 30, with 1 year as HC on his.
Tyler Mason @FSNtylermason
For perspective: Tubby Smith was an assistant coach at VCU before Richard Pitino was even born. #Gophers
Nick Baumgardner @nickbaumgardner
No offense to Richard Pitino, he's an up and comer no doubt, but Tubby Smith's already there. Makes zero sense.
Dame @VIPJohnson34
Pitino son as U of M coach!!! I like it that's what the players need right now someone young and energetic
PiPress Gophers Now @GophersNow
Saul Smith and Richard Pitino are good buddies from when Tubby was on Rick Pitino's staff when Saul and Rich were kids at Kentucky.
Richard Pitino to be named new Head Coach - Articles and Tweets
Compiled by Matt Gravett
The next Pitino begins his major conference coaching career with the Gophers.
Isn’t Norwood Teague a genius? Some people would disagree, but the hiring of Rich Pitino as the Gophers new head basketball coach really has me fired up. There are many reasons to love Pitino – be it the name and legacy that “Pitino” name carries, his success at FIU, or his seemingly unlimited potential as a 30 year-old coaching prodigy. Teague’s hire proves one thing – the man knows his basketball.
Failure is not an option for Teague. Virginia Commonwealth University can thank Teague for hiring their current star head coach Shaka Smart. Like Pitino, Smart was under the radar and probably not initially considered a top candidate by the media, but Teague saw him as more. Shaka Smart has been an incredible success at VCU and currently may be regarded as one of the top-three coaches in all of college basketball.
Pitino is the guy and I truly see his hiring as a huge success for Minnesota. His coaching style and recruiting ability will change the dynamics of Gopher basketball in a way Gophers fans can hope will be on the same level as Smart’s success at VCU.
No more turnovers:
Pitino’s former team, Florida International University, ranked among the top five in the nation in limiting turnovers. Before he took over the program, FIU was a mess. The team won just eight games the prior season, and turnovers were frequent and utterly embarassing. Under Pitino, they went 18-14, largely because of being more disciplined and efficient – both traits that reflect well on the coach. Protecting the basketball and learning court discipline helped the Golden Panthers win 10 more games and nearly reach the NCAA tournament. Pitino’s emphasis on court discipline should help Minnesota – the Gophers led the Big 10 in turnovers and made too many silly mistakes.
The “Pitino” name carries a huge legacy as Rich Pitino is the son of legend Rick Pitino.
Offense:
FIU shot 43% as a team last season. Three of their starters averaged 10+ ppg, and every starter scored over 8 ppg. Pitino’s half-court offense resembles the style he learned under his father at Lousiville and under Billy Donovan at Florida. The Gophers will use their speed to their advantage and every player will be involved in the offense. Pitino runs an effective motion offense, while Smith struggled to consistently run a set offense throughout his time at Minnesota.
Ability to relate to players:
Pitino is not far removed from college and has been coaching college athletes since graduating from St. Sebastian’s School in Massachusetts. Immediately, Pitino worked as a graduate assistant under Tim Welsh at Providence. He began to learn how to help players develop at an even earlier age watching his father coach. Pitino is only 30, and provides an energetic and positive style of coaching. He wants his team to have fun and love playing the game. Sometimes, it seems as if Smith created an unhealthy atmosphere for the team. The Gophers will certainly learn to respect and love the game of basketball even more than they already do under Pitino. In his only year of coaching at FIU, Pitinio helped his team believe that they could overcome the odds pegged against them and win basketball games. He truly inspired a group of players that were a broken. Smith could never get the Gophers to do that for an entire season.
Relentless Recruiting:
The name “Pitino,” as mentioned previously, gets around. As an assistant for Florida and Louisville, Pitino learned what it takes to be a great recruiter from shadowing Billy Donovan and Rick Pitino: two of the best recruiters in the nation due to their hard work and dedication. He was able to recruit a solid class at FIU, which is not an easy place to recruit, landing two Rivals top 150 recruits.
Hopefully, his confident approach will pay off for the Gophers. Everyone wonders if this guy can lock down the “Big 3″ Reid Travis, Tyus Jones and Rashad Vaughn, some of the best recruits hailing from Minnesota in years. If his track record proves anything, Pitino will certainly keep them intrigued to play here. However, the first thing on Pitino’s recruiting agenda is getting the Gophers top recruit, Alvin Ellis, to recommit.
Overall, I love the Pitino hire and the guts it took for Teague to make this call. He has been a winner every place that he has been an assistant coach at, and also succeeded as a head coach for FIU. Mark my word – Pitino will be the right guy for the Gophers.
Rich Pitino - The Chosen One
By Andrew Koch
Rich Pitino will lead the Gophers men's basketball team as head coach next season.
Rick Pitino's son begins his major conference coaching career with the Gophers.
EYBL comes to Eagan this weekend
All games will be played at High Performance Academy. Have fun and enjoy watching the best talent that the class of 2014 has to offer!
Targets to watch
The Big Three – Tyus Jones (HP), Rashad Vaughn (Milwaukee Playground Elite), Reid Travis (HP) - Need I say more?
Sandy Cohen – Milwaukee Playground Elite – Cohen performed well early in the EYBL circuit prompting offers from Marquette, Memphis, and Minnesota. Cohen is averaging 8.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for MPE.
Tyler Ulis – Meanstreets – Ulis was originally offered by Tubby’s staff, and Pitino carried over his offer. After a great start to his AAU season, Ulis recently picked up an offer from Michigan State. Tyler attends the same high school, Marian Catholic, that freshman quarterback Chris Streveler attended.
Marial Shayok – CIA Bounce – Shayok is from New Jersey and holds offers from Minnesota, Georgia, Boston College, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Providence, and Seton Hall. McHale has probably developed a relationship with Shayok from his time at Seton Hall.
Terry Larrier – Team SCAN – Larrier is a small forward from Pennsylvania with a slew of high major offers: Minnesota, Arizona State, Creighton, Maryland, Miami, Pitt, Rutgers, St. John’s, Texas, USC, and West Virginia. Larrier also holds offers from Seton Hall and Florida International, so the staff likely already has a good relationship with Larrier.
Paul White – Meanstreets – White is a small forward from Chicago with offers from just about every Big Ten school, Arizona, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, and more. An offer from Nebraska indicates that White already knows Coach Ben Johnson.
Dwayne Foreman – Boo Williams – Foreman is a 6’8” lean power forward from a military prep academy in New York. Foreman has been offered by Minnesota, Alabama, Auburn, Iowa State, Pitt, and Providence.
Abdul-Malik Abu – Another stretch power forward from the Northeast, Abu is an excellent rebounder with great potential. He holds offers from many high majors, including Minnesota, UCONN, Kansas, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin.
Big names to watch
ESPN60 Rank – Position – Name – Team – Commitment
1 – C – Jahlil Okafor – Mac Irvin – uncommitted, Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky are favorites
1 (2015) – PF – Ivan Rabb – Oakland Soldiers - uncommitted
2 – PG – Tyus Jones – Howard Pulley – uncommitted, Duke, Michigan State, and Kentucky are favorites
3 – PG – Emmanuel Mudiay – Team Texas Pro – uncommitted, Kentucky seems to be favorite
4 – PG – Trey Lyles – Spiece Indy Heat – previously committed to Indiana, several schools still in play
4 (2015) – SG/PG – Malik Newman – Jackson Tigers – uncommitted, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are favorites
6 – PF – Chris McCullough – Team SCAN – Syracuse
8 – C/PF – Cliff Alexander – Mac Irvin – uncommitted, Michigan State, Kentucky, and Indiana are favorites
9 – SG – Rashad Vaughn – Milwaukee Playground Elite – uncommitted, Minnesota and North Carolina are favorites
10 – SF – Justise Winslow – Houston Hoops – uncommitted, Arizona and Duke are favorites
12 – PG – Joel Berry –E1T1 – North Carolina
13 – SF – Theo Pinson – CP3 All-Stars – North Carolina
14 – SF – Justin Jackson – Houston Hoops – North Carolina
15 – SF – Stanley Johnson – Oakland Soldiers – uncommitted, Kentucky seems to be favorite
16 – PG – JaQuan Lyle – Spiece Indy Heat – uncommitted, Florida, Indiana, Louisville, and Ohio State are favorites
17 – SF – Jalen Lindsey – Southern Stampede – uncommitted, Florida, Louisville, Ohio State, and Tennessee are favorites
19 – SG/SF – Devin Booker – Alabama Challenge – uncommitted, Michigan and Kentucky are favorites
Schedule: http://www.eteamz.com/howardpulley/files/EYBLSession4.pdf
Monday EYBL notes
- Paul White is tall and athletic. White is very lean, but he looks like he could put on some more weight.
- Tyler Ulis is very short but strong and compact. In limited minutes, he showed good ball handling and passing skills when breaking Albany City Rocks' press.
- All-Ohio Red's best player, Jae'Sean Tate, is committed to Ohio State. Tate is an athletic SG/SF that can shoot. In warmups, he threw down a 360 dunk.
- Reid Travis has much more confidence in his mid-range J than during the high school season. Travis took four or five 13-17 footers early on but missed all of them. He also struggled scoring from the low block and free throw line but provided HP with a needed defensive presence down low. There's a lot of weight on Travis' shoulders. He's their only player with adequate size for rough EYBL post play.
- JARVIS JOHNSON IS THE REAL DEAL. Johnson has some major hops and can score by either driving to the lane or shooting from distance. Shortly after Reid Travis won the tip-off, Tyus Jones threw a beautiful alley-oop to Johnson to set the tone for Howard Pulley. Shortly after, Johnson pulled up and sunk a 21 footer with a defender in his face. He's quick and agile, too - he was used in front when HP utilized a 1-2-2 trap.
- As always, Tyus played well. He certainly has the green light - when he wants to shoot, he's going to shoot. Early on he nailed two contested threes, but later chose to pass when he open look from 3. With Apple Valley, too, Jones would take contested shots and pass on others; he certainly seems like a "feelin' it" type of shooter.
- All-Ohio Red was playing Tyus close off the ball and during inbound plays. Clearly, they did not want Tyus to touch the ball. At one point, Jones made a defender look silly with a crossover followed by a spin move.
- Howard Pulley didn't utilize their bench a lot.
- There were maybe 600 people in attendance at the HP vs. All-Ohio Red game.
- I spoke briefly with Siyani Chambers, who was a mop-boy on court 5. Chambers is loving Harvard.
- Jahlil Okafor sprained his ankle and did not play Monday.
By Matt Gravett
By Matt Gravett
From a distance, it seems the University of Minnesota is not complying with Title IX. They may not be.
Title IX requires all federally-funded athletic programs to comply with one of three prongs:
1. Provide opportunities that are "substantially proportionate" to the undergraduate student enrollment.
2. Create more opportunities for the underrepresented sex (short term).
3. Accommodate interest and ability of underrepresented sex.
The University’s Athletics department seems to be failing in all three areas.
The Gophers do not comply with the first prong – women represent 52.8% (524 of 993) of student-athletes but 56% of the entire student body. The second prong was used as a way to help schools abide by Title IX when the law became effective in 1972 and is now mostly irrelevant. The third prong focuses on money, facilities, etc. However, the Minnesota Daily points out that men’s teams spent 125 percent more on recruiting, 70 percent more on recruitment travel, and 24 percent more on scholarships than women’s teams last year.
Then why has the Athletics department not been penalized yet? The Athletics department probably found a loophole. For example, they might say they are compliant with the third prong by providing females with equal facilities and educational opportunities/ help (such as tutoring for athletes).
Title IX trouble looming?
By Matt Gravett
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