Gopher Hoops

[ericd7633]

Incoming guard has been named Mr Basketball in New York

Isiah Washington

I love that we'll be two deep at both PG and SG next year. I think Harris will be a solid contributor. He fills role this team will desperately need in his ability to shoot the 3. I'm hoping Mason, DuPree and Amir can improve on their outside shooting, even if it's slightly. If that happens this team will contend for the B1G IMO.

 

[PnkPanther]

I love that we'll be two deep at both PG and SG next year. I think Harris will be a solid contributor. He fills role this team will desperately need in his ability to shoot the 3. I'm hoping Mason, DuPree and Amir can improve on their outside shooting, even if it's slightly. If that happens this team will contend for the B1G IMO.

In theory, they should be in the hunt.

If Hurt can become a contributor would be nice too, he can shoot 3's, just lost his confidence

 

[ericd7633]

In theory, they should be in the hunt.

If Hurt can become a contributor would be nice too, he can shoot 3's, just lost his confidence

Maybe it's homer of me, but I think he'll take a big step forward next year, I think an off season program will do wonders for him. I actually think all 3 freshman will benefit from this off season. If Curry and Amir add some strength look out. On a larger scale, Curry and Amir are the type of prospects that we should be recruiting. Guys who won't be one and done, but are talented enough by the time their upperclassmen to be 1st team All-B1G guys. I really think getting Amir could turn out to be the greatest recruiting get the Gophers have had in my lifetime, in terms of impact on the program, and the perception changing nature getting him has created.

 

[PnkPanther]

Ahmad Gilbert to transfer

 

[ericd7633]

Ahmad Gilbert to transfer

Great thing for the Gophers program. He wasn't going to play much, if at all. Let's hope we can bring in another impact grad transfer like Springs was this year, that'd be the ideal thing IMO.

 

[ericd7633]

Gophers #13 in the Sporting News' way to early top 25.

Way-too-early 2017-18 Top 25 rankings: Arizona, Duke land top two spots

 

[PnkPanther]

Great thing for the Gophers program. He wasn't going to play much, if at all. Let's hope we can bring in another impact grad transfer like Springs was this year, that'd be the ideal thing IMO.

It was pretty telling when he was only player who didn't play vs Nebraska. Pitino was forcing his hand by not playing him. Sadly it happens

With Dayton's coach leaving for Indiana, Mckinley Wright rumors are heating up, but he's a PG and wouldn't play much next year if he did come, and that's a big IF.

 

[PnkPanther]

Gophers #13 in the Sporting News' way to early top 25.

Way-too-early 2017-18 Top 25 rankings: Arizona, Duke land top two spots

I'm always nervous with expectations. Too many let downs as a MN fan, but good to see. ON paper I agree, depth could still be an issue next year

 

[ericd7633]

It was pretty telling when he was only player who didn't play vs Nebraska. Pitino was forcing his hand by not playing him. Sadly it happens

With Dayton's coach leaving for Indiana, Mckinley Wright rumors are heating up, but he's a PG and wouldn't play much next year if he did come, and that's a big IF.

I heard a rumor that he refused to go into the game against Nebraska. Not sure if that's true or not, but if so, it's probably in best interest of both that he's leaving.

And yeah, I'm not sure how much PT Wright would get w/Mason and Washington, plus I'm even fine with Sharp coming in to spell some minutes if need be. I really like where we're at with the PG situation. I'd love to get a grad transfer of some sort, there's plenty of them out there.

 

[PnkPanther]

I heard a rumor that he refused to go into the game against Nebraska. Not sure if that's true or not, but if so, it's probably in best interest of both that he's leaving.

And yeah, I'm not sure how much PT Wright would get w/Mason and Washington, plus I'm even fine with Sharp coming in to spell some minutes if need be. I really like where we're at with the PG situation. I'd love to get a grad transfer of some sort, there's plenty of them out there.

Agreed, but depth at PG never hurts, Mason graduates next year and Washington/wright could probably play together. But I'd agree there are bigger fish, but Wright wouldn't be a bad thing, especially long term

I've also heard rumors from ISU grad transfer that can play SF that would be intriguing

 

[ericd7633]

I'm always nervous with expectations. Too many let downs as a MN fan, but good to see. ON paper I agree, depth could still be an issue next year

Yeah, you'd like to think with everybody having a year of playing with each other, and another offseason to get better, you'd like to think there would be some improvement within, since the roster won't look all that different(unless we get a grad transfer). I'm hoping Fitzgerald can bring something to the table, but coming off his injuries, I'm not sure what he'll have. And I'm hopeful Hurt can improve enough to be a quality player off the bench. Him spelling Coffey, even it's just 10-12 minutes a game would be huge.

I really feel confident about Mason, Dupree, Coffey, Murphy, Lynch and Washington(even though he's a freshman) to be the best players next season. We need at least 2 more to step up. And 3 would be ideal.

 

[ericd7633]

Agreed, but depth at PG never hurts, Mason graduates next year and Washington/wright could probably play together. But I'd agree there are bigger fish, but Wright wouldn't be a bad thing, especially long term

I've also heard rumors from ISU grad transfer that can play SF that would be intriguing

That's a great point about the long term view point. If we did get a grad transfer in, I think we'd have 6 open scholarships for the 2018 class if I'm not mistaken. That's certainly a lot to fill, even with a pretty good Minnesota high school class.

And I've heard those rumors to about the Illinois State grad transfer, he averaged like 14 a game for them. Would give Pitino a ton of flexibility with the lineup.

 

[PnkPanther]

Pitino is getting a new contract

 

[ericd7633]

Some Gophers OOC scheduling dates and opponents thus far:

November 13th - @ Providence(Gavitt Games)
November 24th - vs. Umass(Barclays Classic)
November 25th - vs. Alabama(Barclays Classic)
December 9th - @ Arkansas(Return game for H&H)

TBD - ACC/B1G Challenge Game - hearing rumors of Duke at this point. Would obviously be huge for the program.

 

[Gopherfan84]

Some Gophers OOC scheduling dates and opponents thus far:

TBD - ACC/B1G Challenge Game - hearing rumors of Duke at this point. Would obviously be huge for the program.

I haven't paid too close attention, but I think it's tended to be somebody who finished close to the equivalent position in the conference standings last season. If you go 4th vs. 4th that would be Notre Dame, but the match-ups on either side would be much more intriguing as that would either be Duke or...Louisville. If it's not Notre Dame, I almost expect Louisville because of the Pitino vs. Pitino selling point when it would come to marketing the Challenge.

 

[ericd7633]

I haven't paid too close attention, but I think it's tended to be somebody who finished close to the equivalent position in the conference standings last season. If you go 4th vs. 4th that would be Notre Dame, but the match-ups on either side would be much more intriguing as that would either be Duke or...Louisville. If it's not Notre Dame, I almost expect Louisville because of the Pitino vs. Pitino selling point when it would come to marketing the Challenge.

It's going to be one of Duke, ND or Louisville IMO. The best thing the Gophers have going for themselves is that Duke can't play Michigan State since they play in the Champions Classic. That would have been the obvious match up. That likely leads to Louisville matching up with Michigan State.

 

[Gopherfan84]

So much for rumors. Miami is coming to the Barn.

 

[PnkPanther]

Race Thompson reclassified and went as 2017 recruit to Indiana

Jarvis Thomas is expecting to announce Tuesday, odds are it's the gophers

 

[PnkPanther]

Future is getting bright for gophers. Pitino is shaping up a good recruiting class and one spot to go. We're in good position with 2019 Matthew Hurt whose a top 10 prospect. So long as we can build at on last year, with new facilities helping recruit, we could be a legit team and get to the tourney more than once every 5-6 years

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

Future is getting bright for gophers. Pitino is shaping up a good recruiting class and one spot to go. We're in good position with 2019 Matthew Hurt whose a top 10 prospect. So long as we can build at on last year, with new facilities helping recruit, we could be a legit team and get to the tourney more than once every 5-6 years

It's funny how folks wanted to fire him after year 2.... I said the moment he was hired, he needed 5-7. It's nice to see the in state talent actually stay!