Category: NCAA

Although he is only 30 years old, new Gophers’ coach Rich Pitino said this morning at his introductory press conference he doesn’t see the Minnesota job as a stepping stone to another position.

“This is absolutely the place I want to be,” Pitino said.  “Me and my wife talked about it last night, just how excited we were that we can finally be at a place we hope to be for the rest of our lives, and build something special.  I believe this is one of the top basketball jobs in the country, and I believe the University of Minnesota is one of the best universities in the country.  So I am really looking forward to building at a program that competes at a very high level.”

Pitino praised the fan base, historic Williams Arena and the Big Ten as America’s best conference during his remarks.  “I truly believe the sky is the limit (at Minnesota),” he said.

His teams will play full court pressure defense, trying to create turnovers and turn those mistakes by opponents into Minnesota baskets.  It’s a fast style of play that can be entertaining.  “I think you guys will really enjoy it,” he said.

Pitino will almost certainly pursue Tyus Jones, Rashad Vaughn and Reid Travis.  The three Minnesota high school juniors are among the most coveted prep players in the country, and Jones in particular has been targeted by glamour coaches John Calipari, Mike Krzyewski and Tom Izzo.

Former Gophers’ coach Jim Dutcher told Sports Headliners the young coach has much to prove as a recruiter and coach.  “I don’t think they (the top coaches) will be frightened to recruit against Minnesota,” said Dutcher who coached the Gophers to the 1982 Big Ten championship.

Pitino, who the Minnesota athletic department acknowledged earlier this week as the choice to replace Tubby Smith, has only one year of head coaching experience — an impressive 18-14 season this year at Florida International, a losing program that had gone nowhere under its previous failed coach, Isiah Thomas.  But Dutcher’s reaction and that of many Gophers followers to the hire was, “Who?”

The response is indicative that, short-term, Pitino won’t make much impact on fan interest in the Gophers.  “They won’t have to keep the ticket office open this weekend,” Dutcher said about Pitino.

Pitino is the son of 60-year-old Louisville coaching legend Rick Pitino.  Already the worry-warts are speculating if young Pitino is successful here, he will then be his father’s successor at Louisville.  The speculation is even frantic enough to suggest Pitino’s contract with the Gophers (perhaps not finalized yet) will include an opt-out clause to leave for Louisville.  “I don’t think he can command that,” Dutcher said.

Among Pitino’s assistants at Florida International was Mark Lieberman who won five state titles as a prep coach in Florida before working at Louisville.  Another assistant at Florida International, Kimani Young, has recruiting ties to New York City and New Jersey, areas Pitino is likely to emphasize at Minnesota.

Pitino’s background as an assistant to his dad and also to former national championship coach Billy Donovan at Florida is impressive.  So, too, is Pitino’s reputation as a strong recruiter and his performance coaching Florida International to the school’s first winning season in 13 seasons.  Regarding how he will do at Minnesota, Dutcher said, “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

But at 30 years old it’s virtually certain Pitino will bring extraordinary energy to the Gophers’ job.  The program and the results had grown stale under Smith.  Credit athletic director Norwood Teague with making a change the public wanted by dumping Smith and even if he didn’t hire a highly recognizable name in Pitino, his track record in hiring Shaka Smart at VCU gives the Gophers’ fan base encouragement about the future.

Pitino’s salary at Minnesota is expected to be about $3.7 million less than his father who earns close to $5 million at Louisville, according to a story in yesterday’s USA Today.

Dutcher Likes Syracuse, Louisville Tomorrow

Dutcher sees “three very good teams and kind of an unknown” in tomorrow’s Final Four lineup in Atlanta.  He predicts a Syracuse win over Michigan, and perhaps a double-digit victory by Louisville against Wichita State, a team that might be the lightweight among the four schools.

Dutcher, once an assistant coach at Michigan and perhaps the sharpest TV college basketball analyst ever in this town, said Wolverines’ sophomore point guard Trey Burke isn’t just the best player in the tourney, nobody in the country is as good.  “He’s got the ball more than anybody in the tournament,” Dutcher said.  “He decides what to run.”

It was mostly the clutch shooting of Burke that led Michigan to an improbable late game come from behind Sweet 16 win against Kansas.  The Wolverines trailed by double-digits in the closing minutes and Dutcher called it a game Michigan shouldn’t have won, but now the victory could help carry Burke and teammates to an NCAA title.  “A lot of times if you win one game you shouldn’t, you go all the way,” Dutcher said.  “It takes the pressure off.”

Michigan’s fate against Syracuse could well be decided by the Wolverines’ effectiveness against the Orange’s two-three zone defense.  Few college teams commit to a zone as their primary defense, and maybe no one executes the two-three better than Syracuse which has been using the defense for years.

Dutcher said Michigan could do well against the zone because of outstanding perimeter shooters including Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nik Stauskas.  It takes outside shooting and good rebounding to beat the zone, and the Wolverines have an emerging star in center Mitch McGary whose rebounding and scoring are commanding attention.

The Wolverines have three freshmen, a sophomore and junior in the starting lineup.  Syracuse has more experience and Dutcher likes the way the Orange make adjustments — plus that zone defense— so he’s predicting a Michigan loss.

Wichita State will wish it was back in Kansas if the Shockers can’t handle Louisville’s full court pressure defense.  That’s a relentless style most teams don’t play and if the Cardinals consistently force the Shockers into turnovers and convert steals and interceptions into baskets the game could be over early.

Louisville, the highest seeded team in the Final Four, is about a 10 point favorite to win the game.  Oddsmakers like Michigan by a couple of points against Syracuse.

Former Gophers basketball coach Jim Dutcher predicts Minnesota will defeat UCLA on Friday in its NCAA Tournament opening game in Austin, Texas.  “The Gophers got a great draw,” Dutcher told Sports Headliners last night.

The Gophers have struggled against teams effective on the inside but that’s not the Bruins.  “They’re not a physical team, and the big advantage Minnesota’s got is their best perimeter player broke his foot in the conference tournament against Arizona,” Dutcher said.  “Jordan Adams, he’s their second leading scorer.  He’s by far their best three-point shooter.”

Dutcher believes the Gophers are not only more physical than UCLA but also deeper.  “Their depth is really suspect,” he said.

UCLA’s games often involve scores in the 70s and beyond, a contrast to the low scoring, grind down the shot clock style Minnesota encountered in the Big Ten Conference.  “You’ll get chances (against UCLA) to score on the open floor,” Dutcher said.  “You’ll get some open looks from the perimeter.  I think style wise it’s really an excellent draw for Minnesota.”

Dutcher not only believes Minnesota will win the game but when prompted he predicted the score.  “I say the Gophers 77, UCLA 67.”

The Bruins, Pac-12 regular season champions with an overall 25-9 record, received a major upgrade in talent this season from their incoming freshmen led by two guards, Adams (15.3 average) and Shabazz Muhammad, the team’s leading scorer at 17.8.  Redshirt junior forward Travis Wear is the team’s other double figures scorer at 11.2 points per game.

The Bruins lost 78-69 to Oregon in the Pac-12 Tournament title game last week.  It was UCLA’s second loss to the Ducks this year.  Dutcher pointed out that Oregon is a No. 12 seed in the Midwest Region while the Bruins are a No. 6 seed in the South Region.

The Gophers, the No. 11 seed in the South with an overall 20-12 record, have lost three consecutive games.  They have won only five games since January 9 while UCLA has 13 wins during the same period.  But, as Dutcher said, this game could be about styles and UCLA being without a key player in Adams.

If the Gophers defeat the Bruins, their opponent Sunday will almost certainly be No. 3 seed Florida.  Dutcher believes the Gators will be too much for Minnesota.  “There’s a reason they’re No. 3.  They’re a good solid basketball team.”

Dutcher’s Final Four predictions?  His choices are Louisville, New Mexico, Kansas and Syracuse.  He likes Kansas to win the national championship on April 8 in Atlanta, praising Bill Self’s tournament coaching skills, plus the experience and talent of the players.  “I just think they’ve got a lot going for them,” Dutcher said.

Dutcher and some other college basketball experts are leaving the Big Ten out of Final Four predictions despite the league’s reputation during the season of being the nation’s best conference.  Dutcher doesn’t discredit the league’s overall strength but he likes the chances of other teams more.

Indiana, Dutcher said, is the Big Ten team most likely to reach Atlanta.  “They’re a good team but they’re not a dominant team.”

Dutcher said the Hoosiers, Big Ten regular season champs, don’t have “big man depth” behind center Cody Zeller and that’s a problem in pursuing a national title.  “They need Zeller to play a great game for them to win, and when he’s good, they’re good.” Dutcher said.  “You saw at Williams Arena when he’s not good, they’re not as good. …”

In the highlight moment of their season, the Gophers defeated then No. 1 ranked Indiana, 77-73, on February 26.  Minnesota’s only win since has been against lowly Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions, 73-44, on Senior Day March 2.