Gophers Exit B1G Tourney Asking 'What Happened?'
Posted by Travis Bridell on Monday, March 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM
By Travis Bridell / March 16, 2015
Comment

"We definitely came in with the mindset of making a run," point guard DeAndre Mathieu said after Thursday's loss, "Winning five games in five days and getting chosen to play in the NCAA Tournament."With only one additional win against a cupcake Rutgers team, they may not even have an opportunity to defend their NIT title of a season ago. Last Sunday, the regular season ended mercifully with a 79-76 buzzer-beater loss to Penn State. Head Coach Richard Pitino and company were hoping to take advantage of one last chance to play in the postseason by making a run in the Big Ten Tournament with All-Big Ten honorable mentions Hollins and center Mo Walker at the helm.

"While they graduate Thursday night’s senior star Austin Hollins, the Gophers return four starters for the 2014-2015 season and should be poised to improve."They did not improve from a season that set the school record for wins. Over the course of the season there was no lack of change throughout the lineup, including: starting Nate Mason and Charles Buggs, playing Buggs at the three, playing Nate Mason, Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu (the three shortest players) at the same time and completely taking Elliot Eliason out of the rotation, among others. The season got off to a rocky start as the team lost a player to domestic assault charges (Daquein McNeil) and the first game of the season to the elder Pitino and a down Louisville squad.


"I don't think we would take a CBI or CIT -- I hope we're an NIT team," Pitino said, "I want to keep playing with these guys, keep coaching them. We enjoyed it last year."The team will just have to wait and see what kind of call comes through for them, if any at all.
"I get it, you're kind of labeled in sports today. If you don't make the NCAA Tournament, you're labeled a failure," Pitino said.As much as it hurts to say, the Gophers and its fans will have to look forward to a possible tournament, but more likely once again to next season to see a team that lives up to or surpasses expectations. Photos via: MGoBlog -- NCAA -- ESPN
Post a Comment