Though I've been subconsciously drifting in this direction since mid January, I have now begun to watch the Gopher games strictly as development games leading into next season and 2017-18. Much like the results on the team's trip to Europe last summer, I'm to the point that I really don't care if they win or lose, as much as I do, whether they are playing better, especially in regards to the freshmen and sophomores.
Really, as a devout fan of the team, it's the only way to avoid damaging TVs, walls, windows, doors, and my marriage of 11 years.
The complete lack of understanding of the game of basketball by Buggs and Morris...water under the bridge my friends, as they'll both be gone by next season (in the case of Morris and Lord willing, Mr. Buggs as well).
Mason, Murphy, Konate, McBrayer, Dorsey and Gilbert. Those are the guys that need to be learning from the B10 wars, and, hopefully, getting better as the season wears on. Each should be benefitting significantly from the minutes played, and returning far more seasoned and prepared for the roles thrust upon them next season. Add to that Lynch and Fitzgerald, who through circumstance are forced to see games from the stands (again, we hope, learning through being forced to watch others successes and failures), yet maturing in their games with an extra year of development in practice, and we've got the makings of a much improved 8 man rotation.
Coffey, Hurt and Curry fill out the 11 man. Haven't seen Curry in person, but I have seen Hurt and Coffey, and I can honestly say that the thing that excites me most about the two of them, is that they make their teammates better. Two reasons we shoot so poorly this season: 1- with the exception of King, we don't have great shooters, 2 - our "team" offense is sooo poorly executed, that rarely do we create open, in rhythm shots from ball movement.
Next year I see Mason at the point, Coffey and Fitzgerald at the wings, Murphy at the 4 and Lynch at the 5. McBrayer sees time at both the 1 and 2, Hurt and Gilbert on the wings, Curry at 4 and Konate at 5.
To me, the real wild card is Dorsey. Lots of natural ability, but how a 5'10 , waterbug quick guard can have only 29 assists in 23 games is beyond me. More than any of the aforementioned 6, he has suffered from a lack of team offense execution as it encourages (even forces from time to time) him to create something for himself, rather than learn how to get shots within the flow of offense, and/or create for others. Can see him as a future All-Conference player (if he gets it), or a disgruntled transfer who blames lack of success on coach (if he doesn't).
Just my two cents.
