Link: Jaevon McQuitty has many regional suitors

McQuitty is being recruited by most in the Big Ten and his offer list will continue to grow. He's from Columbia and will probably get the Missouri offer that he's hoping to get sooner rather than later. Regardless, Minnesota is putting in the work to get him. Also keep in mind that the Gophers can be pretty selective this year with wide receiver recruiting since they brought in three receivers last class and will only have Drew Wolitarsky graduate.

Jefferson (Ga.) guard Caleb Chandler received an offer tonight. This is his first power five offer.

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Orchard Lake St. Mary's wide receiver Kahlee "KJ" Hamler was picked up a Gopher offer. Hamler has been on my radar but I didn't include him on the big board because he's a Michigan kid with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, etc. But many offers like these are extended like this in February/March and like I said in the Jaevon McQuitty thread, Minnesota can probably be pretty selective with wide receiver recruiting this year.

Minnesota is looking at a handful of St. Mary's recruits. They'll make many visits there this cycle.

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Minnesota has offered 2017 Berrien Springs (Mich.) guard Phillip Paea. He's a 5.7 three-star who heard from the Gophers on September 1 (first day of contact for juniors) and was one I mentioned in the 2017 big board.

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Lake Park (Ill.) defensive end Jacub Panasiuk will visit Iowa State tomorrow and Minnesota next weekend. Minnesota recruited his brother Mike and Lake Park is where Antonio Shenault went to high school, so Minnesota has already naturally laid some good legwork with Jacub. Michigan State is where Mike went last year, and they will definitely be the team to beat. This visit is important because Jacub plans to make a decision before the summer camp season.

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Link: Chandler thrilled about Minnesota offer

Here is the preview for tonight's game against 22-4 Maryland. No they don't have Diamond but Diamond's back-up has started a lot this year and they won a lot with him so Maryland will be fine.

Preview is here, I expect another close game, I expect to see a lot of the 4 frosh, 2 sophs, and Joey competing the best they can. Maybe the youth will turn the corner and get a win to build off for the rest of the year and into next year. I think it will be close.

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/maryland-pregame-1

4 are not renewing their season tickets for football. Half of the group is retired and the other half a year or two away. Most of the group have been season ticket holders since the mid-80's. Extremely upset with the donation fee in relation to being long time season ticket holders.

When I reflect on why we were able to finish the game last night I think about the plays made by the players that allowed us to get over that hump. These are the plays that the guys weren't making in the previous games which led to us falling short. Below is my list:

1. Free throws. The boys closed the game out at the line. Jordan Murphy is a 60% FT shooter and stepped up along with Mason and King

2. Jordan Murphy wanting the ball more than anyone else once a shot went up. JM literally jumped over 2 guys to keep a possession alive when we were struggling to score. Without him flying in and wanting the ball, we don't score on that possession.

3. Dupree McBrayer's Steal. That steal by Trimble on Mason could have ended us as it was a 3 on 1 and Dupree anticipated the pass and MADE A PLAY! This was by far the play of the game

4. Nate Mason's massive 3 pt shot. We had probably 8 or 9 terrible possessions in a row and we couldn't even sniff a shot as we were stagnant. The shot that Nate took wasn't even a good shot, but he MADE A PLAY and it gave us a bit more breathing room.

5. Our poise. Other than the Mason turnover which led to Dupree's steal, the young gophers handled their pressure with such poise it was impressive. I kept thinking "here comes a bad pass or travel but it didn't happen. Other ways of poise.. the fact that the Terps took the lead and we didn't hang our heads. GROWTH!

6. This one no one might have noticed but Dorsey had a HUGE check on their big when we were only up 1. Dodd crashed hard as Murphy went over to block a driving shot that left his man open and Dorsey came over to check him and contest the rebound. He doesn't rotate, we don't have the lead anymore. This was the play that was reviewed.

These are just the ones down the stretch that I can remember off the top of my head and I'm sure there could be more. Such a fun game to watch.

We have people on this board that, for many years, have PAID....PAID... to be in discussions for a program that has been CONSISTENTLY successful in many sports except the 2 that people want for national credence, Men's basketball and football, in RECENT DECADES... We have had national championships in winter sports as well as dance team and close recently in volleyball.. Girls basketball had the Final Four run. So we have had athletic success but again, not in the 2 major sports recognized nationally by most fans that give validity because of national exposure in the press. Yet you guys are DIEHARDS.. That is awesome and to be commended.

The mens basketball program has had 2 tremendously successful years in my lifetime, 24-3 team and the Final Four team, marred by scandal. The 24-3 team, I would argue, had a chance to be a national championship team(probably undefeated if not for Michigan and Purdue that year)... The '97 run to the Final Four was a fun team to watch, regardless of the academic scandal....We cheer because we are DIEHARDS... Maybe crossing over to insane at times but DIEHARDS nonetheless. That is awesome and to be commended.

We've hashed and rehashed why it is difficult for our program to win consistently in mens basketball and football yet we support, watch, and discuss this program as something we value.. At least $99 a year on Rivals.... We are a dedicated fanbase and it is fun to support the Gophers as well as have fellow fans to share that with... I know that Minnesota is basically a 'red headed stepchild' in the area I am living but we honestly have an athletic program to be proud of and I am thankful for each of your contributions and support of our Gopher program. That is awesome and to be commended.

Followed up last night's game and presser with this morning's story on the victory.

And yes, I had to bring back the words of the legendary Hawk after the late night moment.

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/what-a-rush-

Turgeon

• I thought Minnesota played well. Made shots, made free throws.
• I don't think we played very well. I thought our defense could have played much better in the second half, much more active.
• Turnovers hurt us again.
• Obviously very disappointing, I have to figure out a way to get us going again.
• Offensive rebounding was disappointing.
• At times, I thought we were really poised and at times we weren't.
• I have to get Melo going again. I thought he was better in the second half. Defensively, he was better in tune, even if there were a couple turnovers. I have to figure out a way to get him going again.
• Early, we made some mistakes defensively on things we had worked on early. They made us pay. Then they got confident, kind of got going, and then lost ourselves down the stretch. I kept waiting for them to lock in defensively.
• We have to make adjustments a little bit better.
• Didn't take the 0-13 record for granted. We have a ton of respect for Minnesota. We put a lot into this game.
• Jordan Murphy - he's big. He got a lot of rebounds. He scores down low.
• This is not a lot of fun. I just want us playing better. Hopefully it starts Sunday.

Pitino

• That was fun. They put a lot of work into it. I'm glad they get to feel this. We're not perfect, but the way we beat them -- the rebounds, the free throws-- I'm just very happy for our guys.
• I watched Joey King's speech, that made me want to cry as well...Joey grew up wanting to play at Minnesota. That was raw emotion. He's a Minnesota lifer. It will be cold and snowing out, and he'll say "isn't it beautiful out here?"
  
• Locker room was sheer enthusiasm. We were a complete team in that locker room, in that game. Everyone was happy for each other.
• We've had so many close losses in the last two years. Maybe I'm the worst coach on the planet, but I don't think I'm that bad.
• They have so many good offensive players, but we did a good job of shrinking the court. I think they have four NBA players in the lineup. We did a good job of slapping down and knowing when they're playing isolation basketball.
• Even Ahmad, except for one of the worst fast breaks in my life, he was good. Two steals. He did well.
• I'm happy for Joey because he deserves success. I think the young guys can kind of see where this is going as we keep building.
• What excites me about Murph is that he had 17 and 11 and he's just scratching the surface. He had some shots down low that he'll get in the future.
• When Nate made that three -- that was a big play. That steal Dupree had was great too.
• I thought the court storming was awesome for a couple reasons. We had a good crowd and were 0-13 and didn't win for a couple minutes. That shows you that we have a really loyal fanbase that's dying for success. Even the students, the students our loyal. I'm happy we all got to taste that. I'm happy for the fans.
• I can now go through the Starbucks drive thru now.
• It may not appear like it, but I am a defensive minded coach. I love defense. I want to get stops and get out on the break and tonight I did that.
• Not my biggest win. I know I'm young, but I've won the NIT.
• They deserve to walk around campus and not be ashamed of themselves. They're really good kids and do work hard.
• Tomorrow they'll have off and we'll get back to work on Saturday.
• We're not through it yet, but I'd say these last two months has made me 1000% a better coach and a better person. When you lose this month, it puts things in perspective. When you lose, you get crushed, and I'm fine with that. When you lose, you lean on two things -- your family and your team. I did that.
• I swear to god, if my daughter asked me one more time "did you win tonight" I was going to lose my mind. Once she woke me up and asked me did you win, and I just wanted to say "please go away". Maybe today I'll wake her up and tell her we won.

I'll have video from the locker room shortly.

Avon (Ind.) outside linebacker Bryant Fitzgerald, who's committed to Indiana, was offered tonight.

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Chicago three-star Micah Awodiran has been offered. Sherels talked to him last night and again just now when the offer was extended.

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Trinity Catholic (Mo.) three-star Larry Boyd received an offer from Minnesota tonight.

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Many on the board (including myself) have felt that this team was a terrible defensive team and that was VERY true throughout most of the season, but as I have watched some of the games as of late, there have been some statistics that have said that improvement is being made and Pitino must be working on something in this department.

Below is PPG for the teams we have played since we have been competitive, and what they scored vs us

Indiana - 83.5 - 70 (14 point diff)
Michigan - 76 - 74 (2 point diff)
Illinois - 73.7 - 76 (-2 point diff but game went into OT)
Purdue - 77.3 - 68 (9 point diff)
Indiana - 83.5 - 74 (10 point diff)
NW - 71.7 - 82 (-10 point diff.. this team just eats us alive for some reason)
Michigan - 76 - 82 (-6 point diff)
Iowa - 80.3 - 75 (5 point diff)

So with the NW game seeming to be more of an outlier as of late, it appears that this team is trending in the right way defensively and that if we went back and played some of those non-conferences teams, I really think it would be a different story. RJ has commented that youth can be an excuse to a point, and I think we are seeing the youth finally starting to "get it" when it comes to defense. Its coming you guys, its coming along, it would be so nice to see wins though wouldn't it?!?!

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but did he ding up his shoulder or something? He was wearing a harness on his right arm last night and I hadn't seen that before.

Minnesota has offered Ben Davis (Ind.) defensive tackle LeShaun Minor, another guy from the 2017 big board that the staff has been eyeing for a while. Minor is a three star with offers from Illinois, Indiana, and three MAC programs.

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For the mens basketball team, we have Rutgers and Illinois on the road... Our 2 remaining home games are Rutgers and Wisconsin but the Badgers will be on Senior Day to honor Joey.. Hopefully, Senior Day will be the game to bring out our best.. I am confident that we CAN beat Rutgers both times and Illinois but the Wisconsin game is the only roadblock that scares me as we could have a 5 game winning streak going into the B10 tournament. Obviously, we cant take ANY game for granted but as fans, we can dream. If we play like we did last night, it is a very real possibility.

Texas Tech has beat 3 in a row. If that was here we'd be shot from court storming and broke from buying commemorative prints! Glad it's not us.

Joey's emotional interview lead the 9PM Pacific time Sports Center along with game hi lites and the crowd rush. Good stuff!

Third straight win vs ranked team, 65-63 over #3 Oklahoma tonight. Took over a situation WAY worse than what Richard took over here. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. I think most of us would have gladly kept Glen over Brewster. I'd take a chance at beating Maryland tomorrow night over the "hope" that we are good in three years.

I don't suppose there is any chance football ticket holders get any sort of priority to watch her jiggle.....errrr, sing at the concert? Any word?

West Virginia: Cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell is leaving to join Justin Fuente’s staff at Virginia Tech according to Mike Casazza of the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

The Va Tech guy left for Florida.