Now, things get back to normal, somewhat.

This hasn't been the most normal start to the season for Minnesota, a program that normally eases into the season with a few half-hearted opponents and then embarks on one or two road trips.

This season featured three road excursions, starting with the first game of the year, vs. Louisville in Puerto Rico -- the buildup of which made the whole event feel like much more than one game.

"We played a really, really tough two and a half first weeks," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. "The travel down to Puerto Rico, that wasn't easy on our team -- stopping in Louisville, going through all those things. That was a lot emotionally on our guys, travel-wise."

Then there was the three-game week at home. Then a lengthy trip to New York for two games in the NIT Season Tipoff. Finally, this year's ACC/ Big Ten challenge, at Wake Forest.

"That's a long trip," Pitino said of the NIT Tipoff. "I mean, we were there from Tuesday to Saturday -- in the hotel; my family; everybody's families.

"It's just too much. I was so excited to not have my kids on this trip and sleep a little bit. It was a lot for everybody. Now we've gotten through that and we can go back home."

The Gophers don't get to rest quite yet. After returning home late after Tuesday night's 84-69win at Wake Forest, Minnesota will suit up again Friday, for the first of three games in six days, against Western Carolina. When those three games are in the archives, the Gophers will have an eight-day layoff between games for final exams.

QUOTEABLE

Carlos Morris, on playing the power forward for the first time, in a four-guard lineup when Minnesota adjusted to Wake Forest's small look: "I just kind of felt out of place a little bit but I just had to do whatever coach Pitino told me to do."
Said Pitino: I didn't enjoy that lineup. I'm looking at it going what am I doing."

Andre Hollins, on what the team took away from three games on the road: "I think we just learned mental toughness, that we have to bring our own energy. I think that was one of the things that held us back last year -- our road losses. We let a few slip away and those games where, I don't want to say we were better but we had a good game plan and we thought we should have won the game. We just didn't execute. So I think we're really learning how to execute and take teams out."

Pitino, on holding Wake Forest Devin Thomas to four field goal attempts (and four points): "We wanted to do a lot of things -- trap him, dig hard. We knew he's a really good player and a main focal point of their team. So we talked a lot about taking him out of the game offensively, swarming him every time he touched the ball and I thought our guys did a great job of that."

TWEETED

"I'll eat a little crow for the halftime pessimism. A blowout over any BCS team on the road is great. Would love some continuity, however." -- @zipsofakron

"If this team can put together a complete game, watch out." -- @FromTheBarn

"This has been a special 7 3pt make game for Andre Hollins so far because the screens and ball movement of his teammates have been special too." -- @RyanJamesMN