Gophers

Five things that need to happen for Richard Pitino's Gophers

By Marcus Fuller

December 15, 2019 at 5:40AM

Gophers guard Marcus Carr drove against Clemson. (Brian Stensaas — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Five things that need to happen for a Gophers turnaround:

1. Find a sidekick for Oturu: Not only does Gophers sophomore Daniel Oturu have to keep playing like arguably the best center in the Big Ten, but he needs a teammate to join him as an all-league player.

2. Stay hot from the arc: Every team has an off shooting night, but that can't happen too often for the Gophers, who must lead the Big Ten in three-point shooting.

3. Get backcourt trio to show up: Can the same Gophers backcourt that went 3-for-29 in the loss at Iowa do the opposite in big games and dominate the opposition?

4. Establish defensive identity: The Gophers ranked in the top 50 in defensive efficiency in two of past three seasons. Currently 72nd.

5. Beat a ranked team on the road: The past two years the Gophers made the NCAA tournament, they defeated ranked Purdue and Wisconsin teams away from the Barn.

about the writer

Marcus Fuller

Reporter

Marcus Fuller covers Gophers men's basketball, national college basketball, college sports and high school recruiting for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

More from Gophers

Gophers

U women’s basketball scores rare road upset, beats No. 10 Iowa 91-85

Gophers athletics

Gophers

U women’s basketball scores rare road upset, beats No. 10 Iowa 91-85

It’s the Gophers’ first victory at Iowa since 2007, their first victory over a top-10 team since 2018 and their first road victory over a top-10 team since 2003.

Gophers

Erik Påhlsson emerging as Gophers’ potential X factor: ‘There’s a good story in there’

Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune

Gophers

Erik Påhlsson emerging as Gophers’ potential X factor: ‘There’s a good story in there’

Gophers

Gophers softball hopes healthy pitching staff helps team rebound

Shari L. Gross/The Minnesota Star Tribune

Gophers

Gophers softball hopes healthy pitching staff helps team rebound

Gophers

U women’s basketball scores rare road upset, beats No. 10 Iowa 91-85

Gophers athletics

Gophers

U women’s basketball scores rare road upset, beats No. 10 Iowa 91-85

It’s the Gophers’ first victory at Iowa since 2007, their first victory over a top-10 team since 2018 and their first road victory over a top-10 team since 2003.