WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gophers coach Richard Pitino had to look at several different ways to improve his defesne after last season's massive struggles.
Pitino took some tips from first-year Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau, who was a former Boston Celtics assistant.
"I've known (Thibodeau) for awhile from back in Boston," Pitino said. "People sometimes think that the NBA guys don't teach fundamentals. That's not accurate. I was blown away with how good of a practice he runs."
Pitino attended a couple Wolves practices to open training camp at the Mayo Clinic practice facility. Gophers players are now running some of the same drills that Karl-Anthony Towns and company are doing this fall.
"I was real eager to do that," Pitino said. "He's a coach. It sounds simple but that's what he is. He's got great drills. I've got a close out drill called 'Thibs close out.' He loves the game. I respect him. He's won everywhere he's been. It's a great resource." The Gophers were second to last in the Big Ten in defensive efficiency last season (103.1). Only Rutgers was worst in the conference at 106.9. The Wolves ranked 27th out of 30 NBA teams in defensive efficiency last year (107.1), so Thibodeau is expected to make a big difference in that area after his success with the Chicago Bulls. "Thibs is as good of a teacher as there is at it," Pitino said. "Their defensive numbers with the Bulls were ridiculous. That commitment to it is really, really good." Nebraska coach Tim Miles' program hosted the Wolves and Denver Nuggets in a preseason game Wednesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Miles said at Big Ten Media Day Nuggets and Wolves coaches spoke to his team. Huskers assistant Jim Molinari, a former Gophers assistant and interim coach, met with Thibodeau to talk about defense.
