Three notes from today's media availability:

1. PITINO PLEASED: The score was certainly not what Minnesota coach Richard Pitino hoped when he flew his team to Puerto Rico to play a national top-10 opponent in their first game of the year, but after analyzing the film of the 81-68 loss, he doesn't regret too much, he said at media availability on Monday.

"I'm very happy we played it," he said. "We got great exposure. Certainly we learned a lot from that opportunity and that experience. I would do it again if I could."

Pitino was critical of the team's foul trouble -- "it just gave us no chance," he said -- but said overall he was encouraged by the performance, noting that the outcome could have been different if not for one player.

"I told my dad if LeBron James didn't show up wearing a Montrezl Harrell jersey, it might have been a different game," he said. "Because he was ridiculous. He was hitting step-back NBA threes. He made two threes like all last year, he hit three threes. He shot like 60 percent from the foul line ... so I'm proud of him because he worked really hard and he's going to be a great player, but I don't think it was as unbalanced a game as some people may think except for Montrezl.

"We didn't have a whole lot to stop him."

2. NO IMMEDIATE REMATCH: Pitino said he doesn't expect to play Louisville next year, but acknowledged that "anything can happen."

He cast doubt on the idea of a home-and-home with the Cardinals, which folks surrounding the program have already been calling for.

"I don't think he'd want to play here," he said of his dad, Louisville coach Rick Pitino, citing all the other tough non-conference commitments the Cardinals already have.

"I understand our fans want marquee opponents in the Barn in the non-conference. I really do understand that, and we're looking at that as well. Any opportunities we can have to play on national TV is great for our program."

3. RICK SPEAKS: After the team flew back to Louisville together on Saturday, the elder Pitino spoke to the team in the airport, the Gophers coach said.

"Rarely ever can you have the opposing coach talk to your team," he said. "So that was valuable."

Center Mo Walker said the talk focused on prodding the players to be more intense and build their identity.

I think everybody took it great," he said. "What he had to say was right on point. I think he is one of our biggest supporters even though he was coaching against us. He likes to see his son do well and he wants us to do well, and I really appreciated his words after the game."