WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Richard Pitino thinks Nate Mason isn't getting enough respect.
The Gophers fourth-year basketball coach won't have to worry about that anymore after Mason's 31-point, 11-assist, six-rebound effort Sunday in a 91-82 overtime win against No. 15 Purdue at Mackey Arena.
"I've tried to tell everybody why shouldn't Nate Mason be considered one of the better guards in the league?" Pitino said. "Nobody ever mentions it. So I'm proud of him to breakthrough against a very good defensive team."
Pitino has always stuck up for Mason. But the Gophers junior guard and team captain actually has been getting some attention this season.
Big Ten Network's Shon Morris named Mason as one of the conference's most improved players and listed Mason among the league's best players through nonconference play. Other Big Ten observers are sure to follow.
Mason's previous career high was 25 points in a loss at Michigan last season. The Georgia native proved then he could be one of the Big Ten's top point guards, averaging 16 points and six assists in his last seven games in 2015-16 before being suspended.
Despite his 18 points in Tuesday's 75-74 overtime loss against Michigan State, Mason missed a potential game-winning shot in overtime. The loss wasn't his fault, but Mason believed he could've played better, so he put up some extra shots before the New Year.
The result was Mason beginning 2017 with the best game of his career.