Q&A: Gophers coach Richard Pitino on summer workouts, new players, and more

Gophers men’s hoops coach Richard Pitino talks with KSTP Sports’ Darren ‘Doogie’ Wolfson about how summer workouts are going, the uncertainty surrounding the season, whether he’s optimistic newcomers Liam Robbins and Both Gach will be immediately eligible, and a lot more.

***Click the video box on this page to watch our chat with Pitino***

Pitino was able to get in the gym with a handful of his players starting on July 20. Guards Marcus Carr and Jamal Mashburn Jr., wing David Mutaf, and power forward Brandon Johnson aren’t on campus yet, all other players are. Carr has until August 3rd to decide if he wants to come back to the ‘U’ or keep his name in the NBA Draft.

In an ideal world, a) there’s a season, and b) Robbins, a transfer from Drake, and Gach, a transfer from Utah, are able to play right away.

With a belief that Carr will be back, the Gophers could have a starting five of Carr, Gabe Kalscheur, Gach, Johnson, and Robbins, with Tre Williams, Isaiah Ihnen, Eric Curry (if he’s healthy), Mashburn Jr., and others could provide sparks off the bench.

Mutaf, who we got to know a few weeks back, remains in Turkey. He’s hopeful to arrive in Minnesota in mid-August, but then would be expected to quarantine for some length of time.

The 37-year-old Pitino has a 127-108 record with the Gophers, including a 48-82 mark in Big Ten regular-season play. They finished 12th in the 14-team league in 2019-20.

Pitino took over the Gophers in April 2013.