DOOLEY Observed: Pitino leads Minnesota past SMU 65-63 to win NIT

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." .... jbd

"When once a job you have begun, do no stop till it is done. Whether the task be great or small, do it well, or not at all." .... Anon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

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If you can't start a fire, perhaps your wood is wet ....

When you elect clowns, expect a circus ..............

Friday, April 4, 2014

Pitino leads Minnesota past SMU 65-63 to win NIT

Minnesota coach Richard Pitino, right, stands with his father, Rick Pitino, after Minnesota's 65-63 win over SMU in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the NIT on Thursday, April 3, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Pitino held his 3-year-old daughter in his arms as his Minnesota team cut down the net at Madison Square Garden.

"Richard, get up there!" yelled his famous father, Rick, the Hall of Fame coach at Louisville.

First, the kid had others in mind.

"The assistants!" he shouted back.

Spoken like a coach who listened closely at the dinner table eating up every last lesson.

Austin Hollins hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 46.1 seconds left and Minnesota won the NIT championship Thursday night, beating SMU 65-63 to give the Pitino family its latest postseason tournament title.

Hollins scored 19 points and Andre Hollins had 14 for the Golden Gophers (25-13), who took home the trophy for the third time. They also won the National Invitation Tournament in 1993 and '98, though the second one was vacated because of an NCAA rules violation involving player eligibility.

"We made some big-time plays," Richard Pitino said. "Austin made a big-time 3. We gutted it out. That is a very good team. They're a really good team. They deserve to be in the NCAA tournament. I'm really proud of our guys. I'm so happy for our seniors."

With Rick Pitino sitting — sometimes standing — right near his son's bench, Minnesota made up for a blowout loss to Stanford in the NIT final two years ago and finished with a flourish in its first season under 31-year-old Richard Pitino.

"I think it's one of the highlights of my life," Rick Pitino said on the court after giving his boy a hug. "He's a brilliant young man."

After dad was knocked out of the NCAAs last week when the defending champion Cardinals were beaten by rival Kentucky in the Sweet 16, it was left to the younger Pitino to bring home a title in April.

That's exactly what he did, defeating SMU and Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown — old enough to be his grandfather.

"It was a character win," Richard Pitino said, his boyish face still looking focused on the postgame tasks at hand.