The Gophers have lost nine out of 10 games, yet head coach Richard Pitino is still satisfied with the effort.

Despite missing starters Reggie Lynch, Amir Coffey and now Dupree McBrayer, the Gophers have battled in their last handful of games but have been not been able to get over the hump, losing in overtime at Michigan and by six against Nebraska.

Pitino spoke Thursday about the difficulty of playing so shorthanded.

If any player has reason to be frustrated, it’s Nate Mason. The all-conference senior was supposed to end his career with an NCAA Tournament run. Instead, the Gophers may not even receive an NIT bid barring a late push.

Mason, though, is not prepared to mail in the season.

The Gophers battle the Indiana Hoosiers Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

Sam Ekstrom

Sam Ekstrom is an executive producer and host at Locked On Sports Minnesota. He's previously covered the Vikings for 105 The Ticket, Zone Coverage, Purple Insider, and the Associated Press. He grew up in Vermillion, S.D. rooting for the USD Coyotes (not SDSU) and graduated from Dordt (not "dork") University in Sioux Center, Iowa.

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