Richard Coffey, who played for the Gophers and in the NBA, makes a living traveling around the country as a motivational speaker, so he was more than willing to talk to Minnesota's basketball team Monday about dealing with a rough season.
"I talked about using their courage to get to their next level," Coffey said. "I asked them all to commit more of themselves and all of themselves to the team's success. I told them it's not your confidence that gets you through tough times, it's your courage and your fight."
The Gophers (6-12, 0-6 Big Ten), who travel to play Michigan (13-5, 3-2) on Wednesday in Ann Arbor, have lost seven straight games and are still winless in the Big Ten this season.