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Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Q&A With Sean Sutherlin
11/22/2021 8:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sean Sutherlin joins the Gopher men's basketball program after a two-year stint at New Hampshire. He began his collegiate career at Sheridan College after a standout prep career at Irondale High School in Mounds View, Minn. Suffering a hip injury last season, Sutherlin sat out the 2020-21 season at New Hampshire. In 2019-20, the New Brighton, Minn., native started all 28 games in which he played and averaged 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33.9 minutes per game. He ended the season ranked No. 14 in the nation in defensive rebounding (7.64 per game) and led America East in double-doubles (12) and defensive rebounding (7.6 per game). Get to know Sutherlin as he starts his Gopher career. This feature originally ran in the digital game program for the Purdue Fort Wayne game (11.19.21).
Walk us through how you landed here at Minnesota and what's it like to play in your home state?
I was in the transfer portal last year after I was at New Hampshire. When in the transfer portal, Ben Johnson hit me up and presented a great opportunity to me to come back home. He gave me the opportunity to play in the Big Ten. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. This is my dream school and was a great opportunity with a new coach and excited to help start off Ben Johnson's coaching career.
It's a young season, but have you been able to have your family watch you play here?
My family has always supported me, even when I was in high school, they came to every single game. My mom, dad and sister come to every game. My sister has two kids too so she's going to be able to bring my nephews to every game and it's great. Just to have that support.
You sat out all of last year due to an injury. Talk about battling back from your injury and what it was like to finally return to the court.
The rehab was a really long process. After the surgery, I couldn't walk for three weeks and was just laying down and going through it. I finally got back on my feet and did the rehab. I just worked hard every single day to get back to where I am now. I'm just happy to be where I am.
Although it's an early season, what have you learned already from this coaching staff through the summer and already this season?
Coach Johnson is one of the best coaches I've ever had. From him down, they are all just so great. Coach Thorson is really intense as you can see on the court and on the sidelines. He's a great defensive coach. Coach Kemp and I have really grown a great relationship with him. He's been kind of like a big brother to me and gives me great advice every day. Coach Jenkins and Liv, are great. Just a good group to work with here.
Although you're with a lot of new teammates, you do have some connections on the team playing AAU ball with Parker Fox. Is it nice to have some familiarity on the team?
Parker has been great, even though he hasn't been playing. He's still on the sidelines, encouraging people in practice every day. He's one of the loudest in the gym. During games, he's one of our biggest cheerleaders on the sideline. It's been great to have him here. Knowing him beforehand, it's helped to get to know all my teammates.
What has the team learned about their identity in this short season?
We're going to be a hard nosed team. We're going to play hard every single possession. We're great defensive team and put a lot of pride in our toughness and rebounding. Offensively, we're a great shooting team. Everyone can shoot so it will give opponents a hard time to deal with this year.
Is coaching something you'd like to get into and if so, what level of coaching would you like to do?
When I was out with injury, I was back home so I got to volunteer with my high school and JV team. It was a great experience. One day I definitely want to be a coach and basketball has always been a huge part of my life. I feel like I will continue with the game when I'm done playing.
Tell us more about you, what's your major and any idea of what you want to do after college?
I working on my undergrad degree from Minnesota in sports management. Not sure what I want to do with it, but still want to stay within the game.
What do you like to do when you're not playing basketball?
Probably the biggest thing is playing video games. 2K and Call of Duty are my favorite.
Walk us through how you landed here at Minnesota and what's it like to play in your home state?
I was in the transfer portal last year after I was at New Hampshire. When in the transfer portal, Ben Johnson hit me up and presented a great opportunity to me to come back home. He gave me the opportunity to play in the Big Ten. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. This is my dream school and was a great opportunity with a new coach and excited to help start off Ben Johnson's coaching career.
It's a young season, but have you been able to have your family watch you play here?
My family has always supported me, even when I was in high school, they came to every single game. My mom, dad and sister come to every game. My sister has two kids too so she's going to be able to bring my nephews to every game and it's great. Just to have that support.
You sat out all of last year due to an injury. Talk about battling back from your injury and what it was like to finally return to the court.
The rehab was a really long process. After the surgery, I couldn't walk for three weeks and was just laying down and going through it. I finally got back on my feet and did the rehab. I just worked hard every single day to get back to where I am now. I'm just happy to be where I am.
Although it's an early season, what have you learned already from this coaching staff through the summer and already this season?
Coach Johnson is one of the best coaches I've ever had. From him down, they are all just so great. Coach Thorson is really intense as you can see on the court and on the sidelines. He's a great defensive coach. Coach Kemp and I have really grown a great relationship with him. He's been kind of like a big brother to me and gives me great advice every day. Coach Jenkins and Liv, are great. Just a good group to work with here.
Although you're with a lot of new teammates, you do have some connections on the team playing AAU ball with Parker Fox. Is it nice to have some familiarity on the team?
Parker has been great, even though he hasn't been playing. He's still on the sidelines, encouraging people in practice every day. He's one of the loudest in the gym. During games, he's one of our biggest cheerleaders on the sideline. It's been great to have him here. Knowing him beforehand, it's helped to get to know all my teammates.
What has the team learned about their identity in this short season?
We're going to be a hard nosed team. We're going to play hard every single possession. We're great defensive team and put a lot of pride in our toughness and rebounding. Offensively, we're a great shooting team. Everyone can shoot so it will give opponents a hard time to deal with this year.
Is coaching something you'd like to get into and if so, what level of coaching would you like to do?
When I was out with injury, I was back home so I got to volunteer with my high school and JV team. It was a great experience. One day I definitely want to be a coach and basketball has always been a huge part of my life. I feel like I will continue with the game when I'm done playing.
Tell us more about you, what's your major and any idea of what you want to do after college?
I working on my undergrad degree from Minnesota in sports management. Not sure what I want to do with it, but still want to stay within the game.
What do you like to do when you're not playing basketball?
Probably the biggest thing is playing video games. 2K and Call of Duty are my favorite.
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