Gopher Mens Hoops

[mr_jman]

Agreed to the last statement. They play some really good tenacious defense, especially in the front court. They just don't seem to capitalize enough on the other teams turn overs and mistakes. I would also like to see the shoot a better free-throw percentage. Frustrating to get to the line and not make them.

It also seems like they get into foul trouble early in half's. This goes hand in hand with the tough defense so take one or the other I guess. They played tough defense against Ohio State and almost came back but just couldn't get over the top.

This team, if anything, will be a fun one to watch this year, and the next few years could provide some excellent college basketball in Minnesota again!

[Scott M]

Gophers take care of business in Ann Arbor, cruise to the early lead and win by 12 after leading by 22. Nice to have a team like Michigan to play after 3 straight losses. Tubby finally gets to career win #400. Wished I could have seen it, but the Big Ten Network mess continues.

I'll be at Sunday's game with Wisconsin, then race back home for the Super Bowl. Beat Wisconsin and people will start paying attention to the team again.

[hamrej23]

Man, Wisconsin was tough last night against Indiana,

but then again, they were at home.

[Dotch]

Was a nice win for the team and Tubby too. A game they should win but was getting jittery when Michigan trimmed the lead to 10 late in the game. Still having flashbacks from last year apparently but they buckled down and put it away. Free throw shooting was attrocious and there were some silly unforced turnovers that generated "the look" and a substitution from Tubby. McKenzie played well and so did Coleman except from the line. Tallackson had a better game than he's had in awhile and while Abu-Shamala still looks lost sometimes, he had 5 pts. A bunch of these guys will be gone however and am looking forward not so much to seeing if this team makes the NCAA's but to what kind of recruiting class shows up next year. As the announcers said and I'd tend to agree, with the number of high powered coaches in the Big Ten right now, the next several years should be extremely exciting to watch, making it one of the premier conferences if not the premier conference in the country.

Hear the same grumbles from those on cable in town not getting the Big Ten Network. I hope they get that mess straightened out for those who can't see the game. That or I'm going to need to improve my seating capacity! 'Sconni was taking no prisoners last night. Would be great to catch them feeling a little smug in the Barn after whuppin' the Hoosiers.

[Willy]

Gophs cannot beat a good team. They haven't beat anyone I would say is a "big dancer".

Sounded like a good Bucky team took it to them from the start of the game. Tubby even questioned some of his seniors play and desire, stating they were not in the game.

I for one, will be happy to see Spencer, DC, and McKenzie go and get some young talent in here. These guys are good enough to lead this team to an upper half BT finish and a tourney spot, but they never show up during big games when we need them the most. "Senior leaders" - these 3 are not.

I am about ready to write this team off as NIT bound at best. I will still follow them, but a spot in the tourney looks like a longshot when you cannot beat ANY good teams, and lose 3 straight at the barn. Gopher teams that were in the tourney or at least on the bubble in the past didn't let many teams come in and win at the Barn. Heck, I hardly remember them EVER losing there under Clem, even against top ranked teams. This group doesn't protect their home court well enough, something that probably goes back to the Monson years.

[Scott M]

With 5 minutes left in the Wisconsin-Minnesota game, I got up and left. I couldn't take it anymore. Walking the ball up the court, passing and catching way outside the 3 point line. No energy. Someone should have told them they were down by 20. These players have a lot to learn. Some days I just wish Tubby had a little more Bob Knight in him. He gives "the stare" but he doesn't really chew anyone out. We're past the part where these guys need some TLC so they don't lose their confidence, they need to know that playing flat at home is not acceptable. I haven't walked out of a game since the Monson years a couple years ago. It was just bad basketball.

If Michigan State is the class of the Big Ten, Wisconsin is the runner up. You know you aren't getting any easy ones when you play Wisconsin. I watched the Gophers come down, and Wisconsin bumped cutters, bumped guys off picks, showed and recovered on high pick and rolls, overplayed passing lanes, and boxed out pulling down about every Gopher miss. They make you catch the ball 30 feet away from the basket at the least. On the other side of the floor, Wisconsin got dribble penetration and just killed Minnesota with drive and dish or finishing at the rim. Guys behind me are complaining because Wisconsin was shooting 80 and 70% at different times in the first half. Well guess what people? This is division I basketball, if you can't hit an open shot you don't play.

It's halfway through the first half and it's 30-10. That's embarrassing. There was a time when unless you were a top ten ranked team in the nation, you weren't going into Williams Arena and winning. It just wasn't happening. Maybe it was the atmosphere, the mystique, or the players pride...whatever it was, it is gone. These players can't get it done on the court. Same problems-nobody wants to step up, nobody wants to take the shot, poor senior leadership. After 4, and for some of those guys, 5 years, wouldn't you have a clue about winning ways and wanting it? Same problem in the second half. Wisconsin pretty much called off the dogs, but MN is still dawdling with the ball. There was a 4-5 minute period where neither team scored and it stayed a 22 point margin. Wisconsin plays better when games are tight, if they wanted to, they could have won by 30 or 40.

The guard play was really bad. Westbrook and Nolen made Hughes look pretty good with all their cross court passes, I think he finished with 6 steals and tons of breakaway dunks and layups. Guys are passing to the first available guy or not finding the people who are open when they get double teamed. The frontcourt guys are playing soft, giving up position and trying to draw fouls instead of going up strong.

The thing is, the Gophers are a bad half court team. They are losing to teams that don't give up points in transition. They make you beat them with half court games, which the Gophs don't have. I think WI and MN both finished with something like 17 turnovers each. The difference is WI probably got like 20 points off turnovers, and MN probably got like 6. Uncontested layups are easy points, half court 35 second sets aren't always so easy.

Honestly the only real bright spot is Damian Johnson. He really fills out the stat sheet and is really about the only guy that is the caliber of athlete we want playing for the Maroon and gold. He can run and jump with anybody. Johnson picks up a quiet 10 points with 5 blocks, 3 boards, and 2 assists.

This game was the end of the rope, if they couldn't show something here, they weren't going to the Dance. And they aren't. They still have to play Wisconsin away, Ohio State at home, Purdue away, and Indiana away. And a pile of road games where they could get upset easily.

People are saying, well, they haven't lost a game they were supposed to win. Well folks, they haven't won a game they were supposed to lose. If you want to go Dancin', you have to beat some good teams. They have yet to do that. If this trend continues, they will finish 19-11 with no quality wins, suppose they win a Big Ten tourney game to get #20...they will still not make it.

[Willy]

Their RPI is sitting at 90 right now, their SOS is 115th. They have not beat a team in the RPI top 100 yet. To make the dance, you have to have a .500 record against those teams. Their Road/Neutral court record is about the only thing they have going for them right now. They have a 5-4 record in those games, which is still not that great.

Ralph Sampson III, Devoe Joseph, Colton Iverson, Paul Carter, Devron Bostick.

That is what I am looking forward to.

[Dotch]

Well, not ready to abandon ship but realistically, this team would have had to overachieve to get to the Big Dance. They belong in the NIT unless they start eating their Wheaties. Where did Tallackson go in the 2nd half? I don't remember hearing his name called once after about 4 minutes into the game (again). Looked like Nolen hustled but he also looks like a defensive specialist, period, and the scorers need to step up to the plate and capitalize on the turnovers he creates. McKenzie wasn't hitting and after starting out earlier in the season, Coleman has reverted to last year's form against teams that matter. I think your pts. off turnovers was pretty close da chise if I remember the graphics on TV from yesterday. And I agree Willy. Next year we'll see Tubby's recruits and be one more year removed from the Monson disaster. One thing about it, they'll likely get a chance to play.

After a good start, it's been disappointing but watching coaches come and go over the years, have learned to be patient. It's hard but to be a fan, one has to. It hasn't been all peaches and cream over at Mariucci this year either where the Gophers are a perennial hockey power but I still watch the games. They've suffered the same fate with all the players being lost to the pros (think Humphries, Rickert, Pryzbilla) difference being they've been able to recruit and replace them, but I digress. In '86-'87, Clem was 9 - 19 and 2 - 16 in the Big Ten. In '87 - '88, they were 10 - 18 and 4 - 14 in the Big Ten. Took Clem a few years to get it cranked up after Dutcher and it'll take Tubby a few to get this thing flying again. I think based on his track record he'll get it done.

[Scott M]

Tubby must have told them to quit shooting jumpers. The recap makes it sound like they attacked the hole, but they must have gone inside-outside cuz they finished with 12 treys and Tollackson was 7-7. 92-72 win over Northwestern. And Abu finally broke into the scoring column.

We'll take it. Home with Iowa on Saturday.

[Dotch]

Yup, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. Didn't see the first 10 minutes but heard they were having technical difficulties during part of that anyway. From the portion of the game I saw, still too many silly turnovers (15) and hurried shots so Northwestern wasn't really out of it until late in the game. The Wildcats have no big man to defense Tallackson, would collapse on him or whoever was driving the lane, leaving Abu-Shamala & Hoffarber to blaze away from beyond the arc if they didn't get fouled. Was good to see Abu-Shamala have a decent night after struggling in some games. Good team win too with 6 players in double figures. Thought for awhile they might hit the century mark the way they were draining the 3's but looked like Tubby wanted to reign them in and use the clock towards the end of the game. Wise move and they could always use the free throw practice. No reason to run up the score and humiliate someone who's having a rough year (0-9 in the Big Ten) on their home court either. That can come back to haunt. After watching IA match up well with Wisconsin and give them all they wanted, not sure how well the Gophers will fare. Fortunately it's at the Barn. Looks like they have a decent shot in 3 or 4 of the next 5 games.

[hamrej23]

bottom line is they need to beast purdue and ohioo state and win the must win games to have a chance, then win atleast one game inthe tourney

that means they lose to Indiana at Indiana and At Wisconsin.

never say never- bobby knight

[Dotch]

Nice win over an IA team that could've made this a game had they taken advantage of all the blown Gopher layups in the first half. Still, had to give the Gophers credit for not folding when IA took the lead shortly before the midway point in the 2nd half. After Tallackson put them back on top, Nolen became a one man wrecking crew for awhile. If he can continue to play at that level, will make life interesting for upcoming teams if they don't take care of the ball. The last 2 games, looks like they've re-learned how to stay in control the last several minutes, use the clock, and put teams away. Exciting game to watch, so much so it tuckered me out and triggered a long nap afterwards.

From here on out, they need to take one game at a time, do the same to beat IL and not be looking ahead to WI, Purdue, Ohio St. or Indiana and let the chips fall where they may. Losing to IL, MI and/or Penn St. and beating one or 2 of the aforementioned 4 just gets you a better seed in the NIT. Not what you want if your stated goal is still the NCAA tournament.

[hamrej23]

I personally think they have a chance for the NCAA.

They have to get to 20 wins and win atleast one or two games in the Big ten Tourney.

They have a 93 RPI, and an 135 sos which both are giong to get better with wins against Illinios, penn state, and michigan and hopefully WI, purdue, Ia, or OHio state.

[Dotch]

Oh sure, I agree, they have a chance. They must actually beat IL twice, MI, & Penn St. once each though and not count their chickens before they hatch. Their best chance of a win right now against the rest of the teams on their schedule appears to be Ohio State, who got beat on their home court by Indiana yesterday. They looked beatable and playing at the Barn could tip the scales in the Gopher's favor. Of course Bucky & Bo got beat at home too by a surprising Purdue team but after watching them handle MN at the Barn, not getting my hopes up. Anything's possible and I'd like to be more optimistic but there are still a few too many of the Monson era tendencies to make me think this will be an NCAA qualifier. And so what if they aren't? A low seed one and done versus having a shot to win the NIT? Certainly didn't hurt Clem's recruiting. I thnk Tubby's done a great job and probably overachieved with the talent he's had to work with regardless of which tournament they wind up going to.

[Scott M]

You know me, I gotta agree with you there Dotch. 5 Big Ten teams are going to make the Big Dance, with the fifth a bubble type team that might need to do something in the conference tournament. Gophers have to win (they currently sit 6th) and get some help (in the form of OSU losing)

Been gone for about 2 days after I got out of Williams on Saturday following the Iowa game. Had plenty to ruminate over.

*Tollackson and Coleman disappeared. No shock there. But Spence was an absolute black hole. Ball goes in, he dribbles in back to the basket, creates contact, and crotches a shot or completely misses. He is trying to draw fouls, not score points. If I'm on the wing and he's posting, he's not getting it. He never threw it back out once.

*That halfcourt offense is HORRIBLE. Iowa came back with dish and drives and staggered screens that creates all sorts of open looks. Tubby is getting outcoached in half court sets. He needs to find some offense that plays to his team's strengths, like doing something to free up guys like Hoffarber and Shamala, or bringing Coleman to the high post to catch and pop, or something. I'm seeing too many coaches make adjustments where their teams can score in huge spurts on half court sets, while Minnesota can't. That is how Iowa erased a 10 point deficit in no time. With like 7 guys collecting checks on that coaching staff, there is no excuse for how bad a team this is in half court offense.

*This was a game that MN should have won by 20....at halftime. Iowa is horrible this year. They didn't win a game at the South Padre holiday tournament. The reason they won this game? Al Nolen decided to work his tail off. In about a 2 minute span, he scored 8 points (he finished with 11 points, 8 assists). A steal and layup in transition, another steal, where he later got a free look in the corner in transition, and another steal where he got an open look at the end of transition as Iowa wasn't quite set in half court defense. This team has to get free points in transition, so Nolen needs to stay aggressive, but I wish he would also look to be the aggressor on the offensive end. He could make a living harnessing his quick feet and use it to drive to the hole on offense instead of just using those feet and hands to pick pockets and intercept passes. But I digress, this team should have won by 20+ points, but I was happy to see them pull away in the end, make some free throws, win by 13, and get back to .500 in the conference. If they didn't miss so many bunnies and have so many dumb turnovers (freshman can't run fast breaks I guess) they might have pulled it off.

*For those of you that missed it, Damian Johnson is on fire. 6 offensive rebounds, 9 points...he does all this in the flow of the game. Imagine if he was trying to be an offensive threat. Also, THE HIGHLIGHT of the year. Nolen drives down the middle, defense collapses and alters his shot, JOHNSON COMES FLYING IN OUT OF NOWHERE AND STUFFS IT HOME!!!He just hung in the air. That play happened ten rows in front of me and I didn't see it coming. I can usually see these things develop a second before they happen but that came out of nowhere! Then Iowa trys to catch the Gophers napping, quick inbounds, runs down the court 3-2 advantage, hits the left cutting wing, and JOHNSON PINS IT ON THE GLASS! Nice back to back highlight reel plays, in the words of Tim Brewster, "just a TREMENDOUS ATH-UH-LETE."

We'll see how things go tomorrow night hosting Illinois. Illinois is another team like Iowa that is having a brutal year. Gotta take them to the woodshed like they have done to the rest of the conference during the Bill Self years.

Go Gophs

[Dotch]

Total stinkeroo. What did I say about looking past IL? Stick a fork in their NCAA hopes. Good thing the dog show was on. Was much more entertaining to watch that beagle win as opposed to this pathetic performance. After reverting back to Monson form, can't wait for this group of seniors to leave and get some players on the court who can compete at this level. Keep this up and they won't make the NIT!

[Flaco651]

Probably NIT bound this year, but then a long string of appearances in the Big Dance.

[Scott M]

Pretty sad. Tonight the clock struck midnight, the shoe did not fit, and they will not go dancing. They will not finish the conference season with a winning record. I left with 6 minutes left and a guy next to me left saying "That...was worse than brutal." You are correct my friend.

Illinois is a jekyl and hyde team, no doubt. But you have to beat a team like that at home. No excuses. Illinois is having a rotten year and you have to add to their miseries. Illinois has now won 18 games in a row against Minnesota, dating back to the 1999 Big Ten tournament. That's right, the Illini has beat Minnesota every time they've faced them during this decade. Pretty sad. The last game of the year is in Champlaign, but I don't like the Gophers chances there either.

The gophers can't defend simple pick and rolls, they can't score in the half court, they can't close out shooters under control...scratch that, they can't close out shooters period...We're playing catch outside the 3 point line while the lane's wide open and meanwhile Illinois is attacking us inside and outside.Where is the defense? Where is the offense? It's pathetic on both sides of the ball.

At halftime the Gophs were down six and I thought they couldn't possibly play with less sense of urgency, direction, or emotion. But that was false. They got stomped in the second half. Thirty seconds in they were down 4...then they just let Illinois take them to task inside and outside with a variety of wide open looks. This defense is just atrophying in front of us! Wisconsin will destroy the Gophers this weekend on the heels of their home loss last weekend to Purdue. I don't have to rehash how they are doing the same things wrong but what is happening? When does the sun shine on this team? They aren't going this year, they are most likely too young next year...maybe they'll make their run in 2010?

Sorry to drag everyone down with me but I got home and after games like this, that you expect to win, you realize that Minnesota is the worst sports landscape in this country, bar none. Other than two world series' when I was in elementary school, what has any MN team accomplished?

Allright, I promise to try and find some positive things, since we are looking into NIT or next year, quite possibly the same thing to most people. I mean, let's be honest, the gophers aren't winning more than 2-3 games over the next 4 weeks so we might as well try and find some silver linings. Here goes my first attempt. Another great game from Damian Johnson. 9 points, 10 rebounds. Effortless. This guy is a heck of a talent and will be a starter next year. Can't wait to break things down and see next year's freshmen, but this guy can play. What an athlete.

*********************

If you want to root for a team with a great coach, scrappy players, and a tough defense, root for Tubby Smith and his Golden Gophers Matt Painter and his Purdue Boilermakers. THey are going to win the conference as the second worst rebounding team, the 8th best shooting team in the conference. How do they win? Heart and defense. Anybody see Robbi Hummel tonight? I wish every kid played the game the way he did. Unbelieveable.

How about Billy Gillespie's Kentucky Wildcats? 11 points in the first half, one of the largest losses in school history. They're 12-10 on the season...guess things could be worse Gopher fans.

[Willy]

Chise,

A little frustrated are ya?

That was a terrible game. Boy, how can they get manhandled like that at the barn by a bad team?

The 3 seniors we have are a bunch of stiffs and make it hard to watch the team. They have no heart or desire to win. If I was Tubby I would sit Dan Coleman the rest of the year just because he is the most talented player on the team by far, but NEVER and I mean NEVER trys hard or shows up in games we need to win.

One thing that did concern me last night was that it seemed like Tubby was largely uninterested. IMO, he needs to be out on the floor and getting in the face of the upper classmen that are dragging the rest of the team down.

NIT here we come! I can't wait to watch them play in the toilet bowl of college basketball that is the NIT. YUCK!!

[Dotch]

No doubt, Tubby wasn't "on" people last night. I was a little afraid he was gonna go sit in the bleachers ala Ricky Birdsong the way they were playing. I'd have a hard time starting any of the seniors this next game, just to send the message that "I'm done screwin' around with you head cases. Rot on the bench until you can demonstrate some real leadership and you're ready to play. We'll play people who play with some heart & desire. Your choice." Then of course what do I know? After they took the field hockey sticks away from us when we were playing basketball during wrestling practice, (our version of cross training) it was the beginning of the end. Gotta admit, that sure was a nice looking beagle that won that Westminster dog show last nite.

[Scott M]

Hey, there were in it for a half against Wisconsin, even within the last 7 minutes. A couple more playmakers on that team and they would have stolen a win in the Kohl Center.

[Dotch]

Just hope they don't phone in their remaining schedule although I don't think Tubby will let them. With Michigan upsetting Ohio State over the weekend, they better be ready to play better than they were against Illinois.

[tisosy11]

Badgers looked absolutely atrocious that game. Gophers got them on an off night and couldn't capitalize...Tubby needs a HUGE road win to get his team into the big show (and maybe more than 1)

[ozzie]

the gophs can always win the big 10 tourny to get in!!

[tisosy11]

Thats what it will take and that thing is a crapshoot some years...I think MSU wins the Big Ten tourny though and begin their late year acceleration a little later than usual...