Wednesday, March 2, 2011
March has finally arrived!
For gopher fans back in December, we were expecting to be in the top half of the Big Ten, and playing for seeding in the NCAA tournament. However, a snowball effect of unfortunate circumstances and disappointing play has put the gophers on the outside looking in. Starting tonight at Northwestern, the gophers will have to reel off a 3-4 game win streak to feel good about tournament hopes. This season has had our morale so high and so low, that even us gopher fans have had a lot of trouble handling it. However, because it is now March, I will now be focusing on March Madness. While it would be cool to see the gophs make a nice run to make to the dance similar to last year, I am fully expecting an NIT bid this year. With conference tournaments getting started right now, all I can think about is that in two and a half weeks, I will be on a sofa somewhere with food and beverages within arms reach watching the greatest sports event America has to offer.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Preview: Minnesota Gophers @ Penn St. Nittany Lions
Time: 6:00 P.M. (C.S.T.)
TV: ESPN
I was going to write a story about the timberwolves game I went to tonight that featured Kevin Love and Blake Griffen, but it was much too pathetic a performance by the t-wolves to even write about.
The gophers will try to get back to the .500 mark in Big Ten play as they travel to State College to take on Penn St. for the first of two meetings this year. Penn St. once again is lead by guard Talor Battle who can score in a variety of ways. They also have some experience up front (and some rather generic names) in seniors Jeff Brooks, Andrew Jones, and David Jackson. Battle is second in the Big Ten averaging just over 20 ppg, while Brooks is 4th in the Big Ten in blocks (1.7) and 3rd in field goal percentage (57.8%). Ed DeChellis' team is once again sitting just outside the bubble in February. They have a few quality wins in Big Ten play, but they have some head-scratching losses (like losing to Maine by 10) that will give them an uphill climb heading into March. Penn State is a team I was sort of pulling for this year because I felt Talor Battle deserved to finally go dancing. Oh well.
The gophers will try to build off a good defensive performance against Iowa (probably more of a terrible offensive game for Iowa). The game featured Trevor Mbakwe absolutely owning the second half, scoring 22 of his 24 points. He also shot very well from the line, going 10-11. Other storylines of the game were Rodney Williams showing some aggressiveness and Maverick Ahanmisi playing his best game in a gopher uniform. Rodney filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while Ahanmisi had 7 points and 1 TO in 11 minutes. Blake is obviously not as effective playing the point as he is at the 2, so if the gophers want to make a run, players like Williams and Ahanmisi are going to have to step up each game. I'm expecting a close game between these two squads, but I think a second half burst fueled by Chip Armelin will lead the gophers to a much-needed road win!
TV: ESPN
I was going to write a story about the timberwolves game I went to tonight that featured Kevin Love and Blake Griffen, but it was much too pathetic a performance by the t-wolves to even write about.
The gophers will try to get back to the .500 mark in Big Ten play as they travel to State College to take on Penn St. for the first of two meetings this year. Penn St. once again is lead by guard Talor Battle who can score in a variety of ways. They also have some experience up front (and some rather generic names) in seniors Jeff Brooks, Andrew Jones, and David Jackson. Battle is second in the Big Ten averaging just over 20 ppg, while Brooks is 4th in the Big Ten in blocks (1.7) and 3rd in field goal percentage (57.8%). Ed DeChellis' team is once again sitting just outside the bubble in February. They have a few quality wins in Big Ten play, but they have some head-scratching losses (like losing to Maine by 10) that will give them an uphill climb heading into March. Penn State is a team I was sort of pulling for this year because I felt Talor Battle deserved to finally go dancing. Oh well.
The gophers will try to build off a good defensive performance against Iowa (probably more of a terrible offensive game for Iowa). The game featured Trevor Mbakwe absolutely owning the second half, scoring 22 of his 24 points. He also shot very well from the line, going 10-11. Other storylines of the game were Rodney Williams showing some aggressiveness and Maverick Ahanmisi playing his best game in a gopher uniform. Rodney filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while Ahanmisi had 7 points and 1 TO in 11 minutes. Blake is obviously not as effective playing the point as he is at the 2, so if the gophers want to make a run, players like Williams and Ahanmisi are going to have to step up each game. I'm expecting a close game between these two squads, but I think a second half burst fueled by Chip Armelin will lead the gophers to a much-needed road win!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Preview: Minnesota Gophers @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Game Time: 5:00 P.M. CST
TV: Big Ten Network
O.K. this is my first time talking about the gophers in a while now. It is just very hard to write things from deep within your heart when your heart has been crushed by watching this basketball team the past couple weeks. What looked like a potentially special season in late November has become another typical gopher season filled with more injuries/suspensions etc. than quality wins. While recent play would not suggest this, the gophers do still have a very good chance of making the tournament field, and the schedule is quite manageable from here on out. However, the gophers will need to take care of business in games such as the Iowa game later today.
The hawkeyes come into this game a much better team than they were in the gopher's 69-59 victory in January. The hawkeyes are led by Matt Gatens, a pretty decent shooter from outside and a guy that can create his own shot. Point guard Bryce Cartwright is somewhat limited from the outside but has a very quick first step. The player on Iowa that impresses me the most has to be freshman Melsahn Bassabe. Bassabe, at 6-7, is a freak of nature who also has a pretty nice set of skills for a freshman forward. He had 20 and 13 against the gophers in January, and I am hoping that our big men leave their dresses at home today and contain this guy.
In their last three games, Iowa has been a better team than Minnesota. They absolutely embarrassed sparty 11 days ago, and then travelled to Indiana and picked up a win. They then hosted Pissconsin and let a small lead slip away in the final minutes to a team that just knocked off the #1 team [vomit]. Judging by the play of both teams lately, I just cannot pick a gopher win here.
TV: Big Ten Network
O.K. this is my first time talking about the gophers in a while now. It is just very hard to write things from deep within your heart when your heart has been crushed by watching this basketball team the past couple weeks. What looked like a potentially special season in late November has become another typical gopher season filled with more injuries/suspensions etc. than quality wins. While recent play would not suggest this, the gophers do still have a very good chance of making the tournament field, and the schedule is quite manageable from here on out. However, the gophers will need to take care of business in games such as the Iowa game later today.
The hawkeyes come into this game a much better team than they were in the gopher's 69-59 victory in January. The hawkeyes are led by Matt Gatens, a pretty decent shooter from outside and a guy that can create his own shot. Point guard Bryce Cartwright is somewhat limited from the outside but has a very quick first step. The player on Iowa that impresses me the most has to be freshman Melsahn Bassabe. Bassabe, at 6-7, is a freak of nature who also has a pretty nice set of skills for a freshman forward. He had 20 and 13 against the gophers in January, and I am hoping that our big men leave their dresses at home today and contain this guy.
In their last three games, Iowa has been a better team than Minnesota. They absolutely embarrassed sparty 11 days ago, and then travelled to Indiana and picked up a win. They then hosted Pissconsin and let a small lead slip away in the final minutes to a team that just knocked off the #1 team [vomit]. Judging by the play of both teams lately, I just cannot pick a gopher win here.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Jordan Miller's Game Winner
http://smsumustangs.com/news/2011/2/11/MBB_0211113403.aspx?path=mbball
You must check this video and story out! Jordan Miller of Southwest Minnesota State (Mike Miller's cousin) hits a game winner as time expires in 2OT to beat Concordia University- St. Paul. They were down by 7 with 1 minute left in regulation and came back to win the game. I will write more about it late. I just needed to get this video up!
P.S. I was in the middle of the celebration pile!
You must check this video and story out! Jordan Miller of Southwest Minnesota State (Mike Miller's cousin) hits a game winner as time expires in 2OT to beat Concordia University- St. Paul. They were down by 7 with 1 minute left in regulation and came back to win the game. I will write more about it late. I just needed to get this video up!
P.S. I was in the middle of the celebration pile!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Preview: #1 Ohio State @ Minnesota
On Sunday, a #1 ranked team will travel to Williams Arena to take on the gophers for the first time since Indiana defeated the gophers in February of 1993. Despite the giant buzzkill loss to Indiana on Wednesday, the fan base is fired for the gophers to potential knock off an undefeated Ohio State game.
Why the gophers have a legitimate chance to win:
-In Columbus earlier this year, the gophers had a potential game tying three blocked as time expired. Trevor Mbakwe was just as effective as Jared Sullinger, and we did a good job of containing William Buford.
-Tubby Smith is our coach.
-The gophers will bring way more intensity and energy than they did against Indiana, and will look like a completely different team.
-Ohio St. has seemed to play down to their competition as of late, and seem "ripe" for an upset.
Why the gophers have little chance of winning:
-The gophers are extremely thin in the backcourt. How are we going to be able to contain Aaron Craft, David Lighty, William Buford, and Jon Diebler?
-Sullinger keeps getting better and better every game; our bigs have been playing much too soft as of late
-The gophers looked flat out pathetic for 3/4 of the Indiana game.
Overall, I see this being a competitive game that will go down to the wire, as Ohio State has has been playing down to their competition, and the gophers will be playing with a lot more energy. The atmosphere should be fantastic and I cannot wait to get the Barn rockin'!
-
Why the gophers have a legitimate chance to win:
-In Columbus earlier this year, the gophers had a potential game tying three blocked as time expired. Trevor Mbakwe was just as effective as Jared Sullinger, and we did a good job of containing William Buford.
-Tubby Smith is our coach.
-The gophers will bring way more intensity and energy than they did against Indiana, and will look like a completely different team.
-Ohio St. has seemed to play down to their competition as of late, and seem "ripe" for an upset.
Why the gophers have little chance of winning:
-The gophers are extremely thin in the backcourt. How are we going to be able to contain Aaron Craft, David Lighty, William Buford, and Jon Diebler?
-Sullinger keeps getting better and better every game; our bigs have been playing much too soft as of late
-The gophers looked flat out pathetic for 3/4 of the Indiana game.
Overall, I see this being a competitive game that will go down to the wire, as Ohio State has has been playing down to their competition, and the gophers will be playing with a lot more energy. The atmosphere should be fantastic and I cannot wait to get the Barn rockin'!
-
Friday, February 4, 2011
UPDATE: K-Love is now an All-Star
David Stern must have read my previous post, because Kevin has just replaced Yao as a Western Conference All-Star!
K-Love Snubbed
| Player | PPG | RBG | BPG | APG |
| Kevin Love | 21.4 | 15.5 | 0.4 | 2.5 |
| Yao Ming | 10.2 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| Blake Griffin | 23.0 | 12.7 | 0.6 | 3.6 |
| Tim Duncan | 13.5 | 9.3 | 2.0 | 3.0 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)