ASU is a middle-of-the-pack team in the Southern Conference.
The Gophers (8-1) look to add another victory to their two-game winning streak on Tuesday night when the Mountaineers of Appalachian State (4-3 overall; 1-1 conference; 2-3 against D-I opponents) visit Minneapolis. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the 7pm CT game. Located in Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State’s second year coach is Jason Capel, a former star at North Carolina and just 31 years old.
Coach Capel was promoted to the top position after the 2009-10 season, shortly after former head coach Buzz Peterson was hired by UNC-Wilmington. Peterson’s hire in April 2010 ended the Seahawks’ lengthy coaching search which included a look at Minnesota assistant Vince Taylor.
Last season, Capel had the benefit of a returning star in guard Donald Sims who averaged 21 points per game. The 2010-11 Mountaineers finished the season 16-15, but did win 8 of their last 10 games. Senior Omar Carter is the only returning player in 2011-12 who averaged double-digit scoring a year ago, but the team has a number of both new and old faces who can contribute including some big, experienced players.
ASU is a middle-of-the-pack team in the Southern Conference, which includes familiar names such as Wofford (big recruiters in the state of Minnesota), Davidson (Steph Curry) and the College of Charleston (coached by Bobby Cremins). The Mountaineers have a couple of very good rebounders and Minnesota will want to try and limit them on the glass. However, unless ASU is prolific from three-point range, which they are generally not, or Minnesota has an awful night of shooting, which against the poor defense they’ll be facing should not be the case, the Gophers should stroll to victory.
Tuesday night’s game provides an opportunity to give time to some lesser-used players and for some of the nicked up Gophers to get rest. Challenges Minnesota should try and conquer on the court include out-rebounding ASU, limiting turnovers and efficient scoring. The U has won their last two games, but only scored 58 and 55 points, respectively, and now face a team that won’t slow the pace down like Virginia Tech or USC. Minnesota could flirt with the 80 point mark.
#21 Omar Carter
6’5”, 215 SR
He’s the man for this team and enters Tuesday’s contest with averages of 13.0 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Carter has hit only 22.7% of his 3FGA (5/22) this season, but in 2010-11 shot 40.0% (38/95). He’s a good rebounder for his size and an important weapon for ASU.
#13 Jamaal Trice
6’6”, 230 JR
JUCO transfer from Midland College in Texas. Trice started off red-hot, averaging 18.5 points in his first four games this year. Over the past three, he’s been contributing just 8.0 points a game, but he’s got good size and good range. A 38% three-point shooter at Midland a year ago, Trice will be looking to score in bunches as he did when he put up 27 against East Carolina a couple of weeks ago.
#32 Ike Butts
6’10”, 290 SR
What Butts lacks in speed and athleticism, he makes up for with size. Huge man that isn’t a great go to scoring option, but can convert when he’s got the ball down low. Often his shots come after grabbing an offensive board, which is something he’s excellent at. Very good rebounder who is averaging 9.6 ppg and 7.1 rpg, but his hands aren’t good and he’ll give up the rock a few times.
#50 Andre Williamson
6’7”, 240 SR
Nice player with good size. Williamson doesn’t shoot from deep, but the lefty can drop mid-range shots to the bottom of the net. He’s efficient on offense, very good rebounding and blocking shots and has a knack for drawing contact. The senior, who is averaging 9.4 ppg and 8.0 rpg, could get the Gophers in early foul trouble.
#1 Rodney Milum
6’1”, 190 JR
Another transfer from MIdland, Milum can put up points (8.9 ppg in 20.6 mpg). He’s been coming off the bench for the Mountaineers, but in a game like this should be a concern for Minnesota. Milum is only 13/40 3FG for 32.5% this year, but he’s a far better shooter than that. Can’t leave him alone.
J.B.’s Jottings
- Last Saturday, Southern Cal’s offensive efficiency of 72.4 per KenPom.com was the lowest produced against the Gophers since the 2009-10 season, although it wasn’t USC’s worst output of this season. The Trojans shot just 32.7% from the floor and with former Iowa Hawkeye Aaron Fuller having a poor performance (2/9 shooting), they didn’t stand a chance against Minnesota.
- Elliot Eliason’s 4 turnovers against USC were more than he had in all games combined coming into the game. His turnover rate is now at a high 25.0%. Fouls will continue to be an issue for Eliason should he be regularly called on for minutes this year—thus far, he’s averaging 5.8 fouls per 40 minutes and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that already high figure increase. Colton Iverson, known for being whistled with great regularity, averaged 5.1, 4.7 and 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes in his three years at the U, respectively. Of course, Iverson could also draw fouls and get to the line, something Eliason does not do. Eliason has been great so far in limited minutes (relative to reasonable expectations), but some may want to temper their evaluation and current expectations of the redshirt freshman a bit.
- Dayton, the only team to beat the Gophers this year, lost to Murray State by 17 points on Saturday. While Murray State is actually a very good team, Buffalo is not and they also beat Dayton this past week. By 29 points. In Dayton.
- Congratulations to Jonah Travis of DeLaSalle and Minnesota Pump N Run for being named the Ivy Rookie of the week. Both he and his younger brother Reid (class of 2014) have been great to watch in the past and will continue to help give basketball in the state of Minnesota a good name. #25/#24 Harvard is now 8-0 with some help off the bench from Jonah (4.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), who exploded for 19 points and 10 boards in just 19 minutes against Seattle. The Crimson travel to #9/#9 Connecticut (7-1) this Thursday and that game can be seen at 6pm CT on ESPN2.
- Midland College has a great program and recently sent a couple of guys to Appalachian State. In addition, one-time Gopher target Guy Landry Edi from last year’s Midland team is now at Gonzaga. His NCAA suspension for playing with a professional team is nearly over and he’s expected to make a quick impact once he hits the court in less than two weeks. Another kid who had Minnesota interest, Majok Majok, is in his second year at Midland and is averaging nearly 10 points a game after a freshman year during which he was a bit buried on the bench.
J.B. Bauer
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: JBBauer612