Minnesota showed how valuable their returning chemistry will be as they ran past the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears for a 106-58 exhibition win. Jordan Murphy had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while guard Nate Mason added 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Minnesota had four players in double figures and their backcourt shined throughout the night.
The Gophers opened the game on a quick 24-7 run, drilling eight of their nine shot attempts. Guard Nate Mason was very comfortable with his shot, drilling a corner jumper and drawing contact for a three-point play. He was playing very confidently, finishing strong at the rim and drilling mid-range jumpers off ball rotations. Mason opened the second half with two three-pointers and was very tough to stop when he came off screens. Mason finished with 15 points and five assists. The duo of Mason and Dupree McBrayer was creating opportunities all night and their chemistry was on full display. McBrayer finished the night with eight points and three assists, including two notable jumpers.
Jordan Murphy also performed well on both sides of the court. He blocked a shot and was playing the mid-line well in help side defense. On the offensive end, Murphy was winning off the dribble and finished at the rim with a beautiful spin move near the elbow. He appears to be more comfortable with his offensive game, especially as a mid-range shooter. Murphy had 18 first half points (7-for-8 shooting) and eight boards to lead all scorers. He finished the night with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Davonte Fitzgerald saw his first action of the season. He came off the bench in relief Jordan Murphy, tallying a quick four points, including an easy layup at the rim off a quick slip. He also had one layup in transition off a nice dish by freshman point guard Isaiah Washington. Fitzgerald later showed off his range by hitting a corner three-pointer in the second half. He had nine points and five rebounds coming off the bench.
All eyes were on freshman point guard Isaiah Washington. He scored his first exhibition points off a quick three-pointer on the wing. He heated up with extended action in the second half, dropping two excellent passes to Davonte Fitzgerald. He got the crowd on the feet by showing the fans what a “jelly” looks like. Dupree McBrayer found Washington in transition and he hung in the air to finish with a slick finger roll. He ended the night with nine points and three assists in 18 minutes of action.
Amir Coffey started the second half with a trailing three-pointer and was more aggressive on offense as the game progressed. He continued to create looks for others with his above average passing skills. Coffey was getting his shot off quicker off ball reversals and he finished the evening with 10 points. He will need to continue getting involved on offense, while creating shots within the system. If he can do this, the Gophers will have several difficult matchup threats for opposing teams to keep tabs on.
Not only that, but the Minnesota guards were creating easy looks for others throughout the night, including a tough dish from Dupree McBrayer to Jordan Murphy under the rim. In the second half, Nate Mason beautifully dished to a rolling Reggie Lynch who delivered a dunk. The Gophers’ guards were showing great chemistry, specifically when McBrayer and Mason were playing together. They created plenty of easy looks for Reggie Lynch and Jordan Murphy. Freshman point guard Isaiah Washington also added two slick passes, including a no-look dime to Davonte Fitzgerald, who finished with a slam. In addition, Amir Coffey was able to penetrate and dish, which is one of his strengths as a player. When Minnesota reversed the ball more than twice, they had a wide-open look behind the arch. The Gophers have so many players that can create shots for others, which is a great problem to have.
Michael Hurt played six first half minutes and had two rebounds. He looked more physical and active on defense because of the strength he added this offseason. Hurt had three points and four rebounds in 21 minutes of action. In addition, freshman Jamir Harris drilled two threes, one of which came off a designed in-bound play. He had 12 points and showed hustle on the defensive end to draw a loose ball foul.
The Gophers’ main contributors like Nate Mason and Jordan Murphy have improved areas of their game this offseason. It was also apparent to see the chemistry this team has as they lost just one key player to graduation. Reggie Lynch and Amir Coffey will benefit from having a plethora of passing guards in the backcourt. The new additions of Isaiah Washington and Jamir Harris will bring excitement off the bench. In addition, Davonte Fitzgerald has the potential to provide a necessary lift off the bench because of his rebounding and underrated scoring range.
Minnesota wiped away an NSIC opponent, but the chemistry they showed on Thursday night provides excitement for how this team will perform during the Big Ten slate.
For postgame reaction, click here.