B1G Game 7: Gophers host Wisconsin (1-18-18)

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Much like Bobbie Kelsey before him, second year Badger head coach, Jonathon Tsipis, is waiting for the cavalry. It never arrived for Kelsey who was abandoned to roam the prairie searching for a triangle offense. It hasn’t arrived yet for Tsipis- I think his only scholarship freshman is point guard Niya Beverly. However, next season, his first serious recruiting class promises to be more than just dust in the distance. Until then, every day is a struggle to defend. And their instate rivals are showing no mercy. The Badgers were swept by UWGB 34-67, Marquette 65-88 and UW Milwaukee 64-67. (As a Gopher Hockey fan I know how this instate stuff feels).

There have been some decent moments this season. At the Paradise Jam in Washington DC Wisconsin lost to Syracuse 74-77, lost to Tsipis’ former team, George Washington, 46-61 and defeated Vanderbilt 73-71.



Meanwhile, the B1G losses mount. Last season the Badgers were 3-13 in the B1G. This season the Badgers are 0-6. The B1G losses:

Iowa 46-56: The Hawkeyes led 30-14 at the half and emerged victorious desApite the Badgers getting 12 steals and forcing 21 turnovers.

At Purdue 35-57. The Badgers scored 2 points in the second quarter and trailed 31-12 at the half.

Michigan 57-80. Wisconsin trailed at the half 34-31 and closed to 37-34 late in the third quarter before Michigan ran away.

Maryland 44-71.

At Northwestern 60-69. This looked like a potential Badger win when Wisconsin led 56-54 with 4:15 remaining. But the Wildcats scored 12 straight to take control.

Penn State 62-69: The Lady Lions jumped to a quick 11-2 lead but the Badgers remained in contact at the half trailing 38-30. Wisconsin rallied to tie the game at 52 all with 7:20 remaining. However, like the Northwestern game, the Badgers let Penn State go on a run and win the game. Gilreath, who at times last year didn’t look as if she knew what her teammates were running was the high scorer with 17. McMorris scored 15 and Fredrickson 11. The Badgers were 8-17 from three although most of that was the dangerous Gilreath who was 5-12.



Last Season:

At Williams Arena, the Badgers were blitzed by the Gopher 31-15 in the first quarter setting up a Minnesota win 88-60. Post game, Tsipis said, “ Bell got to wherever she wanted to on the court”. Kenisha finished with 17 points and 7 assists. Wagner put up 24 points with 5 assists. For the Badgers Gilreath scored 14 off the bench.


The Basics:

His team loves defense but rebounding not so much. In B1G play: The Badgers average 50.67 points per game and give up 67. They also average 28 rebounds/game while their opponents average 39.5.



Starters (B1G stats):

6’2” F So Courtney Fredrickson 10.7 points/game
5’10” F Jr Marsha Howard 8.7 points/game and 6.7 rebounds
5’7” G Fr Niya Beverly 3.3 assist
6’0” G Sr Cayla McMorris 11.0 points/game
5’10” G So Kendra Van Leeuwen

Others:
5’4” G So Suzanne Gilreath 10.8/game

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/...cle_d4fdf2ff-9f1d-5621-baae-58986d4ba521.html

Some notes on the Badgers three point threat, Suzanne Gilreath:

As the Badgers (7-12, 0-6 Big Ten) head to her backyard to play Minnesota (14-5, 3-3) tonight in Minneapolis, Gilreath is on a roll. The 5-foot-4 sophomore from suburban Brooklyn Park has made five 3-pointers in each of the past two games and is second on the team in scoring in Big Ten games with a 10.8 average. She is tied for third in conference play with an average of 3.2 3-pointers per contest....

...Gilreath’s energies are focused on becoming a consistent scoring threat for the offensively-challenged Badgers.

And she has to do it almost exclusively from long distance. In her first 50 college games, 303 of her 369 shots have come from beyond the arc, as have 102 of her 129 baskets.

Along the way she’s had some hot spells, like the school record-tying 5-for-5 performance last week at Northwestern, and some cold stretches, like the 25.7 percent she shot from 3-point range over the first four conference games.

“She’s played really well the last two games,” UW coach Jonathan Tsipis said. “Even some of the ones she’s missed have been in rhythm, open looks that haven’t been forced...

...She discovered early on she had a knack for long-range shooting.

She demonstrated that her junior year at Fridley High School when she set the Minnesota prep record with 127 3-pointers.

“That was a really good accomplishment and I was like, I can really do this,” said Gilreath, who also holds the state record with 294 career triples.

College coaches, however, were largely skeptical, concerned about her lack of size and the shortcomings of the rest of her game.

Her only Big Ten offer came from then-UW coach Bobbie Kelsey. And with it came the chance to follow her brother’s legacy.

 

[thatjanelpick]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/...cle_d4fdf2ff-9f1d-5621-baae-58986d4ba521.html

Some notes on the Badgers three point threat, Suzanne Gilreath:

As the Badgers (7-12, 0-6 Big Ten) head to her backyard to play Minnesota (14-5, 3-3) tonight in Minneapolis, Gilreath is on a roll. The 5-foot-4 sophomore from suburban Brooklyn Park has made five 3-pointers in each of the past two games and is second on the team in scoring in Big Ten games with a 10.8 average. She is tied for third in conference play with an average of 3.2 3-pointers per contest....

...Gilreath’s energies are focused on becoming a consistent scoring threat for the offensively-challenged Badgers.

And she has to do it almost exclusively from long distance. In her first 50 college games, 303 of her 369 shots have come from beyond the arc, as have 102 of her 129 baskets.

Along the way she’s had some hot spells, like the school record-tying 5-for-5 performance last week at Northwestern, and some cold stretches, like the 25.7 percent she shot from 3-point range over the first four conference games.

“She’s played really well the last two games,” UW coach Jonathan Tsipis said. “Even some of the ones she’s missed have been in rhythm, open looks that haven’t been forced...

...She discovered early on she had a knack for long-range shooting.

She demonstrated that her junior year at Fridley High School when she set the Minnesota prep record with 127 3-pointers.

“That was a really good accomplishment and I was like, I can really do this,” said Gilreath, who also holds the state record with 294 career triples.

College coaches, however, were largely skeptical, concerned about her lack of size and the shortcomings of the rest of her game.

Her only Big Ten offer came from then-UW coach Bobbie Kelsey. And with it came the chance to follow her brother’s legacy.

I watched part of the Badgers' loss to PSU. It's not just Gilreath. Wisconsin is a very short team. It would be an embarrassment if the Gophers have any trouble with them.

 

[overpass]

Bell has 20 already. Gophers cruising at half 56-33.

 

[gophsfan]

Guess Bell has her mojo back after playing less than stellar in last game. It's apparent we can beat up crappy teams with our guards. Not a fan of post rotation again, but against smaller poor teams it will work. Stollings can puff out her chest for these games where her guard ball works well. In first half, didn't like the lack of post entries, can only recall one?, but I guess we're living and dying with this style. Who needs balance when your guards like Bell are hitting I guess. Posts are for put backs, rebounding for guards, and screening for guards. Think MS game style is better as it just seemed so much more balanced. Good to see Fernstrom getting some minutes. Five so far is better than the one she got last game. Boy, Wisconsin has to be wishing they never let Stone go as it's been a train wreck since.

 

[GringaGopher]

Guess Bell has her mojo back after playing less than stellar in last game. It's apparent we can beat up crappy teams with our guards. Not a fan of post rotation again, but against smaller poor teams it will work. Stollings can puff out her chest for these games where her guard ball works well. In first half, didn't like the lack of post entries, can only recall one?, but I guess we're living and dying with this style. Who needs balance when your guards like Bell are hitting I guess. Posts are for put backs, rebounding for guards, and screening for guards. Think MS game style is better as it just seemed so much more balanced. Good to see Fernstrom getting some minutes. Five so far is better than the one she got last game. Boy, Wisconsin has to be wishing they never let Stone go as it's been a train wreck since.

Agreed. They were more competitive against Rutgers but teams with legitimate post games will beat us.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Getting Howard in foul trouble early helped ease the way for Gopher domination of the first half. There was a sloppy start to the 3rd quarter and a way too speeded up start to the fourth; but Wisconsin didn't really threaten.

Five players scored for the Badgers with the Minnesota connection getting 50 of Wisconsin's 65 points. The Badger defensive effort brought fourth a number of pained expressions from Johnathan Tsipis.

In 17 minutes, Taiye Bello totaled 13 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and one turnover. A terrific night.

Minnesota won the boards 56-41 and was 21-23 from the foul line. Every Gopher played which meant there were some unusual combos on the court from time to time. Only Kaposi failed to score.


Minutes Played (Starters Bolded)

34 Hubbard
33 Bell
32 Pitts
25 Wagner
19 Edwards
17 Taiye Bello
12 Brunson
9 Fernstrom
8 Garrido-Perez
5 Kaposi
4 Lamke
2 Kehinde-Bello

 

[tripledouble]

Gophers did what they should have done against a poor Badger team. I thought Bell had a terrific first half and Bello was terrific. Good to see some of the Gopher bench players log some minutes. Pitts continues to show that she can have a very good college career.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

One random note from last night: The Gophers actually scored two points when they set up with two guards in the end line corners with the other team shooting free throws. After being fouled by Kaposi, McMorris made the first and missed the second free throw. Fredrickson grabbed the rebound but had to chuck it back toward mid court as she fell out of bounds. It shot between the two onrushing Badger guards, rolled to the free throw line where Pitts, who got a late break up court, picked it up and was fouled on the lay-in. Pitts made the two free throws and got credit for a rebound. Hubbard was the other Gopher guard opposite Pitts; but like the Badger guards Gadiva was almost to mid-court when Fredrickson tried to save the ball. It looked like Pitts recognized the humor in being rewarded for the late reaction.