Game 5: Gophers visit Kansas 11-19-25

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BigTenGuy said:
Duke v USF tonight on ESPNU at7. Good preview of Gophers' next opponent. USF playing at home trying to avoid 3 losses in a row tonight against a challenging schedule (Fairfield, UCLA, & Duke).
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USF rocking Duke right now.
 

Just curious if others are wondering why Battle is not handling the ball more to initiate the offense. Seems like during the run to the WBIT championship at the end of last season, she had the ball in her hands much more, probing the defense and hitting the mid-range jump shot regularly--opening up the floor for cutting teammates. Where is that in 2025-26?
I am aware that Coach P likes an interchangeable group, but on the week Battle was honored for her 500th assist, I wanted to see her with the ball more, especially when the offense was struggling.
Anyone have any insight into this?
 

"she had the ball in her hands much more, probing the defense and hitting the mid-range jump shot regularly"

I seem to remember that during most of last season, there were a significant number of posters complaining about that exact thing. She dominates the ball, she dribbles too much in an effort to probe the defense, she shoots and misses too many mid-range jumpers.

It's almost as if when you play that style and the team is struggling, THAT is the problem. But when you play that style and the team is doing well, THAT is the winning difference.
 

Chico Gopher said:
"she had the ball in her hands much more, probing the defense and hitting the mid-range jump shot regularly"

I seem to remember that during most of last season, there were a significant number of posters complaining about that exact thing. She dominates the ball, she dribbles too much in an effort to probe the defense, she shoots and misses too many mid-range jumpers.

It's almost as if when you play that style and the team is struggling, THAT is the problem. But when you play that style and the team is doing well, THAT is the winning difference.
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Glad you made this point... couldn't agree more.
 

My disappointment, in the wins and the loss, is that I keep looking for signs of integrating a more dynamic offense. There was an actual pick-and-roll (Hart/Braun) in the Marquette game but I'm not seeing a motion offense, or even a very mobile offense. Hasn't this supposedly be on the way for quite some time?
 



It’s funny, when we see a new class sign there NLI’s, everybody is saying, “oh yeah, they are so athletic, we’re gonna be so good”. Just a few games in, and the so-called fans are turning and saying “how come we’re not very athletic.” We are not a run-n-gun program, with a lot of running and no defense. Much of coach P’s offensive plan is based on creating plays through setting screens and ball movement. It requires a lot of team chemistry and trust. The Bigs can be open in the lane, but if somebody isn’t throwing the ball to them early enough, it doesn’t work because they have to get out, or get called for 3 seconds. Or they get a very late pass, and the defense is then able to deny them. It’s a timing thing, and I definitely see improvement, especially since last year.
And defense definitely has to be stressed. We have all seen freshman shooters, coming in and playing against less talented teams, and showing they can shoot. And certain fans saying “how come we’re not playing them more? They should be out there instead of so-and-so”. However, better teams are going to scout them, and they will not be getting those shots during the conference season. If they don’t run the floor and play defense, if they don’t create plays for teammates, they are not going to see the floor. No good team is going to allow them to sit back and take 3’s….
 

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