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Game Preview: Gophers at Nebraska 3/6/13
03/05/2013, 12:15pm CST
By J.B. Bauer
An End of an Era at Nebraska
The rv/rv Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-9, 8-8) try for their third win in a row Wednesday night at Nebraska (13-16, 4-12). The Huskers will be playing their last game at the Bob Devaney Center which has been their home for 37 years. Game time is set for 8:06pm CT and this one can be viewed on the Big Ten Network.
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/235450?referrer_id=331171
Game Preview: rv/rv Minnesota (20-9, 8-8) at Nebraska (13-16, 4-12) 3/6/13
Minnesota scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back in their 84-65 win over Nebraska in January. On Monday Tim Miles said about the game, “We just didn’t compete. The game started off poorly for us and only got worse from there.”
The Gophers came into that contest having lost four in a row. Rodney Williams had an especially rough couple of performances leading up to Nebraska (9 combined points on 3/17 shooting against Northwestern and Wisconsin), but exploded for 19 first half points before finishing with 23.
The hot shooting of Husker guard Ray Gallegos (30 points, 12/17 shooting including 6/9 3FG) was the only thing that kept the score within 20 points. The Gophers made more free throws than Nebraska attempted, dominated the glass and had a plus-7 turnover margin.
This time around Minnesota enters having won two in a row and is back at .500 in the Big Ten. The best the Gophers can finish is sixth place, but they’d much prefer doing so with a winning record of 10-8.
Although Nebraska will likely be double-digit underdogs, they have the intangible of this being the last regular season game at the Devaney Center in their favor. Beginning this fall the men’s and women’s teams will play at the new Pinnacle Bank Arena in downtown Lincoln.
Husker Hall of Famers Dave Hoppen, Erick Strickland and Eric Piatkowski will be present to celebrate Senior Night and 37 years of basketball in the Devaney Center. If great memories don’t get the fans excited, the $1 popcorn and Pepsi’s should.
Minnesota is the better team by just about any measurement, but they are beatable when they don’t make their 2-point field goals. The good news for Nebraska, who is 0-13 against RPI top 50 teams this season, is that Minnesota doesn’t make their 2-point field goals on the road.
The Gophers are 1-6 on the road in the Big Ten this season. Excluding games in which Minnesota is the visitor, the home team in 2012-13 Big Ten contests has won 63% of the time. If Minnesota wins at both Nebraska and Purdue, their 3-6 record on the road shouldn’t be a problem. However, a 2-7 or 1-8 mark could cost them when it comes to NCAA tournament seeding.
I see the Gophers winning this one comfortably, but keep an eye on their 2-point field goal shooting.
OTHER NOTES
Trevor Mbakwe was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Week based on his performances against Indiana and Penn State.
In case you missed it (from yesterday): More Than a Number: Trevor Mbakwe’s 8.8 Rebounds per Game looks at Trevor's impressive rebounding percentages this season.
Recruiting notes (via LateNightHoops.com): The Gophers are very interested in Palm Beach State College sophomore Kevin Thomas. He’s expected to be eligible for D1 competition this fall.
The Minnesota high school boys’ basketball sectionals are underway. The state tournament takes place March 20-23 at Target Center and Williams Arena. Schedules can be found at MSHSL.org and the knowledgeable TC Hoops Czar has offered up his predictions at tchoops.blogspot.com.
03/05/2013, 12:15pm CST
By J.B. Bauer
An End of an Era at Nebraska
The rv/rv Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-9, 8-8) try for their third win in a row Wednesday night at Nebraska (13-16, 4-12). The Huskers will be playing their last game at the Bob Devaney Center which has been their home for 37 years. Game time is set for 8:06pm CT and this one can be viewed on the Big Ten Network.
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/235450?referrer_id=331171
Game Preview: rv/rv Minnesota (20-9, 8-8) at Nebraska (13-16, 4-12) 3/6/13
Minnesota scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back in their 84-65 win over Nebraska in January. On Monday Tim Miles said about the game, “We just didn’t compete. The game started off poorly for us and only got worse from there.”
The Gophers came into that contest having lost four in a row. Rodney Williams had an especially rough couple of performances leading up to Nebraska (9 combined points on 3/17 shooting against Northwestern and Wisconsin), but exploded for 19 first half points before finishing with 23.
The hot shooting of Husker guard Ray Gallegos (30 points, 12/17 shooting including 6/9 3FG) was the only thing that kept the score within 20 points. The Gophers made more free throws than Nebraska attempted, dominated the glass and had a plus-7 turnover margin.
This time around Minnesota enters having won two in a row and is back at .500 in the Big Ten. The best the Gophers can finish is sixth place, but they’d much prefer doing so with a winning record of 10-8.
Although Nebraska will likely be double-digit underdogs, they have the intangible of this being the last regular season game at the Devaney Center in their favor. Beginning this fall the men’s and women’s teams will play at the new Pinnacle Bank Arena in downtown Lincoln.
Husker Hall of Famers Dave Hoppen, Erick Strickland and Eric Piatkowski will be present to celebrate Senior Night and 37 years of basketball in the Devaney Center. If great memories don’t get the fans excited, the $1 popcorn and Pepsi’s should.
Minnesota is the better team by just about any measurement, but they are beatable when they don’t make their 2-point field goals. The good news for Nebraska, who is 0-13 against RPI top 50 teams this season, is that Minnesota doesn’t make their 2-point field goals on the road.
The Gophers are 1-6 on the road in the Big Ten this season. Excluding games in which Minnesota is the visitor, the home team in 2012-13 Big Ten contests has won 63% of the time. If Minnesota wins at both Nebraska and Purdue, their 3-6 record on the road shouldn’t be a problem. However, a 2-7 or 1-8 mark could cost them when it comes to NCAA tournament seeding.
I see the Gophers winning this one comfortably, but keep an eye on their 2-point field goal shooting.
OTHER NOTES
Trevor Mbakwe was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Week based on his performances against Indiana and Penn State.
In case you missed it (from yesterday): More Than a Number: Trevor Mbakwe’s 8.8 Rebounds per Game looks at Trevor's impressive rebounding percentages this season.
Recruiting notes (via LateNightHoops.com): The Gophers are very interested in Palm Beach State College sophomore Kevin Thomas. He’s expected to be eligible for D1 competition this fall.
The Minnesota high school boys’ basketball sectionals are underway. The state tournament takes place March 20-23 at Target Center and Williams Arena. Schedules can be found at MSHSL.org and the knowledgeable TC Hoops Czar has offered up his predictions at tchoops.blogspot.com.
