cncmin
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8-1 through the first 9 games (and loving the only loss!!), average score 72.0 to 56.9 (+15.1 ppg). It's pretty elucidating to see how good B1G offenses look (except for UW, who missed a lot of easy shots) against non-B1G competition; 6 of 9 games at 70+. B1G defensive performances indicating that the often low-scoring games in the B1G are probably more a result of good defense rather than bad offense.
Perhaps, win or lose vs. Florida, these kind of performances will put the Gophers rough B1G season in a little perspective. Sure the losses at NW, at Neb, at OSU and at Iowa were bad; however, they had a lot of close losses against some very good competition, and had some nice wins, even if that kind of success was to be expected before the season started. While I am disappointed in the B1G results and expected much more, perhaps the ultimate reality is that the Gophers picked a very bad year in which to have their best team since ca. 1997, as there were so many tough teams at the top (Ind., OSU, Mich, MSU) and one extremely lucky one (UW), to go along with very few weak teams that would otherwise have presented opportunities to regain their composure once it was lost.
B1G score tracking thus far in the tournament:
MSU 65, Valpo 54
Wisconsin 46, Mississippi 57
OSU 95, Iona 70
Indiana 83, JMU 62
Michigan 71, SDSU 56
Illinois 57, Colorado 49
Minnesota 83, UCLA 63
MSU 70, Memphis 48
Michigan 78, VCU 53
Some good offenses have been held to pretty low scores by B1G defenses through the first 9 games, this often without B1G-type refs letting them play, so to speak. Also note that opponent scores by Iona and JMU were largely constructed in junk time long after the game was over.
Perhaps, win or lose vs. Florida, these kind of performances will put the Gophers rough B1G season in a little perspective. Sure the losses at NW, at Neb, at OSU and at Iowa were bad; however, they had a lot of close losses against some very good competition, and had some nice wins, even if that kind of success was to be expected before the season started. While I am disappointed in the B1G results and expected much more, perhaps the ultimate reality is that the Gophers picked a very bad year in which to have their best team since ca. 1997, as there were so many tough teams at the top (Ind., OSU, Mich, MSU) and one extremely lucky one (UW), to go along with very few weak teams that would otherwise have presented opportunities to regain their composure once it was lost.
B1G score tracking thus far in the tournament:
MSU 65, Valpo 54
Wisconsin 46, Mississippi 57
OSU 95, Iona 70
Indiana 83, JMU 62
Michigan 71, SDSU 56
Illinois 57, Colorado 49
Minnesota 83, UCLA 63
MSU 70, Memphis 48
Michigan 78, VCU 53
Some good offenses have been held to pretty low scores by B1G defenses through the first 9 games, this often without B1G-type refs letting them play, so to speak. Also note that opponent scores by Iona and JMU were largely constructed in junk time long after the game was over.
