B1G Game 10: Gophers Host Michigan (1-29-23)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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Balance and experience: what the Gophers lack, Michigan has in abundance. Plus, the Wolverines can score. Here’s Michigan’s starting five with Big Ten Stats:

6’1” 5th year point guard Leigha Brown averages 18 points and 7.1 assists per game

6’0” Sophomore guard Laila Phelia averages 16.9 points per game

6’3” 5th year guard Emiley Kiser averages 16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game

5’11” Senior guard Maddie Nolan averages 8.4 points per game (19-47 from three)

6’3” Junior F Cameron Williams averages 6.7 points and 18.8 minutes per game

The first four play between 32 and 35 minutes a game.

There’s very little mystery about Michigan. However, what we won’t know until tomorrow night is whether the 6-3 Wolverines will arrive in Minnesota celebrating a 7th win or be a bit ornery after 4th loss. That’s because Michigan starts a two game road trip with a visit to Maryland before facing Minnesota 2-7 on Sunday.

Thus far, Michigan has won the games it should (Northwestern, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Michigan State and Rutgers); but has lost to the B1Gs top tier Ohio State 57-66, Iowa 85-94 and Indiana 83-92. Last season, the Wolverines failed to tie for a B1G championship due to a postponed game with Illinois. Whatever the outcome against the Terps, Michigan will arrive at Williams Arena expecting and needing to leave with a victory to keep any title hopes alive.
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There are losses when you can learn a lot. This doesn't seem like one of them. This is burn the video and move on territory.
 






Why do the Gophers always come out of the locker room so cold on shooting and turning the dang ball over. Terrible 3rd quarters have been the theme all season. Need to change up the defense and inbounding. 3rd quarters are a bane. This game was really tough to watch, we should get a refund as that was not Big 10 level basketball. Only half joking too, that was not Big 10 worthy basketball in second half.
 



Bad loss. Minnesota looked like the team that played three games in one week. Four players played over 30 minutes and 5 over 27 minutes. The reserves don't give the team much rest or production (2 points vs 17). Scouting report says stop Micheaux, via double or triple teams, because no one else will hurt you. Poor shooting (30.5%), insufficient three-point shooting (2/10), and players sometimes are reluctant to shoot. Turnovers a big problem (21 vs. 8). Defense was poor. They looked tired, confused, and didn't get back quickly. After the game, the players looked dejected and lost confidence. I worry that they are going to get killed in the next three games against really tough opponents and lose confidence so that they will not do well against the weak teams at the end of the season.
 


gopherdudepart2 said:
Why do the Gophers always come out of the locker room so cold on shooting and turning the dang ball over. Terrible 3rd quarters have been the theme all season. Need to change up the defense and inbounding. 3rd quarters are a bane. This game was really tough to watch, we should get a refund as that was not Big 10 level basketball. Only half joking too, that was not Big 10 worthy basketball in second half.
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Outscored by 20 in the 3rd quarter today. I get the variability of FG % but it’s hard 2 understand why we have not stressed team defense, rebounding n reducing TO’s which are more about schemes and effort.
 

How bad was it? Michigan played 13 players today-Kim Barnes Arico probably didn't know half of them. I agree that the Gophers weren't playing or coaching Big Ten basketball.

We had no one to match up with Brown and Phelia.

Our one consistent focus is "get the ball to Rose". It's not enough.

I will say there was some humor watching Borowicz play kamikazi defense in the first half.
 



Ignatius L Hoops said:
How bad was it? Michigan played 13 players today-Kim Barnes Arico probably didn't know half of them. I agree that the Gophers weren't playing or coaching Big Ten basketball.

We had no one to match up with Brown and Phelia.

Our one consistent focus is "get the ball to Rose". It's not enough.

I will say there was some humor watching Borowicz play kamikazi defense in the first half.
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Played 13 players and the Gophers couldn't even score on the scrubs.
 

Do they have anyone recruits with huge wingspan coming in? We are griping a lot on the men's board, but the women only have one more conference win than the guys.
 



This game was very disappointing and hard to watch. A few observations: 1. They did not look "recharged" after a week-long pause between games, 2. nor did they in any way look confident. 3. The transfer portal bench cannot contribute any offense. Gradwell has lost confidence in her shot. We do not have a substitute for Rose in the post. Cayton's drives result in left-handed layups she has no chance of finishing.
It is up to the two sophomores and the four freshmen to figure out how to play in the fast and physical Big Ten.
In a game as hopelessly lost as yesterday's, why didn't the two walk-ons get a chance to take the floor. At this point in the season, the transfers have had their chance to stake a claim to a permanent spot in the rotation.
 

Longtimegopherfan said:
This game was very disappointing and hard to watch. A few observations: 1. They did not look "recharged" after a week-long pause between games, 2. nor did they in any way look confident.
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I thought they looked pretty good at the beginning but when the going got tough they lacked the grit to play intensly no matter the score.
Longtimegopherfan said:
3. The transfer portal bench cannot contribute any offense. Gradwell has lost confidence in her shot. We do not have a substitute for Rose in the post.
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Gradwell never was a very productive player. https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4399213/isabelle-gradwell

History shows barely over 20% 3pointers in career and just 30% overall FG.

Purely depth, athleticism and length to help defensively when starters need rest.

Longtimegopherfan said:
Cayton's drives result in left-handed layups she has no chance of finishing.
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Love Cayton's defense most days but her offense is very nightmarish. On paper she looked like a nice depth addition https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4399213/isabelle-gradwell with a lot of potential but her decision making has been very poor, not what you expect from a super senior, she jacks up miserable interior shots as miserably as super freshman, Katie, and really shouldn't be shooting 3 pointers based on her 20% lifetime record.
Longtimegopherfan said:
It is up to the two sophomores and the four freshmen to figure out how to play in the fast and physical Big Ten.
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I think you nailed this, anyone beyond the 6th player needs to come in and focus on using clock and playing defense. The transfer portal did not bring in any starter level talent which we desperately needed. I was wrong to hope they would. I had high hopes for Oberg but it is just not going as well for her as I thought.
Longtimegopherfan said:
In a game as hopelessly lost as yesterday's, why didn't the two walk-ons get a chance to take the floor. At this point in the season, the transfers have had their chance to stake a claim to a permanent spot in the rotation.
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I totally agree, the walk-ons should have been put in for the last couple minutes. I'm guessing the score was so embarrassing they really wanted to close the gap and put as many on the board as they could.

Rose has been better at passing and generating assists but her turnovers are still excessive. Katie did better on turnovers and decisions shooting but she still jacked up a silly one inside. I am fine with her taking open 3s and midranges or even shots under the basket but the later, are the shots her decision making is lacking.

Still enough core talent to win but they need to keep intensity, play with confidence and make better decisions (limit turnovers and poor shots). I figured we would lose all 5 games in this 5 game stretch. Unfortunately I have been correct on the first 2. Hopefully we steal one in the last 3 by playing to our potential and the opponent having a less than perfect game.
 

Longtimegopherfan said:
This game was very disappointing and hard to watch. A few observations: 1. They did not look "recharged" after a week-long pause between games, 2. nor did they in any way look confident. 3. The transfer portal bench cannot contribute any offense. Gradwell has lost confidence in her shot. We do not have a substitute for Rose in the post. Cayton's drives result in left-handed layups she has no chance of finishing.
It is up to the two sophomores and the four freshmen to figure out how to play in the fast and physical Big Ten.
In a game as hopelessly lost as yesterday's, why didn't the two walk-ons get a chance to take the floor. At this point in the season, the transfers have had their chance to stake a claim to a permanent spot in the rotation.
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The super seniors spent 4 years proving they're role-players at mid-level programs. Don't know why coaching thought they could contribute a whole lot in the big 10. Playing the walk-ons goes counter to the 'trust the system', 'wait until next year' narrative. The walk-ons could potentially be role players. Ratzlaff is a defensive specialist, and Counts is a shooter-facilitator. We're essentially last in the big ten in defense, assists, and shooting percentage, so it would make some sense. If they get destroyed on the floor then we'll know. The coaches see them in practice so they have a better feel for where they'd help. Something needs to be shaken-up though.
 

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