B1G Game 11: Gophers visit UCLA (2-2-25)

Ignatius L Hoops

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Minnesota motors from LA to Westwood to meet a devotee of the Wizard and his Pyramid of Success, Cori Close. Close is in her 14th season as the Bruins head coach. It’s been a successful run that received a turbo boost on November 24th after UCLA ran over South Carolina 77-62 on national TV. The win at Pauley Pavillion snapped the Gamecocks 43 game winning streak and elevated UCLA to number one ln the AP poll.

Last season, the Bruins 27-7 record included a 2 OT loss to Southern Cal in the PAC 12 tournament and a season ending NCAA Sweet Sixteen loss to LSU 69-78. Versus the Tigers UCLA was led by two players Minnesota must deal with on Sunday: 6’7” Stanford sophomore transfer Lauren Betts who led the Bruins with 14 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocks; and sophomore Kiki Rice with 13 points, 5 assists and the first ever Jordan Brand Player Exclusive deal. Betts and Rice are now juniors with a roster fortified for a final four run.

Starters:

Lauren Betts
is a 6’7” junior center averaging 22.4 points and 9 rebounds in 31.0 minutes. Betts earned AP player of the week honors after wins over Baylor, Rutgers and Maryland (she was 14-15 from the field versus the Terps).

When Betts, looking for a fresh start, left Stanford, Cori Close, given a second chance at recruiting her, closed the deal. After a rocky start in Westwood, Betts leaned into her game to everyone’s enjoyment,

Kiki Rice is a 5’11” junior guard averaging 14.3`points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.8 minutes. The Maryland native totaled 19 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists against the Terps. Rice isn’t much of a three-point threat; but she gets to the rim. She has a .553 field goal percentage.

Gabriela Jaquez is a 6’0” junior guard averaging 9.3`points and 4.9 rebounds in 25.6 minutes.

Londynn Jones is a 5’4” junior guard averaging 8.5 points and 0.9 rebounds in 23.6 minutes. Jones is a three-point threat 19-41 (.463).

Angela Dugalic is a 6’4” graduate forward averaging 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21.5 minutes.

Off the bench:

Timea Gardiner
is a 6’3” junior forward transfer from Oregon State averaging 8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17.7 minutes. Last season she was PAC 12 sixth player of the year.

Janiah Barker is a 6’4” junior forward transfer from Texas A&M averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.1 minutes.

Elina Aarnisalo 5’10” freshman guard from Finland averaging 3.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 20.1 minutes.



UCLA’s Big Ten record is 8-0 with wins over: @ Washington 73-62, Nebraska 91-54, Michigan 86-70, @ Indiana 73-62, @ Purdue 83-49, Penn State 83-67, @ Rutgers 84-66 and @ Maryland 82-67.



Afterword:

Minnesota is 1-2 versus UCLA which included a 63-78 loss in December 1979 and an afternoon Subway Classic 55-58 battle defeat in December of 2013.

We recall the win in 2004 as the most scintillating of Barn burners. And as one of Williams Arena’s top five memories.



'I could see her sinking' — How Lauren Betts rediscovered her confidence and found her voice - Yahoo Sports
 




This is the Gophers 3rd overall matchup against UCLA. They split the previous 2, with the first one being a memorable first round victory of the 2004 NCAA tournament. Here’s that game if anyone wants to take a trip down memory lane.


That was a fun weekend in the barn. It doesn't look so grainy in my memory.
 


Would be great to have McKinney available for more than 4 or 5 minutes of the first half
 

Battle has 11 points in the first quarter. They’re playing well so far.
 





Betts hacked Hart...Should be 2 fouls on her now. Can't stand the star factor getting away with everything.
 

I get so tired of missed shots around the rim. This team just cannot finish.
 


GG needs to be more productive getting open for shots on the offensive side!
 




Good thing Battle was hot or we wouldn't have any offense.
 


Rose frustrates the heck out of me. The games when we get zero scoring production from Heyer it really hurts having both on the court at the same time. We need more scoring, coach P needs to put Johnson in to see if she can knock some shots down.
Hanging with them after first half. First two minutes of third quarter will be critical.
 

Good game, I like their defensive plan but the same ole issues when we play ranked teams, we cannot put the ball in the hoop, especially around the rim. We never seem to get more than 1 scorer hot each game. I hope the defense continues second half and another player can get hot shooting.
 


Year and a half under Coach Plitzuweit and this team is competing with the top teams in the country - arguably with one of their best players out this season. You can tell how much these players have developed and how well thought out her defensive schemes are. What a huge difference versus the joke staff that came before her. Whalen & friends.
 

Rose frustrates the heck out of me. The games when we get zero scoring production from Heyer it really hurts having both on the court at the same time. We need more scoring, coach P needs to put Johnson in to see if she can knock some shots down.
Hanging with them after first half. First two minutes of third quarter will be critical.
Agree. At some point you need to be productive in the offensive end and can't just rely on Battle. The only reason losing this game again is behind the ARC. they are 6-19 and we are 3 of 10. I get same percentage but they have tried 9 more attempts and made 3 more meaning 9 more points. These top teams shoot 30-40% behind the arc and have 20-30 attempts each game.
 

Great defensive game plan by Coach P. Taking Betts out of the game so far. We just really need shooters (mid-range and 3 pt) as UCLA is very tough defensively in the paint. Sophie is going to have a tough day.
 

Good game, I like their defensive plan but the same ole issues when we play ranked teams, we cannot put the ball in the hoop, especially around the rim. We never seem to get more than 1 scorer hot each game. I hope the defense continues second half and another player can get hot shooting.
Ranked teams can generally take a couple of your offensive weapons away. As for Coach P not putting Johnson in yet, pretty sure we know the reason. Once had a coach tell me, "I know he scores 18 a game, but he gives up 21! I play him, we lose, until he shows that he can get a stop when we need one.". Coaches trust who they trust until somebody else steps up and shows I can be trusted too. Good coaches never need to throw mud up against the wall to see if something sticks. When you see that, you know they're out of answers and you never want to see you coach trying something they wouldn't normally do because they have no other better ideas.
 

They’re competitive against the #1 team in the country without Braun and Woodson. Next year adding Christian to all that are coming back will be exciting.
 

They’re competitive against the #1 team in the country without Braun and Woodson. Next year adding Christian to all that are coming back will be exciting.
Does she play defense? Otherwise she won’t see the court.
 

The only reason losing this game again is behind the ARC. they are 6-19 and we are 3 of 10. I get same percentage but they have tried 9 more attempts and made 3 more meaning 9 more points. These top teams shoot 30-40% behind the arc and have 20-30 attempts each game.
Defense is all about tradeoffs. You may be able to hold off Lauren Betts, but that leaves gaps elsewhere and so you just take very educated risks. That's how it is every game.
 

Rose frustrates the heck out of me. The games when we get zero scoring production from Heyer it really hurts having both on the court at the same time. We need more scoring, coach P needs to put Johnson in to see if she can knock some shots down.
Hanging with them after first half. First two minutes of third quarter will be critical.
It's all about the defense. This level of offense requires our best defensive effort.
 

Defense is all about tradeoffs. You may be able to hold off Lauren Betts, but that leaves gaps elsewhere and so you just take very educated risks. That's how it is every game.
Yeah but the other teams are ready and willing to take 20-40 3's a game, We are too slow in deciding to shoot.
 


It's all about the defense. This level of offense requires our best defensive effort
Meh, there’s multiple people missing assignments and they don’t get pulled. I know I’m hard on Heyer but she is not providing any offense. Down ten cause we can’t score.
 




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