B1G Game 16 Gophers Visit Nebraska (2-24-24)

[Ignatius L Hoops]

FRESHMEN FACE OFF​

Minnesota has won four of the last five matchups with the Huskers including a 62-58 mid-January meeting at Williams Arena. Amaya Battle’s three with 9 seconds remaining capped a fun forty minutes of ball.

Unfortunately, while the Huskers are eminently beatable, the programs have trended in opposite directions. Nebraska is currently 10-6 which is good for 4th in the B1G and maximum rest before hitting the Big Ten Tournament court. Minnesota is 5-10 which guarantees an opening day of the tournament obligation.

Sure, Gopher fans will be concerned about Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski and Jaz Shelley, but the sub-plot will be the match-up between two of the Big Ten Freshman of the Year candidates: Grace Grocholski and the Husker’s forward Natalie Potts. In the first game Potts delivered 10 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes while Grocholski posted an atypical 0 points and 2 rebounds in 34 minutes.

Below are stats for Grocholski, Potts and the third freshman widely considered to be in the Big Ten FOY conversation Purdue forward Mary Ashley Stevenson.

Conference Stats Comparison

	Minutes​	Points​	Rebounds​	3 Pointers​	Free Throws​	​
Grocholski	35.3​	11.6​	2.6​	35-89​	9-10​	​
Potts	23.9​	9.9​	5.1​	5-33​	35-40​	​
Stevenson	27.5​	10.8​	4.7​	2-11​	40-44​	​

Last Five Games: Grocholski and Potts feasted on the Wildcats.

Grace Grocholski

	Minutes​	Points​	Rebounds​	3 Pointers​	Free Throws​
@ MSU	38​	6​	3​	2-4​	0-0​
Ohio State	35​	8​	4​	2-7​	0-0​
@ Rutgers	39​	23​	2​	7-12​	0-0​
Northwestern	38​	27​	5​	6-7​	1-2​
Wisconsin	28​	8​	3​	2-3​	0-0​

Natalie Potts

	Minutes​	Points​	Rebounds​	3 Pointers​	Free Throws​
@Michigan	22​	12​	3​	1-4​	3-4​
Iowa	26​	14​	6​	0-2​	2-3​
@ Ohio State	15​	6​	2​	0-1​	2-2​
@Purdue	14​	0​	1​	0-1​	0-0​
Northwestern	22​	18​	10​	1-1​	5-5​

Mary Ashley Stevenson

	Minutes​	Points​	Rebounds​	3 Pointers​	Free Throws​
Illinois	35​	25​	9​	0-0​	9-9​
@Indiana	30​	16​	1​	1-4​	1-2​
@Northwestern	21​	8​	5​	0-0​	0-0​
Nebraska	30​	16​	4​	0-0​	8-8​
MSU	29​	8​	1​	0-0​	0-0​

 

[gopherdudepart2]

Need some transition points, and have to make more shots. Go Gophers, beat Nebraska.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[DietCokeFan]

Is it bad to say I’d rather play with four players on the court then deal with Sanders dribbling with her head down all the time?

 

[blkroll]

Is it bad to say I’d rather play with four players on the court then deal with Sanders dribbling with her head down all the time?

Can we put Battle on the bench too?

 

[BBJones]

It appears that our guards have not forgotten how to dribble.

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

say your thoughts above

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[BBJones]

Yeah, since no one else hardly sees the ball.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Passing and shooting have been heave and hope

 

[Ghos345]

Yeah, since no one else hardly sees the ball.

She’s scoring but hard to watch but listening to radio broadcast and they want her to shoot more they just said

 

[fanfromthevalley]

Hard to compete with two starters on the bench with injuries. We just don't have the depth to replace that (nor do I think many other teams would be able to either....)

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

It was a nice senior night for the Huskers

 

[rowdaboat]

Braun should be in the running for conference MVP, Gophers would be 6 win team on season without her

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Maya_aflakpi]

 

[Gopheritnow]

The point guard play was atrocious, or worse. Sanders spends 15 seconds trying to set up a right handed drive to the basket, then comes the inevitable layup attempt, and landing on the floor. Battle, when she in a rare occasion stops dribbling anywhere outside 18’, they just back off because she refuses to shoot from there, making an entry pass, if that thought should ever accidentally occur to her, almost impossible. Johnson got early looks, and then nada! As for the forwards, not much incentive to get open, the ball ain’t comin your way anytime soon!

 

[BBJones]

The point guard play was atrocious, or worse. Sanders spends 15 seconds trying to set up a right handed drive to the basket, then comes the inevitable layup attempt, and landing on the floor. Battle, when she in a rare occasion stops dribbling anywhere outside 18’, they just back off because she refuses to shoot from there, making an entry pass, if that thought should ever accidentally occur to her, almost impossible. Johnson got early looks, and then nada! As for the forwards, not much incentive to get open, the ball ain’t comin your way anytime soon!

Exactly! Hopefully, next year, with at least three more guards on the roster, the offense will change and improve. I can't believe that this year's style of play is what the Coach wants.

 

[Gophers112233]

Exactly! Hopefully, next year, with at least three more guards on the roster, the offense will change and improve. I can't believe that this year's style of play is what the Coach wants.

let's remember to Klick was going to be the back up PG this season rather then Sanders..