B1G Game 3: Gophers visit Maryland (12-30-22)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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Minnesota is 1-12 versus Maryland and 1-11 versus former Gopher coach Brenda Frese. The lone Minnesota win came during Marlene Stollings last season when the Gophers routed the Terps 93-74 at Williams Arena. In Whalen’s first season, pretty much the same Gopher roster minus Carly Wagner, had Maryland on the ropes 54-38 midway through the third quarter before collapsing and losing at the buzzer 69-71. Minnesota has lost four more since then, although Whalen only gets saddled with three of those losses because an appendectomy sidelined her during last season’s tilt.

Both Minnesota 8-5 and Maryland 10-3 enter Friday’s contest 1-1 in the Big Ten. The Terps opened the B1G season with a surprising 67-90 loss to Nebraska followed by a surprisingly close 77-74 win over Purdue. Though, as usual, Maryland has bolstered its NCAA credentials by defeating Notre Dame and UConn. Minnesota is yet to log a “hey look at us” win.

While Maryland has assembled its usual roster of impact transfers, we all know Diamond Miller. Miller is averaging 18.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

https://www.espn.com/womens-college...ege-basketball-top-25-players-country-2022-23

11. Diamond Miller, Maryland​

Guard | 6-foot-3 | senior | Previous ranking: 21
2022-23 stats: 18.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 43.7 FG%, 2.0 BPG

It has been a bit of an inconsistent season for the new-look Terps, but one constant you can rely on: If Diamond Miller goes off, Maryland has a pretty good chance of winning. The Terps are 2-2 when Miller scores fewer than 15 points (their other loss came against South Carolina, a game the senior guard missed due to injury). Earlier this month, her 31 points -- including a buzzer-beater that garnered Kevin Durant's attention -- gave Maryland a marquee victory at Notre Dame before she followed it with another big dagger 3 at home versus UConn. She'll play under the close eye of WNBA scouts for the remainder of 2022-23, as ESPN's WNBA mock draft projects Miller will be a lottery pick come April. -- Philippou

Last season Miller posted 12 points and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes against the Gophers. Rose Micheaux is the only Gopher survivor from that game. Rose was productive with 12 rebounds and 8 points in 25 minutes as a starter. Friday is an upgrade in competition. Hopefully the Gophers are prepared.
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The mid-term grades are in. This year's (2022-2023) Gophers have 8 wins and 5 loses and are 1-1 against Big Ten teams. Last year's (2021-2022) Gophers were 7 wins and 6 loses and 0-2 in the Big Ten over 13 games. Last year's non-conference schedule may have been more difficult but it is somewhat early to tell.

Our young Gophers have a chance to improve upon last year's results. Their play seems to be improving as the season progresses and they have shown that they can win some close games.

It will be interesting to see how they do as they get more experience and hopefully grow in confidence.
 

www.startribune.com

Young Gophers women's squad has had moments, but Big Ten giants await

The Gophers return from their break and reopen Big Ten play Friday against a daunting Maryland squad.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Kent Youngblood:

Showing that grit is impressive. But it's not a winning formula for Big Ten play, where lulls like the one the Gophers had against Eastern Illinois would put them in a hole too deep.

"I feel another step needs to be taken,'' Borowicz said. "But we are capable of that step. It's the small things. Each person has to have one less turnover, one more pass instead of a forced shot. These are all controllables that we can fix. But we do have to take a step forward.'
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Katie B have a hard time with the press. I hope Braun can find her shot again, been missing the past few games.
 



Really nice response for the Gophers to finish that quarter. Maryland has hit some really tough shots. Seems like the Gophers settled down a bit and started taking better care of the ball so hopefully that keeps up in the 2nd half.
 






As the Star/Trib pointed out in today’s preview that the lulls this team gets in, it is harder to climb out of when playing BIG teams. Maryland’s press has been difficult for the Gophers. I hate to see what OSU press does to them.
 

Katogopher said:
As the Star/Trib pointed out in today’s preview that the lulls this team gets in, it is harder to climb out of when playing BIG teams. Maryland’s press has been difficult for the Gophers. I hate to see what OSU press does to them.
Click to expand...
Will be a problem. A LOT of B1G teams are pressing this year.
 






Despite the outcome, I'm still optimistic for the future with this group. Maryland is a very talented team...and they're deep. Gophers will have to do a much better job of getting back on defense against transition-oriented teams like Maryland. The turnovers continue to be a problem for the Gophers. Hopefully that will get better with time, especially with 3 guards in the starting lineup. Really solid performances from Michaeux and Czinano today. Rose is extremely strong for her size and Czinano gives them an effort player they need of the bench. Not much today from Battle and Braun, but much better days ahead for those two. It will be interesting to see how often Rose and Hart are on the floor at the same time next year. Buckeyes next. No relief for this young Gopher squad until Wiscy.
 

Maryland came within three of matching its highest score versus Minnesota

Most Points Scored (Since 1973-74)
1. 117 Ohio State 1/12/96
2. 114 Michigan State 2/21/16
3. 114 Texas 12/14/78
4. 110 Maryland 2/28/16
5. 109 North Carolina 12/21/88
 
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And one more thing...kudos to the BTN+ crew in MD who did the game. The two announcers were very solid as was the production crew. BTN+ productions are often lacking. I'll cut them some slack because they are normally student productions, but the MD crew did a top-rate job.
 

Katogopher said:
As the Star/Trib pointed out in today’s preview that the lulls this team gets in, it is harder to climb out of when playing BIG teams. Maryland’s press has been difficult for the Gophers. I hate to see what OSU press does to them.
Click to expand...
 

Disappointing from a fan standpoint. The Gophers now know what a really good team is like. They need to ask themselves are these teams that much better or can we raise our game? Defense broke down especially in the second half. Turnovers were a problem as usual. Maryland ran them into the ground. Micheaux and Czinano had good games. The scouting report is that Braun is the only one who can hurt you--if you slow or stop her, you have a high chance to win. So, they are really defensing her. Braun needs to improve on shooting in traffic. Their effort is excellent but they need to shore up things, especially turnovers. The statistics were fairly even except turnovers (23-6) , point off turnovers (2-30) and fast break points (13-26). Reminds me of Bull Durham when Crash Davis told Nuke that the big league batters are going to 'light you up like a pin ball for a while.' The Gophers need to keep their confidence while they figure things out.
 

I watched the Ohio State press against Northwestern and it lasted all game. Obviously it's a game winner for many teams, but as a fan, it is boring basketball.
 

walleye said:
...The statistics were fairly even except turnovers (23-6) , point off turnovers (2-30) and fast break points (13-26)...
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Gophers got killed on turnovers and points off turnovers. Maryland is an example of what to aim for. Maryland also shot 53.2% on field goals and 38.9 on 3 pointers.

It helps that Maryland has fast guards as tall as forwards.

The stats otherwise look good for the Gophers.

The Gophers shot 47.9% on field goals and 33.3% on 3-pointers.

The Gophers outrebounded the Terps 43-34.


Gophers box out:
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Many times ran a player(s) fast to the basket for the rebound in coordination with the shot. Crash the boards. Two Maryland players were picked up, including the most dangerous rebounder coming in fast.

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Obviously there were lapses.

Gophers got killed on the transition game. Here Heyer misses a 3 and the Maryland player took off down the court. Oddly battle was back and didn't pick it up. That tells me Gophers were defensing against that to some extent but didn't execute. That needs to be something they will do better.


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And another. Maryland simply outran the Gophers. You need to punish the team for doing that. If you lose two steps it's over.
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Maryland had 13 steals. Here she comes behind Battle and takes the ball away. Gophers will be better at this as they get experience or they will be eaten one steal at a time, one fast break at a time. The Gophers points off turnovers are the victory feast.

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Minnesota only had 1 steal. Minnesota eventually needs to win that game.

Right now maybe aggressive defenses are too risky for what the Gophers can achieve at this point of experience, but at some point they have to join the club.

Maryland (and Virginia) showed how points off turnovers can pay off big.

Up next is Ohio State, veteran at doing that kind of feasting.

Well, there will be lots of video to watch after that to learn from.

Incremental improvement. Continuous improvement. Feedback, learn, advance.


Next year's team will look different in a great way.

Cayton does some things real well but is unreliable shooting. She missed all five shots today.

Gradwell made 3 of her 4 shots, to expectations, and yet that position can produce more.
 

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There's a recurring dilemma. Borowicz is shorter and she gets blocked from a successful shot.

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She shoots anyway which is really cool except it's not even close. It looks like a cavalier fling.

Maryland get the ball and the Gophers are punished with a layup.

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This may take some time to figure out. Borowicz has great moves and inside scoring ability and yet needs to do better at not giving the turnover to the other team. I know the game moves fast and play off quick reads so it's maybe something that takes reps and reps to master.
 

Turnovers and quick shots led to run outs, Maryland is almost impossible to defend in transition with their talent. When the Gophers beat the press and got into their offense they got alot of really good looks. The team continues to show flashes of being really good but also show their age far too often. Hopefully they can find some consistency as we go forward. Also Maryland is really good.
 

Rose (Alanna Micheaux) had 22 points and 9 rebounds from her center/post position. That's a big night.

Her development as a Sophomore from last is a big story this year. She obviously has worked hard to get where she is at. And she will continue to improve based on all she's achieved so far.

There's another lesson in that. If a sophomore can improve like that, what does that tell us about all the freshmen on the team that haven't yet reached sophomore season? Imagine what they will look like next year.

Anyway, amazing 22 point by Rose!


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www.startribune.com

No. 16 Maryland halts Gophers women's winning streak at three with 107-85 pounding

The Gophers committed 23 turnovers and trailed by 19 points in the first half.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com


....said Gophers sophomore Rose Micheaux, who had a team-high 22 points and nine rebounds. "We didn't really lock in on taking care of the ball and having poise. I felt like that was the difference."....

"Taking care of the ball has kind of been the difference for us in our wins and losses," Whalen told local reporters. "I thought we were just too casual with the ball at times."

Not surprisingly, Whalen's players hung around with Maryland for a bit when they limited their turnover issues, which started with seven in the first quarter....

"It's a lot of growing that we have, a lot of learning," Whalen said. "For us, it's on the job training in a sense. Where the players who we start and play a lot of minutes this is the first time going through a lot of this."
 

at some point this season I will BET Amaya will get her triple double.. finished today with 8/10/8 today.

Maggie was a bright spot if we can get just half of what she gave us today that will help a lot.. she finished with 16/8 today.. 6-9 shooting.

I agree with a few other people, hopefully Mara can find her shooting touch again.. teams have learned that if you slow her down or take her out of the game, that is a HUGE part of our offense.. IF others can start hitting shots, that will help free Mara up a bit more.
 


Katogopher said:
As the Star/Trib pointed out in today’s preview that the lulls this team gets in, it is harder to climb out of when playing BIG teams. Maryland’s press has been difficult for the Gophers. I hate to see what OSU press does to them.
Click to expand...
I really thought the gophers handled the press fantas after the first handful of presses. It was all the other poor passing and too many people getting behind our D. Saw a lot of improvement today offensively.
 

Bfan said:
There's a recurring dilemma. Borowicz is shorter and she gets blocked from a successful shot.

View attachment 22825

She shoots anyway which is really cool except it's not even close. It looks like a cavalier fling.

Maryland get the ball and the Gophers are punished with a layup.

View attachment 22826

View attachment 22827

This may take some time to figure out. Borowicz has great moves and inside scoring ability and yet needs to do better at not giving the turnover to the other team. I know the game moves fast and play off quick reads so it's maybe something that takes reps and reps to master.
Click to expand...
That was one of those Katie shots that really irk me. She has at least one of those every game. When she goes a few games without jacking up crap like that then we will know she has improved.
 

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