B1G game 3: Gophers visit Michigan 1-5-26

[drewhaus7]

Another opportunity missed and didn't FIND A WAY! Better FIND A WAY SOON if you want to dance cause the big 10 season is tough and goes fast. Still plenty of opportunities, but need to get one soon.

 

[Gopher Mac]

I know I am going to get killed for saying this but here goes stating the obvious. This team is not very good and coach P is not a very good coach. Defense has improved dramatically. You have three starters who are below average big ten talent. Mara, Hart, and Battle. You have a coach who for some ungodly reason does not know Grace is her best offensive weapon. Coach P game management has been awful. Maybe she can recuit better talent which can make a coach alot better. Let's hope so. And the rest of this year please let Grace shoot the ball as option number one.

 

[gophersoa]

You have to believe Coach P has an offensive scheme, so, is it a poor scheme or are the players not good enough or willing to execute it?

 

[MaxyJR1]

I know I am going to get killed for saying this but here goes stating the obvious. This team is not very good and coach P is not a very good coach. Defense has improved dramatically. You have three starters who are below average big ten talent. Mara, Hart, and Battle. You have a coach who for some ungodly reason does not know Grace is her best offensive weapon. Coach P game management has been awful. Maybe she can recuit better talent which can make a coach alot better. Let's hope so. And the rest of this year please let Grace shoot the ball as option number one.

I'm pretty tough on the team as well. It's simply athleticism and play making on offense that is lacking. They are really good defensively, but well below average on offense. We got out hustled and no one sets the tone. The all seem tentative in play or get frustrated and make dumb plays.

Braun= too many shots out of system and rhythm.
Battle= lacks confidence at times and PG mentality
GG= gets most out of her talent, smart player
Tori= Doesn't seem to have a specified role
Hart= Can't do anything that isn't set up perfectly

Team shoots the 2nd fewest FT's in conference, but is top 7 in % made. Got to get to line more.


Next two at home are must wins IMO before UCLA.

 

[DietCokeFan]

I'm pretty tough on the team as well. It's simply athleticism and play making on offense that is lacking. They are really good defensively, but well below average on offense. We got out hustled and no one sets the tone. The all seem tentative in play or get frustrated and make dumb plays.

Braun= too many shots out of system and rhythm.
Battle= lacks confidence at times and PG mentality
GG= gets most out of her talent, smart player
Tori= Doesn't seem to have a specified role
Hart= Can't do anything that isn't set up perfectly

Team shoots the 2nd fewest FT's in conference, but is top 7 in % made. Got to get to line more.


Next two at home are must wins IMO before UCLA.

I am hard on this team as well, and most posters seem to come for my throat when I talk bad about Coach P or some individual players. I told myself to try and be more level headed, which I think I am doing

Extremely frustrated but I also don't know what its going to take to get to the next level. It can't just be about money. The best thing for this team is for a few to graduate (yes, I know that sounds mean, but we need to get more athletic and people who can score around the basket)

Braun loves to run and gun, but needs to start connecting.

I really worry about what this team is going to look like next year, especially if we don't find a way to get to the tourney. Does GG stay? does Mara move on to something new? We have some talent coming, but if we want to move the needle next year we need to put any money we have left to a couple of BIGs who can help space the floor. Should be an easier sell especially if a starting position could be available.

Agree the next two are must win games. Then I think we have to at least split on the west coast.

 

[Katogopher]

I'm pretty tough on the team as well. It's simply athleticism and play making on offense that is lacking. They are really good defensively, but well below average on offense. We got out hustled and no one sets the tone. The all seem tentative in play or get frustrated and make dumb plays.

Braun= too many shots out of system and rhythm.
Battle= lacks confidence at times and PG mentality
GG= gets most out of her talent, smart player
Tori= Doesn't seem to have a specified role
Hart= Can't do anything that isn't set up perfectly

Team shoots the 2nd fewest FT's in conference, but is top 7 in % made. Got to get to line more.


Next two at home are must wins IMO before UCLA.

Grace was driving to the rim and making them! I hope coach P allows Grace some practice time to coach this skill set. We never draw fouls b/c we don’t finish at the rim very well. Agree that the next 2 home games are must wins but our greatest stars disappear during big games except for GG - she needs help.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Grace was driving to the rim and making them! I hope coach P allows Grace some practice time to coach this skill set. We never draw fouls b/c we don’t finish at the rim very well. Agree that the next 2 home games are must wins but our greatest stars disappear during big games except for GG - she needs help.

Great point! GG is a bit quicker this year but still strong and can absorb contact. She attacks this allows her to finish.

Braun lacks physicality and some grit. She usually ends up flopping on the floor. I did like the drive yesterday at the end she drove right at Olson was physical and got fouled.

 

[Roland Brooks]

I am hard on this team as well, and most posters seem to come for my throat when I talk bad about Coach P or some individual players. I told myself to try and be more level headed, which I think I am doing

Extremely frustrated but I also don't know what its going to take to get to the next level. It can't just be about money. The best thing for this team is for a few to graduate (yes, I know that sounds mean, but we need to get more athletic and people who can score around the basket)

Braun loves to run and gun, but needs to start connecting.

I really worry about what this team is going to look like next year, especially if we don't find a way to get to the tourney. Does GG stay? does Mara move on to something new? We have some talent coming, but if we want to move the needle next year we need to put any money we have left to a couple of BIGs who can help space the floor. Should be an easier sell especially if a starting position could be available.

Agree the next two are must win games. Then I think we have to at least split on the west coast.

I felt your pain last year when I shared my opinion that Olson was the best player on the court against the Gophers and better than Braun… not much changed this year

 

[drewhaus7]

I know I am going to get killed for saying this but here goes stating the obvious. This team is not very good and coach P is not a very good coach. Defense has improved dramatically. You have three starters who are below average big ten talent. Mara, Hart, and Battle. You have a coach who for some ungodly reason does not know Grace is her best offensive weapon. Coach P game management has been awful. Maybe she can recuit better talent which can make a coach alot better. Let's hope so. And the rest of this year please let Grace shoot the ball as option number one.

Next year has 4 players coming in, but so far in 3 years (only 2 of her recruits(GG, Tori) have gotten quality minutes in big 10 play games so far). To me that is concerning. My point is this game Tori, Braun, Battle started off cold again shooting and Coach never went to Makena Christian for more then 1 minute until late in the game when it was too late. Didn't even try to get her a shot who at 38.8% 3PT is pretty good. We all have seen her ability to shoot. Any she has played quality D too, so don't make that excuse.

We had so many cupcake teams we were more worried about running up the score to improve NET rankings (my opinion) then making sure a pure shooter is ready for big 10 play to help in these situations where a Tori, GG, Braun, Battle, Glenn are off. It happens where players are off, that is coaches job to adjust and figure out. There is no offense to draw up plays to get shooters shots.

This team has the talent to win in the big 10, but big 10 is way too tough to only play D and think all your offense is going to come off the D. Why don't we ever try to press and trap teams like they do to us? Think Glenn and Tori be pretty darn good at it with Braun/Battle to pick off sloppy passes. Didn't see this at all really even down late in Michigan. Always wait to get over the half court line?

And it still bothers me that coach didn't take a timeout right away against Maryland.

Think so many of us just want to break the ice and see this team get some big W's. Rah!

 

[BigTenGuy]

. . . Think so many of us just want to break the ice and see this team get some big W's. Rah!

USC is going to be the break-through win against a ranked team. USC is a really poor team on offense; a good matchup for the Gophers. Victory by the Gophers may very well knock USC out of the top 25.

 

[Slim Tubby]

I am hard on this team as well, and most posters seem to come for my throat when I talk bad about Coach P or some individual players. I told myself to try and be more level headed, which I think I am doing

I interpret your negativity as the observations of a realist. Coach P is certainly a sizable upgrade over Whalen and the program has definitely improved under her watch.

The problem is she has yet to establish any resemblance of an offensive identity or system even with plenty of talented scorers on her roster. Couple that in with the fact that we are the least athletic team on the court virtually every game and Coach P's upside for this program appears to be extremely limited.

Coach Medved in less than a season has dramatically altered the identity of the Men's program on both sides of the ball. There is purpose. There is design. There is implementation. There is execution. All by a team that also lags way behind our competitors from an athleticism standpoint.

I truly believe it can be done here for the Women's program, too, with the right coach. The jury is still out on whether that can be Coach P. She will get a lot of rope considering how dysfunctional this program was when she took over.

 

[rowdaboat]

USC is going to be the break-through win against a ranked team. USC is a really poor team on offense; a good matchup for the Gophers. Victory by the Gophers may very well knock USC out of the top 25.

Just make anybody but Jazzy score

 

[DietCokeFan]

I interpret your negativity as the observations of a realist. Coach P is certainly a sizable upgrade over Whalen and the program has definitely improved under her watch.

The problem is she has yet to establish any resemblance of an offensive identity or system even with plenty of talented scorers on her roster. Couple that in with the fact that we are the least athletic team on the court virtually every game and Coach P's upside for this program appears to be extremely limited.

Coach Medved in less than a season has dramatically altered the identity of the Men's program on both sides of the ball. There is purpose. There is design. There is implementation. There is execution. All by a team that also lags way behind our competitors from an athleticism standpoint.

I truly believe it can be done here for the Women's program, too, with the right coach. The jury is still out on whether that can be Coach P. She will get a lot of rope considering how dysfunctional this program was when she took over.

Well said.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Just make anybody but Jazzy score

Just don't let Jazzy score in transition. She can take jump shots and 3s all day. She is not an efficient scorer. Her effective field goal percentage (EFG%) is 45%, which puts her in the bottom 10% nationally. In conference play, she is a little better, but still in the bottom 20% in the BIG as far as EFG%.

 

[GringaGopher]

I interpret your negativity as the observations of a realist. Coach P is certainly a sizable upgrade over Whalen and the program has definitely improved under her watch.

The problem is she has yet to establish any resemblance of an offensive identity or system even with plenty of talented scorers on her roster. Couple that in with the fact that we are the least athletic team on the court virtually every game and Coach P's upside for this program appears to be extremely limited.

Coach Medved in less than a season has dramatically altered the identity of the Men's program on both sides of the ball. There is purpose. There is design. There is implementation. There is execution. All by a team that also lags way behind our competitors from an athleticism standpoint.

I truly believe it can be done here for the Women's program, too, with the right coach. The jury is still out on whether that can be Coach P. She will get a lot of rope considering how dysfunctional this program was when she took over.

Agreed. Talent level, D is way better but we need a consistent offense to beat these good teams. I am very frustrated that we have not beat these better teams but am trying to be patient to see if they improve the remainder of this season.

 

[TruthSeeker]

You cannot compete for conference titles or 2nd weekend tournament games without WNBA players.

This team has no WNBA players.

Until they get 1 or 2, the best they can hope to be is a bubble team.

Olson, Crump, and Johnson in some combination would make this a tourney team.

 

[DietCokeFan]

 

[MaxyJR1]

I interpret your negativity as the observations of a realist. Coach P is certainly a sizable upgrade over Whalen and the program has definitely improved under her watch.

The problem is she has yet to establish any resemblance of an offensive identity or system even with plenty of talented scorers on her roster. Couple that in with the fact that we are the least athletic team on the court virtually every game and Coach P's upside for this program appears to be extremely limited.

Coach Medved in less than a season has dramatically altered the identity of the Men's program on both sides of the ball. There is purpose. There is design. There is implementation. There is execution. All by a team that also lags way behind our competitors from an athleticism standpoint.

I truly believe it can be done here for the Women's program, too, with the right coach. The jury is still out on whether that can be Coach P. She will get a lot of rope considering how dysfunctional this program was when she took over.

Mara was 2-8 from 3 and both were catch and shoot.
GG is much better on the catch and shoot.

They all struggle to create. They need a bit of the Niko sharing mentality to find better scoring opportunities.

 

[Chico Gopher]

"I hope coach P allows Grace some practice time to coach this skill set.".

This one kills me. 100% sure that all of the Gophers guards and wings have the green light to go to the rim if their defender gets caught up in the high screen and the hedge isn't executed properly. Basic basketball, if you can turn the corner and get downhill to the hoop, GO! Then read the defense. If help comes, be ready to dump it if your screener rolls with you and has an open lane. Or look to jump stop and pass back to perimeter or corner (maybe there's an open 3). I've certainly never been to any practices or seen any film sessions with Coach P, but there is no doubt that is part of weekly practice sets---otherwise you would never have seen anybody use the high screen last night to see if they could get down to the hoop.
I mean, they ran that several times during the Michigan game. Unfortunately, it was generally well defended, but Battle, GG and Braun at the end, were able to get room a few times and get to the bucket.
Pretty sure Coach P is NOT telling Battle, Glenn, GG, Braun and McKinney "No matter what, don't dive to the rim if it opens up!". Pretty sure the message is, "If you get a lane, GO.". Gotta realize that there is nothing that any of us has seen as an offensive philosophy that Coach P hasn't seen, studied, discussed with other coaches and more than likely considered how it might work for the Gophers and the current personnel. I'm sure that there are a few folks on this board who have coached high level high school or college ball and spent a few 100 hours at coaching clinics and talking XX's and OO's, watching game film, ect. with other coaches who really have an idea and true coaching knowledge, but most of us are just a bunch of frustrated fans who don't really know that much and thinking randomly throwing mud up against the wall to see if it maybe sticks is the way to go.

 

[thatjanelpick]

"I hope coach P allows Grace some practice time to coach this skill set.".

This one kills me. 100% sure that all of the Gophers guards and wings have the green light to go to the rim if their defender gets caught up in the high screen and the hedge isn't executed properly. Basic basketball, if you can turn the corner and get downhill to the hoop, GO! Then read the defense. If help comes, be ready to dump it if your screener rolls with you and has an open lane. Or look to jump stop and pass back to perimeter or corner (maybe there's an open 3). I've certainly never been to any practices or seen any film sessions with Coach P, but there is no doubt that is part of weekly practice sets---otherwise you would never have seen anybody use the high screen last night to see if they could get down to the hoop.
I mean, they ran that several times during the Michigan game. Unfortunately, it was generally well defended, but Battle, GG and Braun at the end, were able to get room a few times and get to the bucket.
Pretty sure Coach P is NOT telling Battle, Glenn, GG, Braun and McKinney "No matter what, don't dive to the rim if it opens up!". Pretty sure the message is, "If you get a lane, GO.". Gotta realize that there is nothing that any of us has seen as an offensive philosophy that Coach P hasn't seen, studied, discussed with other coaches and more than likely considered how it might work for the Gophers and the current personnel. I'm sure that there are a few folks on this board who have coached high level high school or college ball and spent a few 100 hours at coaching clinics and talking XX's and OO's, watching game film, ect. with other coaches who really have an idea and true coaching knowledge, but most of us are just a bunch of frustrated fans who don't really know that much and thinking randomly throwing mud up against the wall to see if it maybe sticks is the way to go.

I think the issue is less the green light than the execution. GG can absorb contact. Braun never has and apparently never will, which is too bad because she'd shoot a ton of free throws (which we know she does well) if she were willing to be more physical. I'm sure the coaches would love her to, just as (to repeat an earlier theme) they'd love for Hart to stop putting the ball on the floor, something Tonga doesn't do but, for whatever reason, Hart insists on doing.

 

[Chico Gopher]

Mara was 2-8 from 3 and both were catch and shoot.
GG is much better on the catch and shoot.

They all struggle to create. They need a bit of the Niko sharing mentality to find better scoring opportunities.

What I saw last night was a very athletic Michigan defense, do a very good job of covering cutters last night and getting into passing lanes. We obviously missed a few opportunities as well. When you get the opening, you gotta convert. Of course every team in America has the "missed opportunities" complaint. Betting that the Michigan coaches watched their film last night and came away thinking, "We should have scored 85, not 70.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Mara was 2-8 from 3 and both were catch and shoot.
GG is much better on the catch and shoot.

They all struggle to create. They need a bit of the Niko sharing mentality to find better scoring opportunities.

Yep agree. I would like to see GG get the ball on the elbow more..option to drive and score or pass.. she plays with her head up