B1G Game 8: Gophers host Michigan (1-22-25)

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BBJones said:
I agree, she is better suited to play shooting guard. Taking a team leading 18 shots with only one assist is not stellar point guard play. There were too many instances when she was into her dribbling routine and other players were waving their arms to show they were open. Michigan moved the ball much better. That said, Battle has improved a lot as an all-around player, just not as a point guard.
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I was really impressed with Michigan's ball movement.
 

Random thoughts: No surprise after watching her play in high school, but Olivia Olson is a very good player. Can play inside or outside, and a very competitive, gritty player. Pairing her with a player like Swords will create a lot of problems for opponents. If they can keep these two together in future years, they're going to be quite a force, but projections on future years are always presumptious with NIL and the transfer portal. Michigan can attest to that as they lost an all-conference type player to the portal last offseason. (Phelia to Texas.) As has been pointed out, Gophers could have used both Braun and Woodson against Michigan. Hart and Heyer were ineffective and the defense to contain GG was solid. I liked the idea of bringing in Holloway late in the game, but she missed her shots. Battle was terrific...did it all, but she needed more help offensively. Stewart was good offensively, especially in the first half. With Stewart and Hart sharing the post duties, there will be games where one is much more effective than the other and Coach P seems to be good at recognizing that early. Badgers next. I view this as a bit of a 'must win' game. Can't afford to lose games against these lower tier teams, teams that are good enough to occasionally pull an upset. Go Gophers!
 

I thought Battle had overcame her biggest flaw from last season. Over dribbling. But last night she again fell into that trap. One assist? Yes I know that assists are dependent on the shots being made. But the fact is the ball got stuck in her hands too often. When that happens, everyone just stands around and watches the show. (See Anthony Edwards) Her play has won us some games, and on occasion it loses some.

It’s almost impossible to stop the offense of a team that passes and moves the ball quickly. It’s not hard at all to stop one that doesn’t. Plus, you get to rest on defense most of the time, as there is nothing to chase. And last night, while there were other issues, that was also a large part of the problem.
 


Gopheritnow said:
She is good on D and can bring up the ball. But she just can’t shoot. And her layups generally end up with her on the floor, and often a courple FT’s, but seldom a basket. She is needed on defense, but then for all practical purposes you are playing 4 on 5 offensively.
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I have to comment that I love Alexia’s defense. She created a few forced turnovers, whether or not she was credited for the steals, and she forced a few bad shots as well. As to her shooting, our players are skilled enough to use screens and create more open looks, even for somebody with her small size. But last night, it was really hard for her to shoot with the size that Michigan had on the floor. Nia also had amazing defense last night, with a few key takeaways. But she had the same problem that others had, being unable to finish at the rim. Whether it was being bothered inside by the length of Michigan, or just an off night, we don’t know. But the defensive presence of these two players make it so fun to watch!
 




walleye said:
Battle is a great point guard, defensive player, and shooter. She is the most consistent shooter on the team. It is hard to do all those aspects for almost 40 minutes. I sometimes think it would be good to play Battle as a shooting guard with her wonderful mid-range pull-up jump shot and her defensive skills. But, we don't have another consistent point guard who can distribute the ball.
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She probably would of had more assists if more shots fell.
 

EaganGopher22 said:
It was nice to see a full student section. At times they seemed to be disengaged. Hopefully, we see more students as fans. Too bad we weren't able to get a win.
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I know that we will see more students as word of the $1000 scholarship spreads. And hopefully the great play of the women’s team can convert these fans, who regularly show up for the men’s games.
 



Battle is playing well her most efficient season… turnovers are way down as a team which has lead to better D…

Olson is a very good player.. good strength for a freshman… she would be the best player on the Gophers… I hope there is a rematch this season..
 

Roland Brooks said:
Battle is playing well her most efficient season… turnovers are way down as a team which has lead to better D…

Olson is a very good player.. good strength for a freshman… she would be the best player on the Gophers… I hope there is a rematch this season..
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A health Mara Braun makes that second statement false if you ask me. Let's not forget, she wasn't even the best player on the court on Wednesday, which was Battle.
 

Freshman Olson 47% from the floor overall 35% from three..which means about 52% from two.. finishing in a variety of ways.. Only 25% of Olson’s shots are from three for her career Braun close to 48% of her shots from three… I see how you think Braun is better..😂.. remember freshman Olson…

Battle was the best player yes.. Battle for her career 40% from 2 and 31% from three… Battle is having her best year it is awesome.. Olson is a baller…

BET if Olson transfer home like Woodson you would be hyping her up as a POY candidate 25/26… come on..
 

Braun is 37.5 % career shooter and under 35% from three.. in basically two seasons worth of games she has jacked up 393 threes… Do the Gophers need her 1000%… and she was not off to a great start albeit 5 games this year… Freshman Olson is what I expected from Freshman Braun .. IMO Olson looks more well rounded
 




Roland Brooks said:
Freshman Olson 47% from the floor overall 35% from three..which means about 52% from two.. finishing in a variety of ways.. Only 25% of Olson’s shots are from three for her career Braun close to 48% of her shots from three… I see how you think Braun is better..😂.. remember freshman Olson…

Battle was the best player yes.. Battle for her career 40% from 2 and 31% from three… Battle is having her best year it is awesome.. Olson is a baller…

BET if Olson transfer home like Woodson you would be hyping her up as a POY candidate 25/26… come on..
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How'd she look today? mmmm you know when refs didn't bail her out with giving her fouls to Mallory Heyer. She went scoreless in first half even. and no I wouldn't hype up olivia for POY. 22s were better than her in High school IMO so I'll take them.
 

🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️.. Actually embarrassed for you by your comment.. so Olson’s success is owed to Big 10 officials who have conspired to help her through 20 games?? Today her off game was ok… Did you root against her today so you could make this comment.. no response to the statistical facts that Olson is a very good well rounded player… nor the fact as a freshman she came back to her home state and handed us an L..
 

Roland Brooks said:
🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️.. Actually embarrassed for you by your comment.. so Olson’s success is owed to Big 10 officials who have conspired to help her through 20 games?? Today her off game was ok… Did you root against her today so you could make this comment.. no response to the statistical facts that Olson is a very good well rounded player… nor the fact as a freshman she came back to her home state and handed us an L..
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You know you are more than well to go over to the Michigan chat and celebrate them. She is having a good year. thats great. but to now start attacking the players who looked to stay home is ridiculous.

and Yes... on Wednesday she came home and beat the Gophers....super impressive when two of the top 6-7 players are sitting on the bench with injuries, 23-25 ppg sitting there and they won by 5. super impressive on her part. I mean, unlike Olivia, least Mara knows how to beat Michigan State.
 

bball_craz_31 said:
You know you are more than well to go over to the Michigan chat and celebrate them. She is having a good year. thats great. but to now start attacking the players who looked to stay home is ridiculous.

and Yes... on Wednesday she came home and beat the Gophers....super impressive when two of the top 6-7 players are sitting on the bench with injuries, 23-25 ppg sitting there and they won by 5. super impressive on her part. I mean, unlike Olivia, least Mara knows how to beat Michigan State.
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You do realize that this is a public forum where people are allowed to express their opinions (even if they don't align with yours)? Unless, of course, it's been renamed the Gopher Cheerleader Board, and nobody told me.
 

bball_craz_31 said:
You know you are more than well to go over to the Michigan chat and celebrate them. She is having a good year. thats great. but to now start attacking the players who looked to stay home is ridiculous.

and Yes... on Wednesday she came home and beat the Gophers....super impressive when two of the top 6-7 players are sitting on the bench with injuries, 23-25 ppg sitting there and they won by 5. super impressive on her part. I mean, unlike Olivia, least Mara knows how to beat Michigan State.
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Amazingly sensitive.. 😂.. so now I waited and will take a 3rd grade approach and nit pick to make my point like you .. So I could say today Battle was one one the worse players on the court… and I didn’t cheer against her to try and make my point like some people.. Olson is a very good well rounded player..
 

Glad Mara knows how to beat Michigan St… now let’s hope next year she can figure out how to beat Wisconsin?? I think 0-3 and 10-37 from the field against Buckyette.. so easy to pick out one game here and there to try and make your point .. I don’t do that.. You watch the game I see the game………..
 

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