B1G Tourney Game 1: Gophers v Penn State (3-4-20)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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Facing the Worst of the Worse​

Minnesota (5-13) opens the B1G tournament, as it opened Big Ten play, against the Big Ten’s worst team, Penn State (1-17). The Lady Lion’s best player, guard Kamaria McDaniel, finished the season on a scoring run elevating her to the top of the B1G scoring charts with a 20.8 points/game average. Guard Siyeh Frazier’s 14.4 points/game was good for 11th. (Minnesota’s leading scorer was Jasmine Powell at 20th with 13.1 points/game.)

McDaniel and Frazier provide a significant percentage of the scoring for a Lady Lion team whose offense is 11th in the B1G (63.7 points/game) and more anemic than Minnesota’s 65.4 points/game (9th). Defensively, PSU is the B1G’s worst allowing 80.7 points/game. Minnesota is 12th allowing 73.1 points/game.

All of this should add up to a Gopher win; but, it’s difficult to dismiss memories of the first game. Minnesota ran off to a 54-22 halftime lead and then seemed to lose interest. The Lady Lions outscored Minnesota in the second half 53-27 including 34 fourth quarter Penn State burst. The Gophers emerged from Happy Valley with nervous 81-74 victory.

While we escaped embarrassment, Michigan State did not. In early January, the Spartans lost in State College to Penn State, 86-73. It’s the only B1G conference win for first year head coach Carolyn Kieger. McDaniel and Frazier both scored 24 points for the Lady Lions. Michigan State returned the favor yesterday closing out the season with a 99-80 win over PSU in East Lansing. However, the Spartans did not slow down McDaniel who scored 27 points or Frazier with 25.

Who’s the three point star?

Recently, the Gophers have left a player unguarded beyond the arc to raise havoc. The good news is the Lady Lions do not have a Taylor Mikesell or a Makenzie Meyer. There are three candidates to exploit this particular Gopher weakness; Frazier 19-41 (.404), Makenna Marisa 22-67 (.328) or Anna Camden 19-69 (.275). In the first game, PSU was only 2-15 from three; so, perhaps we shouldn’t be concerned.


Kamaria McDaniel last six games:

TeamPtsRebAsstMinFoul
Illinois2334361
Nebraska864293
Maryland2236350
Iowa2252252
Michigan1641310
Michigan State2754373


Siyah Frazier last six games:

TeamPtsRebAsstMinFoul
Illinois971295
Nebraska775284
Maryland1642332
Iowa1413281
Michigan2871352
Michigan State2562344


Probable Starters (B1G Stats):

HGTPOSYRPLAYERMINAVGREB
5’10”GJrKamaria McDaniel34.720.84.3
5’9”GSrSiyeh Frazier29.814.44.2
5’11”GFrMakenna Marisa33.58.75.0
6’3”FJrAlisia Smith19.85.34.4
5’6”GFrShay Hagan25.85.22.5


Bench (B1G Stats):

HGTPOSYRPLAYERMINAVGREB
6’4”FSrLauren Ebo20.53.84.1
6’3”FFrAnne Camden16.63.81.7
6’3”FSoBexley Wallace8.41.51.5
6’1”GFrMya Bembrey12.51.32.4
6’1”GFrJayla James3.40.00.6
 

Seems half time of the first Penn St. game is where this season turned. After reeling off 11 straight wins and probably their best half performance in years things went sour fast. Not soon after Pitts was off the team and their season never recovered.
 

Worst losses by the Gophers women's basketball team in the NCAA era

www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

List of worst Gopher losses: I put it here because Penn State is in the top ten.

MONSTER MARGINS
The Gophers’ losing margin on Sunday tied the program record for the NCAA era (beginning with the 1981-82 season) and set a program record for a Big Ten game. It was also Maryland’s most lopsided conference victory since joining the Big Ten:

Pts. Date Opponent/score
55 Nov. 29, 1986 No. 4 Auburn 101-46
55 March 1, 2020 No. 7 Maryland 99-44
53 Dec. 30, 1991 at No. 17 Kansas 95-42
53 Jan. 12, 1996 Ohio State 117-64
53 Feb. 18, 2001 at No. 7 Purdue 96-43
52 Jan. 10, 2000 at No. 5 Penn State 82-30
51 Feb. 7, 1997 at No. 24 Michigan State 102-51

GOPHERS BY THE NUMBERS
13 Big Ten losses this season (most since 15 in 2000-01).
0-6 Record in final six regular-season games.
3 Times opponent has scored 90 or more points during current losing streak.
1 Times the Gophers have shot 40% from the field during the current losing streak.
 

Here's the details on the 1 Times the Gophers have shot 40% from the field during the current losing streak.

Last 6 lost games listed in increasing order of FG% ...

1583217845039.png

Against Maryland we shot under 30%. At Indiana our overall shooting was under 40%, but our three-point shooting was at 47.1% - it was our two-point shooting that dragged us down. At Iowa, our two-point and three-point shooting was coincidentally the same - both at 42.9%.

We were closest to a tie whenever we shot over 40% from deep.

I maintain that if we can minimize turnovers, maximize rebounds, put up a good defense, shoot over 40% on threes, and actually do some assisting, then we can beat almost any Big-Ten team except Maryland - which is a horse of a different color.
 

CutDownTheNet said:
Here's the details on the 1 Times the Gophers have shot 40% from the field during the current losing streak.

Last 6 lost games listed in increasing order of FG% ...

View attachment 7220

Against Maryland we shot under 30%. At Indiana our overall shooting was under 40%, but our three-point shooting was at 47.1% - it was our two-point shooting that dragged us down. At Iowa, our two-point and three-point shooting was coincidentally the same - both at 42.9%.

We were closest to a tie whenever we shot over 40% from deep.

I maintain that if we can minimize turnovers, maximize rebounds, put up a good defense, shoot over 40% on threes, and actually do some assisting, then we can beat almost any Big-Ten team except Maryland - which is a horse of a different color.
Click to expand...
We just arent gonna be a great 2 pt shooting team because were so small, knocking down 3's and getting to the ft line are the keys to this offense.
 



On my way back to MN I decided to stop in Indy. I can only stay for first round. I was surprised that the cost of the ticket for both games today was a total of $4. It will cost 4x to park my car.
 

22-19 after 1Q. PSU closing in. Brunson with 2 fouls. T Bello started out strong. Brunson with a pair of 3s
 




I like Whalen's pregame message. " Move the ball and have fun ". OK start with hot shooting in 1st quarter.
 

It would be helpful if they could grab a rebound, Bello not hitting shots.
 

It would also be helpful to not let Camden shoot 3 uncontested 3's. This has been a problem all season.
 




42 points to Penn St. at the half, embarassing. Bello to Bello at the end of the half, would not draw that one up?
 

Rebounds 28-8 . Can't beat anybody if that margin holds in the 2nd half.
 

I am estimating about 30 or so MN fans not counting band and cheerleaders. The estimate is based on those wearing the colors and sitting in the same section.
 






Really good ball movement to start this half, Taiye with 3 fouls now though.
 

A couple charges into Bello not called. Latest charge into Bello called blocking foul, now Taiye has 3.
 


67-55 we lead after 3. Much better quarter! Now to avoid the 4th quarter melt down
 

Great 3rd quarter . Now we need to keep our foot on the gas, play D, rebound and hopefully stay out of foul trouble. Easier said than done.....
 





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