Senior's duties for now: team leader, fill-in point guard
By Marcus R. Fuller
[email protected]
Updated: 11/17/2010 07:24:22 PM CST
With North Carolina likely waiting in the second round of this week's Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament, Tubby Smith's biggest concern should be keeping his team from looking ahead.
Instead, the Minnesota coach is back forcing his team to look at its own issues.
After spending much of last season dealing with off-court distractions, this is not the way Smith wanted the Gophers starting the tournament tonight against Western Kentucky in San Juan.
But junior guard Devoe Joseph, the hero of last season's run to the Big Ten tournament final, remains suspended indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules. Smith also benched starters Colton Iverson and Rodney Williams to begin Monday's game against Siena, also for breaking undisclosed team rules, although they did play as reserves.
"I hope they get the message," a frustrated-looking Smith said after the game.
The Gophers beat Siena 76-69, and they are 2-0 for the season, the same as Western Kentucky. But they have not played consistently well, and they have not faced an opponent the caliber of North Carolina, which is ranked No. 8 in the country.
The Tar Heels, led by touted freshman and one-time Gophers target Harrison Barnes, would provide the Gophers a chance for a signature win similar to Butler last season and Louisville the previous season. Those victories helped build Minnesota's NCAA tournament résumé. But to get a shot at North Carolina, which opens the tournament against Hofstra today,
the Gophers need to build chemistry quickly while adjusting to role changes.
With Joseph gone, Smith is demanding stronger leadership from senior captains Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber. Hoffarber also has been asked to handle the ball and run the offense at times. Freshman Maverick Ahanmisi was expected to be Nolen's backup, but he has played only 12 minutes in two games.
Hoffarber has been mostly a three-point shooter during his career, but he has been impressive with a team-leading 13 assists and only four turnovers this season.
"He actually surprised me; I didn't think he would be that poised as a point guard," Williams said after Hoffarber's seven assists against Siena. "He works at it in practice, so it shouldn't be too new for him."
Freshman guards Chip Armelin and Austin Hollins also have been forced to contribute more than expected. Armelin scored 11 points in the season-opening 69-55 victory over Wofford. Hollins, the son of Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, replaced Williams in the starting lineup Monday and had 12 points (including three three-pointers) with two steals and a block in 21 minutes.
The Gophers were forced to do similar adjusting on the fly last season, when newcomers Trevor Mbakwe and Royce White never played because of legal issues. Then Nolen was declared academically ineligible for the second semester in January, costing Minnesota its starting point guard and best perimeter defender.
Eventually, the team adapted. Ralph Sampson III and Iverson stepped up their play inside, and Joseph switched from shooting guard to take over at point. Minnesota peaked in the Big Ten tournament with victories over Michigan State and Purdue.
With Mbakwe back, and other issues seemingly behind them, the Gophers hoped to bond early and more easily this season, with the help of a three-game exhibition tour through British Columbia in September.
But then came Joseph's suspension, which is expected to keep him out of the first seven games of the season. Then came the Iverson and Williams benchings ... and the challenge to his seniors.
The last thing Smith needs is for this team to be fighting itself again, figuratively or literally — remember last November's altercation between Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook after a video session during the 76 Classic? Smith says his team isn't far from playing at a high level again, even with Joseph and other players having to be taught lessons.
"We better be looking within and try to figure out what we can get better at," Smith said. "We're capable of that. It's there. It's in us. We just have to keep building confidence and get our self-esteem back and get our swagger."
http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_16641687
By Marcus R. Fuller
[email protected]
Updated: 11/17/2010 07:24:22 PM CST
With North Carolina likely waiting in the second round of this week's Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament, Tubby Smith's biggest concern should be keeping his team from looking ahead.
Instead, the Minnesota coach is back forcing his team to look at its own issues.
After spending much of last season dealing with off-court distractions, this is not the way Smith wanted the Gophers starting the tournament tonight against Western Kentucky in San Juan.
But junior guard Devoe Joseph, the hero of last season's run to the Big Ten tournament final, remains suspended indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules. Smith also benched starters Colton Iverson and Rodney Williams to begin Monday's game against Siena, also for breaking undisclosed team rules, although they did play as reserves.
"I hope they get the message," a frustrated-looking Smith said after the game.
The Gophers beat Siena 76-69, and they are 2-0 for the season, the same as Western Kentucky. But they have not played consistently well, and they have not faced an opponent the caliber of North Carolina, which is ranked No. 8 in the country.
The Tar Heels, led by touted freshman and one-time Gophers target Harrison Barnes, would provide the Gophers a chance for a signature win similar to Butler last season and Louisville the previous season. Those victories helped build Minnesota's NCAA tournament résumé. But to get a shot at North Carolina, which opens the tournament against Hofstra today,
the Gophers need to build chemistry quickly while adjusting to role changes.
With Joseph gone, Smith is demanding stronger leadership from senior captains Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber. Hoffarber also has been asked to handle the ball and run the offense at times. Freshman Maverick Ahanmisi was expected to be Nolen's backup, but he has played only 12 minutes in two games.
Hoffarber has been mostly a three-point shooter during his career, but he has been impressive with a team-leading 13 assists and only four turnovers this season.
"He actually surprised me; I didn't think he would be that poised as a point guard," Williams said after Hoffarber's seven assists against Siena. "He works at it in practice, so it shouldn't be too new for him."
Freshman guards Chip Armelin and Austin Hollins also have been forced to contribute more than expected. Armelin scored 11 points in the season-opening 69-55 victory over Wofford. Hollins, the son of Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, replaced Williams in the starting lineup Monday and had 12 points (including three three-pointers) with two steals and a block in 21 minutes.
The Gophers were forced to do similar adjusting on the fly last season, when newcomers Trevor Mbakwe and Royce White never played because of legal issues. Then Nolen was declared academically ineligible for the second semester in January, costing Minnesota its starting point guard and best perimeter defender.
Eventually, the team adapted. Ralph Sampson III and Iverson stepped up their play inside, and Joseph switched from shooting guard to take over at point. Minnesota peaked in the Big Ten tournament with victories over Michigan State and Purdue.
With Mbakwe back, and other issues seemingly behind them, the Gophers hoped to bond early and more easily this season, with the help of a three-game exhibition tour through British Columbia in September.
But then came Joseph's suspension, which is expected to keep him out of the first seven games of the season. Then came the Iverson and Williams benchings ... and the challenge to his seniors.
The last thing Smith needs is for this team to be fighting itself again, figuratively or literally — remember last November's altercation between Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook after a video session during the 76 Classic? Smith says his team isn't far from playing at a high level again, even with Joseph and other players having to be taught lessons.
"We better be looking within and try to figure out what we can get better at," Smith said. "We're capable of that. It's there. It's in us. We just have to keep building confidence and get our self-esteem back and get our swagger."
http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_16641687
