Different view

[bga1]

Just back from the game. I see people saying that we don't have fight. I thought they played hard tonight. The problem with this team is that is the most fundamentally unsound group of players I think I have seen here in years. There's athleticism and size- plenty of it. But we have one guard that can make an outside shot. We have a number of guys that just make you scared when they touch the ball. We know who they are. The quality of play is horrid right now.

Not a good night for Armelin -could not get his layins to fall. But he's got to play 25 -30 minutes. Hoff playing the point really robs our offense of any potency. We tire him out bring the ball up. I think Armelin could do it. We are starting the offense at half court. We have to have somebody at the point that is a threat to drive and that can take the perimeter pressure off.

I hope we can get hot- starting with Iowa but this doesn't look like it will end well. One of the most dissapointing Gopher seasons I can remember.

Armelin
Hoff
Hollins
Mbakwe
Sampson

Gotta try something Tubby.

 

[station19]

Just back from the game. I see people saying that we don't have fight. I thought they played hard tonight. The problem with this team is that is the most fundamentally unsound group of players I think I have seen here in years. There's athleticism and size- plenty of it. But we have one guard that can make an outside shot. We have a number of guys that just make you scared when they touch the ball. We know who they are. The quality of play is horrid right now.

Not a good night for Armelin -could not get his layins to fall. But he's got to play 25 -30 minutes. Hoff playing the point really robs our offense of any potency. We tire him out bring the ball up. I think Armelin could do it. We are starting the offense at half court. We have to have somebody at the point that is a threat to drive and that can take the perimeter pressure off.

I hope we can get hot- starting with Iowa but this doesn't look like it will end well. One of the most dissapointing Gopher seasons I can remember.

Armelin
Hoff
Hollins
Mbakwe
Sampson

Gotta try something Tubby.

Outside of the Armelin comment I agree.

 

[bga1]

Outside of the Armelin comment I agree.

Armelin is not a point guard- I get that. But having Hoff bring the ball up exhausts him and it kills the offense. He was 3-10 from 3 pt range and had 4 turnovers. This just doesn't work. Maverick can't do it. Honestly I think they have to try something and Armelin at the point is about all I can think of. Armelin as wild as he looks at times- doesn't turn the ball over much and he is a threat to drive.

 

[Moonlight]

Honestly, over the years I've often thought, "why doesn't the coach put so-and-so in" but now, I personally can't think of one solution except Miracle Max.

 

[Minnesconsin fan]

Armelin is not a point guard- I get that. But having Hoff bring the ball up exhausts him and it kills the offense. He was 3-10 from 3 pt range and had 4 turnovers. This just doesn't work. Maverick can't do it. Honestly I think they have to try something and Armelin at the point is about all I can think of. Armelin as wild as he looks at times- doesn't turn the ball over much and he is a threat to drive.

Hoff also had at least 4 passes that may not have been directly his turnover but should not have been thrown and it seemed like he was pushing the ball with the pass so he didn't have to dribble.

 

[underground629]

Would you have said the same thing last year when we were 5-7 and had a way more complete roster? The season isn't over, as hard as that is for Gopher fans to understand. Not directed at you, but the fans seem to feel much better after bashing every player and concluding that the season is already over.

One of the most dissapointing Gopher seasons I can remember.
.

 

[bga1]

Would you have said the same thing last year when we were 5-7 and had a way more complete roster? The season isn't over, as hard as that is for Gopher fans to understand. Not directed at you, but the fans seem to feel much better after bashing every player and concluding that the season is already over.

Because of Mbakwe, and what looked to be a mature and talented squad this looked to be a big, big year and I think at one point - what were we 10th ranked? So yes, for that reason, all that lost promise- it's a huge disappointment. No the season is not over. They have enough let to beat anybody on their schedule, but right now they look like they will have lots of trouble down the stretch unless we can locate someone with the type of magic Joseph and Iverson showed at the end of last year.

One more thing- after last year - shouldn't we have expected a nice step up in improvement by Iverson, Williams and Joseph? Now Joseph is gone and others are the same players if not even more tentative and lost on the court.

 

[Moonlight]

Because of Mbakwe, and what looked to be a mature and talented squad this looked to be a big, big year and I think at one point - what were we 10th ranked? So yes, for that reason, all that lost promise- it's a huge disappointment. No the season is not over. They have enough let to beat anybody on their schedule, but right now they look like they will have lots of trouble down the stretch unless we can locate someone with the type of magic Joseph and Iverson showed at the end of last year.

One more thing- after last year - shouldn't we have expected a nice step up in improvement by Iverson, Williams and Joseph? Now Joseph is gone and others are the same players if not even more tentative and lost on the court.

Post player need ball handlers to get them ball. This team isn't so much bad as it is broken.

 

[LongTimeGopher]

Hoff also had at least 4 passes that may not have been directly his turnover but should not have been thrown and it seemed like he was pushing the ball with the pass so he didn't have to dribble.

+1

I have noticed that too. When you are not sure or comfortable with your handle you make low-percentage passes up court to even worse ball handlers. Hoff has been doing this every game he gets some pressure from a quicker guard.

 

[LongTimeGopher]

Armelin
Hoff
Hollins
Mbakwe
Sampson

Gotta try something Tubby.

This is the only option left and I think it is worth a try. Mav is a failure and even if Iverson was playing better, we couldn't go big against Illinois.

 

[kindofgreen]

Best option

I'm with y'all on this one for the reasons cited. Plus, if for no other reason than it sure would be interesting to see what Armelin is capable of with the added minutes and responsibility...he sure looks like he has some game...

 

[wdgold]

How many baskets were missed 3 feet or less from the rim? I can't remember a game in recent history where so many of these just wouldn't drop. It seemed they lost at least 10 pts. Or more because of this. There defense had its problems also.

 

[station19]

I hope we can get hot- starting with Iowa but this doesn't look like it will end well. One of the most dissapointing Gopher seasons I can remember.
.

Definitely dissapointing, but so was last year. That's two years in a row where expectations were so high only to be followed by letdowns. Yes there was a nice spurt towards the end of last year but still dissapointing results.

Two consecutive years of dissapointment leads to the reduced atmosphere in the Barn(students and non students) and meltdowns on Gopher Hole. I'm sure the same holds true for the players(frustration and lack of confidence).

Yes it seems like we have to try something different but what are the options. I'm sure Tubby has tried just about everything in practice(including Chip bringing the ball up court) but hasn't found any better options.

A big part of the frustration for me, and I'm sure others, is thinking what could have been. I remember at the start of this season I stated that with all the drama of last season at least we didn't have any real injury issures and hoped that would continue this year. Well so much for that.

Any significant improvement for the remainder of this year will have to come from the freshmen. I fondly remember the days of having a pg and watching Hoff drain 3's from the wing.

The State of the Big Ten:
OSU-clearly the best.
WI & PU-fighting for 2nd place.
The rest of the teams-ugh.

Go Gophers.