Game 13: Gophers host Prairie View A&M (12-20-24)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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Soon our long “what in the name of Naismith” non-con scheduling nightmare will be over. Minnesota welcomes its last regular season non B1G opponent, Prairie View A&M to Dinkytown. The Panthers roll into Williams Arena carrying a 2-5 record following two wins over NAIA school’s Texas College 105-71 and Jarvis Christian College 105-62 to open the season.

Prairie View then hit the road to face some power conference foes to collect losses and cash: Incarnate Word 49-68, Washington 50-65, Georgia 62-79, Wichita State 45-74 and Western Michigan 58-87. I watched the loss to Western Michigan and couldn’t decide whether PVAM is worse than Jackson State. Judge for yourself on Friday.

Like Jackson State, Prairie View is a Southwestern Athletic Conference member. The Panthers are coached by Sandy Pugh who became a SWAC coaching legend after leading Southern University to 7 SWAC titles and 4 NCAA appearances. Pugh’s six seasons at PVAM haven’t gone as well. Last season the Panthers finished 11-17 overall and 7-11 (8th) in the SWAC. They are projected 6th in the 12 team league this season.

Also, like Jackson State, Prairie View is comprised largely of transfers and freshmen. They do have a couple of recognizable names: The Panthers are led by 6’4” junior center Amauri Williams. The highly recruited Williams began her career at Vanderbilt before being dismissed for violating team rules. This is her second year at PVAM and she is averaging 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game.

And there is 5’8” graduate guard Nyam Thornton who began her career at Penn State. She averages 7.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game.

For a freshman of note there is 5’9” C. J. Wilson who leads the team in scoring with 10 points and 2.4 rebounds in 25.3 minutes.

Sandy Pugh has used 9 different starters, with 10 players averaging more than 14 minutes per game.

I expect that as did Western Michigan the Gophers will find playing time for all and for all a good night.
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Nice 40 point win and 40% from 3.

Here we go. One week to prepare for PSU on BTN next Saturday afternoon. Can we go 9-8?
 



I live in outstate Minnesota and am not able to attend many of the games at Williams. With that in mind, I subscribe to BIG+ and watch most of the games there. I('m amazed that our Minnesota announcers do not give injury information on the telecasts. In the first game after Braun's injury, no mention the entire telecast that she wasn't playing. With Woodson's injury, the play-by-play guy noted that it was a good sign that Woodson was talking to Coach P as Woodson was helped off the court. No mention that she returned to the bench throughout the rest of that game. No mention today that Johnson was in street clothes. I understand that the play-by-play guys are students,. (The color commentator is not.) Either way, they need to do better.

Enough of my whining. McKinney is going to be a very good college player., maybe already is. I like it when Heyer drives to the basket as she was doing today. Looks like Klick might be able to eventually contribute more. The powderpuff part of the schedule is over...let the games begin!
 
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We get it, the Gophers can beat The Sisters of the Poor.

Why not schedule a real non-conference and act like you're trying to make the NCAA Tournament?
 

McKinney is the real deal, she doesn’t play like a true freshmen, she was arguably the Gopher’s best player on the floor during the Nebraska game. Heyer seems to be coming around. Hart, GG and Battle have been inconsistent most of the year. Except for the Nebraska game, this team I’d better defensively hope it continues during conference play.
 

For all who have been "unhappy" with the non conference schedule, check out this story in Minn Post from Pat Borzi who sheds much light on the scheduling approach:

www.minnpost.com

Minnesota's non-conference schedule all about basketball rankings

And the Minnesota won't play Division I St. Thomas in non-conference play anytime soon, though the women's teams could meet sooner.
www.minnpost.com www.minnpost.com
 



fanfromthevalley said:
For all who have been "unhappy" with the non conference schedule, check out this story in Minn Post from Pat Borzi who sheds much light on the scheduling approach:

www.minnpost.com

Minnesota's non-conference schedule all about basketball rankings

And the Minnesota won't play Division I St. Thomas in non-conference play anytime soon, though the women's teams could meet sooner.
www.minnpost.com www.minnpost.com
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LOL! That "strategy" sure is grand and masterful. I'm seeing thr genius already getting everyone dancing in March.
 

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