Game #2: Gophers v. Montana (11/12, All-Access, 7:00PM)

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MadtownGopher

MadtownGopher

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I'm getting sick of seeing Reid Travis related threads at the top of the board so let's start talking about Tuesday night's match up against Montana. I don't know anything about Montana, but here is what I would like to see from our Gophers:

- Consistency from Oto. We had good Oto last game, I don't want to see bad Oto this game.
- EE continuing to control the boards and defend the rim.
- Malik playing a more efficient game on offense.
- Wally getting playing time and using it to make some significant contributions.
- Buggs avoiding any mental mistakes when he does get playing time.
- Win the rebounding battle.
- Make more of our free throws.
- No injuries.
 

I agree its time to start talking about current gophers or ones that have committed to us...

How many minutes did Buggs play the first game?
Need to see more from Malik
I am actually like our PF on offense need them to step up on defensive end and rebounding
Need mathiue to keep up the 3-1 ass/turnover ratio going

IS this game online again?
 

gopherhoopsguy said:
I agree its time to start talking about current gophers or ones that have committed to us...

How many minutes did Buggs play the first game?
Need to see more from Malik
I am actually like our PF on offense need them to step up on defensive end and rebounding
Need mathiue to keep up the 3-1 ass/turnover ratio going

IS this game online again?
Click to expand...

Click on the individual game and it will give the coverage.

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/minn-m-baskbl-sched.html
 


I really hope that we see improvement every game. One area I'd like to see more in is offensive and defensive efficiency in the half court. We need to find more ways to get the ball in Andre's hands with room to operate. Otherwise, I'd also like to see a more balanced rebounding effort, and consistent work throughout the game without major lags.
 


MadtownGopher said:
I'm getting sick of seeing Reid Travis related threads at the top of the board so let's start talking about Tuesday night's match up against Montana. I don't know anything about Montana, but here is what I would like to see from our Gophers:

- Consistency from Oto. We had good Oto last game, I don't want to see bad Oto this game.
- EE continuing to control the boards and defend the rim.
- Malik playing a more efficient game on offense.
- Wally getting playing time and using it to make some significant contributions.
- Buggs avoiding any mental mistakes when he does get playing time.
- Win the rebounding battle.
- Make more of our free throws.
- No injuries.
Click to expand...

Buggs looks like a long term project guy who has all the athleticism necessary-he's just lacking some skills and agressiveness. I liked what I saw from him in the last game. He played with a little bit more purpose, went to the offensive boards - even though he missed the follow up. He's going to be a guy that Pitino has to teach to be tougher on the boards before he gets to do much else in the offense. He has the body and ability to be a Big Ten forward, but not yet.
 

Montana is a much better team than Lehigh, and this very well might be the Gophers' best home non-conference opponent depending on how Florida State shakes out. Should be a decent tester.
 

bga1 said:
Buggs looks like a long term project guy who has all the athleticism necessary-he's just lacking some skills and agressiveness. I liked what I saw from him in the last game. He played with a little bit more purpose, went to the offensive boards - even though he missed the follow up. He's going to be a guy that Pitino has to teach to be tougher on the boards before he gets to do much else in the offense. He has the body and ability to be a Big Ten forward, but not yet.
Click to expand...

He's very athletic, but there are some aspects of athleticism that he definitely lacks and needs to work on. One is strength, obviously, but another is balance. I still have high hopes for him though. I just think it'll be a matter of years, not months.
 

jmag21 said:
He's very athletic, but there are some aspects of athleticism that he definitely lacks and needs to work on. One is strength, obviously, but another is balance. I still have high hopes for him though. I just think it'll be a matter of years, not months.
Click to expand...

Athleticism is the most overused, least explained term in the history of sports.
 



I'd like to see Malik play with more passion, didn't look like he was into it on Friday
 


mplarson7 said:
And in second place, "cerebral."
Click to expand...

3rd Place is Gritty

4th Place is Clutch


For what it's worth, Buggs reminds me of a young Damien Johnson, who looked to not even know what basketball was under Monson and found himself under Tubby... 1 can only hope he turns out to have a Senior campaign 1/2 as productive as DJ had.
 

MadtownGopher said:
I'm getting sick of seeing Reid Travis related threads at the top of the board so let's start talking about Tuesday night's match up against Montana. I don't know anything about Montana, but here is what I would like to see from our Gophers:

- Consistency from Oto. We had good Oto last game, I don't want to see bad Oto this game.
- EE continuing to control the boards and defend the rim.
- Malik playing a more efficient game on offense.
- Wally getting playing time and using it to make some significant contributions.
- Buggs avoiding any mental mistakes when he does get playing time.
- Win the rebounding battle.
- Make more of our free throws.
- No injuries.
Click to expand...

- Agreed on Oto. We need another solid game. He always plays physical, but I'd like to see some more rebounds in this game. Mainly though, we need him to be consistent.

- Agreed on Elliot. More of the same. Wanna feel sick to your stomach? Imagine our season if Elliot got injured & couldn't play?

- Malik needs to find his role. He's not "the man" at the U & has to figure out how to can help the team win.

- I'd LOVE to see Wally contribute tonight. Like Malik Smith, Wally needs to figure out his role. Right now he's like a wild colt who needs to be broken (yes, I actually typed that).

- Buggs, forget about Buggs this year. Two things working against him. One is you can't coach a person to be aggressive. They either bring that with them or they don't. Trying to make him a PF is square peg/round hole. Two is the fact that he's completely lost. He literally doesn't know where he's supposed to be or what his assignment is most of the time. He's a talented playground player right now & despite attending a highly ranked Prep School it appears he was never taught the fundamentals of team play.
 



MadtownGopher said:
I'm getting sick of seeing Reid Travis related threads at the top of the board so let's start talking about Tuesday night's match up against Montana. I don't know anything about Montana, but here is what I would like to see from our Gophers:

- Consistency from Oto. We had good Oto last game, I don't want to see bad Oto this game.
- EE continuing to control the boards and defend the rim.
- Malik playing a more efficient game on offense.
- Wally getting playing time and using it to make some significant contributions.
- Buggs avoiding any mental mistakes when he does get playing time.
- Win the rebounding battle.
- Make more of our free throws.
- No injuries.
Click to expand...

Good list, although I'm adding a complete game where they don't let up. Always in control, but I think Lehigh scored as many points in the second half as the Gophers.

Hope I'm wrong, but my hopes for Wally are dwindling. Mo was doing his penance, cheering and encouraging, and being very involved in the game. Once I realized Wally hadn't played, I watched him during time outs to see if he was limping or something. Not limping, but last one off the bench and a couple of times he barely joined the huddle.
 

Make more of our free throws? I'm not in the Gopher Warrior camp on free throws, but 18 out of 21 is a pretty good stat for the first game. I'm guessing you're referring to the scrimmages and exhibitions when mentioning this? It would be nice to see Mathieu get to the line some. Also, keep the bigs out of foul trouble. Even more important now without Mo.
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pitino on whether Wally Ellenson will play vs Montana:"I don't know." Says he was available vs Lehigh,doesn't script ahead of time. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gophers&src=hash">#gophers</a></p>— David McCoy (@DavidMcCoyWCCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidMcCoyWCCO/statuses/399997881568223232">November 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pitino on whether Wally Ellenson will play vs Montana:"I don't know." Says he was available vs Lehigh,doesn't script ahead of time. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gophers&src=hash">#gophers</a></p>— David McCoy (@DavidMcCoyWCCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidMcCoyWCCO/statuses/399997881568223232">November 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...
I'm probably reading in to it too much, but that doesn't sound good.
 

fan of Ray Williams said:
I'm probably reading in to it too much, but that doesn't sound good.
Click to expand...

I think Wally's troubles may be part attitude, but they're definitely also part performance. In the scrimmages, he simply hadn't progressed to the point I was hoping for.
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Also said he didn't know whether Ellenson would play on Tuesday, but still saying it has nothing to do w/ any issue between them. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a></p>— Amelia Rayno (@AmeliaRayno) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmeliaRayno/statuses/400020182967787520">November 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Go Gophers!!
 

Well, Pitino is saying what he needs to say publicly, but we're not idiots. With Walker suspended the Gophers are only dressing 11 scholarship players, two of whom are freshmen and look lost. That leaves 9 guys for our relentless up-and-down system, one of whom is Wally. Wally would absolutely be playing if he hadn't done SOMETHING to get in the doghouse. Most likely complain about his role/PT or get over-the-top mad at Pitino for yelling at him in practice.
 


MadtownGopher said:
I don't know anything about Montana, but here is what I would like to see from our Gophers
Click to expand...

Montana isn't good, but they're probably the second best competition that will enter Williams Arena the rest of this year (calendar).

From LNH:
+ #32 Kareem Jamar is a 6’5″ wing and Montana’s top player. He can score at levels.
+ Three-point threats include #10 Jordan Gregory (Colorado Chaos AAU; not known as a long distance shooter in high school but converted 42% as a college sophomore), #33 Mike Weisner (a 6’7″ shooter who Minnesota can’t give open looks to) and #34 Brandon Gfeller (6’4″ freshman athlete who can shoot well).

...crazy numbers, but EE's OR% was 30%, DR% was 36%.
Mathieu's turnover rate works out to be almost 35% - way too high. I know the 9 assists is great and the 3:1 ratio looks good.. but.
 

Little Dre should shoot 20 times per game and he could instantly lower his turnover rate.
 

From the Barn said:
Little Dre should shoot 20 times per game and he could instantly lower his turnover rate.
Click to expand...

In context of the linked notes, his 11% shots figure is fine - wouldn't want it higher than 15%.

But if he took 20 shots from 30 feet out he could reduce his turnover rate & have a miserable shooting % & off rating.

If he took 20 more decent shots, he'd also turn the ball over more.

PS- you still think Buggs is the next Willie Burton?
 

Gopher Warrior said:
Montana isn't good, but they're probably the second best competition that will enter Williams Arena the rest of this year (calendar).

From LNH:
+ #32 Kareem Jamar is a 6’5″ wing and Montana’s top player. He can score at levels.
+ Three-point threats include #10 Jordan Gregory (Colorado Chaos AAU; not known as a long distance shooter in high school but converted 42% as a college sophomore), #33 Mike Weisner (a 6’7″ shooter who Minnesota can’t give open looks to) and #34 Brandon Gfeller (6’4″ freshman athlete who can shoot well).

...crazy numbers, but EE's OR% was 30%, DR% was 36%.
Mathieu's turnover rate works out to be almost 35% - way too high. I know the 9 assists is great and the 3:1 ratio looks good.. but.
Click to expand...

I never cease to be confused by your numbers. What about EE's free throw numbers? :)
 

Gopher Warrior said:
In context of the linked notes, his 11% shots figure is fine - wouldn't want it higher than 15%.

But if he took 20 shots from 30 feet out he could reduce his turnover rate & have a miserable shooting % & off rating.

If he took 20 more decent shots, he'd also turn the ball over more.

PS- you still think Buggs is the next Willie Burton?
Click to expand...

2% chance.
 

From the Barn said:
2% chance.
Click to expand...

With his gifts, I don't think it's out of the question that he could develop into a stellar player by the end of his career. Sometimes it takes awhile. I still remember how often DJ was ripped on here his first couple years.
 

jmag21 said:
With his gifts, I don't think it's out of the question that he could develop into a stellar player by the end of his career. Sometimes it takes awhile. I still remember how often DJ was ripped on here his first couple years.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I look for him to model his game after DJ. Buggs is still a long way from getting there though.
 

Game isn't on firstrowsports, so it looks like we might have to deal with radio coverage
 


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