Game 3: Gophers at NDSU (11-17-22)

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I was at the game.
1. They did a great job containing Hamling for most of the night. Haven’t had a lot of defensive praise for this team.
2. Minnesota Posts were bad. I don’t what else to say but that.
3. Czinano missed some bunnies, but she is getting better.
4. Braun being injured was a killer. Replacing your best player has to be one of the toughest things ever. Especially for a team that is just finding their identification. Also a team that doesn’t have a roster full of stars.
 

MOGopher said:
I think you are shooting a little high on the coaching ability. why do you think all the players left last year
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Perhaps.

I was giving credit for defeating Lehigh; but then again, NDSU's leading scorer (16 points and 10 rebounds) was a transfer from American; so middling Patriot League may be closer to the truth.
 

ecoperson said:
It's the start of the fifth year. The vaunted top 10 rated class is just getting started. The most ready of the frosh and one of the leading scorers in the nation is unexpectedly unavailable. If Whalen fails to produce within the next two years, I can certainly see a change being made.

Whalen is certainly not without some blame. She came into this with no head coaching experience. She inherited some players that didn't take well to her coaching. She apparently butted heads with some that led to a mass exodus from the team. We can only hope that she has learned her lesson and has a team full of players that are all moving in the same direction this go around.
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Without Braun, hope is becoming an essential player.
 



ecoperson said:
Hoops- Did the coaching staff mess up Braun's ankle? Did the coaching staff miss 9 FTs? Did the coaching staff get out-rebounded? Did the coaching staff ask Katie B. to shoot 5-17 (1-7)?

The coaches certainly have some responsibility because they recruited the players but, at some point, the blame has to be placed on those who lace up the sneaks. Coaches always get the blame but execution if on the players.
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Ignatius hoops reports very fair like he sees it, adds a lot of good content..
Watching the game, here is where I am.
- The Braun injury(I'm guessing) is a function of a training staff that over-does everything. I blame this loss on a training staff that over thinks their job. maybe I'm wrong, but there is no way a competitor like Braun sits out this game on her own decision..
- you all are going to have to find some middle ground with this team, they are going to lose to some of these lesser teams this year, that's the way it is going to be in yr 1 with freshman.
- I said all along Braun is the most polished player, but they are going to have to bring in considerable upgraded talent to move the needle with wins.
- Look, losing can wreak havoc on a competitor, the BIG season is going to test this teams resolve.
- You have to feel bad for Whalen, she lost her whole team and the staff is putting a lot of pressure on these freshman as the saviors. The freshman are nice players, but as any player moving up to the next level, you begin to look at upside at this level.
all in all, when this team loses don't be surprised, this is a year in which you are playing for next year - I don't like that concept but in this case its reality.
 

MNGirlsHoops said:
Ignatius hoops reports very fair like he sees it, adds a lot of good content..
Watching the game, here is where I am.
- The Braun injury(I'm guessing) is a function of a training staff that over-does everything. I blame this loss on a training staff that over thinks their job. maybe I'm wrong, but there is no way a competitor like Braun sits out this game on her own decision..
- you all are going to have to find some middle ground with this team, they are going to lose to some of these lesser teams this year, that's the way it is going to be in yr 1 with freshman.
- I said all along Braun is the most polished player, but they are going to have to bring in considerable upgraded talent to move the needle with wins.
- Look, losing can wreak havoc on a competitor, the BIG season is going to test this teams resolve.
- You have to feel bad for Whalen, she lost her whole team and the staff is putting a lot of pressure on these freshman as the saviors. The freshman are nice players, but as any player moving up to the next level, you begin to look at upside at this level.
all in all, when this team loses don't be surprised, this is a year in which you are playing for next year - I don't like that concept but in this case its reality.
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Hoops is extremely knowledgeable but has never been a fan of the Whalen coaching experiment. I have given a little longer leash to see if the experiment is a success before moving on to some 'flavor of the day' coach who may or may not be an improvement. It is literally a roll of the dice every time you make a change.

Nearly every time there is a coaching change, I see teams take a step back as the coach implements a new system and then recruits players for that system. The one recent exception with MN was when Pam Borton was hired as she took a team that had offensive fire power and taught them to play a little D. This led to the most successful era of Gopher basketball.

I have seen far more new coaches fail in their new role than I have seen coaches that catch lightning in a bottle and succeed. Sometimes the stability of status quo offers just as much likelihood at catching that lightning in a bottle. My faith in Whalen was rewarded when she pulled in an unexpected top 10 recruiting class. NOW we have to see what she does with the talent.

I'm not going to say much about your comment on the trainers as I don't think we know enough details about Braun's injury, other Gopher injuries, nor the track record of other programs to comment. Programs can provide very little detail about the exact nature of player injuries for HIPAA reasons.
 

google

From the Pioneer Press: “Czinano said the Gophers were just unable to find a groove.



“Just the energy, you could tell it wasn’t there,” she said. “We had a long bus ride and it just didn’t feel the same as a home game. We were playing as five individuals, and that’s not our game. That’s not the way we play in practice.”



Taylor Brown, a 6-foot-1 forward from Lakeville who transferred in after four seasons at American, led the Bison (3-0) with 16 points and 10 rebounds.



On Sunday, Braun scored 34 points in a 101-99 victory over Lehigh at Williams Arena, but coach Lindsay Whalen said she was hurt in that game.





“She’s day to day,” the coach said. “We’ll re-evaluate and go with whatever the medical team says, take it one day at a time.”” END QUOTE



I watched the game last night. I enjoyed watching them compete. Not sure why so many shots missed.

I previously made a narrow point (more than once) about rebounding to make a point-- not the whole story – and will not bring that up again. Instead, I want to say the games ahead are going to be good ones and the future will unfold. Next season it will all come together. Be patient.

I know they will play a good game against first two Big Ten opponents Penn State and Iowa Dec 3 and 10.



Whalen gets all of NEXT season to pull it together, is my vote as a season ticket holder and alumni . The Whalen era continues, to be clear.



Whalen recruited the Fab Four. Actually, a combination of her and them. Historically, MN hasn't been able to recruit.



I haven’t liked some things but that doesn’t matter. What do I know.



Mission 2023-24.



Until then, I will be watching this season too. Go Gophers!





www.twincities.com

Women’s basketball: Without leading scorer, Gophers lose at North Dakota State

Freshman guard Mara Braun watched Thursday’s game from the bench with a walking boot on her left foot.
www.twincities.com www.twincities.com
 




Bfan said:
google

From the Pioneer Press: “Czinano said the Gophers were just unable to find a groove.



“Just the energy, you could tell it wasn’t there,” she said. “We had a long bus ride and it just didn’t feel the same as a home game. We were playing as five individuals, and that’s not our game. That’s not the way we play in practice.”



Taylor Brown, a 6-foot-1 forward from Lakeville who transferred in after four seasons at American, led the Bison (3-0) with 16 points and 10 rebounds.



On Sunday, Braun scored 34 points in a 101-99 victory over Lehigh at Williams Arena, but coach Lindsay Whalen said she was hurt in that game.





“She’s day to day,” the coach said. “We’ll re-evaluate and go with whatever the medical team says, take it one day at a time.”” END QUOTE



I watched the game last night. I enjoyed watching them compete. Not sure why so many shots missed.

I previously made a narrow point (more than once) about rebounding to make a point-- not the whole story – and will not bring that up again. Instead, I want to say the games ahead are going to be good ones and the future will unfold. Next season it will all come together. Be patient.

I know they will play a good game against first two Big Ten opponents Penn State and Iowa Dec 3 and 10.



Whalen gets all of NEXT season to pull it together, is my vote as a season ticket holder and alumni . The Whalen era continues, to be clear.



Whalen recruited the Fab Four. Actually, a combination of her and them. Historically, MN hasn't been able to recruit.



I haven’t liked some things but that doesn’t matter. What do I know.



Mission 2023-24.



Until then, I will be watching this season too. Go Gophers!





www.twincities.com

Women’s basketball: Without leading scorer, Gophers lose at North Dakota State

Freshman guard Mara Braun watched Thursday’s game from the bench with a walking boot on her left foot.
www.twincities.com www.twincities.com
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Thanks for sharing this. I like the comments by Czinano. It was another frustrating game but through it all I still saw improvement. Getting back to Czinano's comments, she nailed it saying they were playing as individuals. This has been true of Czinano all year so far taking bad shots. Katie again tried to play hero ball jacking up circus shots in the lane but actually fewer this game than others. I don't consider her reverse layup a circus shot that is a good solid shot for most players. Czinano had fewer bad shots too but more importantly looks to be more confident as she started to make some easy shots. One of the most beffuddling plays was in the 2nd half (?) a player, I don't remember who, did a hook pass under the basket to a gopher player who was not there. The closest player was at the top of the circle or about 15' away. I don't know what the hell that player was thinking. Still too many crappy shots and not enough passing. We had 21 assists game 1, ~17 in game 2 and 11 in game 3. That really shows how much individual play there was. Battle takes too many long jumpers from ~3 feet inside the thre point line early in the shot clock. She took at least 3 of them today and I am not sure if she made any. She might have made 1 but I dislike those shots.

We got out rebounded again, the other team showed more consistent quickness & energy rebounding.

I still don't feel they support each other enough throught the game. Again, the most obvious evidence of this is during free throws and lack of sharing the ball.

They continued to have trouble maintaining intensity of defense but I thought it was a little bit better.
 

Hopefully no more stupid long bus rides. Should have stayed the night before if your going to take 4 1/2 to 5 hour bus ride.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
Hopefully no more stupid long bus rides. Should have stayed the night before if your going to take 4 1/2 to 5 hour bus ride.
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I had grandparents in Fargo for 20 years growing up and it was a 4 hour drive back then with a 55 speed limit but it is no more than 3.5 hours today. I am somewhat sympathetic to your point. Still, they need to learn to be able to bring the intensity every game regardless.
 

NDSU shot .444 on field goals while Gophers shot .397. Other teams have been getting in closer for easier shots, and their 3's have been dropping.

NDSU out-rebounded the Gophers.

I think we will continue to see the freshman and sophomores continue to improve while the transfer portal upper classmen have been underwhelming.

Judge success by 2023-24 and not desperately mess that up in a panic rearrangement now.

NDSU had 5 more assists than the Gophers. The Gophers are not yet synced as a team.
 



They don’t bus the day of the game. You bud the day before many times practice the night you get there and then do a shoot around morning of the game.
 


"Down eight with 4:44 left, the Gophers made a run. Three Gophers scored in a 7-0 run that brought them within a point on two free throws by Battle with 3:21 left. But at the other end, the Bison got yet another offensive rebound, and the possession ended with Hamling's three-pointer with 2:43 left that put North Dakota State back up five.

When the Gophers watch film of the game Friday, one thing will be clear: There needs to be more ball movement and more movement without the ball for the offense to find a rhythm."

www.startribune.com

North Dakota State takes down inconsistent Gophers 71-65, as Mara Braun sits with injury

Braun, who hit a game-winning three-pointer Sunday against Lehigh, missed Thursday's game with a lower leg injury.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com
 
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MNGirlsHoops said:
Ignatius hoops reports very fair like he sees it, adds a lot of good content..
Watching the game, here is where I am.
- The Braun injury(I'm guessing) is a function of a training staff that over-does everything. I blame this loss on a training staff that over thinks their job. maybe I'm wrong, but there is no way a competitor like Braun sits out this game on her own decision..
- you all are going to have to find some middle ground with this team, they are going to lose to some of these lesser teams this year, that's the way it is going to be in yr 1 with freshman.
- I said all along Braun is the most polished player, but they are going to have to bring in considerable upgraded talent to move the needle with wins.
- Look, losing can wreak havoc on a competitor, the BIG season is going to test this teams resolve.
- You have to feel bad for Whalen, she lost her whole team and the staff is putting a lot of pressure on these freshman as the saviors. The freshman are nice players, but as any player moving up to the next level, you begin to look at upside at this level.
all in all, when this team loses don't be surprised, this is a year in which you are playing for next year - I don't like that concept but in this case its reality.
Click to expand...
... except they need an actual post player and don't have one coming next year, either.
 


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