Gophers #22 in CBS Top 25 for 2012-13; FoxSports: Gophs one of 5 that could rise

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Right about where they should be. They have the talent to be in the Top 25, but need to prove that they belong. They'll be a trendy sleeper pick going into next year, not unlike 2010-11.
 

Us ahead of OSU? I wish... I think there's a little too much BT love in there
 

It would be nice to start the season ranked, but I really want to finish one of these seasons still ranked.
 

Jon Rothstein (CBS Sports Network) said on the Tim Brando show he has the Gophers at #25
 


If the Gophers are ranked after the Battle 4 Atlantis is finished, then I'll know we mean business. If right now you offered me a guarantee of a 2-1 Gopher record in the Bahamas, I'd take it in a heartbeat. Thought the same thing about the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2010-11, and we ended up winning the thing.
 

SelectionSunday said:
If the Gophers are ranked after the Battle 4 Atlantis is finished, then I'll know we mean business. If right now you offered me a guarantee of a 2-1 Gopher record in the Bahamas, I'd take it in a heartbeat. Thought the same thing about the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2010-11, and we ended up winning the thing.
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This has the potential to be a special year.

Few freshman seeing significant minutes, solid guard play, solid post play, strong schedule to be tested and build up quality wins. I really don't see a weakness for this team right now.

Need a shooter? Andre, Welch, Austin, Oto (Hopefully).
Need some muscle/size? Mo, EE, Trevor
Need some finnese size? Oto, Rodney
Need someone to drive? Joe, Andre,

And if those guys improve as well, as I have to assume they will, scary, scary, team.
 

I'm opimistic about 2012-13, but I see plenty of potential weaknesses. Taking care of the basketball, closing out games (want to see it in the regular season), and protecting the home court are the 3 things at the top of my list. We were dreadful (3-6) at home. That needs to change dramatically. At minimum the Gophers need to flip that (to 6-3) if they want to be a top-5'ish B1G finisher.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I'm opimistic about 2012-13, but I see plenty of potential weaknesses. Taking care of the basketball, closing out games (want to see it in the regular season), and protecting the home court are the 3 things at the top of my list. We were dreadful (3-6) at home. That needs to change dramatically. At minimum the Gophers need to flip that (to 6-3) if they want to be a top-5'ish B1G finisher.
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Cautiously optimistic is a nice place to be. Can't say I thought the same thing 1 month ago.

Maturity among the backcourt is key. We can't afford the TOs and the empty possessions for long periods of time.

I was thoroughly entertained this year outside of a few games (IU at home, Stanford, Dayton). This team has a lot to build on.
 



SelectionSunday said:
I'm opimistic about 2012-13, but I see plenty of potential weaknesses. Taking care of the basketball, closing out games (want to see it in the regular season), and protecting the home court are the 3 things at the top of my list. We were dreadful (3-6) at home. That needs to change dramatically. At minimum the Gophers need to flip that (to 6-3) if they want to be a top-5'ish B1G finisher.
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You're right. I think I made the subconscious decision to forget about all of the turnovers.
 

Another potential weakness is finding a back-up point guard. Maverick and Julian may be able to fill that role, but the Gophers will need significant improvement in that role to have a big year.
 





Would guess we'll plummet from any of these rankings if Trevor decides to skip his 6th year.
 

No weakness? Might as well make them pre-season #1 right now.
 

As long as the roster we hope is back is on the floor next year things look pretty good. The Gophers will have more experience than we have had the last couple of years but that has to stay healthy. I think looking at the Big Ten its going to be wide open next season with lots of questions that will need to be answered. Of the top teams the Gophers might be the only team not losing a major contributer to the team. Teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, OSU, Purdue, MSU, Northwestern, and Illinois are losing very important players to their success and even good recruits wont just slide into all of those spots to replace what has been lost.
 

scools12 said:
No weakness? Might as well make them pre-season #1 right now.
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Let's do it!!!!

I meant we have every aspect a team needs to match up with others. size, speed, shooting. Some years teams could pack the paint on D, not this year. Some years teams could kill us down low, not this year.

Need to clean up the turnovers and continue to get better on defense, but unlike in years past, opposing coaches can't really look at this team and say, "all we have to do is ... And it's an easy win"
 

SelectionSunday said:
I'm opimistic about 2012-13, but I see plenty of potential weaknesses. Taking care of the basketball, closing out games (want to see it in the regular season), and protecting the home court are the 3 things at the top of my list. We were dreadful (3-6) at home. That needs to change dramatically. At minimum the Gophers need to flip that (to 6-3) if they want to be a top-5'ish B1G finisher.
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I don't see last year's challenges as being the same next season. Next year we have 11-12 letterman, not 6 players who never played in the B1G. The last thing a young team learns is how to win and we spent 80% of the season sorting out the pieces. Freshman to sophomore is generally the big leap and JUCO's often play better their second year. There will no doubt be challenges in the B1G, as always, but I bet they are different ones. Winning on the road?
 

howieramone said:
I don't see last year's challenges as being the same next season. Next year we have 11-12 letterman, not 6 players who never played in the B1G. The last thing a young team learns is how to win and we spent 80% of the season sorting out the pieces. Freshman to sophomore is generally the big leap and JUCO's often play better their second year. There will no doubt be challenges in the B1G, as always, but I bet they are different ones. Winning on the road?
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Yeah, but the turnovers thing is very concerning. They were still throwing it all over the place even at the end of the season, when pretty much everyone should have their heads around at least the system to be able to minimize that aspect. I'm hopeful that just another offseason, and perhaps a little extra coaching with that new 2 hour rule thing they put in will help curb that some. As well as adding more talent (Mbakwe....Lockett??)
 

SelectionSunday said:
I'm opimistic about 2012-13, but I see plenty of potential weaknesses. Taking care of the basketball, closing out games (want to see it in the regular season), and protecting the home court are the 3 things at the top of my list. We were dreadful (3-6) at home. That needs to change dramatically. At minimum the Gophers need to flip that (to 6-3) if they want to be a top-5'ish B1G finisher.
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Not worried about finishing next year. With a dominant post player that will be a mismatch for most every big in the big ten, it will make a huge difference. Also, Andre made very good strides in handling the ball. Yes, he still had too many TOs at the end of the year, but he was dominating the ball. Welch should be able to fill in quite well as a back up point guard.
 

Turnovers, yes.

Scoring? Yes. Stop Trevor and stop Dre. Not that mediocre tams will do both, but good ones will, and who steps into the breach then? I would assume Rodney is the #3 option, but I saw have yet to see him play aggressively when Trevor is on the floor. Dunno what that's about but there's some funny chemistry there that needs to be addressed. OTOH I guess I just talked myself into MN having 3 pretty damn good options.

So, no, I think this team will be OK. Big 10 champs OK? No. NCAA tournament OK, yeah, absolutely. Most likely somewhere around #5. But avoiding scoring droughts by avoiding turnovers is Job #1. This will be an excellent defensive team, even against the 3.
 

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