Gophers early-season Big Ten gauntlet…

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MaroonGopher

MaroonGopher

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at Wisconsin
at Michigan State
vs. Indiana
at Ohio State
vs. Purdue

This has been explored in a different thread (started by myself), but I thought the topic deserved exclusive attention. Though every team in the rough and rugged Big Ten Conference is going to encounter an ominous stretch at some point during the season, it’s the Gophers that have to start with a flurry of harsh contests. Minnesota will be favored in just one game listed above and that’s against an improved Indiana team that beat the Gophers last season. I think many people are going to expect Minnesota to beat Wisconsin to start the season, but remember; the Badgers have one of the strongest home records in the nation since Bo Ryan took over. Next is Michigan State. Few, if any, teams will beat the Spartans in East Lansing this season. After Indiana, Minnesota travels to another conference favorite in Ohio State. Evan Turner or not, the Buckeyes may have the most talented starting 5 in the league and possibly the best freshman in the nation. Heading back to the Barn, the Gophers tangle with the Boilermakers. This is a winnable game, but let’s not forget the possible circumstances. Minnesota will either be flying high after beating Ohio State and/or Michigan State or limping home slightly devastated after beginning the season 1-3. Purdue will not win the conference, but it will make the NCAA Tournament and finish in the top five of the league, just watch.

We are going to figure out what this team is made of before January, that’s for certain. Finishing the first five games 3-2 would be considered a huge accomplishment and keep the team in the running for the B10 title. A 2-3 record is realistic and acceptable in my book while 1-4 or, 0-5 (gasp!), would make things extremely difficult for Tubby’s bunch to crawl out of. I know most people on here expect an 11/12-win conference campaign, but that’s sort of what we said last season. I think it’s certainly possible, but as fans, I think it would be unhealthy to assume victories against any Big Ten foe (outside of Iowa).

With all that said, I think it’s imperative that Minnesota performs well in the non-conference portion of the schedule, which they will. The Gophers are going to need all the momentum they can muster before kicking off league play.
 

MaroonGopher said:
at Wisconsin
at Michigan State
vs. Indiana
at Ohio State
vs. Purdue

This has been explored in a different thread (started by myself), but I thought the topic deserved exclusive attention. Though every team in the rough and rugged Big Ten Conference is going to encounter an ominous stretch at some point during the season, it’s the Gophers that have to start with a flurry of harsh contests. Minnesota will be favored in just one game listed above and that’s against an improved Indiana team that beat the Gophers last season. I think many people are going to expect Minnesota to beat Wisconsin to start the season, but remember; the Badgers have one of the strongest home records in the nation since Bo Ryan took over. Next is Michigan State. Few, if any, teams will beat the Spartans in East Lansing this season. After Indiana, Minnesota travels to another conference favorite in Ohio State. Evan Turner or not, the Buckeyes may have the most talented starting 5 in the league and possibly the best freshman in the nation. Heading back to the Barn, the Gophers tangle with the Boilermakers. This is a winnable game, but let’s not forget the possible circumstances. Minnesota will either be flying high after beating Ohio State and/or Michigan State or limping home slightly devastated after beginning the season 1-3. Purdue will not win the conference, but it will make the NCAA Tournament and finish in the top five of the league, just watch.
We are going to figure out what this team is made of before January, that’s for certain. Finishing the first five games 3-2 would be considered a huge accomplishment and keep the team in the running for the B10 title. A 2-3 record is realistic and acceptable in my book while 1-4 or, 0-5 (gasp!), would make things extremely difficult for Tubby’s bunch to crawl out of. I know most people on here expect an 11/12-win conference campaign, but that’s sort of what we said last season. I think it’s certainly possible, but as fans, I think it would be unhealthy to assume victories against any Big Ten foe (outside of Iowa).

With all that said, I think it’s imperative that Minnesota performs well in the non-conference portion of the schedule, which they will. The Gophers are going to need all the momentum they can muster before kicking off league play.
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Way to go out on a limb. Purdue still has 2 pre-season All-Americans and a fantastic recruiting class coming in. There's no reason they can't repeat as Big Ten champs.

"Purdue will finish in the top five of the league" :D

Is the Pope Catholic?
 

woah boiler i respect purdue and all but fantastic recruiting class? did you guys even land 1 4 star prospect? serious question.
 

Pressure will be on Tubby to come up with a player rotation that will work at the start the Big Ten season. They are a veteran team so it should be possible.
 

Might turn out OK. We have a veteran team and we get Wisconsin before WI guard replacements get much experience. Put Al on Taylor and press like crazy. Will be tough but a 2nd win at the Kohl would be fantastic.

Same with Ohio State. Like last year when Turner was just back (or before he was back per Clark Kellogg). Lauderdale and crew will still be adjusting to the Big Ten.

Hopefully we beat Indiana. (3-2).

If the Gophers start 1-4, Tubby will have to earn his money (which I think he will).
 


Go Gophs eh? said:
woah boiler i respect purdue and all but fantastic recruiting class? did you guys even land 1 4 star prospect? serious question.
Click to expand...

Yep, in fact they landed two 4-star recruits (T. Johnson and A. Johnson) and another likely 4-star recruit Donnie Hale is attending prep school because Purdue oversigned by one and ended up not having a 2010 scholly for him. He's reclassified as a 2011. The other 2010 recruit Travis Carroll was originally in the top 50 but his stock dropped considerably in the past year for some reason.
 

MaroonGopher said:
at Wisconsin
at Michigan State
vs. Indiana
at Ohio State
vs. Purdue

This has been explored in a different thread (started by myself), but I thought the topic deserved exclusive attention. Though every team in the rough and rugged Big Ten Conference is going to encounter an ominous stretch at some point during the season, it’s the Gophers that have to start with a flurry of harsh contests. Minnesota will be favored in just one game listed above and that’s against an improved Indiana team that beat the Gophers last season. I think many people are going to expect Minnesota to beat Wisconsin to start the season, but remember; the Badgers have one of the strongest home records in the nation since Bo Ryan took over. Next is Michigan State. Few, if any, teams will beat the Spartans in East Lansing this season. After Indiana, Minnesota travels to another conference favorite in Ohio State. Evan Turner or not, the Buckeyes may have the most talented starting 5 in the league and possibly the best freshman in the nation. Heading back to the Barn, the Gophers tangle with the Boilermakers. This is a winnable game, but let’s not forget the possible circumstances. Minnesota will either be flying high after beating Ohio State and/or Michigan State or limping home slightly devastated after beginning the season 1-3. Purdue will not win the conference, but it will make the NCAA Tournament and finish in the top five of the league, just watch.

We are going to figure out what this team is made of before January, that’s for certain. Finishing the first five games 3-2 would be considered a huge accomplishment and keep the team in the running for the B10 title. A 2-3 record is realistic and acceptable in my book while 1-4 or, 0-5 (gasp!), would make things extremely difficult for Tubby’s bunch to crawl out of. I know most people on here expect an 11/12-win conference campaign, but that’s sort of what we said last season. I think it’s certainly possible, but as fans, I think it would be unhealthy to assume victories against any Big Ten foe (outside of Iowa).

With all that said, I think it’s imperative that Minnesota performs well in the non-conference portion of the schedule, which they will. The Gophers are going to need all the momentum they can muster before kicking off league play.
Click to expand...

Yeah Maroon that is gonna be very tough. If they can just be 3-2 after those first 5 games I will be feeling very good about our team. Especially with our last 7 games which we could win all 7. Illinois, @ Iowa, @Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, @Northwestern, Penn State. It is gonna be a really fun season. I am predicting a 14-4 or 13-5 record for our squad this year. Losses at Michigan State, at Purdue, at Ohio State, then another one or two somewhere. We have a great chance to go undefeated at home this year.
 

Gopher in Texas said:
Might turn out OK. We have a veteran team and we get Wisconsin before WI guard replacements get much experience. Put Al on Taylor and press like crazy. Will be tough but a 2nd win at the Kohl would be fantastic.

Same with Ohio State. Like last year when Turner was just back (or before he was back per Clark Kellogg). Lauderdale and crew will still be adjusting to the Big Ten.

Hopefully we beat Indiana. (3-2).

If the Gophers start 1-4, Tubby will have to earn his money (which I think he will).
Click to expand...

Well said and LOL @ that Clark Kellogg comment.

I'm optimistic that we can beat Wisconsin in Madison based on our recent success against them (won the last 3 haven't we?). Outside of Leuer, no one scares me on that team. Nankivil? Taylor? Outside of Leuer this season, this seems like one of the weaker Badger teams in recent memory. Its foolish to doubt Bo Ryan though.

I like that we are catching Michigan St away early on the schedule. Lucas could still be working his way back into form at that point. That is the only positive I can come up with.

Indiana at home. Good teams win those games.

Ohio St away...umm, I'm still shaken from that second half they put on us in the BTT.

Purdue at home. Perfect opportunity for a statement win.
 

Thank the lord Sims and Harris are gone from Michigan. I can't believe we dropped both of those games last year. Those two just pounded the Gophers with their 2 man game.
 



Gold Vision said:
Thank the lord Sims and Harris are gone from Michigan. I can't believe we dropped both of those games last year. Those two just pounded the Gophers with their 2 man game.
Click to expand...

co-sign

Any team with any sort of presence inside and a legion of 3 point shooters outside will give us trouble due to Tubby's ball line defense (IMO).
 


I think Trevor's intensity and overall attitude will keep the team from exhibiting the care-free attitude that was a far to common theme with last years team.
This should result in the team playing more complete games and beating teams they should beat more handily and put them in position late in games to beat the upper level of the big ten.
This should give them an opportunity to experience a higer level of success in the big ten than in recent years. I wouldn't be surprised to see this team outperform predictions.
 

I do think the Gophers match up well against UW - MN can keep them from having their way in the paint, and their pressing/trapping style is perfect against an undermanned/underskilled Badger backcourt. I wish OSU would press them a lot this year, because the Badgers sure don't have a stable of Kalin Lucases.
 



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