Is anyone else slightly concerned about Western Kentucky?

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ShowinGoldyLove

ShowinGoldyLove

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Many are talking about the chance to play UNC in the 2nd rd of the PR Tourney, but I hope we aren't overlooking Western Kentucky:

After being a quality mid-major team over the past few years, WKU is now 2-0 on the year: they shelled St. Joseph's at St. Joseph's last week by 30 points, and just beat Alabama A&M by 20+ while missing 25+ free throws. They have 3 guys averaging over 18 pts/game, shoot the 3 very well (44% as a team), and pass it it very well (21 assists/game).

I hope this isn't a team that we take lightly; they look to be a legit squad and one that gave definitely give us a run for our money. I think this will end up being the strongest team out of the 3 we've played so far, and we know how tight the Siena & Wofford games were...hopefully the guys come out prepared in Game 1 of the PR Tourney.
 

I am. WKU has been a quality mid-major program for a long time. I would guess the Hilltoppers are at least as good as Siena, and Siena was no cakewalk.
 

Very concerned I agree with every thing you said Steffphon Pettigrew, Sergio Kerusch, and the oklahoma transfer Juan Patillo are very good players who could play almost anywhere in the country.
 

IMO it's the most important non-conference game of the year. If we lose to WKU we will most likely play Hofstra, then we would most likely play Nebraska or Davidson. That would be a huge hit to our SOS. And with how tough he Big Ten is this year, that could be a huge factor come March. I would be happy if we can beat WKU, lose to UNC, and then come out with a victory against WV or Vandy in the consolation. Of course i'm hoping they win it all, but we have to show up against WKU to have a chance at that.
 

Yes. Very concerned about WKU. They have to have their A game to win. They better not think they can skate through it. It's an important game in the larger scheme as it helps to improve strength of schedule and creates opportunities for a quality win or two in the non con.
 


SelectionSunday said:
I am. WKU has been a quality mid-major program for a long time. I would guess the Hilltoppers are at least as good as Siena, and Siena was no cakewalk.
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I am too. People in BoringGreen pay a lot of attention to their BB team. Lets see what our kids can do. We really need Devoe back as soon as possible.

Go Gophers
 


Physicality

I am also worried about Western Kentucky. This team appears to have a very physical, aggressive front court. If the Gophers want to win this one they will need to win the battle in the front court.

Of particular interest will be the foul situation. If WKU can get the Gopher bigs, especially Mbakwe, in foul trouble it could be a long night. Mo Walker is not going to be able to keep up with their bigs.

That being said, once again the Gophs will have a considerable height advantage. Only one of their players that have stepped on the court this year is over 6'6. If the Gophs can attack the rim and draw fouls against their bigs they will have an easier time with this game.

Another problem I see with this club is perimeter defense. Any time the ball goes down low the Gophers add help defense. This opens up easy looks on the perimeter. We saw this against Siena and #13 Jackson lit up the Gophers. Hopefully Tubby can get this corrected.

I'm looking forward to this game. This game should be a brawl down low.
 

It took all the way until the third response for a WKU fan to reference Caddyshack.

Slackers.
 



Lotta good JUCOs and transfers on that team, plus some good youngsters from the high school ranks... I believe four seniors, each of who are capable of contributing big scoring on any given night.. 6-5 Kerusch, 6-6 Patillo, 6-10 Cliff Dixon (who luckily isn't nearly as good as his half brother Kevin Durant) and 6-5 Pettigrew... guards are younger, but frosh 6-1 Brandon Peters from Yates (TX) is good... Brown.. Dickerson... JuCo Kahlil McDonald might start off slow this year, but I think he'll be solid... lot of fine programs looked at him this past year, including Marquette...

Dixon is a senior but in just his second year with WKU... played at a couple of CCs, including 2008-09 at Hutchinson (KS) along with the man DJO, Darius-Johnson Odom.

Like us, they've got a few guys who can put up double doubles... although those guys are a bit smaller, good athletes... We need to turn their young guards over. Frustrate them and get them to play slop-ball.

I kind of like the Red Grimace dude, although I don't know what the hell it is and I wouldn't let a child within 30 feet of it.
 

The help defense sometimes bothers me

Like Heber, I see the automatic help defense we give the post as a two-edged sword. Tubby really likes to have a guard drop down and harass a post player with the ball. Against a quality big this can be necessary, but I wish he'd let our big guys defend one-on-one a little more, especially against shorter, less-talente post players. The only thing I can figure is that he is using the non-con schedule as rehearsal for how he wants the guys to defend in the conference games (where help might be more warranted). It would be nice to see another big rotate to double once in a while instead of the guard who just left the opponents hottest perimeter shooter open for the obvious kickout pass and wide open three.
 

I thought it was funny to see that a guy on that board sifted through the Gopher Hole to find the ONE post not respecting WKU and then went on about "Typical Big 10 arrogance". Regarding the post he highlighted from GH: it was completely surrounded by people saying it was a tough game and suggesting the Gophers would win by 15 was ignorant.

Just proves you can always play the "no respect" card if you are willing to look hard enough.
 

Either Team Can W This Game

Gophers must play better than they have in first 2 games to W it.

That's what happened versus Butler last year. Gopher stepped up and played one of their best games all year.
 



Schnauzer said:
I thought it was funny to see that a guy on that board sifted through the Gopher Hole to find the ONE post not respecting WKU and then went on about "Typical Big 10 arrogance". Regarding the post he highlighted from GH: it was completely surrounded by people saying it was a tough game and suggesting the Gophers would win by 15 was ignorant.

Just proves you can always play the "no respect" card if you are willing to look hard enough.
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Yeah I saw that too. From that same thread on their board though, it almost sounds like they expect to win. I'm not trying to point out whether or not their arrogant, it just worries me that they think their team is that good that they expect to beat us. I'm concerned about the game, but I think the Gophers will find a way to win it.
 

Its a blowout with Joseph, oh wait >:eek:

It will be a tough game for sure, just need to give mbakwe another start and piles of minutes, i doubt they will be able to match his physicality. So far hes lived up to how good we thought he was and more. the man is electrifying and i think the rest of the team draws on that energy. Rodney was really showing his stuff last night too, those dunks o_O holy crap. I doubt WKU has people that athletic

this game is going to depend on how much they pull ahead when we go to the sub packages and have less experience out there, and while those guys have been playing great, its still obvious that theyre freshmen. assuming WKU follows the norm for midmajors having a solid 5 then a dropoff, we'll fall behind a bit when theyre out there, but like the siena game, wear them down and just annihilate them with rested bodies in the late second half, as long as we dont get too far behind.

our depth and athleticism will be our savior in this game.
 

We have a size and depth advantage, but I wouldnt say as a whole we are more athletic. Yes Trevor, Rodney, Nolen, Armelin are athletic, but the others are average. We need to use our size we need to get better games from Sampson and Colt.
 

they only play 1 guy over 6'6" its dixon at 6'10" 210 lbs. I think if colt plays hard he could expose this.
 

I'm worried, but that's my job as a Minnesota sports fan.
 

If the bigs come to play, we'll win. If not....watch out. I really do think it's that simple. Obviously the perimeter defense has to be good, but I think we HAVE to take advantage of our big fellas down low against smaller teams, especially without one of our main guards in Devoe.

I'm worried, but I trust that Tubby will have the guys focused and ready.....I hope.
 

Rouser said:
I'm worried, but that's my job as a Minnesota sports fan.
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Basically this. But they look like a very good team and we're not at home in the Barn. I don't think losing to them would be any great shame, but it would really wreck our Non-conference schedule to replace NC and Vandy/WV with Hofstra and Nebraska.
 

As has previously been stated, I'm worried because I'm a Minnesota sports fan, and we haven't made it look easy this year (against some admittedly tough opposition). I'll pick us to win, but I don't expect a walkover.
 

Sure, this is a game that makes me nervous. The older kids on WKU have tournament experience if I'm not mistaken. It seems to be a crapshoot at the non-conference in-season tournaments. The neutral court always throws teams for a loop. With Puerto Rico, in this case, probably not holding a "home court" advantage for any of the teams involved (obviously I would assume UNC will travel more than the other schools involved). It should be an interesting game. As people have noted, it is important to hit them with our big post players and clean up the perimeter D. Gophers have depth so I think it will be interesting to see how the young guys like Chip and Hollins will react to some big, important games as they will likely be called upon. They have looked good in the first two games, but the next opponent(s) look to be better competition than they have seen. Nervously looking forward to it :).
 

I'm worried about this game because Western Kentucky has won their first 2 games very convincingly while Minnesota almost just lost to Siena, who lost most of their starters and has a new coach, and is missing possibly their most important player, Devoe Joseph.
 

I am concerned at the start of every game. But I let the game play out, and during the game I drink and enjoy good cold beer, and root for the Gophers. Will we win? I don't know, I am not a psychic, just a psycho. Can we win? Yes!!! Go Gophers.
 

Western Kentucky has won their first 2 games very convincingly
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True. But they also should have won convincingly. According to KenPom their first two opponents were ranked 177th and 334th respectively. Wofford and Siena are in the mid 90's range for us and granted Wofford and Siena gave us a bit of a test those games should have us a bit more prepared, I hope, than the competition WKT has played so far.

Overall I think I'm concerned about the officiating. These damn preseason tournaments. They either call literally everything or nothing. I wonder which one it will be.
 

I'm not concerned about Western Kentucky in the slightest. I am, however, concerned that our Gophers will have trouble against them without Devoe.
 

Dr.Don said:
I am concerned at the start of every game. But I let the game play out, and during the game I drink and enjoy good cold beer, and root for the Gophers. Will we win? I don't know, I am not a psychic, just a psycho. Can we win? Yes!!! Go Gophers.
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What beer would the good doctor prescribe for all the worriers out there?
 

Blizzard said:
True. But they also should have won convincingly. According to KenPom their first two opponents were ranked 177th and 334th respectively. Wofford and Siena are in the mid 90's range for us and granted Wofford and Siena gave us a bit of a test those games should have us a bit more prepared, I hope, than the competition WKT has played so far.

Overall I think I'm concerned about the officiating. These damn preseason tournaments. They either call literally everything or nothing. I wonder which one it will be.
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Here is my suggestion: Let the Coaches have a Suma-Wrestling in the Center Court Circle, the winner moves on, the Loser moves out. The hell with the game. :banghead:
 


Here is my suggestion: Let the Coaches have a Suma-Wrestling in the Center Court Circle, the winner moves on, the Loser moves out. The hell with the game.
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As long as we fly Bo Ryan down there and then get to pick his opponent!
 

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