J.B. Bauer Column: Gophers Are Falling Even When Their Shots Do

[GopherHole Staff]

Gophers Are Falling Even When Their Shots Do
By J.B. Bauer

Substitution patterns and distribution of minutes have hurt the team's performance

The Gophers' season-low shooting performance didn't give them a chance on Sunday, but this team has often lost games even when they are the better shooting team.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/136133?referrer_id=334816

 

[scher215]

Agreed 100%

The playing time distribution is the biggest thing, IMO.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Yep, there's no rotation. It's fine to change things up throughout the season, but not every game.

 

[bga1]

Agreed 100%

The playing time distribution is the biggest thing, IMO.

I think the underlying reason for the minute distribution is that there is very little difference in talent level from top to bottom on this roster. Mbakwe was playing big minutes before his injury. Tubby has not been able to recruit and retain a go to guy. The hockey line subbing is insane though. Just nuts. There is no doubt in my mind that a kid like Andre Hollins, who could be very good in the future, would be further along right now if he had played a lot more of his minutes with at least 2 or 3 starters. Asking him to excel as a frosh with the group of EE, Armelin, Oto and fellow frosh Coleman or Mav, et al is a tall order.

 

[Section201]

I agree the rotation is absurd. Does this coaching staff have no idea who the best five or the best guards are? Do they think players 6 through 9 are as good as players 1 through 5 ?

It seems nuts to me.

6 and 12 followed by this year is a complete fail.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Even if they don't know who the best five are, there should still be some kind of consistency in minutes played my opinion. Sure you can ride a hot hand if someone is on fire, but take a look at the game log for the freshmen this year. Their minutes are all over the place.

 

[scher215]

Looks like Jim Dutcher agrees with you:

From Marcus' latest article

But the Gophers have had six different starting lineups in Big Ten play, including four in the last four games. And, as former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher says, continually changing the lineup isn't always a good thing.

"This isn't being critical of them, but what I would always do was try to find out who our best eight players were," said Dutcher, who coached the Gophers to a Big Ten title in 1982. "Players get a little feeling of confidence if they know exactly what their role is. I think that helps get you through some of those tough situations. If late in the year you're still experimenting on who should be on the floor at what time in the game, I think that's a little unsettling."

 

[FreeFall]

Agree 100% with this thread!