Just a horrible performance

[EG#9]

Most people have realized that the Gophers free throw shooting has hurt them terribly this year, but this is the first game you can point to and say with certainty is a "W" without an atrocious performance at the line.

I can't say enough bad things about Ralph and Colton, so I will just say this: I am disappointed that neither guy has improved over last season. I really do not understand why we continued to have both in the game at the same time. Colton was worse than Ralph tonight, but next game it will probably be the other way around, neither is playing aggressive enough.

Blake had some really bad turnovers tonight that hurt the team. It would be great if we could find a way to move him off the point, but I don't see anyone capable.

That brings me to Maverick who couldn't even give Blake a decent pass on the last play of the game and missed 2 free throws.

Two plays that were huge happened back to back: The official blowing the whistle after Hollins steal and NOT calling the intentional. Either let him go for the uncontested dunk to tie it or do your job and make the RIGHT call. Then the second play was Hollins miss and Trevor with the rebound, but he misses from point blank range to take the lead. In the scramble to come up with the ball Ralph commits a foul (don't know if he could have avoided it or not) and Verdell Jones knocks down both free throws. All of a sudden it's back to a 3 point game and the Gophers would never get closer.

If this team didn't play as bad as it possibly could for long stretches of the game, it wins easily. Congrats to Austin Hollins for stepping up with a great 2nd half and at least giving us a chance to pull out the game.

 

[Block M]

Yep.

Pretty clear early this season that poor FT shooting would cost the team 2-3 B10 wins this year and I agree this is the first one. Making those easy ones offsets the crappy play.

Ahanmisi bricking two. Wow. And Rodney? Probably the worst FT shooter the Gophers have ever had.

Hopefully Tubby recruits some kids that can actually shoot outside 10 ft.

 

[DontHassleTheHoff]

Points off turnovers didn't really help us either. Gotta give some kudos to Austin, brought us back. Gotta play a full 40 minutes, it's as simple as that in my eyes.

 

[book]

I see the problem as to not making plays down the stretch when the game is at hand. Trevor missing the bunny and then we give up a wide open 3 (which we were not doing all game0 to Jones. That sealed it. Close games at Wic., OSU, etc.. we have to find a way to win those at the end of games.

 

[Reserve]

and then we give up a wide open 3 (which we were not doing all game0 to Jones. That sealed it.

Yeah, I guess Verdell took off his skirt.

So, Ok, that's two players in two games that made plays that killed us and in the pregame notes GopherWarrior made fun of them both. Jones with the skirt and Jackson the adorable midget.

I'm not saying but I'm just saying.

 

[Jeshurun]

Hey guys it's okay. Jared 'Purse' Sullinger is overrated so we'll be able to beat Ohio St easily.

 

[Reserve]

I suppose we could accessorize the whole team:

Buford can be the high heels.
Diebler can be the earings.
Craft can be the lipstick.
Lauderdale can be the thong.
Sullinger can be the purse.
Lighty can be the bracelets.

Or maybe Matta can be the thong.

Are we forgetting anything?

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

Most people have realized that the Gophers free throw shooting has hurt them terribly this year, but this is the first game you can point to and say with certainty is a "W" without an atrocious performance at the line.

I can't say enough bad things about Ralph and Colton, so I will just say this: I am disappointed that neither guy has improved over last season. I really do not understand why we continued to have both in the game at the same time. Colton was worse than Ralph tonight, but next game it will probably be the other way around, neither is playing aggressive enough.

Blake had some really bad turnovers tonight that hurt the team. It would be great if we could find a way to move him off the point, but I don't see anyone capable.

That brings me to Maverick who couldn't even give Blake a decent pass on the last play of the game and missed 2 free throws.

Two plays that were huge happened back to back: The official blowing the whistle after Hollins steal and NOT calling the intentional. Either let him go for the uncontested dunk to tie it or do your job and make the RIGHT call. Then the second play was Hollins miss and Trevor with the rebound, but he misses from point blank range to take the lead. In the scramble to come up with the ball Ralph commits a foul (don't know if he could have avoided it or not) and Verdell Jones knocks down both free throws. All of a sudden it's back to a 3 point game and the Gophers would never get closer.

If this team didn't play as bad as it possibly could for long stretches of the game, it wins easily. Congrats to Austin Hollins for stepping up with a great 2nd half and at least giving us a chance to pull out the game.

It was a poor performance overall. Some played OK but most didn't.

 

[Bad Gopher]

I remember the people on the Hole insisting that Verdell Jones wasn't good enough to play for the Gophers. Some were glad when he took Indiana's offer. Dude can sure play.

You can talk all you want to about lineups and officiating and even free throw shooting. There's something to all that stuff, but the elephant in the room is that the Gophers brought a knife to a gunfight last night. There's no winning any Big Ten game without effort and intensity.

Talking with my dentist this morning - he thinks Mbakwe's lost some of his edge.

 

[Reserve]

he thinks Mbakwe's lost some of his edge

On a side not I can't believe Trevor didn't get tossed last night when he pushed the ref.

 

[tikited]

On a side not I can't believe Trevor didn't get tossed last night when he pushed the ref.

I thought the whole team started to act like babies last night. Mental toughness is not a strength right now.

 

[fryguy22]

I thought the whole team started to act like babies last night. Mental toughness is not a strength right now.

That's an interesting comment, that's what everyone was saying about this team last year. I think the next 2 games (both home against currently ranked teams) will tell us a ton about the character of this year's Gophers.

(this being said we also need to find a way to win road games)

 

[Cayman]

Pretty clear early this season that poor FT shooting would cost the team 2-3 B10 wins this year and I agree this is the first one. Making those easy ones offsets the crappy play.

Ahanmisi bricking two. Wow. And Rodney? Probably the worst FT shooter the Gophers have ever had.

Hopefully Tubby recruits some kids that can actually shoot outside 10 ft.

Free throw shooting was also a problem against Ohio State. That is to say, the free throws that Austin Hollins was never able to shoot because he was fouled at the end of the game but it wasn't called. He's shooting 75% on free throws right now.

After his great second half performance last night, I hope he's out for sweet, sweet revenge against the Buckeyes!

 

[bga1]

That's an interesting comment, that's what everyone was saying about this team last year. I think the next 2 games (both home against currently ranked teams) will tell us a ton about the character of this year's Gophers.

(this being said we also need to find a way to win road games)

Oh we will be diving on the floor playing like mad men against Ohio State. Bet on it. That will keep it close. Maddening that the same effort that will get you a close game with OSU will get you a 15 point win at IU and you don't figure it out until too late.

 

[From the Barn]

Oh we will be diving on the floor playing like mad men against Ohio State. Bet on it. That will keep it close. Maddening that the same effort that will get you a close game with OSU will get you a 15 point win at IU and you don't figure it out until too late.

Al is the lead by example guy on this team, and he wasn't out there. Trevor has that type of leadership potential, but he looked lost for the first time. These type of games happen to pretty much every team 2 or 3 times per season. Hopefully it is out of our system.