We all are offering sympathy to this team, but let's not forget that they are division 1 college basketball players! I have feeling that Rodney Williams will finally pull his head out of his a** and live up to the hype this season. Let's face it...This team is desperate and the luck could not get anyworse for us this season. I expect to see some bright things out of the young players. They are the future. What could be better than a ton of playing time to grow and learn...Plus Trevor will be on the bench giving 100% support all the way.
Looking at the stats so far this season there are many bright spots from players besides Mbakwe. Austin Hollins has lead the team in scoring a few games so far. His turnovers kill us, but with more playing time expect those to go down quite a bit.
Welch has been very solid defensively forcing key turnovers, and hitting some clutch shots. Look for his head to be in the game when he is inserted into the starting lineup. He seems to be the guard we have been looking for, and all the playing time will not hurt him at all.
Dre Hollins has been nothing short of a solid freshman. He has shown the ability to score at will during some points of the game, and can hit freethrows!
Elliot Elliason was a guy who nobody figured would even contribute much at all this season. So far he has done a lot for us in some games. I see a good rebounder...Almost could be like a Spencer Tollackson type player by the end of the year.
Sampson needs to wakeup! This guy is supposedly a top 20 center in college basketball. Mbakwe needs to get in this guys face and tell him he is now in control of the team! When pushed and under pressure Ralph performs his best. The Gophers will need him to play at his best.
Oseniks needs to become comfortable with popping the open threes. Now we have lost a lot of scoring with Mbakwe going down. Oseniks needs to take every open three he can. They will eventually start falling, and I think in a huge portion.
The final factor could be Mo Walker coming back off of his injury. This guy was a beast last season before he got injured against SDSU last winter. I definitely expect him to take some time to be healthy on the court agaim, but once he's ready he will pick up right where he left off and be a force for this team down low.
Other guys like Andre Ingrams and Joe Coleman seem to be the guys furthest out from a freshman standpoint. Coleman will see the floor a lot more and become another dynamic player. A playmaker by the end of the season. The Gophers are in dire need of a playmaker.
Tubby needs to solve the mystery of defending the perimiter. Gophers were dead last in the nation last season in defending the three, and they are well on there way this year. With so much athleticism from our guards, and our shot-blocking ability this should not happen. Teams game in and game out are proving they can nail three's against us. It is time to stop defending so lazily on the perimiter.
Just trying to find some positives to think about this year.
Go Gophers!!
Looking at the stats so far this season there are many bright spots from players besides Mbakwe. Austin Hollins has lead the team in scoring a few games so far. His turnovers kill us, but with more playing time expect those to go down quite a bit.
Welch has been very solid defensively forcing key turnovers, and hitting some clutch shots. Look for his head to be in the game when he is inserted into the starting lineup. He seems to be the guard we have been looking for, and all the playing time will not hurt him at all.
Dre Hollins has been nothing short of a solid freshman. He has shown the ability to score at will during some points of the game, and can hit freethrows!
Elliot Elliason was a guy who nobody figured would even contribute much at all this season. So far he has done a lot for us in some games. I see a good rebounder...Almost could be like a Spencer Tollackson type player by the end of the year.
Sampson needs to wakeup! This guy is supposedly a top 20 center in college basketball. Mbakwe needs to get in this guys face and tell him he is now in control of the team! When pushed and under pressure Ralph performs his best. The Gophers will need him to play at his best.
Oseniks needs to become comfortable with popping the open threes. Now we have lost a lot of scoring with Mbakwe going down. Oseniks needs to take every open three he can. They will eventually start falling, and I think in a huge portion.
The final factor could be Mo Walker coming back off of his injury. This guy was a beast last season before he got injured against SDSU last winter. I definitely expect him to take some time to be healthy on the court agaim, but once he's ready he will pick up right where he left off and be a force for this team down low.
Other guys like Andre Ingrams and Joe Coleman seem to be the guys furthest out from a freshman standpoint. Coleman will see the floor a lot more and become another dynamic player. A playmaker by the end of the season. The Gophers are in dire need of a playmaker.
Tubby needs to solve the mystery of defending the perimiter. Gophers were dead last in the nation last season in defending the three, and they are well on there way this year. With so much athleticism from our guards, and our shot-blocking ability this should not happen. Teams game in and game out are proving they can nail three's against us. It is time to stop defending so lazily on the perimiter.
Just trying to find some positives to think about this year.
Go Gophers!!