Let's be realistic BigGopherFan

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GophersOnTheRise

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Rodney Williams played close to 5 minutes, Damian sat most of the first half, Butler shot 11 more free throws than us, and we still won by 9. Boy did we all make "uneducated" predictions. Butler was overrated, Vegas favored us by 1.5 by game time even though we were ranked 6 spots lower. They were never going to win this game. "Let's be realistic."
 

Butler will bounce in and out of the top 25 this year and win a game or two in the tourney, but they are not a top 10 team. Either way, solid win.
 

I wouldn't count Butler out yet. Last year we played a Louisville squad early in the season and beat them. They didn't find their groove for a few more games and by years end were the #1 overall seed.

It's early in the season and teams will improve.
 

festmeister said:
Butler will bounce in and out of the top 25 this year and win a game or two in the tourney, but they are not a top 10 team. Either way, solid win.
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I'd say that's a very accurate prediction. Might be a 6 seed and beat up on a 10 seed, then get shelled by an athletic team. It looks like Butler won't be able to beat any athletic teams, they get flustered and turn the ball over a ton.
 

careful about talking down that win over a #10 team. come march we are going to be bragging about that good win (over an over ranked team).;)
 



Regardless, it will be a good win for us when the selection committee
meets. It would be better for us if they won the rest of their games
because then it becomes an even bigger win!!

It would be nice if we could pick up a high seed come tourney time.
If we move up to #16 or so that is a #4 seed in the tourney if we
stay there.
 

When you win,

... it's always better to be gracious than boastful ... ...
whistilin.gif


While I was really impressed with the Gophers win, I was also impressed with Butler's team. It was one of the better games I've seen this season and that's speaking as a basketball fan, not simply a Gophers fan.

On another night, the results could have been reversed ... but great preparation for the B10 and post-season play!
 

Rick Mons said:
... it's always better to be gracious than boastful ... ...
whistilin.gif


While I was really impressed with the Gophers win, I was also impressed with Butler's team. It was one of the better games I've seen this season and that's speaking as a basketball fan, not simply a Gophers fan.

On another night, the results could have been reversed ... but great preparation for the B10 and post-season play!
Click to expand...

Impressed with Butler RM? I respectfully have to disagree, but that's fine.

Just interested in what you saw in Butler that impressed you, I thought they were slow, unathletic, and lacked size. Either way, I'm glad we won this game and it'll be a nice win for our resume.
 



TubbytownUSA said:
It looks like Butler won't be able to beat any athletic teams, they get flustered and turn the ball over a ton.
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That might be true if they (or any team) were static. I suspect that Butler will do well against "athletic teams" while this season unwinds.
 


TubbytownUSA said:
I'd say that's a very accurate prediction. Might be a 6 seed and beat up on a 10 seed, then get shelled by an athletic team. It looks like Butler won't be able to beat any athletic teams, they get flustered and turn the ball over a ton.
Click to expand...


Is that a fault with Butler or a result of us having an outstanding defense?
 




TubbytownUSA said:
Just interested in what you saw in Butler that impressed you, I thought they were slow, unathletic, and lacked size.
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I thought both Mack and Howard looked pretty good. What seemed to hurt Butler was their comparative lack of depth ... only one bench player scored any points.

And their press -- at least in the 2nd half -- created some turnovers that aren't indicative of a "slow" or "unathletic" team IMHO.

Even when we stretched the lead to ten, I didn't think we were "safe." And sure enough, Butler would come back but just didn't have that extra ooomph off the bench to help out.

One thing to bear in mind: two of their starters are sophomores and will likely get better as the season progresses.
 

I have to give the credit to the defense for this win with the offense doing just enough against a less athletic team to win. I'm probably being a bit too hard on the offense, but I was very disgusted with the offense after Tubby took out Cobbs, Iverson and Devoe 2/3 of the way through the first half when we had a 22 to 14 lead - after which our team (lead by Nolan) proceeded to turn the ball over 5 times in row. I'm not blaming all the turnovers on Nolan but the offens clearly ground to stand still during that period. I really hope Nolan figures it out because I'm not to sure we can do much damage in the tournament without an experienced point guard that is not playing well.

If what I have heard about Mbakwe is true, I think there is a real important position for him on this team. We didn't have an answer, defensively, for their low post Mack. Our 2 bigs a bit too slow to guard him and Carter a bit too lean to bang with him. I would have like to have seen what Mbakwe could have done against him - hope he is back soon. He could be a very important piece if he can fill that roll of a more athletic low post banger - and I would be fully on board thinking this team is a legitimate top 16 team.
 

TubbytownUSA said:
Impressed with Butler RM? I respectfully have to disagree, but that's fine.

Just interested in what you saw in Butler that impressed you, I thought they were slow, unathletic, and lacked size. Either way, I'm glad we won this game and it'll be a nice win for our resume.
Click to expand...

I was impressed with their ability to draw ticky-tack/non-existent fouls. Very Dukeesque at times.
 

Butler was hurt by foul trouble a lot more than we were with Rodney....If that Howard kid plays the whole game without foul trouble, it might've been a different outcome. Regardless, it was a great win for us.

Now....it's come on Butler, hopefully they will get going on a big run...however they have non-conference games with Georgetown, Xavier, and the buckeyes.
 

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