Minnesota Gophers survive an off night at free-throw line to beat Cornell
U survives off night at free-throw line
By Marcus R. Fuller
[email protected]
Updated: 12/05/2010 12:11:13 AM CST
Blake Hoffarber knew something was wrong when he missed a free throw in the first half of the University of Minnesota's surprisingly close 71-66 win Saturday night over Cornell.
The Williams Arena crowd collectively cried, "AAAH!" when Hoffarber, an 85 percent free-throw shooter, missed the first of his two foul shots.
"Sometimes it can get contagious," Hoffarber, a senior guard, said after watching his teammates miss five straight free throws at one point in the first half.
The No. 15-ranked Gophers (7-1) shot 44 percent on free throws in the first half and 59 percent for the game but avoided following up Monday's loss to Virginia with another upset. Cornell (2-6), last year's Ivy League champion, hit 14 three-pointers but couldn't end a four-game losing streak.
The Gophers might be able to get away with wretched perimeter defense and free-throw shooting against a soft nonconference schedule.
But when the Big Ten season opens in less than a month with road games against Wisconsin and Michigan State, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said "it will be bad" if his team doesn't improve.
"It won't be easy," Smith said about trying to win close games against better competition without shooting better from the foul line. "But I like the idea of getting there. As long as we keep getting there, we'll figure out how to make them."
The Gophers entered Saturday's game tied with Michigan State for the worst free-throw shooting percentage (63.7) in the Big Ten.
The Spartans, though, don't rely as much on free throws as the Gophers, who shoot more free throws than any conference team.
Smith said the Gophers struggled just getting to the line in the past, and "now we're doing it."
The inside presence of junior Trevor Mbakwe is a big reason for that. But Mbakwe, who had 16 rebounds, was 12 for 20 from the free-throw line while missing all four of his field-goal attempts. He did, however, make 10 of 14 free throws in the second half.
"I don't think I had a guy get to the line 20 times like that, but he made them down the stretch," Smith said. "If Trevor made four more of those, then it's a little bit different. But we'll get that done. We'll see what we can do in that area. Obviously, we need to spend more time."
That Mbakwe is leading the team in free-throw attempts this season has skewed the team's percentage. Last season, Lawrence Westbrook, a senior guard, got to the foul line more than anyone else on the team and shot 84 percent. Mbakwe is shooting 59 percent after Saturday.
But he appeared to get more aggressive offensively as his team struggled to stop Cornell's outside shooting.
"He got their players in foul trouble," said Ralph Sampson III, who had 13 points and shot 3 for 7 from the free throw line. "He got his player and my player to play more reserved."
Minnesota's three-point shooting defense is an apparent weakness, especially without senior point guard Al Nolen, who missed a second straight game because of a foot injury.
The Gophers had hoped to rely on junior Devoe Joseph and sophomore Rodney Williams on the perimeter, but they weren't able to frustrate Cornell guards Drew Ferry and Chris Wroblewski, who combined to hit eight three-pointers. Williams also was called twice for fouls on three-point shots.
"I have an issue with that," Smith said about Williams, who had six points and three fouls in 22 minutes.
The Gophers have traditionally struggled to defend the perimeter under Smith, but free-throw shooting has become the bigger concern. Hoffarber, who had 13 points, said it's just about transferring what they do in practice to the game.
"Most of it's just mental," he said. "We've had our mechanics for a long time now. ... You just have to mentally prepare yourself before you get up to the line — know you're going to make it."
http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_16781130?nclick_check=1
U survives off night at free-throw line
By Marcus R. Fuller
[email protected]
Updated: 12/05/2010 12:11:13 AM CST
Blake Hoffarber knew something was wrong when he missed a free throw in the first half of the University of Minnesota's surprisingly close 71-66 win Saturday night over Cornell.
The Williams Arena crowd collectively cried, "AAAH!" when Hoffarber, an 85 percent free-throw shooter, missed the first of his two foul shots.
"Sometimes it can get contagious," Hoffarber, a senior guard, said after watching his teammates miss five straight free throws at one point in the first half.
The No. 15-ranked Gophers (7-1) shot 44 percent on free throws in the first half and 59 percent for the game but avoided following up Monday's loss to Virginia with another upset. Cornell (2-6), last year's Ivy League champion, hit 14 three-pointers but couldn't end a four-game losing streak.
The Gophers might be able to get away with wretched perimeter defense and free-throw shooting against a soft nonconference schedule.
But when the Big Ten season opens in less than a month with road games against Wisconsin and Michigan State, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said "it will be bad" if his team doesn't improve.
"It won't be easy," Smith said about trying to win close games against better competition without shooting better from the foul line. "But I like the idea of getting there. As long as we keep getting there, we'll figure out how to make them."
The Gophers entered Saturday's game tied with Michigan State for the worst free-throw shooting percentage (63.7) in the Big Ten.
The Spartans, though, don't rely as much on free throws as the Gophers, who shoot more free throws than any conference team.
Smith said the Gophers struggled just getting to the line in the past, and "now we're doing it."
The inside presence of junior Trevor Mbakwe is a big reason for that. But Mbakwe, who had 16 rebounds, was 12 for 20 from the free-throw line while missing all four of his field-goal attempts. He did, however, make 10 of 14 free throws in the second half.
"I don't think I had a guy get to the line 20 times like that, but he made them down the stretch," Smith said. "If Trevor made four more of those, then it's a little bit different. But we'll get that done. We'll see what we can do in that area. Obviously, we need to spend more time."
That Mbakwe is leading the team in free-throw attempts this season has skewed the team's percentage. Last season, Lawrence Westbrook, a senior guard, got to the foul line more than anyone else on the team and shot 84 percent. Mbakwe is shooting 59 percent after Saturday.
But he appeared to get more aggressive offensively as his team struggled to stop Cornell's outside shooting.
"He got their players in foul trouble," said Ralph Sampson III, who had 13 points and shot 3 for 7 from the free throw line. "He got his player and my player to play more reserved."
Minnesota's three-point shooting defense is an apparent weakness, especially without senior point guard Al Nolen, who missed a second straight game because of a foot injury.
The Gophers had hoped to rely on junior Devoe Joseph and sophomore Rodney Williams on the perimeter, but they weren't able to frustrate Cornell guards Drew Ferry and Chris Wroblewski, who combined to hit eight three-pointers. Williams also was called twice for fouls on three-point shots.
"I have an issue with that," Smith said about Williams, who had six points and three fouls in 22 minutes.
The Gophers have traditionally struggled to defend the perimeter under Smith, but free-throw shooting has become the bigger concern. Hoffarber, who had 13 points, said it's just about transferring what they do in practice to the game.
"Most of it's just mental," he said. "We've had our mechanics for a long time now. ... You just have to mentally prepare yourself before you get up to the line — know you're going to make it."
http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_16781130?nclick_check=1