Minnesota Gophers AP Poll 11/19/96

Donate To GopherHole
B

BOUNDOUTPASSDUNK

Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Messages
806
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Not making predictions or drawing comparisons per se, but I was curious where the Gophers were ranked during the early 1996/97 season. Quick research revealed the Gophers were pre-season ranked 23rd on 11/19/96. Cliche warning: doesn't matter where you start but where you finish.

Go Gophers.
 

BOUNDOUTPASSDUNK said:
Not making predictions or drawing comparisons per se, but I was curious where the Gophers were ranked during the early 1996/97 season. Quick research revealed the Gophers were pre-season ranked 23rd on 11/19/96. Cliche warning: doesn't matter where you start but where you finish.

Go Gophers.
Click to expand...


Roster Comparison

Eric Harris -Austin Hollins

Role players, different positions but bring about the same things to the team, no edge.

Bobby Jackson - Andre Hollins

Both game changing players, at this point Jackson was more consistant but Dre can do some of the same things, edge to Jackson

Sam Jacobson - Coleman

Jacobson much more polished offensively, better athlete, coleman more physical and probably better defensively, edge Jacobson

Quincy Lewis - Rodney Williams

Lewis better offensively from the wing, Rodney more athletic, better defensively, slight edge Rodney.

Thomas - Mbakwe

Thomas bulkier, bigger force in the paint, Mbwake more athletic, better offensively, solid defensively, slight edge Mbwake

Winter - Elliason

Winter was a senior, big men develop slower, better all around, edge to Winter.
 

John Thomas started at Center and Courtney James started at PF in 96-97. I'd take the 1996-1997 front court in a heartbeat over the 2012-2013 front court! What would give the 96-97 team the HUGE edge was the bench. Remember, Quincy was coming off the bench along with Winters, Charles Thomas, and the "Mustache."
 

96/97team had team soul of champions. I remember how many competitive games they rose to the occasion, particularly on the back of Bobby Jackson at crunch time. I remember that close early road loss at Alabama when we got beat by a good team on a hot night. One of the best games I ever attended was the home game big ten clincher against Illinois, when Jackson stole the ball late in the game, tight roped the side lines and scored the back breaker. That team too was keyed by its solid defense.

Among the keys for th 2012/13 squad will be if Dre, Rodney, Austin or Trevor can be a final five minutes game breaker, or if they can do it by committee. We won't truly know until the Big Ten, but I see the opener at MSU as a real barometer of team progress.

Now take care the Trojans, who made Nebraska look mighty fine the other night at NE.
 

jovs said:
Roster Comparison

Eric Harris -Austin Hollins

Role players, different positions but bring about the same things to the team, no edge.

Bobby Jackson - Andre Hollins

Both game changing players, at this point Jackson was more consistant but Dre can do some of the same things, edge to Jackson

Sam Jacobson - Coleman

Jacobson much more polished offensively, better athlete, coleman more physical and probably better defensively, edge Jacobson

Quincy Lewis - Rodney Williams

Lewis better offensively from the wing, Rodney more athletic, better defensively, slight edge Rodney.

Thomas - Mbakwe

Thomas bulkier, bigger force in the paint, Mbwake more athletic, better offensively, solid defensively, slight edge Mbwake

Winter - Elliason

Winter was a senior, big men develop slower, better all around, edge to Winter.
Click to expand...

Erik Harris - Andre Hollins = Andre Hollins

Bobby Jackson - Austin Hollins = Bobby Jackson

Sam Jacobsen - Joe Coleman = Sam Jacobsen

Courtney James - Rodney Williams = Rodney Williams ??? Different types of down low teams.....Courtney was more like Trevor and Rodney is more like Jacobsen......I will go with Rodney.

John Thomas - Trevor Mbakwe = John Thomas unless Trevor makes more gains with his health. Again not a good comparison here.

Bench = Quincy Lewis, Charles Thomas, Trevor Winter.....way better than our current bench. Not even close. This is the biggest difference between these two teams.
 


XMan said:
Erik Harris - Andre Hollins = Andre Hollins

Bobby Jackson - Austin Hollins = Bobby Jackson

Sam Jacobsen - Joe Coleman = Sam Jacobsen

Courtney James - Rodney Williams = Rodney Williams ??? Different types of down low teams.....Courtney was more like Trevor and Rodney is more like Jacobsen......I will go with Rodney.

John Thomas - Trevor Mbakwe = John Thomas unless Trevor makes more gains with his health. Again not a good comparison here.

Bench = Quincy Lewis, Charles Thomas, Trevor Winter.....way better than our current bench. Not even close. This is the biggest difference between these two teams.
Click to expand...

Agree the bench was much different and better in 96/97, but having Bobby Jackson was a huge difference too, IMO. I hope Andre Hollins can be that type of player, but players like Jackson and Willie Burton have been few and far between for the U, besides being able to take over the game, just seeming to be able to will their teams to wins. On the current team, I dont think that any current players, unless Mbakwe when healthy, start on that team. Harris was an excellent floor general, and Thomas was the banger you needed in the B10...just my opinion, but that tea, will always have a special place with me, as I was a junior at the U during that time and was so into that team...I do remember Charles Thomas getting hammered of Lite Ice beer at the old BW3 on 14th avenue...
 

Bench and Bobby in a landslide. Also, remember - the '97 team played in an era before all the good players turned pro after 1 season. That team had 4 NBA first round draft choices.

Bobby Jackson was an incredibly good college basketball player his senior year. Nose for the ball, could finish in traffic amazingly, developed a decent 3 point shot, incredible defender, great rebounder, AWESOME free throw shooter. But finally, the best crunch time player I've ever seen play for the U.

His 36 in 2 OT vs. Clemson in the Sweet 16 was the best game I've ever seen anyone play in person. He played like 25 minutes with 4 fouls. Vividly remember some big free throws toward the end of regulation and I swear I could see Clem telling him he HAD to make the free throws and COULD NOT foul out. He hit them both and played the rest of regulation and all of both OTs.
 

Big difference in coaching. Tubby is a much better coach than Clem ever was.
 

Parski1 said:
Big difference in coaching. Tubby is a much better coach than Clem ever was.
Click to expand...

I've wondered that a lot. What was Clem's reputation as a coach, I remember him as being a hard ass kind of guy that was straight up, but then of course the cheating destroyed his career. Tubby has done much more than Clem did, I agree...Just dont remember how Clem was thought of on a national level as a in game coach...
 



Parski1 said:
Big difference in coaching. Tubby is a much better coach than Clem ever was.
Click to expand...

In general? Hard to argue given Clem's issues. As a game day coach? Not true. A wash at best, but give me Clem.
 

different styles, clem was way more emotional, the 97 team would win by 20 IMHO, more depth and Bobby Jackson, cold blooded assassin,
 

Bobby J and the "it" factor

This has a chance to be a very good Gopher team, but comparisons with 97 start and stop with Bobby Jackson. Cool as a cucumber, Mr. Clutch, always knew when it was time to take over/make a winning play. Sal and I have discussed this exact thing several times. Bobby J had that "it" factor that only comes around every so often.
 

Bobby was a one of a kind. 10 players on the court and you could see which one had "it"...#24.

I like the way things are going this year as well. (enjoy the ride, THIS year) we're pretty good. Andre has a chance to give us a whiff of "it" every now and then. He needs to be more consistent but when he had two challenges this year that he (I believe) took personnel, vs Joe Jackson and vs Nate Wolter (didn’t happen but he was ready for it) he was focused and really on his game. I hope in the back of his mind he is thinking about Keith Appling and making another statement on New Years Eve.
 





gopherbadgerman said:
I've wondered that a lot. What was Clem's reputation as a coach, I remember him as being a hard ass kind of guy that was straight up, but then of course the cheating destroyed his career. Tubby has done much more than Clem did, I agree...Just dont remember how Clem was thought of on a national level as a in game coach...
Click to expand...

Clem couldn't win on the road, except for '96-'97. Clem was extremely easy to root for though.

brucekaupa said:
Brent Haskins > Saul Smith
Click to expand...

In more ways than one.....
 

Brent Haskins won the Indiana road game, I believe, by counting fouls more correctly than the scoreboard operator.
 

Brent Haskins won the Indiana road game, I believe, by counting fouls more correctly than the scoreboard operator.
Click to expand...

What a game that Indiana road game was. Incredible last 42 seconds. I am told Courney James may have stepped out of bounds but you couldn't see it on TV and the announcers never alluded to it.

Time may exagerate how exciting this finish was but I don't think so.
 

Well...

as long as you brought it up here is my ticket to that game. The foul was on Sam and BH did confirm that he had 4 and not 5 fouls. The overtime was as much fun as I've ever had at a game. Bobby (J not K) was brilliant...the crowd, stunned to silence. That was good stuff.

Scan10001.jpg
 

I have that game on tape. maybe I'll watch it again tonite.. I also have several of the big ten games from that year on tape including the tournament run.
 


whogoofed said:
I have that game on tape. maybe I'll watch it again tonite.. I also have several of the big ten games from that year on tape including the tournament run.
Click to expand...

Man, I'd love to see the last few minutes. I had to "watch" that game from a lab in Seattle University by hitting "refresh" every few seconds on an early version of ESPN's gamecast.
 

You need to put those games on the interwebs.

Wasn't the Indiana game something like a 12 point comeback in the last 2 minutes? Made the miracle in Madison look ordinary.
 


GopherJake said:
Bobby Jackson was an incredibly good college basketball player his senior year. Nose for the ball, could finish in traffic amazingly, developed a decent 3 point shot, incredible defender, great rebounder, AWESOME free throw shooter. But finally, the best crunch time player I've ever seen play for the U.
Click to expand...

Bar none, best crunch time player I've ever seen us have either. Consistently took the big shot when needed and almost always made it. That elite skill is the one thing our team is missing. Although Dre does have a chance to develop it. 8-9 shooting nights are a good start...
 

Lenard wasn't that far off. Plenty of big shots in his bag.
 

Booby Jackson should be on the wall...

I know he only played 2 years (one injury prone) and I know he had help from Jan G. but even so he was one of the best Gophers ever. Thompson and McHale had better pro careers but Bobby led us to the promised land.

How would you rank Thompson, Hudson, McHale and Jackson as Gophers?

1. Thompson
2. Jackson
3. Hudson
4. Mchale
 

The team with Thompson and McHale would've contended for the national title if given the chance.
 

sec105 said:
I know he only played 2 years (one injury prone) and I know he had help from Jan G. but even so he was one of the best Gophers ever. Thompson and McHale had better pro careers but Bobby led us to the promised land.

How would you rank Thompson, Hudson, McHale and Jackson as Gophers?

1. Thompson
2. Jackson
3. Hudson
4. Mchale
Click to expand...

1. Hudson
2. Jackson
3. Thompson
4. McHale

Add Archie Clark and you have the all-time starting five.

As far as the OP keep in mind Bobby Jackson was also Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. I remember telling people they couldn't appreciate how quick he was unless they saw him in person. You really couldn't tell from TV.
 

Another player who had that "it" factor, at least for 1 season, was Vincent Greer. He dragged a pretty mediocre team into the Tournament. For a kid who wasn't a great shooter and didn't have a right hand he could score the basketball.

1st in scoring (by a WIDE margin)
2nd in rebounding
1st in steals
2nd in assists
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom