***OFFICIAL MINNESOTA AT ILLINOIS IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

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Gophers made 2 more baskets than illinois

Illinois made 1 more 3 than Minnesota

Illinois 16-19 from the line

Minnesota 3-3 from the line
 

Well, I honestly thought that game went as well as could be expected. Especially for the 1st 30 minutes or so. They're better than us and at home. Our 2 stars had great games, nobody really stunk it up. That last 10-0 run late near the end of the game ended up being the difference. We still had a chance with under 2 to play, something I would not have predicted. Would have loved to get the upset, but still a well-played game by our guys. On to the next.
 
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FritoPendejo said:
If Niko can upgrade the talent next year, we’ll be in business. Dude can coach.
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With four players who were to be big contributors out for the season, it's hard to say that he needs to upgrade talent. This year will be invaluable next year for those players who were pressed into playing this year. Can't imagine what this team would look like with those four and the ability to go nine deep.
 

I’m really excited about JCJ and Asuma’s trajectory for next year. I’ve seen significant growth out of those two! Really hope Durkin finds his shot. He really needs to hit more of those open looks.
 

The team will reshuffle when the NIL marketplace opens. Some go out, some come in. I hope people see this team is fun and the run is on.
 



Gold Vision said:
I’m really excited about JCJ and Asuma’s trajectory for next year. I’ve seen significant growth out of those two! Really hope Durkin finds his shot. He really needs to hit more of those open looks.
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Durkin will be so much more effective playing 15-20 min a game.
 

PMWinSTP said:
With four players who were to be big contributors out for the season, it's hard to say that he needs to upgrade talent. This year will be invaluable next year for those players who were pressed into playing this year. Can't imagine what this team would look like with those four and the ability to go nine deep.
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I think with those guys, we’d be deeper but not markedly better. Sure, Omot might have made a difference. Vaihola and Willis were healthy during (and contributed to) a stretch of horrendous ball. They’d likely have improved since then, but their injuries meant Reynolds and Grove have had to take on bigger roles. I’m hard pressed to say Willis would be much better than what Reynolds has been, and at minimum, Grove getting some of the big guy’s time has led to a rangier and more athletic front line. It is crazy to say Stephens, who did little before coming here, would upgrade the talent we put on the floor today. And the long term goal is for us to be one of the best teams in the B10. Even with great coaching, with all 4 healthy, we wouldn’t have been that. So yes, a talent upgrade is still needed.
 

REF RANT AHEAD.....SKIP IT IF YOU THINK I'M WHINING LOL:
1. 19 FT attempts to 3....including ZERO for the Gophers in the 2nd half. That in and of itself, should be investigated.
2. If JCJ set screens like the Illinois bigs did today, he would've fouled out in 5 minutes. It was like watching the NBA the way they were moving, pushing off and holding. Not one called all game.
3. The bigs pushed and went over the back all game. Gophers get called for boxing out. No calls all game.
4. Tyson's 4th foul on the breakaway from Boswell was a phantom foul. Boswell kicked out and gets the call. Big call when game was in doubt.
5. Tyson's 5th foul on Wagler when he throws up a prayer as the shot clock is expiring was absolute BS. Gophers still had a chance.
6. One hook and hold is called....one isn't. Guess who gets the call?
7. Is 3 seconds even a thing anymore? Bigs absolutely planted in the lane and never called.

RANT OVER....enjoy your day LOL
 


Obi-Wan Okogie said:
Damn, we keep hanging in there with great teams but faltering. Its a testament to the squad that they hang but we need to knock some of these teams off.
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They lose late. No depth due to injuries. Without a cushion they’ll continue to do this.
 

FritoPendejo said:
I think with those guys, we’d be deeper but not markedly better. Sure, Omot might have made a difference. Vaihola and Willis were healthy during (and contributed to) a stretch of horrendous ball. They’d likely have improved since then, but their injuries meant Reynolds and Grove have had to take on bigger roles. I’m hard pressed to say Willis would be much better than what Reynolds has been, and at minimum, Grove getting some of the big guy’s time has led to a rangier and more athletic front line. It is crazy to say Stephens, who did little before coming here, would upgrade the talent we put on the floor today. And the long term goal is for us to be one of the best teams in the B10. Even with great coaching, with all 4 healthy, we wouldn’t have been that. So yes, a talent upgrade is still needed.
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Under Niko, almost all guys returning will be better next year. Of course, he will continue to try to get better talent in the door, but with that deeper bench Gophs could be sitting at 5-2 in conference and 14-4 overall right now.
 

Gold Vision said:
I’m really excited about JCJ and Asuma’s trajectory for next year. I’ve seen significant growth out of those two! Really hope Durkin finds his shot. He really needs to hit more of those open looks.
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Yes. Durkin is starting to get really frustrating. He’s made a couple of huge shots and he plays his butt off. But he missed a minimum of three perfectly wide open unguarded three-pointers today. He has got to start making the wide open looks like that. It’s just a killer when he gets that open and misses. Especially when they come right down the floor and some 7’2” guy from the other team can just easily drain one in response. Ugh!
 


Unregistered User said:
They were only called for 9 fouls
We were only called for 16 fouls

7 foul differential led to 16 more attempts than us

Yeah, I’m calling bullshit
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Playing on the road against a ranked team which is bigger & stronger I’m not surprised by the free throw discrepancy. That said, does anyone believe including the officials that Illinois did not foul on 97% of Minnesota’s shots?—ridiculous.
 

topos said:
We’re just a few key pieces away from having a damn good team. Like not even a huge splash player. Just need to have a few more guards (that are a risk to shoot), and a physical center.
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Yes, we need exactly that.
The job Niko is doing with what is has is incredible. I wonder as his style becomes more known by opposing coaches if we get exploited to a greater degree in the future?
If we had Wagler we'd be undefeated in the Big Ten or maybe Purdue still beats us...but we have been right there in the others. Encouraging Niko identified Wagler as a target in recruiting.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
They lose late. No depth due to injuries. Without a cushion they’ll continue to do this.
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Yeah, it is more likely to get worse than better as the season progresses. It's not anyone's fault but the coaches need to avoid anyone in the future with a hint of a lingering injury like the plague.
 


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