***OFFICIAL MINNESOTA AT MICHIGAN, WHO CLEARLY WAS LOOKING PAST DUKE TO OUR GAME, IN-GAME THREAD!!!***


Unfortunately they got hot from 3 PT line. Otherwise solid performance with only 6 guys. Asuma needs to become a 33%+ shooter from the arc.
 

Unfortunately they got hot from 3 PT line. Otherwise solid performance with only 6 guys. Asuma needs to become a 33%+ shooter from the arc.
We had a number of really good looks. If half of those go down, much closer game. They got really hot from 3. But we stayed competitive throughout.
 


Just saw the score. Seems impossible to me that we were competitive against the team that will likely win the big ten and be a #1 seed in the dance. At their place.
Makes no sense.
It was one of the most masterful losses I have seen. There is no way they should have been able to keep it that close. And...if Michigan hadn't gotten red hot from 3 point range, making about 4 in a row, it might have been a nail biter.
 





Really solid effort from this skeleton crew. They just ran out of gas a bit in the second half to keep up the defensive intensity. There were a few too many open looks with Michigan shooting 50% from the field for the game.

Despite getting out rebounded by 19 with 9 offensive rebounds to our 1, we managed to only put up 3 fewer shots on the night. That’s a testament to winning the turnover battle.

It’s hard for me to imagine how the team looks without Tyson and Reynolds next year, but I’m sure we’ll find some folks to fill in and improve. Rosters are so fluid, it makes no sense to try and project at this time.
 




Michigan got hot on threes.
Did you notice where they got most of there 3s? It was in the deep corners. Niko is actually running a 2-2-1 defense. That leaves the freethrow line and the deep corners open. I have wondered when an opponent would exploit that area against the Gophers zone and we saw it tonight.

But, hats off to this scrappy team from Minnesota. They easily covered the spread, which I didn't think they would be able to do. They had some really good looks that didn't drop in. They had more points in the paint in the 1st half than Michigan had (how?). They dictated pace and they competed. We'll done against a team that should be in the final four at the end of March.
 

Each of the Iron Five contributed on offense. Ball security limited Michigan’s transition points. Played a clean defensive game limiting Michigan’s free throws. We had cut a nine point Michigan lead to 51-47 and forced a deep shot clock three which they converted which triggered four or five Wolverine consecutive made threes. That was the turning point of the game.
 




Fun game to watch. We had the power, just not enough horses. But for the guys we have, the hustle was never lacking.

BTW, Michigan's #4 looks a lot like Voshon Lenard.
 

Did you notice where they got most of there 3s? It was in the deep corners. Niko is actually running a 2-2-1 defense. That leaves the freethrow line and the deep corners open. I have wondered when an opponent would exploit that area against the Gophers zone and we saw it tonight.

But, hats off to this scrappy team from Minnesota. They easily covered the spread, which I didn't think they would be able to do. They had some really good looks that didn't drop in. They had more points in the paint in the 1st half than Michigan had (how?). They dictated pace and they competed. We'll done against a team that should be in the final four at the end of March.
That's what you want to do to a physically far superior team- make them beat you from deep. It's a chance. We lost by 10 but if Michigan has an off night and shoots 25-30% from 3 instead of the 42% they shot on 33 attempts- we would have been right to the wire.
 

Fun game to watch. We had the power, just not enough horses. But for the guys we have, the hustle was never lacking.

BTW, Michigan's #4 looks a lot like Voshon Lenard.
I never tire of watching this team play. For me, this goes back to when Medved was hired and I said, I'm not sure how successful we'll end up being under him, but I know it's going to be a beautiful offense to watch play. It's very entertaining.

There's no telling what Niko will be able to do with a more talented and complete roster. Honest to goodness, the sky is the limit.
 


Just watched the game and I know I'm going to sound like a grumpy old man, but is 3 seconds in the lane even a thing anymore? I cant recall one call all season either for us or against us. Tonight, I counted at least 4x's where Mara and dude with headband were in the lane for 6 seconds.....
 


On paper this game should have been a route yet somehow this team just keeps finding a way to compete night in and night out. Tough not to be impressed by how this team is playing with such a depleted roster.

Hopefully what we are seeing this year is a great sign of what is to come when Niko actually has a healthy roster to work with. He clearly identified guys who can run his system and this time around he will be able to use the entire portal window as opposed to just a portion of it to go get the guys he wants.
 

In other news, does Michigan really need the officials to miss an obvious goaltending call that I can see on a 20-inch screen hundreds of miles away to make sure they can avoid an upset against an undermanned team? Really? Really???
That was a big miss. That said, the officials the last two games have been respectful of the Gophers’ predicament. I’m hopeful this also means respect for Nico’s coaching much like the benefit of the doubt given to Bo Ryan’s teams.
 

That was a big miss. That said, the officials the last two games have been respectful of the Gophers’ predicament. I’m hopeful this also means respect for Nico’s coaching much like the benefit of the doubt given to Bo Ryan’s teams.
Very true...to the tune of zero fouls in the first half against Rutgers.

As far as that goes, I'd be curious how many times in history a college team has given up fewer than 25 points in a half and committed no fouls.
 

Shinholter doesn’t see much court time does he?
He has exceeded expectations just by seeing the court and giving some very game minutes, but I think the writing is on the wall for Shinholter. When you’re literally the only available guy on the bench, and the coach gives you minimal minutes, it speaks volumes. I expect to see him at a smaller school next year.
 

He has exceeded expectations just by seeing the court and giving some very game minutes, but I think the writing is on the wall for Shinholter. When you’re literally the only available guy on the bench, and the coach gives you minimal minutes, it speaks volumes. I expect to see him at a smaller school next year.
Maybe but think it is a little early to say that for sure. Will depend a lot on who they are able to bring in from the portal.

Right now it is a tough deal. To put Shinholster in you need to take one of Reynolds, Asuma, Durkin or Tyson off the court and they are all playing at a really high level together.

He is a true freshman who has logged a lot of valuable minutes this year. Will be interesting to see if he factors into the plans going forward.

On a side note....one of the most amazing things about the way this team is playing is that they are also really young. 6 guys and half of them are guys in their first or 2nd year.

Asuma - Sophomore
Grove - Redshirt Freshman
Shinholster - True Freshman
 


That is 100% correct. We will very likely not cover the spread (+22.5), yet we will play the game.
That being said, I will be much more happy with these boys in a loss to Michigan at Chrisler than I was in the utterly humiliating loss that Ben Johnson's team took at the Barn against Michigan a few years back. That loss at the Barn was an absolute disgrace and showed Ben's incompetence. Tonight's, likely, loss will come with our boys being highly coached and giving their all. There is a difference.
So from what I find the Gophers had won the last two against Mich? Lost the two previous to that. Assume you mean the 15 pt. loss 12/8/22? Then won the previous to that two. Seems the BB guys are just a tad ahead of the our star football coach?

The intense need to denigrate Johnson no matter the topic borders on a psychosis for some here. I agree that Medved is a more experienced and in all likelihood will be a more successful coach in the future. But that doesn’t mean part of that belief requires me dissing BJ every chance I get. Let it go. But if you want to bitch about someone maybe try the guy who hired him? As for me, if someone who has coached one 12 yr old game in my life like I have was offered several 6 figures for the gig, I would jump on it! Just like he did.
 

Shinholter doesn’t see much court time does he?
I checked the box score. In 7 min a complete line of zeros, except for the last category, 1 TO. I have noticed this before. He plays but you don’t know he is out there. He doesn’t play poorly, nor does he play well. He virtually just runs around in circles. I told someone this morning he looks like a good basketball player but doesn’t do anything.
 

I checked the box score. In 7 min a complete line of zeros, except for the last category, 1 TO. I have noticed this before. He plays but you don’t know he is out there. He doesn’t play poorly, nor does he play well. He virtually just runs around in circles. I told someone this morning he looks like a good basketball player but doesn’t do anything.
I will be curious to see if he sticks around/Niko wants him. I was hoping that dunk against Oregon was the start of some confidence but it hasn't translated.

Kyan Evans played in 36 games his freshman year, averaging 8 minutes, 41% FG, 32% 3PT, 68% FT, and 1.7 points. Was actually receiving some run in the beginning of the year (playing 10-25 minutes per game in a lot of their non-con before getting benched for conference play). If I saw that trajectory I would have said he transfers down.

Came back and was one of the most important players as a sophomore, improving to 28 minutes, 47% FG, 45% 3PT, 85% FT and 11 pts/3 AST. Scored 23 points in their opening round win against Memphis.

So I'm not writing off Kai yet, if Niko thinks he can make improvements to his game.
 




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