***OFFICIAL SOMETHING CALLED USC UPSTATE AT MINNESOTA IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

[bga1]

Does it surprise you that he never goes zone? Just a change of pace occasionally.

It drives me crazy that he never switches up. Last game especially. I suppose we can hope that this is because he is working on defensive principles in his man defense early in the year. We have enough size and enough athletes to play good defense, we just don't, so far.

 

[bga1]

It wasn't pretty but there is one notable achievement in this game: this is the first game this season where the team significantly increased their lead in the second half. Had a two-point lead at half and a 14 point lead at the end of the game.

OK but SCUS went cold in the last 3-4 minutes. It was a 5 point game with under 5 to go.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

OK but SCUS went cold in the last 3-4 minutes. It was a 5 point game with under 5 to go.

But we still had to score

 

[Goldy-Wan Kenobi]

OK but SCUS went cold in the last 3-4 minutes. It was a 5 point game with under 5 to go.

Yea, the opponent went cold. Had nothing to do with the Gophers playing better defense to close things out.

 

[bga1]

Yea, the opponent went cold. Had nothing to do with the Gophers playing better defense to close things out.

Did you watch the game?

 

[Johnnyboy18]

Did you watch the game?

I did. They missed a bunch of contested jump shots the last 5 minutes of the game.

 

[Goldy-Wan Kenobi]

Did you watch the game?

I did. Sure looked a lot harder for the opponent to score down the stretch.

 

[bga1]

I did. They missed a bunch of contested jump shots the last 5 minutes of the game.

Ok. That's what you saw, could be. Upstate went 0-8 from the field and 1-4 on FTs after they got it to 5 so our defense on FTs was excellent as well..... They had some good looks. We don't play good defense. We certainly do not help on defense very well. I certainly hope it gets better.

 

[tikited]

Ok. That's what you saw, could be. Upstate went 0-8 from the field and 1-4 on FTs after they got it to 5 so our defense on FTs was excellent as well..... They had some good looks. We don't play good defense. We certainly do not help on defense very well. I certainly hope it gets better.

Yep. They missed some easy shots. Wasn't because of really good defense.

Would have been nice to see Payne out there at the end.

 

[Ewert86PC]

Worst post 2023....maybe 2024

Nah. You can have disagreements on what we thought an opponent would be like, but the salient point is neither team played liked the were B1G caliber

 

[Goldy-Wan Kenobi]

“Better defense”. Not “really good defense”.

I guess I’m choosing to look at it from the positive perspective of they switched better, pressured better, and contested better.

0-8 from the field down the stretch wasn’t simply the opponent going cold.

 

[bga1]

Yep. They missed some easy shots. Wasn't because of really good defense.

Would have been nice to see Payne out there at the end.

If we are going to get to be a good defense Payne is going to be key in that. Some terrific blocks by him today.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Ok. That's what you saw, could be. Upstate went 0-8 from the field and 1-4 on FTs after they got it to 5 so our defense on FTs was excellent as well..... They had some good looks. We don't play good defense. We certainly do not help on defense very well. I certainly hope it gets better.

You don’t think Payne plays great help D?

 

[howeda7]

It drives me crazy that he never switches up. Last game especially. I suppose we can hope that this is because he is working on defensive principles in his man defense early in the year. We have enough size and enough athletes to play good defense, we just don't, so far.

If he hasn't done it in 2+ years he's not going to.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Ok. That's what you saw, could be. Upstate went 0-8 from the field and 1-4 on FTs after they got it to 5 so our defense on FTs was excellent as well..... They had some good looks. We don't play good defense. We certainly do not help on defense very well. I certainly hope it gets better.

I don’t remember the defense at the end of the game very well, I was half watching. However, if JB is saying it was good defense by the U, I have to believe it was just poor shooting. I can’t remember a single time he’s been right.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

I don’t remember the defense at the end of the game very well, I was half watching. However, if JB is saying it was good defense by the U, I have to believe it was just poor shooting. I can’t remember a single time he’s been right.

I truly can't believe the Gophers went on a run again without Hawkins on the floor again. Truly incredible how they did it without a '#pg' on the floor. Amazing how a team without a '3' is functioning.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

One in a row for benjo!

 

[bga1]

You don’t think Payne plays great help D?

I don't think I said that. I think Payne could be huge to this defense and he does help better than most of them. As a team, they don't help each other much. Far too many drives to the hoop by opposing teams.

 

[bga1]

“Better defense”. Not “really good defense”.

I guess I’m choosing to look at it from the positive perspective of they switched better, pressured better, and contested better.

0-8 from the field down the stretch wasn’t simply the opponent going cold.

Ok - I agree with you on better.

 

[SplitDecision]

Gophers shot sub-normally from 3, and normally would have buried this team earlier.
Don’t like Carrington handling the ball, and when he’s with Mitchell I’m on edge.
Christie needs to be reeled in a bit with the ball and shot selection.
Ihnen played a quietly solid game.
Fox is captain.
I have no problem with Hawkins passes for the most part, as they are usually good attempts. He just can’t drive into a wall esp in btn play.
Would have liked to see Thor, Keinys and Ramberg get some minutes. They are likely pressuribg Keinys to redshirt, and must have reason to do so. His teammate at AZ looks terrific.
Despite MN shooters not hitting today, I think that someone will reliably hit some 3’s as the season progresses. They have 5 guys that won’t all be cold or unable to get space on any given night.
Glad to see the team hitting FTs!

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I truly can't believe the Gophers went on a run again without Hawkins on the floor again. Truly incredible how they did it without a '#pg' on the floor. Amazing how a team without a '3' is functioning.

You kept the streak alive!

Blowing a 20 point lead against Missouri and struggling with USC Upstatr is “functioning” for you as a Big 10 team? Lol.

Ihnen is averaging more than twice as many TOs as assists during the cup cake part of our schedule.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Gophers shot sub-normally from 3, and normally would have buried this team earlier.
Don’t like Carrington handling the ball, and when he’s with Mitchell I’m on edge.
Christie needs to be reeled in a bit with the ball and shot selection.
Ihnen played a quietly solid game.
Fox is captain.
I have no problem with Hawkins passes for the most part, as they are usually good attempts. He just can’t drive into a wall esp in btn play.
Would have liked to see Thor, Keinys and Ramberg get some minutes. They are likely pressuribg Keinys to redshirt, and must have reason to do so. His teammate at AZ looks terrific.
Despite MN shooters not hitting today, I think that someone will reliably hit some 3’s as the season progresses. They have 5 guys that won’t all be cold or unable to get space on any given night.
Glad to see the team hitting FTs!

Yeah, I don’t think this team will struggle shooting this season.

They have an interesting mix of pieces much more so than the last two seasons.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Minutes breakdown
Garcia-30
Hawkins-27
Mitchell-27
Carrington-24
Ihnen-22
Christie-20
Payne-19
Ola-Joseph-19
Fox-12 (swear it seemed like he had more minutes)
If my math is correct, that’s 98 minutes out of the guards today.
Think it was 99 in the Missouri game.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

You kept the streak alive!

Blowing a 20 point lead against Missouri and struggling with USC Upstatr is “functioning” for you as a Big 10 team? Lol.

Ihnen is averaging more than twice as many TOs as assists during the cup cake part of our schedule.

Glad to see you're not consistent Bob. You make a great lawyer

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Glad to see you're not consistent Bob. You make a great lawyer

Drink. You brought up my occupation.

How was I inconsistent? LOL. I've always said you're wrong and you're always wrong. I'm consistently correct on that point.

Are you arguing that I'm not being consistent because I wasn't upset that Hawkins was pulled for long stretches today? Even you couldn't be that f'n stupid. You think a coach should do the exact same thing in every single game regardless of context? No. Even you couldn't be THAT F'N stupid.

 

[BarnBurner]

Drink. You brought up my occupation.

How was I inconsistent? LOL. I've always said you're wrong and you're always wrong. I'm consistently correct on that point.

Are you arguing that I'm not being consistent because I wasn't upset that Hawkins was pulled for long stretches today? Even you couldn't be that f'n stupid. You think a coach should do the exact same thing in every single game regardless of context? No. Even you couldn't be THAT F'N stupid.

Why yes, jbag can, and is.....,,

 

[Holy Man]

Does it surprise you that he never goes zone? Just a change of pace occasionally.

To memorialize Bobby Knight, we’ll play no zone this season. No matter what. We can imitate his philosophy and his hard headed stubbornness.

 

[jovs]

If we are going to get to be a good defense Payne is going to be key in that. Some terrific blocks by him today.

Payne in the game allows you to rush the outside shooters, he makes it tough for guards to attack the basket. He is starting to look really good.

 

[60's Guy]

I was only able to watch the last 5 minutes...I thought they played harder on defense than they have. I also thought the opponent still got good looks they missed...string of wide open 3's and 17 footers.
I like that Ben has made it this far playing 9 guys...hopefully he continues.
Garcia looked like a different person with the haircut...an uncomfortable one playing physical on defense on the baseline.
From what I saw it was a good day...two in a row.

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

If my mom had a weiner

Nowadays she could still be your mom