Tubby says second team is better than his starters
By Marcus Fuller on November 23, 2010 8:49 PM
A big reason why the Gophers were crowned champions at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off last week was because they proved to have the deepest team in the field.
Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has as much confidence in his starters as he does a second team that consists of freshmen Maverick Ahanmisi, Chip Armelin, Austin Hollins and Maurice Walker and junior Colton Iverson. The starters are Al Nolen, Blake Hoffarber, Rodney Williams, Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III.
"There's not much of a drop-off, so it puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team," Smith said after practice Tuesday. "The second unit beats the first unit lots of times in practice, especially with Devoe (Joseph) on that team. In fact, they're probably better."
It was surprising to hear Smith say that about his second team, but it makes sense when you add Joseph to the mix. Joseph, the team's best offensive player, has been suspended indefinitely to start the season, but he is allowed to practice.
"I like it that way," Smith said about his starters being pushed every practice. "If they're not performing, then they know we've got someone to plug it in. I think the great teams that won championships have that."
I agree with Smith that it is a sign of a great team to have players coming off the bench work even harder than the starters. That could make up for games when the Gophers just have a flat start -- and you know that will happen a few times this season.
Nolen admitted that the starters have gotten run off the court by the reserves this season in practice because of their intensity.
"It happens sometimes," he said. "The second team comes out with a lot of energy and really pushes us in practice. Those guys do a good job of getting us ready for the game. I think we need that."
-- Hoffarber, the team captain, said Joseph texted him throughout the Puerto Rico Tip-Off while the Gophers were making a run to the title.
"He was excited for us," Hoffarber said. "He couldn't wait for us to come back, so he could get back out here and practice with us."
Hoffarber said Joseph looked great in the team's first practice since the trip Tuesday.
"He was doing well," he said. "He's always been a great player. He's definitely having fun out there."
-- There has been a little buzz outside the team that Joseph could return even before the Virginia game Nov. 29 at home. I've heard it's still either against Virginia or the next game. But Smith said Tuesday he really didn't know when Joseph would be back. So I guess it could mean any time.
"I've got to do some evaluation of what he did academically last week and going forward," Smith said.
-- Hoffarber rolled his ankle at the end of Tuesday's practice. Smith said he needed to get an update on it to know how serious it was, but I don't think it will prevent Hoffarber from playing Wednesday against North Dakota State.
-- West Virginia forward Kevin Jones had praise for former Minnesota Transitions standout and current Mountaineers freshman Kevin Noreen.
The 6-foot-10 Noreen scored his first basket of the season against the Gophers and finished with four points and two rebounds in six minutes Sunday in the championship game in Puerto Rico.
"He's going to be great for us, especially if he keeps on working," Jones said. "Coaches showed a lot of faith in him getting him in the game. He went out there and showed coach he could play and he can hang with us. I'm proud of him, and I'm sure he'll see more playing time in the future."
-- I remember North Dakota State freshman Marshall Bjorklund from the Minnesota Magic AAU team. The former Sibley East High School standout reminded me a lot of Iverson at that age. Iverson was actually around Bjorklund's size (6-8, 230 pounds) until a late growth spurt in high school.
Bjorklund has played well this season while averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and one block a game. He also had 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 97-92 season-opening loss to Oregon.
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/11/tubby-says-second-team-is-bett.html
By Marcus Fuller on November 23, 2010 8:49 PM
A big reason why the Gophers were crowned champions at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off last week was because they proved to have the deepest team in the field.
Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has as much confidence in his starters as he does a second team that consists of freshmen Maverick Ahanmisi, Chip Armelin, Austin Hollins and Maurice Walker and junior Colton Iverson. The starters are Al Nolen, Blake Hoffarber, Rodney Williams, Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III.
"There's not much of a drop-off, so it puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team," Smith said after practice Tuesday. "The second unit beats the first unit lots of times in practice, especially with Devoe (Joseph) on that team. In fact, they're probably better."
It was surprising to hear Smith say that about his second team, but it makes sense when you add Joseph to the mix. Joseph, the team's best offensive player, has been suspended indefinitely to start the season, but he is allowed to practice.
"I like it that way," Smith said about his starters being pushed every practice. "If they're not performing, then they know we've got someone to plug it in. I think the great teams that won championships have that."
I agree with Smith that it is a sign of a great team to have players coming off the bench work even harder than the starters. That could make up for games when the Gophers just have a flat start -- and you know that will happen a few times this season.
Nolen admitted that the starters have gotten run off the court by the reserves this season in practice because of their intensity.
"It happens sometimes," he said. "The second team comes out with a lot of energy and really pushes us in practice. Those guys do a good job of getting us ready for the game. I think we need that."
-- Hoffarber, the team captain, said Joseph texted him throughout the Puerto Rico Tip-Off while the Gophers were making a run to the title.
"He was excited for us," Hoffarber said. "He couldn't wait for us to come back, so he could get back out here and practice with us."
Hoffarber said Joseph looked great in the team's first practice since the trip Tuesday.
"He was doing well," he said. "He's always been a great player. He's definitely having fun out there."
-- There has been a little buzz outside the team that Joseph could return even before the Virginia game Nov. 29 at home. I've heard it's still either against Virginia or the next game. But Smith said Tuesday he really didn't know when Joseph would be back. So I guess it could mean any time.
"I've got to do some evaluation of what he did academically last week and going forward," Smith said.
-- Hoffarber rolled his ankle at the end of Tuesday's practice. Smith said he needed to get an update on it to know how serious it was, but I don't think it will prevent Hoffarber from playing Wednesday against North Dakota State.
-- West Virginia forward Kevin Jones had praise for former Minnesota Transitions standout and current Mountaineers freshman Kevin Noreen.
The 6-foot-10 Noreen scored his first basket of the season against the Gophers and finished with four points and two rebounds in six minutes Sunday in the championship game in Puerto Rico.
"He's going to be great for us, especially if he keeps on working," Jones said. "Coaches showed a lot of faith in him getting him in the game. He went out there and showed coach he could play and he can hang with us. I'm proud of him, and I'm sure he'll see more playing time in the future."
-- I remember North Dakota State freshman Marshall Bjorklund from the Minnesota Magic AAU team. The former Sibley East High School standout reminded me a lot of Iverson at that age. Iverson was actually around Bjorklund's size (6-8, 230 pounds) until a late growth spurt in high school.
Bjorklund has played well this season while averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and one block a game. He also had 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 97-92 season-opening loss to Oregon.
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/11/tubby-says-second-team-is-bett.html
