Reusse column: More intense Gophers wouldn't let Ohio State rally

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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per Reusse:

There was a very ugly basketball game at Williams Arena late Thursday, and the uglier it got, the better it was for the Gophers.

“We struggled early; I think we had to get adjusted to their pressure,” Mathieu said. “It was more us worrying about them coming at us, more unforced turnovers. When we settled down, we played our game.

“We’ve been in awesome battles this year in Big Ten play. We let Michigan go, we let Michigan State go. Finally, we finished.

“It feels really good, man. Really good.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/240668211.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!
 

Mathieu is correct. It does feel really good. These are my favorite kind of mornings, the ones where my throat is raw, I have no voice left, and the Gophers won the previous night vs. a quality opponent. I think last night Richard got his first real taste of what Williams Arena is all about. Full throttle from the fans, not just in bits & pieces.
 

Might be one of the "nicest" articles Reusse has written about any Gopher team in ages.
 

StCroix said:
Might be one of the "nicest" articles Reusse has written about any Gopher team in ages.
Click to expand...

This an easy team to be "nice" to. They work hard, know what they are doing and are more talented than a lot of us thought.
 

BleedGopher said:
per Reusse:

There was a very ugly basketball game at Williams Arena late Thursday, and the uglier it got, the better it was for the Gophers.

“We struggled early; I think we had to get adjusted to their pressure,” Mathieu said. “It was more us worrying about them coming at us, more unforced turnovers. When we settled down, we played our game.

“We’ve been in awesome battles this year in Big Ten play. We let Michigan go, we let Michigan State go. Finally, we finished.

“It feels really good, man. Really good.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/240668211.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

"Nobody in the announced sellout crowd of 14,625 was complaining, though — not with Elliott Eliason returning. Elliott was a wild man all night; wild on the boards, wild in owning the lane, wild a couple of times in responding to the wacky officiating from the crew of Curly, Larry and Moe."

Can the band play 'Three Blind Mice', or is that still not allowed?
 


Reusse was also very skeptical of Craft in the article. He's right to be skeptical. Craft isn't anything special.

I'd take Mathieu over Craft unless the sport is mugging, then I'd take Craft.
 

Song

They play it at the Hockey games all the time!
 

Gopherguy0723 said:
Reusse was also very skeptical of Craft in the article. He's right to be skeptical. Craft isn't anything special.

I'd take Mathieu over Craft unless the sport is mugging, then I'd take Craft.
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The National Media needs to stop the hype with this guy. He's a solid player but nothing special. If he's supposedly an All-America candidate then Mathieu needs to at least be in the All-Conference discussion. Mathieu was the far better player last night and it wasn't even close.
 

Gopherguy0723 said:
Reusse was also very skeptical of Craft in the article. He's right to be skeptical. Craft isn't anything special.

I'd take Mathieu over Craft unless the sport is mugging, then I'd take Craft.
Click to expand...

Before the game my wife asked me if anyone would play in the NBA next year. I said that Craft would. Then we saw him take a jump shot and she looked at me and said "no chance." I have to stop watching the love affair with Craft on BTN.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 



WBLGold said:
Before the game my wife asked me if anyone would play in the NBA next year. I said that Craft would. Then we saw him take a jump shot and she looked at me and said "no chance." I have to stop watching the love affair with Craft on BTN.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
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I'm surprised your answer wasn't LaQuinton Ross. NBA signed sealed and delivered.
 

WBLGold said:
Before the game my wife asked me if anyone would play in the NBA next year. I said that Craft would. Then we saw him take a jump shot and she looked at me and said "no chance." I have to stop watching the love affair with Craft on BTN.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
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I like him as a college player. He was exposed last night, but he's obviously had much better nights in the past. Pitino was being generous comparing him to Tebow, but I think that's a good reference. He's not going to be a great pro, but he can help you win games at this level. The kid does do some nice things defensively and has had success driving the lane.
 

Craft is an amazing defensive player, and he's not overrated there. But that's it. The All-American talk is/was silly.
 

AO54 said:
I like him as a college player. He was exposed last night, but he's obviously had much better nights in the past. Pitino was being generous comparing him to Tebow, but I think that's a good reference. He's not going to be a great pro, but he can help you win games at this level. The kid does do some nice things defensively and has had success driving the lane.
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He is a liability offensively. Its like playing 4 on 5 when Ohio state is on offense. Whoever is guarding Craft has free rang to double and help on anyone else

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 



Down with Goldy said:
Craft is an amazing defensive player, and he's not overrated there. But that's it. The All-American talk is/was silly.
Click to expand...

My thoughts as well. He's a guy I'd want on my team any day of the week, but he's just so limited offensively. His positives, intangibles, etc., far, far outweigh the negatives. Last night had to be one of his worst games, no doubt about it.
 

AO54 said:
I like him as a college player. He was exposed last night, but he's obviously had much better nights in the past. Pitino was being generous comparing him to Tebow, but I think that's a good reference. He's not going to be a great pro, but he can help you win games at this level. The kid does do some nice things defensively and has had success driving the lane.
Click to expand...

I believed we would expose Craft and I am so thankful it happened:

I thought lil dre would give him problems as Craft's advantage is typically beating the player he is defending to the spot. Tough to do when that guy has a lower center of gravity and is faster.

On offense: Craft only penetrates when he gets a ball screen which won't happen in a 2-3. And his ball handling is not that great (5 TO). I always questioned Matta's decision to sign Craft over Burke. Last night supported my hypothesis. The only decision I question more is Flip trading Burke for Shabazz.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

I'd rather go up against Craft than the other top B1G PGs. He is a pretty flawed basketball player. Yogi Ferrell is the best in the conference in my opinion and Mathieu is on his way to being just as good.
 

MadtownGopher said:
I'd rather go up against Craft than the other top B1G PGs. He is a pretty flawed basketball player. Yogi Ferrell is the best in the conference in my opinion and Mathieu is on his way to being just as good.
Click to expand...

Keith Appling for me, Frazier is good too
 

WBLGold said:
Before the game my wife asked me if anyone would play in the NBA next year. I said that Craft would. Then we saw him take a jump shot and she looked at me and said "no chance." I have to stop watching the love affair with Craft on BTN.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Craft isn't, never was and never will be a projected first round pick and maybe not even second round pick. i don't know why you said him, Ross, Scott, Thompson and Williams all have more NBA potential then Craft
 

Why doesn't the Dpdoll troll dude post when Gophers Men's BB win
 


SelectionSunday said:
Mathieu is correct. It does feel really good. These are my favorite kind of mornings, the ones where my throat is raw, I have no voice left, and the Gophers won the previous night vs. a quality opponent. I think last night Richard got his first real taste of what Williams Arena is all about. Full throttle from the fans, not just in bits & pieces.
Click to expand...
And on top of it, there is a good feeling about the future games this season. Pitino brings his team in so well prepared. I like the feeling that we will be in every game we play this season, and that each game seems to building on the one before.

And what must it feel like to be Mathieu today? After being so overlooked, successfully making the transition to the highest level and besting Craft, perceived as one of the premiere point guards in the country. Hope he is enjoying every moment.
 


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