BleedGopher
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per Shama:
U Needs to Rock ‘The Barn’ Monday
December 30, 2012 - (0) comments
The Gophers open their Big Ten basketball season tomorrow afternoon in Williams Arena against Michigan State and the Minnesota players hope to have the “Barn” rocking with support.
“The Barnyard is always behind us come Big Ten play,” forward Rodney Williams told Sports Headliners earlier this month. “We’re ready. We’re gonna put on a show for them (the fans). Hopefully they can be that sixth man for us.”
Williams is one of college basketball’s dunk-masters. He knows his slams can ignite the crowd and figuratively shake the pillars in the 84-year-old arena.
“The louder they (fans) get, the more tough it’s going to be on other teams,” Williams said. “Let’s hope I can get a dunk (on Monday) that’s going to shake the pillars.”
Minnesota is 12-1 and ranked No. 11 in the country by the Associated Press. Michigan State, just like the Gophers, has thoughts of finishing near the top of the Big Ten standings. The Spartans, 11-2 and No. 19 in the A.P. poll, are 17-2 against the Gophers in the last 19 games. The last Minnesota win in Williams Arena came in 2006.
Tubby Smith, who began coaching the Gophers during the 2007-2008 season, has only one win over the Spartans (2010 Big Ten Tournament). But this year’s group could be his best team at Minnesota, and Williams said the Gophers believe in themselves.
“No team intimidates us,” Williams said. “We’re not worried about them (the Spartans). We’re worried about what we gotta do. …”
Williams predicts success against the Spartans despite past history between the two teams. “They got the best of us in past years but I think this year is a little different. We got a team that we can count on anybody on any given night. We got depth. I think we’re just more team oriented this year. I know we’re definitely ready for the 31st.
The Gophers, who finished 10th in the Big Ten last season but did win four games in the post-season NIT, have a talented starting five in Williams, forward Joe Coleman, center Trevor Mbakwe, and guards Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins. The reserves include players with starting experience. The Gophers are also an athletic bunch who can attack offensively, pressure defensively and swarm the boards for rebounds.
MSU coach Tom Izzo has made a reputation for boot camp toughness including an obsession for rebounding. Derrick Nicks and Adreian Payne are among the Big Ten’s leading rebounders this season.
Williams said the Gophers will be ready to match effort with the Spartans on the boards. And Minnesota will need to impress defensively, too, since MSU is known for shutting down opponents.
Austin Hollins believes the Gophers made their defense better during the 13 nonconference games. “Our defense got a lot better. Keeping the same intensity on defense throughout the whole nonconference schedule is huge. We always stress that coming out (for the game), getting up in their face, making it hard for the offense to run their plays. Making it hard for them to do anything and just forcing turnovers, and I think that’s one of our strong points. We really improved there.”
Hollins said the Gophers are “not going to do everything right” but he thinks the team is ready for the Big Ten schedule. And Williams considers Monday’s game a first step for a team that includes among its goals winning the conference title and playing in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s huge,” Williams said. “It’s the first game of the conference play. Rankings don’t usually mean much, but it’s two ranked teams going against each other. It’s gonna be huge for us to get that first win in the Big Ten so we can move forward and go on from there because we’ve got big goals for the season. Getting that first win is gonna be huge.”
http://shamasportsheadliners.com/
Go Gophers!!
U Needs to Rock ‘The Barn’ Monday
December 30, 2012 - (0) comments
The Gophers open their Big Ten basketball season tomorrow afternoon in Williams Arena against Michigan State and the Minnesota players hope to have the “Barn” rocking with support.
“The Barnyard is always behind us come Big Ten play,” forward Rodney Williams told Sports Headliners earlier this month. “We’re ready. We’re gonna put on a show for them (the fans). Hopefully they can be that sixth man for us.”
Williams is one of college basketball’s dunk-masters. He knows his slams can ignite the crowd and figuratively shake the pillars in the 84-year-old arena.
“The louder they (fans) get, the more tough it’s going to be on other teams,” Williams said. “Let’s hope I can get a dunk (on Monday) that’s going to shake the pillars.”
Minnesota is 12-1 and ranked No. 11 in the country by the Associated Press. Michigan State, just like the Gophers, has thoughts of finishing near the top of the Big Ten standings. The Spartans, 11-2 and No. 19 in the A.P. poll, are 17-2 against the Gophers in the last 19 games. The last Minnesota win in Williams Arena came in 2006.
Tubby Smith, who began coaching the Gophers during the 2007-2008 season, has only one win over the Spartans (2010 Big Ten Tournament). But this year’s group could be his best team at Minnesota, and Williams said the Gophers believe in themselves.
“No team intimidates us,” Williams said. “We’re not worried about them (the Spartans). We’re worried about what we gotta do. …”
Williams predicts success against the Spartans despite past history between the two teams. “They got the best of us in past years but I think this year is a little different. We got a team that we can count on anybody on any given night. We got depth. I think we’re just more team oriented this year. I know we’re definitely ready for the 31st.
The Gophers, who finished 10th in the Big Ten last season but did win four games in the post-season NIT, have a talented starting five in Williams, forward Joe Coleman, center Trevor Mbakwe, and guards Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins. The reserves include players with starting experience. The Gophers are also an athletic bunch who can attack offensively, pressure defensively and swarm the boards for rebounds.
MSU coach Tom Izzo has made a reputation for boot camp toughness including an obsession for rebounding. Derrick Nicks and Adreian Payne are among the Big Ten’s leading rebounders this season.
Williams said the Gophers will be ready to match effort with the Spartans on the boards. And Minnesota will need to impress defensively, too, since MSU is known for shutting down opponents.
Austin Hollins believes the Gophers made their defense better during the 13 nonconference games. “Our defense got a lot better. Keeping the same intensity on defense throughout the whole nonconference schedule is huge. We always stress that coming out (for the game), getting up in their face, making it hard for the offense to run their plays. Making it hard for them to do anything and just forcing turnovers, and I think that’s one of our strong points. We really improved there.”
Hollins said the Gophers are “not going to do everything right” but he thinks the team is ready for the Big Ten schedule. And Williams considers Monday’s game a first step for a team that includes among its goals winning the conference title and playing in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s huge,” Williams said. “It’s the first game of the conference play. Rankings don’t usually mean much, but it’s two ranked teams going against each other. It’s gonna be huge for us to get that first win in the Big Ten so we can move forward and go on from there because we’ve got big goals for the season. Getting that first win is gonna be huge.”
http://shamasportsheadliners.com/
Go Gophers!!
