STrib: Gophers coach Ben Johnson searches for answers to better backcourt play

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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Per Marcus:

Opponents might just have to accept Garcia getting his baskets, but the Gophers also need their backcourt to put pressure on defenses as well.

“Can you get by your guy and create for others?” Gophers coach Ben Johnson said. “Can you be another threat like Dawson to kind of be a playmaker?”

Entering Tuesday’s game at Penn State, the Gophers (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten) are trying to answer those backcourt questions. They need to unlock consistent playmaking from Femi Odukale and Isaac Asuma — and that hopefully helps fellow guards Lu’Cye Patterson and Mike Mitchell Jr., end their shooting slumps.

Patterson and Mitchell, the top two scorers in the Gophers backcourt, went from combining for 42 points in a Jan. 16 overtime win against Michigan to just 10 points together in Saturday’s disappointing 71-68 loss to last-place Washington at home.

“Now it’s not losing your confidence in what you do and what we do,” Johnson said. “It’s just doing it with aggressiveness to just go make a play within the system. Don’t be hesitant and don’t shy away to still attack and be aggressive.”

www.startribune.com

Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson is searching for answers to better backcourt play

The Gophers need Femi Odukale and Isaac Asuma in attack mode Tuesday at Penn State to help end the shooting woes for Mike Mitchell Jr., and Lu’Cye Patterson.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!
 




BleedGopher said:
Per Marcus:

Opponents might just have to accept Garcia getting his baskets, but the Gophers also need their backcourt to put pressure on defenses as well.

“Can you get by your guy and create for others?” Gophers coach Ben Johnson said. “Can you be another threat like Dawson to kind of be a playmaker?”

Entering Tuesday’s game at Penn State, the Gophers (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten) are trying to answer those backcourt questions. They need to unlock consistent playmaking from Femi Odukale and Isaac Asuma — and that hopefully helps fellow guards Lu’Cye Patterson and Mike Mitchell Jr., end their shooting slumps.

Patterson and Mitchell, the top two scorers in the Gophers backcourt, went from combining for 42 points in a Jan. 16 overtime win against Michigan to just 10 points together in Saturday’s disappointing 71-68 loss to last-place Washington at home.

“Now it’s not losing your confidence in what you do and what we do,” Johnson said. “It’s just doing it with aggressiveness to just go make a play within the system. Don’t be hesitant and don’t shy away to still attack and be aggressive.”

www.startribune.com

Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson is searching for answers to better backcourt play

The Gophers need Femi Odukale and Isaac Asuma in attack mode Tuesday at Penn State to help end the shooting woes for Mike Mitchell Jr., and Lu’Cye Patterson.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!
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Yawn 🥱

Ben recruited a handful of seniors who are one dimensional and he expects them to "get by their guy and create for others"? You have to be kidding me. If Ben had any sense, he'd be running some sort of Princeton offense that gets the players moving off ball and then finds his one dimensional players in their spots to score. Instead of dribbling the ball dead to the end of the shot clock, how about trying some movement. Good night, Ben's comments show he is dreaming of things his guys cannot do.
 





FinnGopher said:
Yawn 🥱

Ben recruited a handful of seniors who are one dimensional and he expects them to "get by their guy and create for others"? You have to be kidding me. If Ben had any sense, he'd be running some sort of Princeton offense that gets the players moving off ball and then finds his one dimensional players in their spots to score. Instead of dribbling the ball dead to the end of the shot clock, how about trying some movement. Good night, Ben's comments show he is dreaming of things his guys cannot do.
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Yup, he wants free creative gaurd play, but doesn’t have the horses. Got to match the system to what you have. Also, given turnover, it takes too long in the season to click.
 




Like others have said already, starting Asuma and giving him the majority of PG playing minutes is a step in the right direction.
 

FinnGopher said:
Yawn 🥱

Ben recruited a handful of seniors who are one dimensional and he expects them to "get by their guy and create for others"? You have to be kidding me. If Ben had any sense, he'd be running some sort of Princeton offense that gets the players moving off ball and then finds his one dimensional players in their spots to score. Instead of dribbling the ball dead to the end of the shot clock, how about trying some movement. Good night, Ben's comments show he is dreaming of things his guys cannot do.
Click to expand...
I never believe the team should be stationary. The question becomes how you rest your team when depth is a major issue? Because we don't have great depth, I think Ben is handcuffed to push them to excel at your one dimensionality problem.
 

ShushPush said:
I never believe the team should be stationary. The question becomes how you rest your team when depth is a major issue? Because we don't have great depth, I think Ben is handcuffed to push them to excel at your one dimensionality problem.
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I question depth as an issue. There seems to be 8-10 players that are nearly interchangeable in their flaws. Running a version of a Princeton offense allows for players to score off the movement rather than score by individual skill. Yet, Ben seems to see his players as multi-dimensional in their skills so they could beat people one-on-one.
 



FinnGopher said:
I question depth as an issue. There seems to be 8-10 players that are nearly interchangeable in their flaws. Running a version of a Princeton offense allows for players to score off the movement rather than score by individual skill. Yet, Ben seems to see his players as multi-dimensional in their skills so they could beat people one-on-one.
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This is true but it is incredible that he thinks that. They have one starter that can beat his man off the bounce- Garcia. Asuma is the only player on the bench that can do it. Patterson never beats anyone off the dribble he just backs them down because he is so strong. The only way these guys could have succeeded is with motion and ball reversal. This is a very slow team by high D1 standards.
 


howeda7 said:
So many socks, Pilgrim.

My advice is for Ben to stop talking and Marcus to quit writing "Poor Ben" fluff pieces.
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Marcus has to cover the team as the beat writer and he is isn't going to just bash on the program so has to come up with something. And pretty sure Ben is required to meet with the media as part of his job so here we are.

Sure it all feels hollow but if the stories bug you the better course of action is to just not read them because this is what they are going to be like between now and when Johnson eventually gets fired after the season.
 

bga1 said:
This is true but it is incredible that he thinks that. They have one starter that can beat his man off the bounce- Garcia. Asuma is the only player on the bench that can do it. Patterson never beats anyone off the dribble he just backs them down because he is so strong. The only way these guys could have succeeded is with motion and ball reversal. This is a very slow team by high D1 standards.
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There is always a simple counter to speed: slow motion. One dribble step-back. Triangle step back. The slomo to the elbow. Garcia has a half-knack for it. I haven't seen anyone else on the team who doesn't flag it with a tick or just simply have no skill at it. Motion and ball reversal is a fantastic suggestion. Speed minus reaction = opportunity. Slow motion minus over reaction = opportunity. Just like chemistry, the reaction equation goes both ways.
 


FinnGopher said:
Yawn 🥱

Ben recruited a handful of seniors who are one dimensional and he expects them to "get by their guy and create for others"? You have to be kidding me. If Ben had any sense, he'd be running some sort of Princeton offense that gets the players moving off ball and then finds his one dimensional players in their spots to score. Instead of dribbling the ball dead to the end of the shot clock, how about trying some movement. Good night, Ben's comments show he is dreaming of things his guys cannot do.
Click to expand...
At least this makes some sense.

Since Minnesota will never have any talent no matter who the coach is...we need to try to implement some sort of a slow-down game. Never shoot with more than 3 seconds on the shot clock...try to keep the score in the 40s or low-50s.
 




ShushPush said:
There is always a simple counter to speed: slow motion. One dribble step-back. Triangle step back. The slomo to the elbow. Garcia has a half-knack for it. I haven't seen anyone else on the team who doesn't flag it with a tick or just simply have no skill at it. Motion and ball reversal is a fantastic suggestion. Speed minus reaction = opportunity. Slow motion minus over reaction = opportunity. Just like chemistry, the reaction equation goes both ways.
Click to expand...
Anything would be better than watching one guy try to dribble the air out of the ball
 


EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Searching for answers off the free leftovers scrap-heap...to be accurate.

Our valuable answers we already had all entered the transfer portal for money.
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Poor Ben! He might be the greatest 19-52 coach in the history of college basketball.
 





Go back to last spring and Convince Christie and your PG to stay.

This team with Hawkins, and Payne would be an NCAA Tourney team.
 

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