STrib: Gophers postgame: Is this a good passing team or not?

[BleedGopher]

per Amelia's blog:

I'm confused. Is this a good passing team or not? For most of the non-conference schedule we've been talking about it. Minnesota, after all, was ranked tops in the nation in assists (and coming into the game was still second in the country). But in the last two games it hasn't looked like it. The Gophers have managed just 20 assist to 25 turnovers a stunning turnaround. It starts with DeAndre Mathieu who, after ranking first in the league in assist-to-turnover ration has put up an ugly 2-to-9 inverted ratio in the last two contests.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/287421711.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[tinyarch]

Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of basketball knew that the numbers were skewed by the competition we were playing. The scary stat was that we were being outrebounded by those weak teams. Look at the quality competition we played (ie Louisville & St. Johns) and see what our turnover ratio was. This team is a work in progress. I'm still holding out hope that they can get into the dance at the end of the season, but the last two games haven't been encouraging.

 

[freshtrout]

Yes - it's all about the quality of the teams that are now on the remaining schedule. This team has to get better against the top teams in the conference or it's going to be a long season.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Gophers were against inferior competition. Remains to be seen vs. quality competition.

 

[maxwellsmart]

The question was passing. Every player I have watched the last two games has no concept of finding the open man while driving. Share the ball or become easily defended.

 

[tinyarch]

The question was passing. Every player I have watched the last two games has no concept of finding the open man while driving. Share the ball or become easily defended.

1) Maryland played very good defense and made it very difficult to find an open man when kids tried to drive and dish.

2) There were some nice passes in transition that resulted in layups so it's not that the kids can't pass.

3) If there is a problem it's that the kids start pressing when their first or second pass doesn't result in an open look. The teams they played earlier didn't rotate on the weakside like these teams in the B1G. The kids need to be patient, make decisive passes and wait for that open look to present itself.

 

[cjbfbp]

This team is a work in progress. I'm still holding out hope that they can get into the dance at the end of the season, but the last two games haven't been encouraging.

Well, keep the faith a little longer. Nebraska started the Big Ten season 0-4 last year with three of those games on the road, but they only lost 3 more games during the rest of the regular season. We have some company so far. Bigger things seem to have been expected from Illinois this year, but like us they've started 0-2 on the road. Same thing with Penn State after a 12-1 nonconference.