The meaning of Dec. 31st

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westcoastgopher11

westcoastgopher11

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On New Year's Eve day the Gophers are tipping against the Spartans in the Barn in the B1G opener for both teams. This game is pivotal for setting the tone of the season for this team.

We have gotten some love from the national polls as a result of our hot start, but those kind of non-conference results are nothing new from Tubby coached squads. Tubby is 77-17 in non-conference games over his career at Minnesota. The issues have come in the B1G portion of the schedule where he is 38-52.

In addition to the B1G being the best conference this year, on the 31st we are playing the team that has been our worst nightmare throughout Tubby's tenure. To say the Spartans and Izzo are our kryptonite would be putting it mildly, Tubby is 1-11 versus Michigan State, with the lone win coming in the 09-10 season when we went on our B1G tourney run to the championship game.

This game is bigger than having one in the "W" column, a win over Penn State or Indiana counts the same towards the B1G title. This game is about perception, not only locally but nationally as well. Getting over the Michigan State hump at home is going to be this team's toughest test the whole season thus far outside the Duke game. We will not get the respect we deserve unless we win games like this.

We must win this game.

I'm not one to throw around this term, especially in December, but I feel in this case it is appropriate. We must win this game to change the history of this series. We must win this game to put the rest of the conference and nation on notice that this team is for real. We must win this game to spark this team going into the New Year. We must win this game to prove the haters and the naysayers wrong.

I don't doubt that the Barn is going to be rocking on Monday. And although I can not be there in person you better believe I'm going to be screaming at the top of my lungs at my television every time Mbakwe rips down a rebound, Dre crosses over a helpless Spartan defender, or Rodney abuses the rim on a vicious dunk. You should do the same.

This has the potential to be the start of something special ladies and gentlemen, let's take a swig of that maroon and gold kool-aid and enjoy the ride.
 

Well done.

This is a statement game, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. "Set the tone" says it all.
 


Hate the start time, I have to work. : l

Well stated though.
 

Love the passion westcoast! This 19 day layoff has been unbearable.
 









should be a win

i agree with the thoughts expressed on the thread and Michigan State has had our #but if the gophers are legit they should win; Michigan and indiana are statement games. go gophers!
 

I'd compare this game to Mason's Michigan football game at the Dome on a Friday night (don't remember the year). There'll be a full house, people are getting revved up about a seemingly "different" Gopher team, a quality opponent coming in, and then they choked away a big lead, and all the positive mojo they built up disappeared with it.

Not saying a Gopher loss Monday dooms the season, not at all, but we need to keep the ball rollin'. This is a chance for the Gophers to show their followers, this year isn't going to be same-old, same-old.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I'd compare this game to Mason's Michigan football game at the Dome on a Friday night (don't remember the year). There'll be a full house, people are getting revved up about a seemingly "different" Gopher team, a quality opponent coming in, and then they choked away a big lead, and all the positive mojo they built up disappeared with it.

Not saying a Gopher loss Monday dooms the season, not at all, but we need to keep the ball rollin'. This is a chance for the Gophers to show their followers, this year isn't going to be same-old, same-old.
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I will go half contrarian on this thread. Statement game, no doubt. Huge win if it happens, no doubt. Should win, no doubt. But I won't be a sky is falling guy if they don't win. The reason is I just don't think this team is as fragile as teams in the past. In prior seasons, they just seemed to crumble when things went bad within a particular game, and that carried over into future games. I just don't see that happening with the senior leadership and experience this team has. I saw it with my own eyes in Atlantis, when they could have folded after losing to Duke and having two games they could have easily pissed away and didn't. This team is just tougher than recent squads. I think this game is more significant for the psyche of the casual fan base than it is for the team, with above mentioned Michigan football game as a stark reminder.

That having been said, they better be ready to play and get the win. There are too many good teams in the league to let ones that you ought to win get away. Tubby is good at getting teams ready with a long lay off. That trend needs to continue.
 



SelectionSunday said:
I'd compare this game to Mason's Michigan football game at the Dome on a Friday night (don't remember the year). There'll be a full house, people are getting revved up about a seemingly "different" Gopher team, a quality opponent coming in, and then they choked away a big lead, and all the positive mojo they built up disappeared with it.

Not saying a Gopher loss Monday dooms the season, not at all, but we need to keep the ball rollin'. This is a chance for the Gophers to show their followers, this year isn't going to be same-old, same-old.
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That was 2003 I believe....still have nightmares about that
 

Excellent points, Holy Man. Your point about the game being more significant for the psyche of the casual fan base than for the team certainly strikes a chord with me!

You know my father. He says I'm way too jacked up for this game, and he is correct. In the last few days he's reminded me quite often that there still are 17 games after the Sparty/Goldy tilt on New Year's Eve. ... spoken like a guy who knows his team's going to make the NCAA tourney every single year.
 

I have also told this to many State fans, including your dad: We need this more than you do. I stand by this statement for this game, as well.
 


SelectionSunday said:
He says I'm way too jacked up for this game, and he is correct.
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I've been worried about you. Don't remember a time like this when you've stressed 'Beat ____' before. It's a tough game and there are plenty more! But, definitely a big game for the team.
 

I appreciate the concern, GW. I pick my spots when it comes to getting more "up" for a particular game than another. Am dialed in for this one, for sure, but will return to normal after Monday afternoon, win or lose.
 

I'm inclined to go more with Holy Man, I don't see this game of Michigan 2003 proportions. I'm more concerned about specifics on how they play. If we're getting good offense in the half court, taking better care of the ball, but then a guy like Harris or Appling just goes off or something, I won't be that discouraged if we come up short. It may damper my Final Four expectations, but I'll still be pretty optimistic :)

One thing I will say though, if we are in a great position to win and we've controlled the game throughout but then falter late, I would be more bitter about a loss in that situation cause then it will have a little deja vu feeling as we've seen that movie play out more than a few times around these parts as of late. If we get up on them, I wanna see this team put the foot on the proverbial throat and finish them off.
 

I agree this is a must win because if we don't win this game the after effects will cause us to slumber along and barely make the tourney. If we want to reach our realistic goals of contending for the Conference Title and getting a top 4 seed in the Big Dance, this game is absolutely a MUST WIN!

I will be watching from my couch in Salt Lake and hoping the $6.50 tix get snapped up with loud kids.
 

I agree with most that this is a huge game and a huge opportunity for the Gophers to prove to themselves, the conference, and the nation that they are for real, but I don't think this is a must win game. Must win games come later in the season. Yes State is beatable, yes this is at home, and yes this is our best team in many years, but this is only the first B1G game of the season. There are 17 more to go after this one boys.

Will our road to winning the Big Ten become harder if we lose? Yes. Will our ranking drop? Yes. Will I be disappointed in a loss? Of course. However, losing to a team like Michigan State versus losing to a Northwestern, Iowa, or Wisconsin to open B1G play does not mean our season is over by any means.
 

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