What has gotten into Ralph Sampson

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ilovethebarn

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I for one loved his game last night. He seemed very aggressive and assertive. Loved the up and under dunk, the baby hook, and the banging down low. It seemed like something clicked for him last night. He has always seemed a bit tentative to me, but last night was a complete 180. Here is to hoping it lasts. Nice game Ralph!!
 

+1

Ralph was the best center on the court last night for either side.
 



I noticed this as well. However, he was getting worked in the blocks and was not able to get position as he was getting pushed around. He really needs to commit to the weight room and get stronger. If he does that, he'll be able to do a lot more down low.
 


ilovethebarn said:
I for one loved his game last night. He seemed very aggressive and assertive. Loved the up and under dunk, the baby hook, and the banging down low. It seemed like something clicked for him last night. He has always seemed a bit tentative to me, but last night was a complete 180. Here is to hoping it lasts. Nice game Ralph!!
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Ralph played a really good game last night. You are right - more aggressive. He along with Nolen and DJ were the bright spots.
 


Westbrook was a bright spot as well, despite the costly turnover near the end of the game. Who kept us afloat early in the second half with several tough buckets? He kept us in the game when there wasn't much else going on offensively.
 

Agreed. He already has a very nice finesse game for a big man, but to see him take it inside like he did is very encouraging. If he puts on a little weight and continues with that aggression, he will end up being a very good player and has a chance to punch his ticket to the NBA.
 



Who kept us afloat early in the second half with several tough buckets? He kept us in the game when there wasn't much else going on offensively.
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I agree. He had a couple of " Westbrookies " where he gave up after a turnover. But he was close to taking it over.

I listened to KQ this morning on the way in and was really kind of pissed when Barnard made the comment, after Sansevere mentioned our loss, that our seniors were failures this year. It didn't surprise me that he's clueless, but if he doesn't know what he's talking about he should keep his mouth shut.
 

I also mentioned last night that I thought Sampson/Iverson et al may be developing more toughness on the boards/inside due to having to practice against Mbakwe.
 

Feed the post

Maybe if the perimeter players fed the ball when they were open, they wouldn't have to continue to fight so hard for position. Other than Hoff, our guards are terrible at feeding the big man. It frustrates me a ton. The more looks Sampson gets down low, the more comfortable he gets, the better offensive player he becomes.
 

That pretty much shows Barnard isn't paying any attention to the Gophers. I doubt he even knows who's a junior, who's a senior, etc., on the Gophers' roster.

I have no problem with what our two primary seniors have provided this season. The Gophers have some warts, for sure, but I like what Johnson and Westbrook bring to this team. Hate to think where we'd be without either one. We certainly wouldn't be good enough to compete with MSU.
 



SelectionSunday said:
Westbrook was a bright spot as well, despite the costly turnover near the end of the game. Who kept us afloat early in the second half with several tough buckets? He kept us in the game when there wasn't much else going on offensively.
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Our offense depends on one on one play right now. Westbrook is a guy that is willing to do that.
 

Westbrook is certainly willing. On this team, one that has severe deficiencies finishing at the rim, I like that. One could argue he's the only one that "can" do it. He's certainly the only guard with the ability to finish near the basket on a regular basis.
 

Hopefully, a breakout game for Ralph. He looks like a different player since he's come back from his injury. Much more aggressive in taking it to the hoop and seems like he actually wants to be in the fray. I have been down on him over the last year, but he has really kicked it up. This guy has the physical skills to be all big ten if he gets the mental part down. I'm really excited about his game last night.
 

One weakness that was apparent again last night is that lots of balls seems to slide off of Ralph's hands. He seems to have a tough time with iffy passes and loose balls. Other than that, I thought he played great and I'd like to see more minutes for him in future games at the expense of playing time for Iverson.
 

Ralph

I would say he played better... There were some times on the boards where he looked terrible.

On the offensive end he had inside position by hoop and he let Morgan take the ball away from him like a little kid. Same on the def. end your 6'11 you have inside position and you let your guy get the board and two put backs in the same sequence.... shouldnt happen

I say Iverson and Sampson need to borrow a jugs gun and have balls thrown at them 1000 per day- they need to get better catching the ball.
 

Last night we didnt even see the 'good' ralph. just one where he wasnt in his usual daze. if you recall during non-con games at times the players ticked him off or something but he went off and got super intense and basically took over those games. whatever happened then we need to get it to happen again. he just doesnt play intensely as the 'base' he needs to get kicked into it
 

skoalvikings said:
One weakness that was apparent again last night is that lots of balls seems to slide off of Ralph's hands. He seems to have a tough time with iffy passes and loose balls.

That's what I was noticing, he can't catch and he can't hit the little 10ft. jump shot.
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Yeah, Ralph played with more confidence against MSU. Hope we see more of this aggressive attitude.
 

I love Ralph. I think his potential is absolutely through the roof and he's probably my favorite Gopher, so take this from a guy who watches him every game the way only a stalker can: he didn't take a step forward in the Sparty game. At all.

He still passed the ball back out from the block when he had a smaller player on him one-on-one. He still stood flat footed for rebounds. He still didn't hit the floor to go after loose balls. He still didn't make aggressive defensive plays in several situations when the ball was on the far side of the rim. And he didn't assert himself.

You remember the big dunk and a few other nice plays, and I'm not saying he played poorly. I'm saying don't fall all over yourself praising him. I love him, but he still has a long way to go. I'd just like to be convinced he's interested in being a basketball player at times, to be honest.
 

I think peoples expectation for him have dropped so much that we are getting excited about 8 points and 5 boards in 31 minutes. Yes dunked with a little authority - it was still half a Jerry Holman dunk. I'm waiting for him to turn around towards his defender and dunk over someone. He is capable, if he would assert himself the sky's the limit.
 

9194Gophs said:
I think peoples expectation for him have dropped so much that we are getting excited about 8 points and 5 boards in 31 minutes. Yes dunked with a little authority - it was still half a Jerry Holman dunk. I'm waiting for him to turn around towards his defender and dunk over someone. He is capable, if he would assert himself the sky is the limit.
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Ralph is a poor man's Jerry Holman at this point. That's pretty damn depressing.
 

Down with Goldy said:
Ralph is a poor man's Jerry Holman at this point. That's pretty damn depressing.
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with you on that. I was hoping for a 10 and 8 guy as a soph for sure, and we're not getting that right now. He seems to have the physical tools, its more a attitude thing...
 

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