Wisky preparations for the Gophers ???

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rrjackIII

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Or any other team for that matter. Earlier you would want to concentrate on keeping Hoff and JAS and Westbrook from shooting 3's. Now you can add Bostick and Carter maybe Busch.

With Bostick and Carter now getting big minutes and so many players averaging over 10 minutes per game it has to be a challenge to prepare to face the Gophers. Also, I think before the season is out Jon Williams will come out of nowhere to help win a Gopher game or two.

Last night I heard Tubby on his radio show say that on his Nat'l championship team (I can't remember where that was:) his highest scorer averaged just 13 pts a game and no player averaged over 25-27 minutes per game. Is there a pattern here?
 

Good point, rr. I was thinking about this after the PSU game. Part of our dominance in that game was our ability to shut down Pringle (second field goal came w/6 minutes remaining). And I thought we did ok with Battle as many of his points were scored after the game was well in hand. This is the team we used to be. Shut down our scorers and we were in trouble.
But thus year! With the excepting of the 2 players who sit most of the games, everyone has shone at one time or another. Someone has always stepped up when needed - with the exception of the MSU game of course. Preparing to meet this team must be very difficult.
 

Bottom line is it was Penn State, not the Badgers, MSU or Illinois

Who else thinks it's time for the Gophers to step up and be truly counted by winning in Madison on Thursday? What better way to announce the Gophers' official arrival (other than perhaps winning at Breslin or Champaign-Urbana) than by beating your fiercest rival at a place they rarely get beat? Bo's like 114-8 at the Kohl Center, right?

That's the way you grab people's attention nationally, beating someone significant on the road, and as much as we don't want to admit it, the Badgers are relevant nationally. It's time. It's time. It's time. Granted, the Badgers aren't UNC, but give me one good reason the Gophers can't pull off something similar to what BC did in Chapel Hill. It's time.
 

I totally agree, SS. I am already hyped for Thursday's game. Yes. Its time.
 

I don't believe Thursdays game is a pivotal game, but it could be a step up in aggressive play or recognition of what needs to be worked on!
 


First road game against a quality team. I'm excited to see how the Gophs respond to the challenge.
 

Should the Gophers win, it would be very big. Very big.

It would signal the Gophers return to the upper echelon of the Big Ten. Just as when Wisconsin upset the Gophers in 1997 in the final game of the regular season. That game, even if it was just one game, helped change the perception of Badger basketball.

A loss would not be surprising. A win would open eyes, not only here, but across the country.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Who else thinks it's time for the Gophers to step up and be truly counted by winning in Madison on Thursday? What better way to announce the Gophers' official arrival (other than perhaps winning at Breslin or Champaign-Urbana) than by beating your fiercest rival at a place they rarely get beat? Bo's like 114-8 at the Kohl Center, right?

That's the way you grab people's attention nationally, beating someone significant on the road, and as much as we don't want to admit it, the Badgers are relevant nationally. It's time. It's time. It's time. Granted, the Badgers aren't UNC, but give me one good reason the Gophers can't pull off something similar to what BC did in Chapel Hill. It's time.
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I tend to agree that Wisconsin is more vulnerable now than maybe they have been in awhile and we're playing at a higher level than we have in awhile. So, winning there is possible, but boy, will it be tough.

This is the first REAL road game for the Gophers. Iowa has about 8000 people and CSU was not a Big Ten gym. Bo - as always - will have his guys ready. The Kohl Center offers a great atmosphere for the home club, and whether the Bucky fans admit it or not, they get the calls at home. Bo gets the calls, period. This will be tough.

And, for the record, Bo is 115-8 at the Kohl Center in all games. He is 55-3 in Big Ten games at the Kohl Center. That is almost impossible to comprehend.

I will say, if "it is time" - as you say - then I will certainly enjoy it as much as any victory in recent memory.
 

Purdue the one I'd say will be pivotal

I don't think the Badger game is pivotal, either, but just get the feeling it's about that time. Gopher program took the first step beating a NCAA qualifier away from home for the first time in forever (March 6, 1998, vs. MSU) by beating IU in the BTT. Now it's time for the next step, beating a NCAA qualifier (feel safe saying that Bucky will make the NCAAs) in a true road game. Gophers haven't done that since Feb. 15, 1997 (at Iowa).

As far as pivotal games for the Gophers, I'd point to the Purdue game. Whether we're 5-1, 4-2 (most likely) or 3-3, that's going to be a biggie. We could clearly separate ourselves from the Boilers by beating them in our only meeting. Beating the teams you play once helps potential tie-breaker situations for the BTT. Not to mention, the following game is the one road game (IU) Big Ten teams are least likely to screw up this season. If the Gophers find a way to be 6-2 heading into the Illinois game at The Barn, it'll all be right in front of 'em.
 



There have been a few times when the Gophers have been down in the game and their offensive possessions have been hurried and sloppy. In a few of those situations we have looked like the team that we are- a young team getting to know each other and that is unsure of itself.

I'd love for this Thursday's game to be the one where the Gophers show poise during the tough stretches. Where we don't get rattled by the noise of the Kohl center and we continue to make good choices when the chips are down. In other words, I hope that we over-achieve and continue to grow by leaps and bounds!!!!
 

At this stage, though I obviously want to see the Gophers win, I would be happy if they played like they deserved to be on the same court with the likes of Purdue and MSU. I throw out the Iowa game myself since it sounds like Iowa's games have been pretty much like that for all its opponents!
 

I think we are lucky we aren't playing Purdue at Mackey. I know they aren't playing up to the expectations, but they are a good team, and one less game against them is nice. Would have been better if it were MSU though.
 

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