Zulgad: One has to wonder if Tubby should have benched RS3 earlier in the season

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Fair or not (the mystery surrounding the injury), I think for a good majority of Gopher fans Ralph's legacy is now firmly cemented with his absence late in the season. That's too bad, because I thought for the most part in Ralph's last few games he was playing better and certainly more assertively. It would make no sense to play him tonight -- it would be a lose-lose situation -- and I'm sure Tubby knows that.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Fair or not (the mystery surrounding the injury), I think for a good majority of Gopher fans Ralph's legacy is now firmly cemented with his absence late in the season. That's too bad, because I thought for the most part in Ralph's last few games he was playing better and certainly more assertively. It would make no sense to play him tonight -- it would be a lose-lose situation -- and I'm sure Tubby knows that.
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I strongly disagree...I say play Ralph in spurts(maybe 4 or 5 minutes per half) if for nothing else to give a rest to Eliason and provide some interior defense.
 

From a Tubby quote it seems like Ralph had been given the option of playing, but didn't feel like he could go. He's a senior and chooses to sit out what could be his last game? Would rather go with Ingram. Like SS said, Ralph's legacy has been cemented.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Fair or not (the mystery surrounding the injury), I think for a good majority of Gopher fans Ralph's legacy is now firmly cemented with his absence late in the season. That's too bad, because I thought for the most part in Ralph's last few games he was playing better and certainly more assertively. It would make no sense to play him tonight -- it would be a lose-lose situation -- and I'm sure Tubby knows that.
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You play to win the game. I want Tubby to decide whether or not to use him based on whether or not he increases our chances of winning tomorrow. I don't want Tubby thinking about Ralph's legacy or whether the fans will be pissed at Tubby for playing him.
 


You play to win the game. I want Tubby to decide whether or not to use him based on whether or not he increases are chances of winning tomorrow.
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I agree. If playing Ralph helps us win the game by all means get him in there.
 

I won't be pi**ed at Tubby (or Ralph) either way, whether he plays or doesn't play. I'm indifferent. Whether or not we win this game is not hugely important from where I sit. Just glad we're playing in it. Our returning players already have reaped some serious benefits from playing the extra 5 games.

Truth is, the last thing I want to see happen is for Ralph to play, and then not play well (or even worse, play soft), and then give his harshest critics more ammo to rag on him. He's been ragged on enough. Sometimes going quietly into the night might be the best thing?
 

SelectionSunday said:
I certainly won't be pi**ed at Tubby (or Ralph) if Ralph doesn't play tonight. I'm indifferent. Whether or not we win this game is not hugely important from where I sit. Just glad we're playing in it. Our returning players already have reaped some serious benefits from playing the extra 5 games.

Truth is, the last thing I want to see happen is for Ralph to play, and then not play well, and then give his harshest critics more ammo to rag on him. He's been ragged on enough. Sometimes going quietly into the night might be the best thing?
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I'd love to see him go out on a positive note AND I think he can help the Gophers win this game. Stanford is longer than any opponent we've played in the NIT thus far and we could use his interior presense(as weak as it can be at times) to make things more difficult. Ingram is decent against 6-5 players and below, but Stanford is 6-9 and longer. We could use his fouls at a minimum and maybe he scores 6 to 10 points. I don't see a downside in trying to play him and don't care about the possible criticisms.
 

Moses87 said:
I'd love to see him go out on a positive note AND I think he can help the Gophers win this game. Stanford is longer than any opponent we've played in the NIT thus far and we could use his interior presense(as weak as it can be at times) to make things more difficult. Ingram is decent against 6-5 players and below, but Stanford is 6-9 and longer. We could use his fouls at a minimum and maybe he scores 6 to 10 points. I don't see a downside in trying to play him and don't care about the possible criticisms.
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I think if he says he can play Tubby will undoubtedly give him a shot to play. He might get a quick hook but if he feels he can go there's no harm in playing RS3. He does have some skills EE doesn't have. Passing, 15 footer and the occasional hook shot in the post. Although I don't think he will see his true potential, he's been a good kid for U of M on and off the court.
 



Moses87 said:
I'd love to see him go out on a positive note AND I think he can help the Gophers win this game. Stanford is longer than any opponent we've played in the NIT thus far and we could use his interior presense(as weak as it can be at times) to make things more difficult. Ingram is decent against 6-5 players and below, but Stanford is 6-9 and longer. We could use his fouls at a minimum and maybe he scores 6 to 10 points. I don't see a downside in trying to play him and don't care about the possible criticisms.[/QUOTE]

+1
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Stats aren't the problem with Ralph. He slows the game down and hurts the flow of the offense, causing it to be very stagnant and stunting everyone's productivity in result. Also gives up a lot of offensive rebounds to the other team. I'd love to see him play and have a good game where he makes quick decisions and quick passes, but if Eliason is able to go I think it is smart to give him significantly more minutes. Would be nice to see Ralph go out on a high note though. I'm sure he's a good guy and it would be sad to see a senior finish his career on the bench, unless that's what he chooses to do. Won't feel bad if it's his decision.
 

RSIII is still a great citizen. That he didn't become is dad is not surprising. He's had to live with that comparison all his life. That he doesn't complain despite not being as gifted as dad says alot about his good character. Thus while we all wish to was a first team B1G center, he goes quiet into the night with high praise as a man in my book.
 

notagopherfan said:
I think if he says he can play Tubby will undoubtedly give him a shot to play. He might get a quick hook but if he feels he can go there's no harm in playing RS3. He does have some skills EE doesn't have. Passing, 15 footer and the occasional hook shot in the post. Although I don't think he will see his true potential, he's been a good kid for U of M on and off the court.
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I'd be more than happy if I didn't ever see that hook shot again.
 



If I recall correctly, Tubby said something about not wanting to play because his knee isn't 100 percent/not feeling it was fair to his team and not risking the possibility of further injury (camps, tryouts, etc. after season is over). Somebody posted that he was grimacing and moving very gingerly the other night, which would clearly indicate that he isn't 100%.
 

I just don't believe that Sampson has a lot to do with the recent success. It's not like we were significantly better when Sampson was on the bench than when he was in the game. The emergence of Andre Hollins and Rodney Williams have been a bigger factor in my mind.
 

notagopherfan said:
if he feels he can go there's no harm in playing RS3

Chemistry, tempo, team hustle & ball movement has been great since Ralph has been off the court.

Plus there is a decent chance he is fine with ending his career on the bench from all the comments we have heard this week from Amelia and other reports.
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balds said:
If I recall correctly, Tubby said something about not wanting to play because his knee isn't 100 percent/not feeling it was fair to his team and not risking the possibility of further injury (camps, tryouts, etc. after season is over).
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It's possible, but the reports I've heard say Tubby wants him to give it a go...

Heard Amelia (STrib) on ESPN 1500 last tonight, said Tubby has been encouraging RS to play, he has practiced and looked ready to give it a try for a while now. He asks him before every game how he feels, looking for "I'm ready to go coach".... but gets a ho-hum answer.

She also said EE is pretty sick and not sure if he can play. .
 

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