Gopher Basketball
The Gophers could have folded (and might well have in previous years), but they didn’t. They responded with a 16-3 run to take the lead, and it was a battle the rest of the way. Despite Minnesota’s two primary offensive weapons – Dan Coleman and Vincent Grier – combining for just 1 point in the first half, the Gophers trailed just 38-33 at the break. The other guys stepped up and made plays.
The second half was more of the same. Alabama would build a slight lead, and the Gophers would chip away at it. With a minute to play, Minnesota trailed just 70-68. The Gophers couldn’t get the one big shot they needed after that, and Alabama took care of business at the free throw line, but Minnesota was in it right up to the end.
And that was despite shooting just 41% for the game and only 36% in the first half. The Gophers did it by limiting the potent Alabama offense to 46% shooting (41% in the 2nd half), by turning the ball over just 9 times, and by battling. The Gophers fought for 14 offensive rebounds, and while they did allow 11, their work on the boards was better than the numbers would lead you to believe (Alabama had a 37-29 advantage, but they had 14 more Gopher misses to collect).
There were really only two negatives for Minnesota. One was allowing Alabama to shoot 50% from 3-point range (Shelton was just hot, though), and the second was not shooting very well themselves. If the Gophers shoot a little bit better, they probably win this game. Actually, just a little better performance at the charity stripe might have made the difference. Still, the Gophers have nothing to hang their heads about after this one.
Dan Coleman led the way with 16 points (all coming in the second half). Aaron Robinson had perhaps the best game of his career with 14 points and just 1 turnover in 31 minutes. Jeff Hagen struggled a little shooting the ball, but he put up big numbers with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists (a career high). Vincent Grier also struggled the field but played tough defense and still managed to finish with 11 points thanks to a 7 for 8 night at the free throw line. And Brent Lawson also turned in perhaps the best game of his career with 8 points and 5 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Here’s the box score.
| Game Info | |
| Opponent: | Oklahoma Sooners |
| When: | 6:30 pm, November 27th, 2004 |
| Where: | Sullivan Arena – Anchorage, AK |
| Television: | None (WCCO Radio) |
Gopher players, coaches, and fans can’t relax quite yet though, because Minnesota faces another difficult opponent in just a few hours. The Oklahoma Sooners lost to a very tough Washington team 96-91 in the second semifinal, which was a bit of a moral victory in its own right. This makes for another interesting match-up, especially with three Minnesotans – Johnnie Gilbert, Longar Longar, and Lawrence McKenzie – on the Sooner roster (plus Terrell Everett, a junior college recruit the Gophers were interested in last year).
Oklahoma features the same perimeter quickness and athleticism that Alabama has, plus they add a more physical frontline with 6’8″, 260-lb Kevin Bookout back from a season-ending shoulder injury last year. 6’8″ junior college transfer Taj Gray is also a player (he had 17 points and 6 rebounds against Washington), and 6’11” sophomore Larry Turner adds some raw size off the bench. Still, I think the Gophers are well equipped to match the Sooners inside.
It’s the backcourt that could cause some problems. If McKenzie (who will be fired up to play his hometown team), 5’7″ speedster Drew Lavender, or the athletic 6’4″ Everett (who had 19 points and 5 assists against Washington) gets hot, it could be tough going. As an aside, the match-up between Everett and Vincent Grier should be a great one.
Here are my Gopher Keys of the Game:
1. Learn Quickly. Alabama’s athleticism and outside shooting game Minnesota problems. They got some easy baskets in transition, and they took advantage whenever they got an open look on the perimeter. Oklahoma is built to do the same thing. Their backcourt might even be a step quicker than Alabama’s, and they have several guys who can hit the 3-pointer. There isn’t much time, but hopefully Minnesota’s defense can improve in these two areas.
2. Get Good Shots. The Sooners, and their coach Kelvin Sampson, have the reputation of playing great defense. That’s why I was so surprised to see Washington put up 96 points. Maybe the Huskies are just loaded, or maybe Oklahoma has a few weaknesses. Their guards can certainly get steals, and their frontcourt has the quickness and strength to defend, but the team defense isn’t quite clicking for them yet. Minnesota needs to take advantage of the lapses. Get what you can in transition, move without the ball, and take advantage of any overplays with backdoors and cuts.
3. No Offensive Boards. Oklahoma should be a better rebounding team than Alabama, who hurt the Gophers with 11 offensive rebounds. They definitely have more size inside. Minnesota needs to improve their box-outs and make sure they aggressively track down every missed shot. Oklahoma has more offensive weapons than the Gophers do, so limiting second chances will be key.
As I said in my last preview: “Man, do I wish this game were televised.” It should be an exciting game, there are the local connections, and I’m basically just pumped after listening to the last two games. Too bad. The Gophers need to go into this one with no worries and certainly no regrets about losing last night. A 2-1 tournament record would be outstanding, but even a 1-2 record could indicate success. I’m not sure if the Gophers will be able to pull out the victory against another more talented team, but I’ll be pulling for them. My prediction: Oklahoma 84 Minnesota 73.
Talk about the game on our Gopher Basketball message board.