Gopher Basketball
After starting conference play with 4 straight wins, the 12th-ranked Gophers shot only 32 percent from the field in losing 62-49 to 9th-ranked MSU at East Lansing. The Gophers (14-3,4-1) started the game by missing a lot of inside shots, many by Jamie Broback and Janel McCarville. Broback, McCarville, and Shannon Schonrock shot a combined 11 of 40 from the field, as the Gophers could not get untracked against the Spartans (15-2,4-1).
Trailing only 23-21 at halftime, the Gophers allowed an uncharacteristic 39 points to MSU in the 2nd half and the Spartans won comfortably before a home crowd of 5218.
Although McCarville scored 18 points and gathered 15 rebounds, she was neutralized by Michigan State’s Kelly Roehrig, who scored 11 points and pulled down 9 rebounds. Roehrig, whose sister is a Gopher volleyball signee, is one of the few players McCarville will face who is taller (6’4″) and almost as strong. Roehrig forced McCarville to wander outside for most of the game, especially the 2nd half, and McCarville hit only 6 of 18 field goal attempts.
The Gophers will get a rematch February 10 when the Spartans visit Williams Arena.
Michigan Next. The Gophers have a good chance to get back in the win column when they host last place Michigan (4-12, 0-5) Thursday night at Williams Arena.
Michigan is a team full of freshmen with 7 frosh, a sophomore, and 2 seniors. They come into Williams Arena trying to stop an 8-game losing streak. They’re led in scoring and rebounds by senior Tabitha Poole at 16.9 points and 9 rebounds per game.
The Wolverines are coached by Cheryl Burnett, a coach who was courted by the University of Minnesota after the departure of Brenda Oldfield. Burnett interviewed for the job, but then decided she wasn’t interested.
Michigan beat Washington early in the season. Washington defeated the Gophers in their 2nd game of the season.
Notes and Observations:
- If the Gophers are going to compete for the Big 10 title, they’re going to need to get more out of Janel McCarville, who had just an average game against Michigan State after 2 sub-par games before that. Also, the Gophers need more consistent offensive production from guards April Calhoun and Kelly Roysland. Jamie Broback is a player who has the potential to become an all-conference performer when she is an upperclassman, however she’s going to have to become a better finisher around the basket. She still misses a lot of “bunnies”.
- After seeing Purdue twice last week, against the Gophers and Notre Dame, it doesn’t look like they’ll be able to contend for the Big 10 title. Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and Minnesota should all finish higher in the conference race.
- Despite its No. 3 national ranking, Big 10 preseason favorite Ohio State isn’t a lock to win the conference. The Buckeyes, who lost their conference opener to Penn State and have won every game since, have struggled offensively at times and a deep and talented Michigan State team might be able to challenge them for the league title.
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