Gopher Basketball
-Thought his guys had a good mentality coming into the game.
-“What an environment out there today”
-Feels bad for Minnesota, the way injuries have eaten them up, including today
-Said Nolan was pretty effective against them the first time, so that was a big loss
-MN was switching a lot of things up in the second half, and that allowed Lauderdale to find some holes in the second half
-Said he’s very fortunate to be coaching at the greatest university in the country.
-They play a fun style of basketball, and he believes that’s enticing to recruits to come to OSU
-Said a few balls bounced their way today, and they were able to get lucky on that
-With the amount of physicality against his team, they need to stay composed as they continue
-Said each player deals with the atmosphere of a tough environment differently; said he doesn’t hear it, citing 15 years of marriage
-His biggest concern coming into the game was rebounding, saying Minnesota scrambles really well on loose balls
-OSU’s weak-side defense was a little better in the second half, which hurt Sampson in the second half
-Said that Sullinger is deceivingly strong, and has great body control
-He looks at the players, coaches, and environments that they have to go into, and said they need to play one game at a time in order to continue playing well
-Said Hoffarber is a playmaker now, having watched him for four years, and can put three points on the board anytime he wants, so it was tough when he left the game
-Said that being undefeated is something they don’t even talk about
Minnesota Head Coach Tubby Smith…
-Said we got pretty much manhandled in the second half
-They make the shots when we make mistakes
-Said when you turn the ball over 19 times, you’re not going to win many games
-Disappointed with the rebounding efforts
-Blake had “a little knee problem”, and hopes he’ll be ok
-Credited Chip Armelin with his game, and said the young players are playing very hard
-You can’t have your big men turn the ball over 12 times in a game
-Said despite the loss, thinks the team is getting better, and they have to continue to do that.
-You can see the difference in the physicality out there today
-Sullinger “Is a Beast”
-Players like Rodney and the younger players have to get stronger
-When the guys get healthy, he really likes this team
-Is impressed by how the players who are not playing are working
-They need a guy like Oto, who’s a 6’8″ shooter; they just don’t have that kind of player. Noted they have recruited players like that, “but they’re not here.”
-It’s hard when you’re always in a retreat mode on defense
-They didn’t get the ball into the big mens’ hands enough early in the game
-Said not having Nolan was a big difference, “but remember, we were down 18 points there too”
-Would like to get more scoring out of all the guys, mentioning Rodney specifically
-Ralph played 33 minutes, would like to see more boards and take care of the basketball
-When your big men have 12 turnovers “I don’t know what to do”
-When asked why they did not come out in the second half playing the zone, said they made some bad decisions on the trap in the second half, and that it’s tough to play zone when you start falling further behind
-Was pleased with Chip and Hollins’ play, particularly the fact that each of them only have 1 turnover in the game
-Said Chip has progressed as he expected as the season has gone on
-Said the practice facility is a necessity with the arms race of college basketball, and that “we just need it.”
Minnesota-Ohio State Notes:
-Minnesota is now 16-7, and 5-6 in Big Ten play
-Ohio State is now 24-0, and 11-0 in Big Ten Play
-Minnesota allowed 71 shots to Ohio State, which is the second most this season (72, Western Kentucky), shooting 45%
-Comparatively, Minnesota had 49 shots in the game, shooting 51%
-Minnesota allowed 38 rebounds, 22 of which were offensive rebounds, and had 18 points off offensive rebounds
-Minnesota had 33 rebounds, with nine offensive boards, scoring nine points off offensive rebounds
-Ohio State scored 40 of their 82 points “In the Paint”, while Minnesota had 32