Gopher Basketball
The (NR/#21) Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-3, 1-2) travel once again, this time to play the (#2/#2) Ohio State Buckeyes (15-0, 2-0). Game time is 1pm CT this Sunday, January 9, and can be seen on the Big Ten Network. Classes started up again this week in Columbus, so they should have plenty of rowdy kids in the arena.
The Team
Thad Matta’s squad is enjoying a strong start to the season, but they have faced few formidable foes. Arguably the two toughest opponents that tOSU has played this year are Florida (who has also lost a home game to Jacksonville) and Florida State (who fell to a horrible Auburn team earlier this week).
Outside of the monumental task of playing Minnesota, the start of tOSU’s Big Ten season is also favorable. Having already played Indiana and Iowa, the Buckeyes follow up Sunday’s game with Michigan, Penn State and Iowa again.
Despite their relatively weak schedule, there is no doubt that Ohio State is capable of being an elite NCAA team. I’ve got them down for somewhere between one and three losses in the regular season when it’s all said and done. For Minnesota fans heading to Columbus for the game, you will get to see a great team. In addition, if you’re looking to add some ink, I understand there are some incredible deals to be had from some local tattoo artists.
On both sides of the ball, tOSU has been extremely efficient and well balanced. Their effective field goal percentage of 57.4% is outstanding and the Buckeyes have done well when it comes to not turning the ball over (16.4 TO%; D1 average is 21%) as well as grabbing offensive rebounds (38.3 OR%; 5-6% higher than average). Most of their points are scored from the field (just 32.9% FTA/FGA, as compared to Minnesota’s 46.2%), but they haven’t needed the free throw attempts with a 56.2 2FG% and a 39.9 3FG% (Minnesota is at 51.3% and 34.0%, respectively). Unfortunately, it’s not just a one man show on offense – Matta’s rotation is at 7 players and 5 of them have scored 20 or more in a game this season.
Defensively, Ohio State has crippled lesser offenses with ease. Their front line is not particularly tall (you’ll see only only two guys – 6’9″ Sullinger and 6’8″ Lauderdale – on the court standing more than 6’6″), but they have good height and length when it comes to their perimeter defenders. The Buckeyes have turned their opponents over at a very high rate of 27.3% (D1 average is 21%), yet those long defenders are able to do so without committing fouls (FT rate of their opponents is just 18.7%, the lowest in the nation). Ohio State is very good at defending the man without the ball, which puts them into position to play good defense without picking up fouls. Certainly a goal of tOSU will be to keep Blake Hoffarber at bay like they did in the Big Ten Championship game (0/3 shooting) – in two regular season games, Blake went 9/13 from three-point range, including a 7/9 3FG performance at The Barn in which he scored a career-high 27. The Gophers will need a solid scoring contribution from Hoffarber in this one if they want to pull off the upset.
Beating Ohio State on their floor is a tall order for the Gophers. The shooting will have to be great and the boards will need to be owned. Our big men should try and force the issue early and often, gunning right for Sullinger and Lauderdale. Iowa’s 6’9″ freshman Melsahn Basabe (Siena commit who followed McCaffery to Iowa City) had a breakout game this week against Ohio State, scoring 22 points, grabbing 13 boards and blocking 6 shots.
The Players
#0 Jared Sullinger
Sullinger was named to the Wooden Midseason Top 30 watch list this week and that surprises no one (one of only two freshman – the other being Terrence Jones of Kentucky). Expected to be one of the best incoming freshmen in the country this year, the 6’9″, 280 lbs McDonald’s All American has delivered with 18.1 ppg and 10.2 rpg. He is an elite rebounder with great offensive skills. Capable of drawing fouls very quickly.
#23 David Lighty
6’5″ 220 lbs fifth-year senior averages 12.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.8 apg, in addition to being a superb defender. Lighty is a smart player that does a lot of things well. Can step out and hit the triple (25/57, 43.9%).
#33 Jon Diebler
Similar in some respects to Blake Hoffarber, this 6’6″ senior is an elite three-point shooter. Offensively that’s about all he does, but when a guy shoots 51.1% from distance (48/94) and doesn’t turn the ball over, it’s hard to complain. Averaging 12.5 ppg.
#44 William Buford
Solid, experienced 6’5″ junior is averaging 13.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.6 apg and can really get the mid-range game going.
#52 Dallas Lauderdale
The 6’8″, 260 lbs senior’s minutes are down this year (20.7 mpg), but he may need to play a little more on Sunday if the Gophers big men are creating havoc. He averages 5.3 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Ridiculously long reach, which helps him defend and rebound. I’m the last person that should talk, but Lauderdale is one weird looking dude.
#1 Deshaun Thomas
6’6″ freshman that has been coming off the bench and getting solid minutes (17.3/game). Lefty with good athletic ability, he is not shy on offense. Averaging 10.9 ppg and 5.0 rpg, the Gophers have to get him solidly boxed out or he will be all over the offensive glass. Thomas has struggled from deep this year, but is capable of scoring inside or out. He was also a McDonald’s All American.
#4 Aaron Craft
Another frosh, this 6’2″ point guard has gotten good minutes (26.7/game) and done what has been needed. 5.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, and 2.7 rpg. He won’t shoot a lot, but is capable when he fires one off. Has turned the ball over 3 or more times in 6 of 15 games.
That’s it. We may see only 7 hit the floor for tOSU.
OTHER NOTES
It’s Indiana, It’s Indiana!!
Minnesota came out on top in an ugly game against Indiana on Tuesday. Some may attribute this to Al Nolen’s second half performance or the stat stuffing effort of Trevor Mbakwe. Not me. Cleary, Tanned Tommy was in a flustered state due to @CoachTomCrean “œbreaking” some Jim Harbaugh “œnews” via Twitter.
While I4 was at their game day shootaround, Crean took a moment to tweet the following:
@TomCrean
I just recieved (sic) word that the fake twitter thats (sic) being used by a very troubled person is reporting false things on that account. 12:09 PM Jan 4th via txt
@TomCrean
Like I dont (sic) have enough going on that I need to respond to this. This is the only twitter account for me. 12:12 PM Jan 4th via txt
These tweets were in response to the following:
@CoachTomCrean
So proud of my bro in law. New coach for the 49ers!
7:13 PM Jan 3rd via web
By the way – Jim Harbaugh did wind up becoming the coach of the 49ers on January 7.
Elliot Eliason
We’re three games into the Big Ten season and still haven’t seen Elliot Eliason on the floor. Does that mean it’s all but certain he’ll redshirt this year? No. If he does play, I won’t be complaining as I believe some of the fan base will. There are just a couple of questions to ask.
First, does the coaching staff believe he can help the team in a game? Second, are both the kid and his family comfortable with him playing this season? If the answers to both of these are yes, and the right situation arises, then play the young man. I have no problem with it.
There are too many variables – including the coach, the roster makeup and the individual player – to not help the team today in favor of what benefit may or may not be realized over the next several seasons.
That said, unless we have another injury or significant foul trouble, I don’t see a need to play Eliason this year. However, it won’t be until around Valentine’s Day when I’ll concede that not only am I incapable of getting a date, but that it is also nearly certain that Eliason will redshirt this season.