Streak Continues with 71-55 Loss to Wolverines

It’s getting frustrating writing about games like this, so it really must be bad playing and coaching in them. The Gophers continued a familiar pattern of starting slowly Saturday night, and they wound up pretty much duplicating their collapse at Purdue a week ago. Minnesota fell behind by 10 points early, rallied to get within 6 at halftime and 4 early in the second, and then let Michigan go on an 11-0 run and cruise to an easy victory.

I’ll try to point out some relative bright spots as well, but that of course gets harder and harder each time the Gophers play a game like this. Some things are just hard to comprehend. Like how the Gopher offense can have such a hard time scoring game after game (see 55 points and 38% shooting again tonight). Or how Vincent Grier can score just 4 points and make just one shot all game. Or how the Gopher defense can allow Michigan to shoot 56% in the second half. And, of course, how Minnesota can lose three games in a row in The Barn.

Ok, I promised some bright spots. J’son Stamper had a very solid night with 12 points and 11 rebounds and his usual nonstop hustle. Spencer Tollackson had a strong offensive game with 13 points in 17 minutes, and he looks to have much more confidence at the free throw line now (3 for 4 in this one). Jonathan Williams was a shot-blocking machine early, swatting 3 in the opening 4 minutes of play, although he was pretty quiet in the other 9 minutes he played. Moe Hargrow had a brief hot streak from the perimeter on his way to a team-high 16 points. And the Gophers did rebound the ball pretty well, beating the Wolverines 35-30 overall and 16-9 on the offensive end.

But bright spots don’t have much meaning when you’re 0-5, and especially when you have some very tough games on the horizon. I’m not sure what else to say other than it would be really nice to get a win one of these days.

Here’s the box score.

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