Game Thread: Minnesota at Michigan State
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 4:00 PM CST
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PrintMinnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan St. Spartans, Feb 4, 2009 7:30 PM CST
Believe it or not, first place is on the line in the Big Ten tonight at the Breslin Center when Michigan State hosts our Golden Gophers. The game will be televised at 7:30 central time on the Big Ten Network. And this is your game thread for the game.
GN had some business to take care of this afternoon, so the official TDG preview had to be put off. But here are a four keys I see tonight for the Gophers.
1) Stay close on the boards: Unlike Illinois, Michigan State's bigs are thick. Goran Suton, Marquise Gray, Idong Ibok and Delvon Roe are all muscular interior players. Illinois had the likes of Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis--both not exactly bangers--that Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson were able to hang with physically. If the Gophers are hanging with MSU in the battle on the boards, the Minnesota can win. Obviously, with Raymar Morgan potentially out, the Gophers stand a better chance here. Moran had 10 rebounds in the first meeting.
2) Slow down Kalin Lucas: In Minneapolis during the the Spartans dominating win, Lucas was a little firecracker that couldn't be slowed down. He had a team-high 24 points in 36 minutes. Minnesota needs to play the type of never-say-die help defense it employed against Illinois to limit and frustrate Lucas.
3) Someone needs to get hot: Penn State's win over Michigan State was marked by a career type of game from sophomore guard Talor Battle. Northwestern's win at the Breslin Center was led by a red-hot Kevin Coble who finished with 31. The Gophers typically win with a team effort on offense, but tonight someone needs to lead the show. Frankly, in my opinion, Lawrence Westbrook needs to get hot and lead this team.
4) Scoring inside: Minnesota's offense stalls when it relies on outside shooting primarilly. Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson did very well to establish an inside option against Illinois. That, in turn, opened up the outside game. Scoring insider against Suton and company is more difficult, but the Gophers need to force the ball inside early and often and find some success.
That's all for now, see you in the comments section.
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You make it sound...
like winning this game is virtually impossible. If the Gophers play defense like they did against IL and the outside shooting picks up a bit, the Gophers win this one IMHO.
Well, I think MSU is the obvious favorite.
They are at home for starters. I just think we have to do a few things. … play even with MSU on the glass, establish an inside game offensively, find an someone to get hot and slow Lucas. Not impossible, just a few things need to happen, IMO.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions
ya, Nolen needs to play
much better, that was arguably his worst game of the year. He needs to slow down Lucas.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
hmmm.
I guess I’d split the difference. Nolen had his worst game offensively against Northwestern. He was out of control and sloppy. He had his worst game of the year defensively against Lucas and MSU.
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by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 5:05 PM CST up reply actions
I was just typing exactly what PJS typed
offensively he was bad against NU, but it was partially due to the entire team being unprepared for that 1-3-1.
This matchup with Lucas is my absolute favorite of the year to watch. They are both so good. The entire B10 has very good guards but this one is the quickest PG with the ball vs. the best defensive PG. Nolen wins this battle tonight after getting owned last time, but I have little hope for a Gopher win.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
You're always such a pessimist!!!!!! :-)
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 5:38 PM CST up reply actions
We better not miss the start of the game
to watch the two worst teams in the Big Ten play a meaningless game
duckman, this is the Big Ten Network. Would you expect anything less?
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by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:29 PM CST up reply actions
who are people rooting for in Iowa/Ind game?
I want both to lose…
Iowa sucks and I never want to see them win
BUT
I’d love to see a program like Indiana go winless in conference
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
Indiana.
Iowa could pull an upset or two if Tate comes back. And if that happens, the losses will be seen as very, very bad losses.
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by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:33 PM CST up reply actions
ya
I just hate Iowa. Having them be IU’s only win will be sweet.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
i bet we'll just make it.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:38 PM CST up reply actions
nevermind.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:38 PM CST up reply actions
brillant producing on their part. A game for last place instead of a game for first place!
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:39 PM CST up reply actions
I think it's Kendall Gill, isn't it?
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
yes, bery ugly.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
MSU is so good
running their offense and making us struggle on offense
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
for some reason they seem much better at both against us.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:46 PM CST up reply actions
Why do we go from suffocating man to man defense against Illinois, to crappy match-up zone against MSU?
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
Sparty offense
lots of ball screens and screens for shooters. If we help the screener gets the ball if we don’t the shooter is open. They execute well and it works well against our defense.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
Tony looked for us but couldn't find one.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:49 PM CST up reply actions
because against the best rebounding team in the country Tubby has inexplicably played zone.
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by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 7:50 PM CST up reply actions
the zone was hopefully going to allow us to get to shooters
didn’t work
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
that was all carter...he made up for his brick
by huff huff plop go the bricks on Feb 4, 2009 7:51 PM CST reply actions
I can't stand them not getting back on defense against MSU after makes.
The last two years. Multiple times during each meeting.
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the hoff
with a pathetic pass just after his make.
by huff huff plop go the bricks on Feb 4, 2009 7:59 PM CST reply actions
why?
did Iverson waste his dribble like that? That was bad
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
Horrible. Dump down to Colton and then all 4 other Gophers are on the far side of the court?
Who was he supposed to kick to?
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
nobody if they don't move
but he caught it, dribbled once, picked it up.
then he has to pass it and nobody was moving for him. bad offense
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
this game is like the first game
only i don’t envision a first half run.
by huff huff plop go the bricks on Feb 4, 2009 8:02 PM CST reply actions
we look terrible
on both ends of the floor we are just running around without any purpose. we are going through the motions on offense but not actually setting screens or moving to the right spots. Defensively we are not putting any ball pressure on and we are standing up on the backside. This is UGLY, we are not ready to play.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
One week to prepare for MSU. And this team comes out flat and unprepared.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 8:06 PM CST up reply actions
flat yes
unprepared is hard to say. we have an offense, they are kind of running it. But they aren’t executing with any basketball sense. Their heads are just not in it imo.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
I think they are unprepared in numerous ways.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 8:08 PM CST up reply actions
Penn State is going to be in second place after tonight--
The Times Are A Changin’
by huff huff plop go the bricks on Feb 4, 2009 8:06 PM CST reply actions
This is on Tubby
A week to prepare? Seriously…worst game in Gopher history. That counts Siena.
exactly. just made the one week reference above.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 8:06 PM CST up reply actions
I never thought I'd say this but...
Travis Busch is exactly what we need here.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
we are missing a ton of free throws too
they are just not mentally here tonight.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
I love the spartans but
the gophers make MSU look like North Carolina. Nobody in there right mind would’ve predicted a U of M victory tonight, but to be obliterated by a team that has had SHOOTING ISSUES all year and not too mention to a team for whom is missing their most gifted player is utterly inexcusable.
by huff huff plop go the bricks on Feb 4, 2009 8:11 PM CST reply actions
that foul on the three sums the game up right there
duke and clemson are on…that should be a better contest.
by huff huff plop go the bricks on Feb 4, 2009 8:14 PM CST reply actions
I've been on the bench for games like this
where nothing you do makes any difference. free throws missed, lay ups missed, unexplainable turnovers, lack luster defense, your offense like ships passing in the night.
It is embarrassing but I think it is simplistic to say, this is just on Tubby. The first 15 min they were running their offense but weren’t executing. Defensively they were playing but not defending.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
defensively they were playing?
They were jogging back while MSU’s Roe was hitting Kevin Love style outlets and MSU was pushing. They aren’t boxing out. They aren’t rotating. They started early in a zone, which isn’t our strength.
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by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 8:20 PM CST up reply actions
that's what I mean
they were playing but not actually defending (or hustling).
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
if by playing you mean they were on the floor, then i guess we're on the same page :-)
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 8:23 PM CST up reply actions
MSU played flawless
When they play like they did, no one in the Big Ten can play with this team. It also helps that we can’t do anything right ourselves
our lack of offense (their defense)
really was more than half of their offense, Izzo said it best.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
really?
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 9:00 PM CST up reply actions
I just turned on the game...
…and quickly turned it off…..yikes.
So, how about that Michael Carter get today?
And what about Taekwon Paige following Ted Roof to Auburn? Ergh.
Mission accomplished
Although the goaltending call was wrong, at this point it doesn’t matter anymore.
Double Yikes. Can we start railing on Tom Hamilton now?
How about Steve Smith? This thing has turned into a BTN sponsored recruiting commercial for MSU.
hoopraker: the rakes offer some takes on big ten basketball
How bout Mike Hall as the sideline entertainment.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 9:20 PM CST up reply actions
Positives...
A loss for MSU would have been more devastating for the Big Ten overall. Anything else?
I'm going to use that.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 9:21 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know. I'm trying to write the game review. It's painful. And I haven't come up with a positive. Any ideas?
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 9:21 PM CST up reply actions
Hmm..
We made more free throws!
Devoe with a solid game…
So…I got nothing, good luck. I also was only watching the box score online, so I can’t say how Devoe’s points were scored.
He hit a few nice jumpers in the second half.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 9:41 PM CST up reply actions
It could have become a historical loss that made us a laughingstock
We kept it close so now it is just a regular blowout
I think the biggest problem with this game is...
The Michigan press had made us all believe that this game was for the taking.. What a tough loss. I would have loved to know what a share of the big ten lead feels like this late :-D…
Not sure MSU needs to shoot 3s up 30 with less than one minute left.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
just thought the same thing.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Feb 4, 2009 9:37 PM CST up reply actions
Nope. You might get another crack at them in Indy.
Hopefully you’ve got a good busdriver. Get that team to airport and out of East Lansing, fast.
hoopraker: the rakes offer some takes on big ten basketball
Opps. That was a reply to the shooting 3s post above
hoopraker: the rakes offer some takes on big ten basketball
The only good thing about that game...
was the fact that the Gophers at least hit some 3’s in the second half.
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