GameThread: Minnesota v. Michigan State
by PJS on Mar 13, 2009 9:30 AM CDT
in Gopher Basketball
216 comments
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan St. Spartans, Mar 13, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
Since taking over the Gophers last season, Tubby Smith is 0-4 against Tom Izzo. Will that change today?
If it does, it will be because the Gophers hold their own on the boards, protect the basketball to limit MSU's transition game and shoot better than 30 percent from three.
The experts say the Gophers are in the NCAA Tournament either way. But to be safe, a win against Michigan State today would virtually seal an invitation.
Yesterday, I wrote the Gophers needed someone to step up on offense other than Lawrence Westbrook. Devron Bostick answered that call. If the Gophers are to win, we need another player from Tubby's deep bench to answer the call. My money is on Paul Carter today.
I should be here throughout. Gametime is Noon eastern time. The game will be carried by ESPN.
Go Gophers!
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Repeat question
Does anyone else see a similarity between Westbrook and the old NBA champ Vinnie “the microwave” Johnson?? Almost exact physique and game. I would use Westbrook exactly the same way those NBA coaches did Johnson. I am dating myself but he played in the 80’s.
Good point.
I’m old enough, too, to remember what a great “sixth man” Vinnie was. He could come in cold off the bench and deliver a clutch performance, especially near the end of the game.
suggestion
I would suggest that Blake Hoff get a hold of a Manu Ginobilli highlight tape. Manu is the NBA all-star for the SA Spurs. They both look alike, same size, same #2 guard spot, left-handed, etc. This would be a great player for Blake to emulate.
BLake's gotta hit some shots before being compared to Ginobilli.
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Gophers a lock?
I don’t think so. The committee would have to put 8 Big Ten Teams into the tourney for them to be a lock. It’s possible, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Too many people around the country don’t like the Big Ten style of play. They want to see more “wide-open” basketball. Now, if the Gophers would win today…well then…
LOCK!
I know 8 teams seems like a lot. ....
But the Big Ten was downright awesome in the non-conference slate. That’s why we’ll get 8.
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Gophers are already in....
…..Lunardi doesn’t even have them on the “last 4 teams” bubble, and two of those teams (Arizona and New Mexico) lost last night.
agree
I agree with you cojo—-I do feel the conditions are ripe for an upset today.
How about that 'Cuse/UCONN game last night. I'm upset I went to bed.
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6OTs
Was watching on justintv in the office, then in the bed, then hat to slither out as the laptop went out of batteries so back to the office.
It was great until the 6th, at that point it started to look NBA all-star esque. Which is understandable. I hope we don’t draft Thabeet.
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Thabeet
Actually would make a pretty sick frontline down there, it’s just I still feel like we need another true weapon. Thabeet at best Mutombo like ceiling. Wishful thinking that we’ll land an immediate difference maker, so I probably have too high of wishes.
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Just think.....
…..instant replay caused millions of people to lose 2 hours of sleep last night. They should have just counted the 3 at the end of regulation.
agreed
I said the same thing last night!
by GreasyLlama on Mar 13, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
JAS can't catch a pass. Two posessions, two turnovers.
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Lucas misses a 3. Westbrook coast to coast is fouled. Will shoot 2.
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Press creates turnover. DJ steal. Westbrook to the hoop for a reverse. 9-3.
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At work right now
going home for the second half!
by GreasyLlama on Mar 13, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Second line in. Carter, Joseph, Bostick, Iverson and Hoff.
Carter misses a mid range J.
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Spartans pounding inside. Get it to Gray. Fouled by Bostick. Shooting 2.
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Tubby-Bostick
that whole apology thing is a bit odd. I appreciate the candidness, but doesn’t excuse what maybe was a player we needed.
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 11:19 AM CDT reply actions
Tubby Bostick Apology
what did I miss here?
by GreasyLlama on Mar 13, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
He had apologized to Bostick for not playing him as much
He said it was because he was focusing on his defensive lapses and not how he could contribute on the offensive end
Check out my blog - thefourthstrike.blogspot.com
Allen hits a triple at the shot clock buzzer. 19-18. TV timeout.
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Inflection POint ....what is this Tubby apology/Bostick think you're referring to? Did I miss something?
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So sayeth Myron
From his blog – “Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said that he had to apologize to Bostick recently for not playing him more often. Smith said he’s been so focused on Bostick’s defensive lapses that he’s sometimes failed to realize how much his offense could help the team. We’ll see if he gets some more minutes against Michigan State Friday.”
That’s not ok to me.
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Interesting
Commentary from Down With Goldy who actually traded IM’s with Bostick yesterday and asked if he might transfer because of PT issues
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LOL. ESPN does blind resumes with Kentucky/Minnesota. Musburger bitch slaps UK fans.
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Summers misses 3. Tied ball goes to us. We're up in the rebound department 8-5 I believe.
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Even if we lose
I hope we keep it close. It will bode better for building confidence for next week.
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They need to get the ball into Sampson
and doesn’t even look like they are trying to
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Nolen called on a block trying to draw a charge. Non-shooting.
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Hightower calls a phantom foul on Bostick. Allen to shoot 2.
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Johnson misses from the baseline. MSU turnos over in transition.
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Draymond Green inside for 2. MSU leads 27-26. We're letting them get the ball inside too easily.
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Long 3 miss from Devoe. Scrum creates jump ball to MSU. TV timeout.
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We need to make the free throws if we are going to stay in it
6-13 so far
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RSIII at the line for 2 shots. Hits both. 28-27. Minnesota lead. 3:06 left.
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MSU inside to Green. 29-28 MSU. We have to get the ball inside like MSU is doing.
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High scoring game
Compared to some of our recent outings
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End to end action leads to Joseph finding Bostick for a transition layup.
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for awhile he was there only starter who had scored at all.
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Gophers call timeout. 12 seconds on shot clock. 16.4 on game clock.
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Draymond Green hadn't even landed yet. Another example of college refs calling charges way too liberally.
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They don't ....
…know the charge rule. Watch Tyler Hansbrough, he gets 2 charges a game because he’s Tyler Hansbrough, a hard-working Matt Harpring kind of kid with the love of Vitale.
wrath of Eddie H
Dang it guys, keep heads up .
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 11:56 AM CDT reply actions
DJ misses a 3 to start. And a backdoor lob to Morgan to start for MSU. 35-30 MSU.
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Wesbrook misses a 3. One and done. Lucas turnover though and DJ in transition scores. 35-32.
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Bostick on the inside this time. Good finish from a nice Nolen pass. Bostick has 10. 38-36.
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Johnson drives and misses a bunny. Then MSU pushes and convertns on a lob. 42-36.
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Nolen drives and drops for Sampson. Fouled. Shooting 2 after TV timeout.
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Another lob against our 2-3 zone. They can't allow that. 44-38. Tubby calls a timeout.
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Carter stripped on a drive. MSU miss, but Bostick turns over on the rebound. Gray fouled. SHooting 2.
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Uh oh
Va Tech is playing like they want a bid.T hey are leading North Carolina with about 10 minutes left
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
Hammer & Rails
Anyone notice DJ has a big shiner on his eye
when did that happen
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No he can make those, he is 37.5% on the year
He would be our best outside shooter with that number
Check out my blog - thefourthstrike.blogspot.com
Va Tech
this va tech action is not, not good.
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 12:41 PM CDT reply actions
Va Tech ticks me off
I don’t think teams that finish under .500 in league play should be invited unless they wint eh conference tourney.
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
Hammer & Rails
by BoilerTMill on Mar 13, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think winning a conference tourney
should justify an NCAA bid. I prefer the automatic bid be for the regular season title. A 4-day run can negate 5 months of basketball? It’s an absurd proposition.
There's nothing wrong with losing heavily
to the number 6 team in the nation when you are ranked in the 20s. That means you are what everyone thought you were.
Sorry, lost connection again. DJ just made one of 2 to make it 49-41 MSU.
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Johnson fouled on the inside. Shooting 2. Can we make 2 free throws?
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Joseph misses a 3. I think we've missed our last 12 3s. Allen fouled on the other end.
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The effort is there, the attitude is there, the shots are not
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Walton a layup off of a curl. 54-43. Under 5 minutes.
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Green fouled on an offensive rebound. Opportunity missed there.
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Carter misses long 2. Suton reboudn. 2:41 left. Down 10. Not looking good.
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To beat MSU you have to score from the outside
and that is not an option for the Gophers
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Helpful
I know they say we’re good… but boy I’ll be cheering against wisky bigtime now.
by InflectionPoint on Mar 13, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Walton makes both. and Westy misses a 3. Ballgame. 30.4 left.
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Made it interesting
When they got it to 5 – needed to hit every shot from then on to have a shot
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