Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Kentucky Basketball: Where the Wildcats Stand as of Today

Enjoy the Bubble! Michigan 67, Minnesota 64

I don't have the energy for a full review at the moment. It's still early on Saturday and Minnesota's loss this afternoon to Michigan has driven me to find the nearest watering hole.

First, a big congratulations and a tip of the cap to Michigan's John Beilein. With the Gophers seemingly running away with things midway through the second half, basically scoring at easy on the interior, Beilein wisely switched to a 2-3 zone that almost completely silenced Minnesota's inside game. And without a shooter on the roster, the Gophers couldn't hit from the outside to force the Wolverines to adjust.

Laval Lucas-Perry devastated the Gophers from the perimeter, as Tubby Smith's team played a suprisingly defecient game defensively.

Senior Day for the Gophers was ruined, and now they will be firmly on the bubble come Selection Sunday.

The first 30 minutes of the game couldn't have been better. Damian Johnson was everywhere. Lawrence Westbrook was playing well again. Ralph Sampson III was playing very well inside. And on his senior day, Jamal Abu Shamala was pretty damn good offensively.

But fellow senior Jon Williams, who also justifiably received a starting nod, took all over Colton Iverson's minutes. Colt 45 didnt play at all. And I still don't understand that. It's almost as if Tubby decides that whoever starts determines how his rotations will work the rest of the game. That's insane. Williams was OK on the floor, but Iverson is the one who could score inside. That's where Minnesota was dominating and Iverson would have been another option.

Michigan won this game Saturday, but the Gophers didn't do all they could to win it. It's painful on this end, so I can only imagine what it's like for the players. We'll see who we get now in the Big Ten Tournament. But now I think we need to win at least two games to be confident come Selection Sunday.

Comment 7 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

The Gophers haven't...

put together an complete game since the IL win. Turnovers killed them again.

by COJOMAY on Mar 7, 2009 2:34 PM CST reply actions  

question the rotation today

I understand starting JAS and Williams on senior day. But why do they start the second half or come back in for a second helping of minutes in both halves. Their second stint in the first half was brutal.

Also, anyone know the reason Iverson didn’t play today at all?

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Mar 7, 2009 3:47 PM CST reply actions  

3 point shooting the difference...

gophers 2 for 10 and michigan hit 9 out of 22. I think that stat is correct. It seems the gophers will finish in 8th place in the big 10. With that said, i think the big 10 is the deepest league this year…not the best league with the best teams, but the deepest. I think if they win ONE game in the big 10 ten tourney they should be in…especially since they swept wisconsin…and one must remember that wisconsin swept michigan. So, if they get ONE win I think they will get in.

But, things get REALLY dicey if Northwestern wins at Ohio State. We should be rooting for Ohio State in that game.

by huff huff plop go the bricks on Mar 7, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions  

That and Courtney Sims

He completely killed us, and definitely kept them in the game in the first half. DJ did a fairly good job on Manny Harris, save for a two threes here or there. We lost because we couldn’t defend threes at all down the stretch and we couldn’t go inside against the zone.

Ralph, JAS (!!), DJ and Westbrook were great for the first half or so, but the zone really killed us down the stretch. And now we’re on the bubble. Great.

Kill, maim, pillage, burn! Kill, maim, pillage, burn! Eat babies! Badger babies!

by Felix on Mar 8, 2009 12:00 AM CST up reply actions  

Not Only Did Colt 45 not play

Devron Bostick Didn’t play either!…That killed us.

by Tony_O on Mar 8, 2009 12:58 PM CDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Minnesota Golden Gophers sports--Usually analytical, sometimes snarky.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Daily_logo_small
What does the Vikings stadium deal mean for Gopher football?
47487
B1G Homecoming Kickoff Times announced
83217-125958-hawkeye_super_small
Gophers Host a Kegger!
47487
Big Ten announces prime-time TV schedule
47487
President Kaler announces VCU athletic director as AD finalist
Small
Hoops Season In Review
Small
Gophers Hockey Preview
Small
Frozen Four Preview
Small
Gophers 2013 Basketball Prospectus
Small
National Championship Preview (NIT Style)

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Mn_basketball_small GopherNation

Imagescary7xfo_small Jeffrick

Img-20101223-00043_small JDMill

Editors

Imgres_small PJS

Bigbuck_small Buck Bravo

Dsc02076_small JG2112