Gophers Dominate Northwestern for Their Third Straight Big Ten Win
by GopherNation on Jan 22, 2012 6:10 PM CST
in Gopher Basketball
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PrintWe now have a legitimate win streak. Two in a row is nice, especially when they were both on the road. But in case you haven't three is legit and it was nice to finally see a homecourt conference win. This three-game win streak has had two very common things. Joe Coleman is leading this team offensively and the entire team is playing much better defense. A great defensive effort and a balanced offense led the Golden Gophers to a dominating win over the Northwestern Wildcats.
This game was essentially decided in the first eight minutes of the game while the Gophers built an 11-0 lead before Northwestern finally scored their first points at the 12:13 mark. From that point on Minnesota slowly built their lead to 17 at halftime and the game was right around a 20 point margin for most of the second half. NU, lead by John Shurna, made a mini-run at about the 11 minute mark in the second half to narrow the gap from 22 to 14 before the Gopher starters returned to the game and finished off the Wildcats.
Northwestern Coach Bill Carmody wasn't real pleased with this team's road effort today.
"We were just never able to put them in a position where they were uncomfortable or nervous about anything in their offense. They were loosey-goosey the whole time. I thought every single guy on their team, the match-ups, they outplayed all of our guys. Hearn did OK. everybody else, their guy out played our guy."
In all honesty this game was not very entertaining with the sizable margin and the Big Ten refs doing their best to bring the game to an unwatchable pace. But the story of the game is not any particular player for the Gophers instead it was another very good game of team defense that took away their opponent's strength. It certainly helped that Northwestern looked like they were shooting at baskets that were an inch higher than they were used to shooting at. Northwestern's field goal percentage for the game was 32.7%, three point shooting was 30.8% and their free throw percentage 40%.
Some of that is due to Northwestern having an awful shooting night but you certainly cannot deny that much of it has to be attributed to the Gopher defense which has been playing like a totally different team in the last three games. Carmody gave the credit to Minnesota.
"But it's not all about us. They executed very well they shot the heck out of the ball, they were getting lay-ups out of their offense. And if you shoot that poorly they have something to do with that. so credit to them."
Tubby gave the credit to Northwestern.
"I thought we caught Northwestern on a down day and we had plenty of time to prepare and thought that was the difference"
Offensively it was a balanced Gopher offense with all five starters in double-figures led by Joe Coleman. Ralph Sampson III was strong and confident early. Rodney had nine of his 11 in the first half before some foul trouble. Julian and Joe both had eight in the second half. This team effort was yet another improvement and step forward for the Gopher squad that has been searching for an identity since the loss of Mbakwe. They may be finding it.
"We added some toughness to our lineup when we inserted Joe Coleman and its been huge for us, I think its been contagious. I see Ralph has been more aggressive, Rodney's been more aggressive taking the ball to the basket. So I think our entire team has benefited."
Up next is a reminder that the Big Ten is no picnic. Starting Wednesday they play Michigan State, Illinois and Iowa in seven days. Some of that newfound toughness needs to shine through and carry the team through some tough and important games. Two out of three would be nice but that still just gets us back to .500 in the league with a lot of very good teams remaining on the schedule.
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Glad The Gophers Believed In Themselves
Hopefully Gopher “fans” have learned a lesson or two.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 22, 2012 7:56 PM CST reply actions
I know that I've learned something today.
That being lectured by a Cats fan in almost every thread is tiresome.
Meh
I don’t particularly think he was talking about you, but I agree with him that the support this season has been disappointing. From the crazies in the media calling for Tubby’s head, to the fans at the Barn booing their own team, I’ve been pretty disappointed in Gopher Nation this year.
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
I didn't take it personally.
I just find it annoying that “Gophers fans should quit whining” has been his primary contribution to the blog recently.
I almost typed something similar...
…but ate it instead, knowing I’ve been hard on this team. But since you said it, I agree…it is annoying. It’s the classic argument “if you were a real fan, you’d _______”.
It’s a bullshit, religious agrument. I’m no less a fan because I said this team licks balls than I am when I’m excited they win. Don’t come on here after a few wins (2 that were against PSU and NW, not exactly the cream of the divisional crop) and start preaching “see, never give up on your team, shame on you, real fans wouldn’t do that!”. And that’s how I took the comments. We won three games, two that were expected, and now we should feel bad about questioning Tubby’s coaching abilities and the team’s adequacy (as far as all the transfers and other off-court problems?). That is silly, short-sited and merely being oportunistic given the recent wins.
Joe Coleman has given us a future superstar to get excited about (I compare his game to D Rose…obviously on a significantly smaller scale, but he isn’t going to kill you with the long ball, but he’ll d-up and make you work your ass off on defense against him). We beat Indiana on the road which was huge, and then we won 2 games we should have won. None of this speaks any louder to my thoughts on Tubby than the previous games did. Indiana had a horrible night against us, thankfully. Sure we caused some of it, but even Tubby admitted we got them on a bad night. We outplayed the other two teams.
I’m not sure how I learned anything the past two weeks about Tubby, other than what…he is playing Coleman, who going back to camp he said was his sleeper guy who was working his ass off and who he was excited about?
I have said I disagree with calling for Tubby’s head, but it is time to start thinking about the future. I’ve seen disappointing and uninspiring games (the entire pre-conference play) at the Barn, and bottom line, you need to give people a reason to come support the team. Being in the news more for guys transferring and other problems the past few years (including missing the tourney) built up to this season’s disappointing fan support. I think this new crop of young talent led by Coleman is something to build off, if the marketing department has any sense about them. There is a lot to be excited about with this crew.
As for what fans should and shouldn’t do…I refuse to get into that argument on a board where…if you are here, you are 95% more intense about the Gophers and all things U of M than anybody else out there. We are all way over the top fans….
About the transfers
It’s not like we’ve lost a ton of guys that we wanted to keep, and those that left that we did want didn’t seem to leave for reason’s Tubby could have fixed.
Joseph couldn’t stay out of trouble. Maturi drove White away. Paul Carter left because he wanted to be closer to his ill sister. And that’s about it for transfers that I care about.
Maybe Cobbs should be on that list, I don’t know. I didn’t see enough of his play to be too impressed, and given what Tubby doesn’t with rotations that suggests to me that he wasn’t all that. Iverson certainly could have contributed, but I don’t view him as much of a loss given that Eliason gives you basically the same thing.
You’re right that three wins doesn’t mean every is fixed, but the way they’ve been playing is reason for optimism. If they keep it up, Tubby will deserve a lot of credit for this coaching job.
And conversely...
…it will validate some of the criticism too. A lot of the frustration was due to poor results following the same problems that Tubby’s teams have struggled with for several seasons now. Having things improve b/c Tubby changed would indicate that a change was indeed warranted.
What has Tubby changed?
They are running some different offensive sets, but nothing they haven’t run before. They are playing the same defense. And he’s played Coleman. But I don’t recall seeing any criticism centered around playing Coleman more.
He’s shortened the bench a little, I guess. And he’s moved Welch to point. I guess I saw Myron suggesting that switch was the key to the recent success and should have come sooner, but I think that’s wrong. What’s different and better is having Coleman and Austin on the floor together, not moving Welch to point. Welch’s role isn’t all that much different than it was.
For me, it feels like a new focus on penetration...
…in the offense. Stagnant offense (pass around the perimeter and shoot a 3) has been an issue for a while. Adding Coleman is one solution to that problem. Just because the criticism focused on the offensive issues instead of a potential solution doesn’t mean that the improved play doesn’t still point out the accuracy of the highlighted issues.
That plus the improved defense.
Again, you’d have to attribute the improvement to coaching, be it changes to the lineup or whatever.
My overall point is that people weren’t being negative just to be negative (ok, sane folks weren’t). There were legitimate critiques to be made of Tubby’s coaching and many of them were flaws/problems that have been visible throughout much of his time here. Thus, if the team improves at the same time that these problems diminish then logically it would seem that those criticisms were valid and worth pointing out (i.e. not automatically whining).
Keep in mind
That a lot of those defensive complaints were being made while the team was actually doing pretty well in controlling their opponent’s scoring.
But if the other guys run enough picks and eventually get a few open threes, well, we suck at defense and Tubby sucks at coaching it.
Also true.
And my personal complaints would be more with the offense than the D (they still struggle with things that bug me, like screens as you mention).
And I will readily admit that the team should be 5-2 in conference right now (shouldn’t have lose the Illinois and Iowa games) and if those 2 wins happen people are a lot happier overall. But the fact remains that Tubby’s teams have consistently struggled in specific areas and those struggles have kept any of the teams from reaching their full potential (again, the difference between 5-2 sitting pretty for an NCAA berth and 3-4 with work to do). I’m simply saying that the angst around those persistent issues is not whining just because it is negative.
The "typical" sports fan, especially Minnesota fans...
…they don’t like trouble, or controversy. So my point (poorly communicated, I apologize) is that it is not difficult to understand that given the “noise” from the past few seasons (most publicity has been negative, even guys transferring), and missing the NCAA, even missing the NIT last season, that the fan base needs some “rebuilding”. I would not expect an energetic fan base in the city of Minneapolis, for this team, after the past few seasons. I’m just being a realist. Not supporting it or saying it’s “right”.
I’m VERY high on this team at this point, and the future. More the future. I’ve been impressed at Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, PSU, we just killed NW. There is a lot of good, and a lot to be excited about. However, my thoughts on Tubby I feel are still fair. I don’t find any of the recent performance to make them unfair. I was unfair to the players….
Well, those were three starters
So I don’t think it’s fair to say those transfers don’t matter…
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
Huh?
None of those guys were starters when they transferred (although two likely would have been eventually).
But it’s not that they don’t matter, it’s that those transfers were beyond Tubby’s control. You can’t criticize Tubby for the fact that Joseph kept engaging in unspecified team rules violations, Paul Carter’s sister got sick, or Maturi wouldn’t let White play.
I totally agree
Same with Mbakwe’s injury and Al Nolen being a dumbass.
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
Okay...
…can’t “blame” tubby for those things individually but he’s the head of the “program”, so collectively it reflects negatively, and you can justify an apathetic fan base for it. The only news they read about the program is trouble/controversy/issues (practice facility, “will Tubby leave?” every year, etc.).
Mbakwe performing for team USA this summer is really the first positive news, aside from Tubby beating prostate cancer, that the program has had in how long? Then he gets hurt. They sort of struggled through “pre-season” this year, barely escaping victories over some good, but not great, mid-majors or worse.
I think it’s unfortunate because there is a lot here to be excited about over the coming 2-4 years, maybe more if we can get some recruiting momentum of guys wanting to play with this group of freshman/sophomores.
Yes, you have a point
I wasn’t disagreeing with you, although I think the non-conference season was better than you give it credit for being.
I agree
remember that our RPI before Big Ten games started was the highest in the conference and our SOS was pretty good.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Jan 24, 2012 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
You can definitely say this resulted in an apathetic fan base
But again, that’s our fault, rather than Tubby’s. “True fans” (though I know you hate that term) don’t stop caring about their team after a few mediocre seasons. There’s not much Tubby can do about the fact that many incoming freshmen either don’t care, or are Badger fans.
(I’m not accusing you of doing this by the way)
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
This is true.
I don’t care if people want to point out the fans’ role in the apathetic fan base issue. I was simply annoyed at the “just stop whining” line of thought given that the improvements over the 3 game span seemingly validated a good portion of what was being “whined” about.
Match ups matter
And this team was a good one for us. Ralph didnt have to face a power big man. Rodney on Shurna is great for us. And they had no one who coud score off the dribble in the backcourt.
We played well, but in part due to favorable match ups.
And joe Coleman is a revelation.
I don't know that is was only matchups
Ralph has played against softer big men than Curletti and Mirkovic and been soft. I think this flex offense they are running is more suited to his style of play. He doesn’t have to get in the post too often, and when he does it is ISO’d.
And Shurna is a legit scorer no matter who is guarding him. I think the Job Austin Hollins did on Crawford was truly awesome. Crawford had very few good looks, and when he did they were mostly from the wing at least 15 feet out. I can’t determine who is a better defender Austin or EE.
I was at the game, and GN you’re right, this one was kind of boring, but in a good way. What has impressed me the most is that on offense nobody is defering to someone else. Whoever has the open shot takes it, and seems to take it with confidence. It is really fun to watch.
I didn't mean it was only match ups
And agree with all of your points.
Carmody said it himself...
“I thought every single guy on their team, the match-ups, they outplayed all of our guys. Hearn did OK. everybody else, their guy out played our guy.”
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Jan 23, 2012 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
it is safe to say that we outplayed them, but i am not sure that we out played them...
because of matchups. I think we outplayed them because right now we are better than they are. My point was just because the matchups were favorable doens’t mean we were guaranteed to beat them, we still had to play.
you guys are certainly better right now
but from watching this team over the season, your matchups helped a ton; especially on the inside, having your 4-5 matched against two of the physically weakest 4-5 combos in the B1G (shurna-mirk/curletti) allowed you to beat us inside, then break us from outside.
A lot of good passing.
We have no problem, most of the time, making the extra pass. We swung the ball very well against NW. Around and around, crisp passing, and eventually somebody was open. That’s how it gets drawn up.
That is, until Sampson decided to take a left handed hook shot.
I didn't always like the zone offense...
…as I felt they settled for too many threes. That said, what I did like is that it seemed like almost all of the threes were good, open looks as opposed to forced attempts.
We need a go to shooter...
…for Coleman. That guy is going to create a TONNNNNN of open looks for people in the coming years.
I can’t imagine Hoffarber if he had Coleman for a couple years. I can’t imagine.
One of the encouraging recent developments
Has been the spot up shooting of Welch and, of all people, Armelin.
Neither guy is Blake, but they have been doing well catching and shooting lately.
That will be KEY to future seasons.
Coleman is THAT good…he is a game changer. I kept thinking “D-Rose, D-Rose”…not as good obviously, but the same tendancies (understanding he’s just a freshman)…but drive, drive, make smart passes, drive, dish, find the open guy, take the shot when you need to.
If we can get a sharp-shooter in here next year so Coleman has a year or two to play with him…this can get really good….
I agree. Coleman is THAT good.
I only hope he isn’t so good that he’s a “one ’n done.”
The good news
Is that he was so under the radar until three games ago, I don’t think there is much chance that he’s one and done.
Also, unless he improves his outside shooting (or takes more outside shots to demonstrate he doesn’t need improvement), I don’t think he’s likely to be two and done either.
But I kind of hope he has to make that decision (and decides to stay).
there is no way he is a one and done
he is providing a huge boost to the Gophers right now and he has a very bright NCAA future. But what about his game is going to make NBA scouts/coaches start to take notice. What does he do well enough that he’s one of the best in college basketball. I LOVE the kid, but he has not shown me that he is NBA lottery material.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Jan 24, 2012 10:51 AM CST up reply actions
He's strong, quick and athletic
But there are tons of guys like that. He will need to be a shooter at the next level.
and a better ball handler
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Jan 24, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, that's right
Although I think that’s something that will come pretty easily with experience.
Learning to hit threes will not just happen.
don't get me wrong
I love the kid and he will have a great Gopher career. But nothing about his game screams that he will be here for any less than 3 years. With some steady improvement maybe he leaves after three, but I’ll turn this into a Hawkeye site if he leaves in two or fewer.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Jan 24, 2012 2:23 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah I don't see him one and done...
but out after Junior year, perhaps. I think he can spend time working on his shooting and general strength (which allegedly he works his ass off harder than anybody else in the gym and weight room).
He’s going to be somebody. He just needs support.
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