Gophers Hope to Hand Illini a Third Straight Loss - OPEN THREAD
by GopherNation on Jan 28, 2012 6:50 PM CST
in Gopher Basketball
Email
PrintIllinois Fighting Illini at Minnesota Golden Gophers, Jan 28, 2012 7:00 PM CST
The Gophers look to get back on track with a home win this evening over Illinois. Can they avenge the OT loss they suffered in the Big Ten opener?
TV: BTN
Game Time: 7:00
| Pos | Minnesota | Pnt/Gm | |
Pnt/Gm | Illinois |
Pos |
| PG | Julian Welch | 4.7 |
2.7 | Tracy Abrams |
G | |
| G | Joe Coleman |
9.9 |
12.7 | D.J. Richardson |
G | |
| F | Austin Hollins | 8.7 |
14.0 | Brandon Paul |
G/F | |
| F | Rodney Williams |
9.8 |
7.1 | Joseph Bertrand | F | |
| C | Ralph Sampson III | 8.1 | 13.3 | Meyers Leonard |
C | |
| Bench | Andre Hollins |
6.1 | 5.1 | Tyler Griffey | Bench | |
| Bench |
Elliott Eliason |
2.8 | 8.7 | Sam Maniscalco | Bench | |
| Bench |
Chip Armelin |
6.2 |
1.1 | Nnanna Egwu |
Bench |
The Illini are not a very deep team. The eight names you see above are possibly going to be the only eight guys you see on the Barn floor tonight. The problem for the Gophers is that they are all very dangerous. Paul, Richardson and Leonard are about as good a trio as you will find. Maniscalco is capable of throwing in 20 and so is Bertrand, both have hit 15 or more on three different occasions this season. So they have a few guys who are very dangerous and then a few more guys who can punch you in the gut if you aren't paying attention to them.
But after beating Ohio State on the back of Brandon Paul, the Illini have lost two in a row. So they go back on the road hoping to avoid a third one. When they played earlier in the year Minnesota was a team still searching for an identity. I think they are a different team now with more confidence in what they do well. Should be a great game.
22 comments
|
Add comment
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Let's see Leonard get that call later in the game
"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
Is this where playing a deep bench
starts to pay off for the Gophers? Then again putting Ralph on the bench is like having your motor at full throttle and then pulling up the anchor so I am for sure biased.
Recording the game
Based on these comments not sure I will be watching. I was debating doing this already cause RS3 ticks me off. 5 for 13 from the line? Wtf is up with that?
I am blinded, but not by science...
by BlindedByIdiocy on Jan 28, 2012 9:00 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Dumb decision by Hollins to go in for the 2
But it pays off, makes it and will shot a FT for the tie.
Oh baby Austin Hollins
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
Only 13 comments???????? WTF
Most people must have been watching the hockey game which, by the way, the Gophers won 3-2.
One comment — Did you notice that when RSIII fouled out. the Gophers played a bit better. When Leonard fouled our for IL it cost them the game. Now, what does that tell you?
Exciting game
Second unit significantly outplayed the first in the first half. Armelin catching and shooting. Elliott playing tough d. Dre slashing.
Second half was ugly at times, but Austin single handedly willed us to OT and Dre took over from there.
Terrible free throw shooting made it closer than it should have. Ralph is really struggling. Rodney didn’t score a lot but contributed on the boards, on d, and with leadership. They look like wo guys going in different directions.
Even before
the game they were showing of clip of RSII talking to RSIII and RSIII just looked bored and thinking about something else. Now his dad had some animation and looked excited. I have come to realize that basketball is not RSIII’s priority in life at this time. He doesnt seem to enjoy the competition like his pops. This is fine, just wish coach could get some consistent life out of him. We all know he can drop 22 on Illinois, but then he just disappears. I would rather know your going to get 8 pts, 6 boards and 2 blocks out of him night in and night out….at least you know what your dealing with each game. We never know which Ralphie will show up….tends to be the suck Ralph most of the time.
by DallasGopher on Jan 29, 2012 8:44 AM CST up reply actions
He doesn't like physical contact
Shove him around and he pouts.
Right
Lenoard is bigger, longer, stronger and more physical. It’s rare for Ralph to face that combo, but any guy with the last two attributes takes him out of the game.
But he came out with some fire in the second half and really did try to be aggressive, but would up a little out of control.
The good news is he made his post move to the baseline twice, which brings his career total to three after us first against MSU.
Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in.
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Daily Gopher
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
