Minnesota defeated UMKC 90-61 at Williams Arena. With the win, the Gophers improve to 6-0 on the season. Liam Robbins led all scorers with 27 points.
Practically speaking the game was over once the tip off happened. Minnesota had a size advantage, talent advantage, and speed advantage at every position. I could spend a lot of time explaining why UMKC is a bad team, but the easiest way to describe it is that for an extended period of the game the Roos had more fouls than field goals made.
Evaluating by the usual metrics of winning and no player injuries, Minnesota was 1/2. Tre Williams picked up a bump in the first half and sat out the second half with a heavily taped and iced leg. In lieu of a full recap, I’ll provide a series of notes for each player that saw game action.
Individual Notes
Marcus Carr is one of the best guards in the Big Ten. His only weakness as a player is a desire to try and create via isolation work more often than necessary. Carr finished with 15 points and 7 assists in what was his worst outing of the season. Much of that stemmed from UMKC double and even shadow triple teaming him all night.
Gabe Kalscheur went 40% from distance. Progress is progress. He was his usual strong defensive self as well.
Both Gach had a smooth 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists. I want to see the Gophers run more action for Gach as we begin Big Ten play. He’s dangerous when given space to attack downhill.
Isaiah Ihnen made his first start of the year and looked reasonably comfortable in the spot. He will continue to spread the floor, which will continue to open up space for Robbins to go to work.
Liam Robbins had his best game as a Gopher. It helped that there was not a single defender within four inches of the big man. Robbins added 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks along with the aforementioned 27 points. Happily, he was 12-14 from the foul line. Sometimes basketball is a simple game where the best play is just to give it to the tall guy. Happily, Minnesota realized that today was one such time.
Tre Williams was injured, which unfortunately derailed extensive game action.
Eric Curry and Liam Robbins combined for a nice high-low action on multiple occasions.
Jarvis Omersa had the nearly perfect Omersa game with three fouls, a block, and a steal. If he had added a sweet alley oop dunk it would have been perfection.
Hunt Conroy, Martice Mitchell, Sam Freeman, David Mutaf, and Hunt Conroy played. Bench clear!
The competition takes a massive step up next Tuesday when Minnesota opens Big Ten play against Illinois.