Minnesota facing OSU at the right time
Posted on January 3rd, 2009 – 10:57 AMBy Myron Medcalf
Minnesota vs. Ohio State at Williams Arena.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Tubby Smith not only wants his team to do a better job of rebounding than it did against Michigan State, but he’s promising to reduce playing time for those that don’t put forth a good effort on the boards.
2. Ohio State’s B.J. Mullens, a 7-foot center, was supposed to be the top pick in this summer’s NBA draft. Now, he might hang around for a year after a disappointing start.
3. Ohio State is not the same team after losing David Lighty, who suffered a broken bone in his foot against Jacksonville. His absence has forced a lot of changes in Ohio State’s lineup. NBA prospect Evan Turner is playing PF now, and his shooting percentage has gone down since Lighty went out.
4. The Buckeyes zone defense is vulnerable against good three-point shooting teams and squads with good point guards. Paging Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber. Nolen? Hoffarber?
5. Minnesota couldn’t pick a better time to face the No. 24 Buckeyes. They’re missing key players and some of their young players are struggling. If Minnesota loses today …
What does that mean?
14 Responses to "Minnesota facing OSU at the right time"
If they win, the Golden Gopherinos have grit and determination - a must win today at home. If they lose, this team is learning from this season and we’ll see a 7-11 or 8-10 BT season out of them. Next two years will be the real deal, but this season is the growing up and build a solid foundation season and not NCAA tourney but NIT.
I am really pumped for a Gophers will win today against tOSU, Myron, so am hoping your closing question is going to be a mute point. I am optimistic, GO GOPHERS!!! p.s. I am also watching the LadyGophers on CBS nationwide. So…..
Let’s GO GOPHERS, AND LETS GO LADYGOPHERS!!!!!!!!
Why is Sampson not able to dunk the ball! Man these two big guys are playing tentative.
Good to see the BT refs - The WORST in the nation.
Buckeyes shooting just 23 percent at half. Keep it up Gophers. Mullens a non-factor!
Louisville win wasn’t a fluke, after all.
Carter and Joseph have injected renewed energy and focus. I believe, as much I like Nolen, that Joseph is the man today to lead the team at PG. He is coming into his own. However, I blend of Joseph and Nolen is a good one on any team. Carter is showing his stuff and hopefully Bostick will too. Shamala is solid and the Twin Trees, Sampson and Iverson, are showing better as the game goes on. However, Sampson is still acting a bit “green” and Iverson is not on all cylinders since the BT season kicked off, as he was before.
ALL of the whichever 5 are on the floor for the last 7 minutes of the half have outscored tOSU 19-2. Keep it up, Gophers!!!!!!
Myron, I guess I was right in the fact that your article ending question is now a moot point. Way to go Gophers, with a double win today….Bring on Iowa at Iowa City…I have a brother in Quad Cities who is going….should be fun again…GO GOPHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go Tubby, he is developing a deep team. The gopher squad is fun to watch and can really do well with the coach we have. If we didn’t have all the anti minnesota anything sports people from Illinois around it would be great , Puffy we need you back, thank goodness for Sid, I vote to send Reusse, BumpityBump, Souhan and even the worst little winer Chad Hartman to Chicago or New York or just far far away
You have hit the nail on the head, my friend, Reusse is bad news all the time, Souhan used to be fun to read but is going south lately. Minnesota fans like to support our teams, nothing wrong with scibes who like the same thing we do. I wouldn’t pay a nickel to read something by Reusse, and you sure can’t listen to his insanely mindless grating gravelly voice.
Man, I like Iverson, Johnson, Westbrooke, Harfarber, and Nolen when they are in together. Can’t wait until Coach Smith develops Sampson and Bostick into something. We have Bush, Joseph, Shamala, and Carter for depth and many many times we will need a little muscle from Williams (wow does he shoot haarrrd), who am I leaving out, I’m excited after pumping Ohio State and Louisville.
Dr. Don…stick to posting on Gopherhole. You are the biggest homer I’ve ever seen. Gopher football has been irrelevant for 40+ years and with the exception of ‘97 (which technically doesn’t exist) Gohper basketball has been irrelevant for almost 30 years. This team will lose to Iowa and maybe win 6-7 conference games. Quit drinking the kool-aid pal…
Bill Brasky-
Why wouldn’t Dr. Don be a homer, he is blogging on a Gopher Blog? You obviously aren’t a Gopher fan so why are you blogging on it? Do we really need you telling us how irrelevant we are?
I must admit I am plesantly surprised by the Gophers this season.Tubby has them way ahead of schedual,this guy can really coach.Iverson is a tough hard nosed player and is way ahead of where i expected him to be and Ralph3 is coming along,remember these guys are true freshmen.Deepest team we have had in years everyone contributes Tubby gets the most out of all his players.Just think of where we will be next year at this time with the 2 new super recruits we have coming.
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