Before that though, I went to the Gopher football game this weekend and actually tailgated for the first time. I know what you're thinking and yes there's probably something wrong with me, but it was my first time and it was a blast. I got to hook up with a couple of old college buddies who were in town from Wisconsin (including WSCTQB who used to comment on this blog back when it didn't suck so much), fun internet dudes Disco Stu and Stryker, and a big chunk of the Gopher Blogger/Twitterverse including @TreTanic (and his brother who I don't believe is on twitter anywhere), @MVoDT, @jdmill, and @Swannosaurus. I know I met other people but it's hard to remember because we did thinks like drink bourbon at 9:30am, destroy all of the beers, take an Uber from one parking lot to another, do back to back shots of fireball or fireball equivalent, and eat nothing but grilled sausages. It ruled. We also played a bunch of cornhole and MVoDT and I were the best team in history. I wish I could say I remembered more of the game, but I don't and then I died the next morning. Was a blast.
So anyone, on to the next crappy Gopher team. They opened as a pick 'em against Clemson tonight and have been bet all the way to -2 at some places. Which means someone is confident in the Gophers. I myself am not. Away we go.
Oh wait hold on. We had our Big Ten Basketball Fantasy Draft last night. Just a few notes:
- Keepers: Nate Mason, Caris Levert, Denzel Valentine, Robert Blackmon, Shep Garner, Jake Layman, Melo Trimble, Keita Bates-Diop.
- First round: Yogi Ferrell, Nigel Hayes, Malcolm Hill, Jarrod Uthoff, Isaac Hayes, Mike Thorne, Troy Williams, Shavon Shields.
- My team: Levert, Hayes, Derrick Walton, Brandon Taylor, Jae'Sean Tate, Adam Woodbury, and Carlos Morris.
- Gophers taken: Mason, Morris, Joey King
- I would also list which teams had the most and fewest players taken, but the website is being a dick and this is already boring.
And now away we go.
- And the game won't load on the stupid WatchESPN app. I swear to god someone will burn for this.
18:38 - It's 3-2 Clemson and I finally got it to load. I'm shocked the Gophers alllowed a 3. Shocked.
17:42 - Joey King posts up from about 16 out, then kicks a nice pass out of a double to Dupree McBrayer who first misses and easy rotation pass that would have resulted in an open 3, following that up by forcing up a terrible three pointer of his own. Then Clemson hits a 3 in transition. I can already sum this season up in once sequence.
17:14 - My son just snuck down to watch some of the game with me. I want to forbid him from being a Gopher fan so, so bad. Just as my Dad should have done for me.
15;50 - Buggs knocks down a 3 to make it 11-10 Clemson. I still have no idea what to make of Buggs.
15:21 - Clemson has done two things so far this game - offensive rebounds and make 3s. Stop me if you've heard this one before.
14:48 - Morris with a dumb floater that gets blocked, nobody fills to get back, layup Clemson. This may be the year I actually quit this dumb blog.
13:40 - No defense on either side, so at least it's fun. 18-14 Clemson.
12:58 - Mason drives and doesn't score, nobody fills and gets back, easy lay-up Clemson.
12:21 - McBrayer looks pretty smooth. Freshman-y, but smooth. TO THE FUTURE!
12:06 - Murphy gets completely lost and it's another Clemson lay-up. This is fairly unreal.
11:08 - Murphy's spin move from post to baseline, however, has gotten him multiple easy buckets this year including just now. There's some potential from some of these guys, no doubt.
9:30 - Murphy now hits a free throw line jumper. He's got an awfully good all around offensive game for a freshman. I expect "lots of potential but lots of young mistakes" to be this year's theme. Which I guess could be worse.
8:09 - And Murphy tip-dunk. This is just a Jordan Murphy live blog, apparently.
7:16 - Carlos Morris takes the pass in the left corner with a small window if he wants to shoot, jab steps instead and creates a little bit of room if he wants to drive, instead pulls back and shoots a contested 3-pointer which doesn't even come close to going in. This is what it sounds like when doves cry.
6:16 - Nice little double screen off the indbounds leads to a Mason jumper. Pitino still excels at drawing up offensive plays, either half court or off the inbounds. He sucks at a few things, but hopefully he'll learn, and he was more imaginative offensively than any other Gopher coach I can remember. Also Clemson hit a three while I was typing that.
4:30 - Buggs airballs a 3 by about 3 feet. Sure. Why not.
3:22 - Clemson just made a pass from wing to wing you should never be able to make against an aggressive zone. Led to a stupid 3, that went in of course, but just making that pass shouldn't happen.
2:50 - Joey King hits another open three and he's developed a pretty quick trigger. He still can't create his own offense and I don't see Big Ten coaches being unable to take him completely away, but he's at least reached a point where they'll have to scheme for him. Which I wouldn't have believed even a year ago.
0:30 - Clemson three. I almost can't wait to look at their kenpom numbers tomorrow. Hard to believe any other team in the country is getting killed by 3s like this. 42-36 half. I'm going to go watch whatever dumb show my wife is watching. I might be late for the second half. OH NO.
19:10 - Mason is so solid shooting. He's going to be really good.
17:24 - As I say that Mason gets caught standing around on defense. Some of the mistakes this team makes.........
16:25 - Morris goes one on 3 and somehow manages to kick it to Buggs who takes a dumb contested 3-pointer. Which hits front of rim, bounces up, and goes in. We'll take it, but that is not good basketball.
15:05 - Man Murphy just owns the baseline. Of course, then nobody gets back and it's yet another Clemson three. 51-50 Clemson.
14:04 - Another Clemson three on a drive and kick. Can't fault the Gophers too much on that one, but man it's just such a common pattern.
13:30 - Announcer guy, "King in the post. That's not really his offensive strength." No shit.
12:19 - Buggs hits just a stupid, stupid three pointer. Good for him I guess.
12:17 - I think I will have some sriracha beef jerky.
11:47 - Clemson sagging way off Dorsey already. I was hoping that wouldn't happen.
11:25 - Buggs fouled as he wildly drives the lane. He's much better at that then when he wildly chucks up contested threes.
11:00 - Dorsey steal and is blocked on the lay up, goes to McBrayer who wildly throws it in the direction of the rim, and then Murphy (who else) with the three point play to put the Gophers up 58-56. Huge coming out party against the Gophers toughest opponent to date. I still think McBrayer is going to be my guy from this team (behind Mason, who is everyone's guy) but Murphy showing some real chops.
9:11 - Lotta ugly and fast basketball here. Basically sums up the Pitino era so far. And I'm a fan!!
8:30 - I think that's Jabal Abu-Shamala behind the bench. Also the defense doesn't get back again.
8:22 - So I mention Shamala on twitter and my feed just blows up. You know who else people mentioned? Ryan Saunders and Blake Hoffarber. So many racists on twitter.
5:31 - of course that goes in
5:12 - OH SHIT McBrayer is from NYC? How the hell did I miss this? I LOVE NYC point guards. Told you he was my guy.
4:46 - Clemson misses a free throw. Somehow the rebound goes out of bounds off the Gophers. I need to drink more.
4:01 - Beautiful hesitation move into a lay-up by Dorsey. I take it all back. 71-65 Gophers.
3:31 - King just gets manhandled by Clemson big guy for deep position and easy lay-up. Probably shouldn't judge King on that since he shouldn't have to be in that position. Going to anyway.
2:40 - Murphy goes baseline again. Having an amazing game right now, 22 points and 8 rebounds on a team high 15 shots. Love it.
1:10 - Murphy tip in to pretty much end the game (80-73) and he came from the complete opposite block to get around the defense and get to that ball. What a game by this kid. Wow.
0:40 - Gophers up 85-78 and Pitino just called a timeout. Which means I'm bored now and it's time to go watch crappy tv with the wife. Jordan Murphy is amazing, and I see a ton of potential from Konate, Mason, Dorsey, and McBrayer. With some size transferring in I am currently way to optimistic about next year. Someone come hit me with something.
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3 comments:
That's 47 home non-conference wins in a row.....2nd only to Duke!!!!
Maybe they should research how many top 50 schools were played in that time since 2010...
Nice win, Murphy looked very active and polished.
Gopher's defense worst ever??? I think that's 173 points in two games given up, at home, to UN-O and Clemson.
Go Gophers!
Shamala was on the kiss cam on the big screen last night
Get swept by SoDak schools...wow, what a low point. Pitino's boys may get 1 or 2 wins in big ten. that is it. The barn will be a morgue this year.
Too early to wonder out loud if Pitino get's let go at the end of the year?
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