Just got back from the game. I'm not even going to attempt to make this an organized post. Just a bunch of thoughts. So away we go for fun times.
1. I hate Wisconsin. I mean I really hate everything about Wisconsin. I hate their stupid team, and their stupid players, and their stupid evil coach, and their stupid fans, and their stupid cheese obsession. The only good things about Wisconsin are Spotted Cow Brewery and that you can play craps there. Honestly if the ground opened up and swallowed the entire state (sans Turtle Lake) in a giant fire of aids the world would be a better place. And the fans, oh my god. Yes, you're allowed to cheer for your team when you're visiting another arena, but you are not allowed to stand up and yell, "Yes Jordan Taylor!" after every made basket and draw attention to yourself in a way that would be obnoxious even if you were rooting for the home team, and especially not if you're going to where some gay tie-dyed t-shirt that apparently says Wisconsin on it like some kind of dirty hippy.
2. The last play. I completely agree that putting the ball in Andre Hollins's hands was the right call. He had been the best player for the Gophers the entire second half and deserved to have that chance. What I don't understand was the time out called in order to have him go 1-on-1 with four guys standing still. Give him a pick, or, when he first makes his move, run a screen away from the ball somewhere, because Hollins going against Taylor is rarely going to work. Taylor is one of the best defenders in the league (although Snacks disagreed with the rebuttal "nuh uh") so they're not going to double to help. The whole success of the isolation drive comes either from the dribbler beating his man and either getting to the rim or drawing the defense and finding and open man. Calling the timeout gave Wisconsin's evil coach a chance to drill into his players brains (literally? maybe) to not leave their men, and even though Sconnie's players are dumb, like all good Nazis they're great at following orders.
Hollins had a great game. He stood up to Jordan Taylor and several times got the better of him, especially on the defensive end. It was a breakout game for a possible future star and he was extremely fun to watch. But at this point in their respective careers he's not going to beat Taylor very often. He's just not, especially with nothing else going on away from the ball and the team being completely dependent on him to create the offense. Plus, why call a timeout to call that play when you could just as easily yell "Andre go 1-on-1 when the shot clock gets down to 8 seconds." Calling the timeout just gave the Dr. Robotnik a chance to remind his drones to stay home (note I haven't watched the last play because I'd rather have Jon Lovitz piss directly into my eyeballs, but if anybody doubled at all it came super late). That "play" was just never going to work.
The best chance they had was when they were stalling and running the clock and Taylor switched onto Rodney Williams. Someone has to recognize that, whether it's Rodney himself, Hollins, or Tubby (especially him) and get Williams's ass into the paint. At worst you end up with a slightly scrambling Wisconsin defense as they figure out who should be where, at best you end up with a mismatch and get Rodney the ball, in a game where he was practically unguardable because Wisconsin is slow and are assholes. But nobody saw it, there was no real play called, Dre did his best in a tough situation, and that was that.
3. It's easy to think about the bad, but there was some good at least, beyond even Hollins and Williams having really good games, and the big call-out for me was the defense. Yes, Wisconsin hit too many three pointers, but after their 3-3 start they went just 6-20 and that included a couple of prayers by Taylor and Gasser that really shouldn't have gone in. They played good, physical defense and against a physical team and got the better of them most of the time, especially Hollins. To use a stupid, annoying phrase that idiotic announcers overuse but fuck it I can't think of anything better right now, they punched the bully in the mouth and the bully well, didn't fall down because Sconnie still won, but they definitely held their own. This point would feel way better if the Gophers had managed to eek out the win.
Which brings me to another positive, which is the comeback - failed yes, but still, they did fight back. Also I just realized I'm talking about a moral victory and I really don't want to do that so let's move on from that part now. Instead I'll just mention that the Barn was rockin' and the crowd did a great job. It was funny because we were talking about Williams Arena before the game and wondering if a young kid who had never been there would be impressed. And after the game we realized the problem with the Barn isn't the Barn, it's that the product has been so stale and mediocre the atmosphere just wanes of it's own volition. Put a good product out there and the place rocks and there's no better place to be in college basketball except like Cameron and Phog Allen and you know, sweet places like that.
4. Speaking of volition, I heard both Spencer and whoever that other idiot is mention that the Gophers should have had momentum going into overtime but I disagree. When they blew their chance at the regulation I sure as shit didn't think, "they got this." It was more like, "that was their shot, now we're hosed."
5. And not to get back to the negative but what do you expect from me, but the Gophers were just awful in OT. The offense degraded into playground ball where whoever has it just puts their head down and heads to the basket consequences be damned, and I'm sorry but the Gophers seem to be missing a guy like Hot Sauce or Half Man Half Amazing or Skip to my Lou. The Gophers did a great job taking the ball to the rack in the flow of the offense all game, but lost their rhythm in OT.
6. Sobieski vodka is the goods. Nostrovia! Also Maverick Ahanmisi has no business being on the court in a Big 10 game. Chances I go to the game Tuesday: 10%.
7. Oh, and forgot to mention that Ralph's OVER/UNDER on sportsbook.com for points + rebounds tonight was 11.5. That is absolutely embarrassing for a senior 7-foot starter on a major college team. AND HE DIDN'T CLEAR THE OVER. If he had accepted my facebook friend request I'd totally defriend him right now.
Showing posts with label Jordan Taylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jordan Taylor. Show all posts
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Preview: Gophers vs. Badgers
So we watched Shark Night last night. I was going to live blog it but that fell through and it's probably good that it did because after a promising beginning the thing just went completely off the rails (as I suppose most of these movies do) and it wouldn't have been worth reading. Some of your high (and low) lights that I remember in the light of the cold dark day:
- I did not get any 3D glasses from the Redbox machine so I could not watch this in crisp cool 3D. False advertising.
- It had the dude in it from the O.C. You know, the guy who says, "Welcome to the O.C. bitch" to Ryan in the pilot? Unfortunately they did not work in any kind of sly O.C. reference which was a shame and SPOILER ALERT he ended up being the villain. Yes we had villains not just sharks. And by the way, I can't hear that Hallelujah song without thinking about Marissa dying. Is that the most effed up thing you've ever heard in your life or what? It's like my biggest shame or something. You know, other than my life.
- It had a whole bunch of different species of sharks in it, which was a nice touch. No goblin sharks though.
- The main characters were a mishmash of Breakfast Club stereotypes who would never hang out in real life.
- Apparently if you have your entire arm bitten off you can still live for like, ever (or until you get eaten by a shark) and even have the strength to use a makeshift spear to spear a hammerhead to death if a guy who is applying to med school applies a tourniquet. Good information to have.
- All sharks are blood-thirsty predators who will immediately chase down and eat any person who gets in the water. This includes normally more timid species such as the hammerhead and the thresher shark, which has never attacked a human other than one time when one of them was provoked so the person probably deserved it.
- Then my two favorite parts. First, O.C. Villain dude tells hero guy that he is going to feed him to a tiger shark. Truly terrifying creature. Tiger sharks are probably my favorite because they're so bad ass and just don't give a fuck and will eat anything that comes near their mouth. They have the second most recorded attacks on humans behind the great white. If you go surfing in Hawaii you will get eaten by a tiger shark. FACT. They rock. They look like this:
Then they cut to a shot of the "tiger shark" and it looks like this:
Scary looking? Yes. Scary? No. That's a sand tiger shark, and while the tiger shark has eaten 29 people in unprovoked attacks, the sand tiger's total is one. One person. Ever. Plus if you've ever been to an aquarium that shark should look familiar because they're such big pussies they can survive and thrive in aquariums. People always put them in aquariums because of that and that they look scary, but don't be fooled. Might as well be a dolphin. Nice science, movie jerks.
And then #2 is this:
Seriously that is so sweet it almost made up for the entire movie. But it didn't. Do not recommend.
Anyway I guess there's a game tomorrow. By now you pretty much know what you're going to get with Wisconsin - a bunch of dumb-ass hillbilly hicks who are at the same time both douchey and too dumb to be douchey who are going to play an insanely boring game in which if they ever run while dribbling the Grinch will pull them out of the game and stare at them in anger like they're roast beast because his heart is two sizes too small. You know the names - Sam Okey, Brian Butch, Kirk Penney, Mark Vershaw, Alando Tucker, Devin Harris, Joe Krabbenhoft, Kam Taylor, and, even though he was less annoying than the rest of these guys, Jon Leuer. Almost completely unlikable, and this year's version of this team might be the most boring and annoying of any yet.
You don't need to be some kind of clearly brilliant analytical mind like Rick Reilly to know that the best player on this team is Jordan Taylor, but he might not be the real key tomorrow night. You see, because as usual Wisconsin's offensive game plan is to walk the ball up as slowly as possible, pass it around the perimeter until someone falls asleep and then make a three-pointer. It's what they always do. But there's been a problem - they haven't shot well this year. The Badgers are hitting just 35.6% from three this year, their worst mark since 2007. They're also assisting on fewer made buckets than ever, with assists on just 50.9% of all made baskets, the lowest rate since 2003 (the oldest year I can find data for this). So what does that mean?
I'm not exactly sure, but Taylor is taking fewer shots, making fewer shots, and this is the second least efficient Wisconsin offense since 2003 (again, oldest year available) behind just 2006. Wisconsin's strengths on offense that have always led to a highly efficient team have been taking care of the basketball, crisp ball movement, and good outside shooting. Of those three, taking care of the basketball is the only one Wisconsin is as sharp on as usual, which has led to some rough games this season already - three home losses including one to Iowa.
The Gophers cannot let the Badger offense get going from outside. In the loss to Iowa they were 3-28 from three (with just 9 assists). In the loss to Michigan they shot just 7-20 and had only 6 assists for the game, Michigan State 5-22 with 5 assists, Ohio State 5-27 (10 assists), Marquette 5-19 (8 assists), and UNC 8-28 (6 assists). It's pretty clear. No open looks, no easy buckets, play tough defense and that's how you can beat this version of Wisconsin, because this is one of the best defensive teams in Bo Ryan's tenure.
No, really. Taylor is very good, Ryan Evans gives them an athletic, wing tweener type they don't really have, and they have more than the usual gaggle of goofy looking white dudes to throw out there, and as anyone who has ever played at an open gym will tell you those goofy looking white guys are freaking tough. They have extra long arms they use like Plastic Man, they go all out on every single possession even when their man doesn't have the ball, they're disciplined and don't take chances, and they freaking love to box out. The Gophers are going to have a ton of problems scoring tomorrow, but it can be done because Wisconsin doesn't force you to turn the ball over, they just force you to take bad shots. But Iowa of all teams was able to score 72 on them by being smart and WORKING THE BALL INSIDE (only 6 three point attempts for the Hawkeyes all game - yes the Hawkeyes). Sconnie plays so slowly you will get precious few possessions, so be smart and make the right choices with the ball.
Look, I'll be the first to tell you this Wisconsin team is overrated and has a very good chance to be an early out in the tournament. At the same time, their list of losses is at North Carolina, Marquette, Iowa, Michigan State (in OT), at Michigan, and at Ohio State - that's it. That is a damn nice looking list outside of Iowa. This is not a bad Wisconsin team by any means and this is going to be a very tough game for the Gophers and I fully expect a defensive struggle. Actually whatever the OVER/UNDER is tomorrow, take the UNDER. I don't care if it's 100, take the under.
It all comes down to this. Another must win, but this might be the last one. I'm hoping not.
Minnesota 51, Wisconsin 47
- I did not get any 3D glasses from the Redbox machine so I could not watch this in crisp cool 3D. False advertising.
- It had the dude in it from the O.C. You know, the guy who says, "Welcome to the O.C. bitch" to Ryan in the pilot? Unfortunately they did not work in any kind of sly O.C. reference which was a shame and SPOILER ALERT he ended up being the villain. Yes we had villains not just sharks. And by the way, I can't hear that Hallelujah song without thinking about Marissa dying. Is that the most effed up thing you've ever heard in your life or what? It's like my biggest shame or something. You know, other than my life.
- It had a whole bunch of different species of sharks in it, which was a nice touch. No goblin sharks though.
- The main characters were a mishmash of Breakfast Club stereotypes who would never hang out in real life.
- Apparently if you have your entire arm bitten off you can still live for like, ever (or until you get eaten by a shark) and even have the strength to use a makeshift spear to spear a hammerhead to death if a guy who is applying to med school applies a tourniquet. Good information to have.
- All sharks are blood-thirsty predators who will immediately chase down and eat any person who gets in the water. This includes normally more timid species such as the hammerhead and the thresher shark, which has never attacked a human other than one time when one of them was provoked so the person probably deserved it.
- Then my two favorite parts. First, O.C. Villain dude tells hero guy that he is going to feed him to a tiger shark. Truly terrifying creature. Tiger sharks are probably my favorite because they're so bad ass and just don't give a fuck and will eat anything that comes near their mouth. They have the second most recorded attacks on humans behind the great white. If you go surfing in Hawaii you will get eaten by a tiger shark. FACT. They rock. They look like this:
Then they cut to a shot of the "tiger shark" and it looks like this:
Scary looking? Yes. Scary? No. That's a sand tiger shark, and while the tiger shark has eaten 29 people in unprovoked attacks, the sand tiger's total is one. One person. Ever. Plus if you've ever been to an aquarium that shark should look familiar because they're such big pussies they can survive and thrive in aquariums. People always put them in aquariums because of that and that they look scary, but don't be fooled. Might as well be a dolphin. Nice science, movie jerks.
And then #2 is this:
Seriously that is so sweet it almost made up for the entire movie. But it didn't. Do not recommend.
Anyway I guess there's a game tomorrow. By now you pretty much know what you're going to get with Wisconsin - a bunch of dumb-ass hillbilly hicks who are at the same time both douchey and too dumb to be douchey who are going to play an insanely boring game in which if they ever run while dribbling the Grinch will pull them out of the game and stare at them in anger like they're roast beast because his heart is two sizes too small. You know the names - Sam Okey, Brian Butch, Kirk Penney, Mark Vershaw, Alando Tucker, Devin Harris, Joe Krabbenhoft, Kam Taylor, and, even though he was less annoying than the rest of these guys, Jon Leuer. Almost completely unlikable, and this year's version of this team might be the most boring and annoying of any yet.
You don't need to be some kind of clearly brilliant analytical mind like Rick Reilly to know that the best player on this team is Jordan Taylor, but he might not be the real key tomorrow night. You see, because as usual Wisconsin's offensive game plan is to walk the ball up as slowly as possible, pass it around the perimeter until someone falls asleep and then make a three-pointer. It's what they always do. But there's been a problem - they haven't shot well this year. The Badgers are hitting just 35.6% from three this year, their worst mark since 2007. They're also assisting on fewer made buckets than ever, with assists on just 50.9% of all made baskets, the lowest rate since 2003 (the oldest year I can find data for this). So what does that mean?
I'm not exactly sure, but Taylor is taking fewer shots, making fewer shots, and this is the second least efficient Wisconsin offense since 2003 (again, oldest year available) behind just 2006. Wisconsin's strengths on offense that have always led to a highly efficient team have been taking care of the basketball, crisp ball movement, and good outside shooting. Of those three, taking care of the basketball is the only one Wisconsin is as sharp on as usual, which has led to some rough games this season already - three home losses including one to Iowa.
The Gophers cannot let the Badger offense get going from outside. In the loss to Iowa they were 3-28 from three (with just 9 assists). In the loss to Michigan they shot just 7-20 and had only 6 assists for the game, Michigan State 5-22 with 5 assists, Ohio State 5-27 (10 assists), Marquette 5-19 (8 assists), and UNC 8-28 (6 assists). It's pretty clear. No open looks, no easy buckets, play tough defense and that's how you can beat this version of Wisconsin, because this is one of the best defensive teams in Bo Ryan's tenure.
No, really. Taylor is very good, Ryan Evans gives them an athletic, wing tweener type they don't really have, and they have more than the usual gaggle of goofy looking white dudes to throw out there, and as anyone who has ever played at an open gym will tell you those goofy looking white guys are freaking tough. They have extra long arms they use like Plastic Man, they go all out on every single possession even when their man doesn't have the ball, they're disciplined and don't take chances, and they freaking love to box out. The Gophers are going to have a ton of problems scoring tomorrow, but it can be done because Wisconsin doesn't force you to turn the ball over, they just force you to take bad shots. But Iowa of all teams was able to score 72 on them by being smart and WORKING THE BALL INSIDE (only 6 three point attempts for the Hawkeyes all game - yes the Hawkeyes). Sconnie plays so slowly you will get precious few possessions, so be smart and make the right choices with the ball.
Look, I'll be the first to tell you this Wisconsin team is overrated and has a very good chance to be an early out in the tournament. At the same time, their list of losses is at North Carolina, Marquette, Iowa, Michigan State (in OT), at Michigan, and at Ohio State - that's it. That is a damn nice looking list outside of Iowa. This is not a bad Wisconsin team by any means and this is going to be a very tough game for the Gophers and I fully expect a defensive struggle. Actually whatever the OVER/UNDER is tomorrow, take the UNDER. I don't care if it's 100, take the under.
It all comes down to this. Another must win, but this might be the last one. I'm hoping not.
Minnesota 51, Wisconsin 47
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Big Ten Preview: #7 WISCONSIN BADGERS
Once again, I see no way Wisconsin can finish in the upper division of the Big 10 this year. Now I fully admit I think this same thing pretty much every year and pretty much every year they prove me wrong, but I'm just not seeing this year.
Obviously everything about the Badgers this year begins and ends with Jordan Taylor, who is not doubt a supreme talent and had a statistically amazing season last year. If you think that year was a fluke or a harbinger of things to come probably has a lot to do with your opinion of the Badgers' fortunes this season. After being a below average shooter in his first two years in the league, Taylor increased his shooting percentage by 40 points from his sophomore to junior year, including raising his 3-point and FT percentages by over 100 points, and put up an absolutely staggering 4.2 assist-to-turnover ratio to lead the nation, a ratio that was more than double nearly every other player who put up a high number of assists. It was a mind-blowing year that pretty much came out of nowhere, and you can firmly put me in the camp that we're going to see some regression to the mean this year, especially without Leuer to take some of the pressure off of Taylor.
Actually I have no idea who is going to take the pressure off of Taylor this season, because G Josh Gasser and F Mophead Bruesewitz are the only guys back who played significant time last year. Gasser had one of the more unlikely triple-doubles in history last year, but is pretty much a meh player and Bruesewitz is more of an energy and effort guy than a true scorer. Then again this is Wisconsin. The laws of time and space and sports cease to function when you cross the border, and guys like Gasser and Mophead who would be bench warmers on other teams become not only significant contributors, but even all-conference types. I don't like Bo Ryan - I'm pretty sure nobody does - but I've learned not to doubt him.
As big of question marks as those two are, behind them things are even more unsettled. Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren both played in a lot of games last year and although they didn't put up the most impressive stats on a consistent basis both showed flashes at times that they could fit in within the world's slowest offense. Ryan also has two years worth of unheralded, barely ranked, few stars recruits that, outside of Gasser, haven't played much and I have no doubt at least one or two of them will make a significant contribution this year.
In short, Wisconsin once again looks like it will be a down year for them on paper. But we've been saying this for like six straight years now and every year they're in contention for the Big 10 title and end up a lock for an NCAA bid by early February, so it wouldn't shock me if that ends up being the case once again. I will say this though - if they end up doing it, it will be the most impressive of their surprisingly good seasons yet, because I see all kinds of troubles in Badgerland.
DWG Over/Under Conference Wins: 8.5
Obviously everything about the Badgers this year begins and ends with Jordan Taylor, who is not doubt a supreme talent and had a statistically amazing season last year. If you think that year was a fluke or a harbinger of things to come probably has a lot to do with your opinion of the Badgers' fortunes this season. After being a below average shooter in his first two years in the league, Taylor increased his shooting percentage by 40 points from his sophomore to junior year, including raising his 3-point and FT percentages by over 100 points, and put up an absolutely staggering 4.2 assist-to-turnover ratio to lead the nation, a ratio that was more than double nearly every other player who put up a high number of assists. It was a mind-blowing year that pretty much came out of nowhere, and you can firmly put me in the camp that we're going to see some regression to the mean this year, especially without Leuer to take some of the pressure off of Taylor.
Actually I have no idea who is going to take the pressure off of Taylor this season, because G Josh Gasser and F Mophead Bruesewitz are the only guys back who played significant time last year. Gasser had one of the more unlikely triple-doubles in history last year, but is pretty much a meh player and Bruesewitz is more of an energy and effort guy than a true scorer. Then again this is Wisconsin. The laws of time and space and sports cease to function when you cross the border, and guys like Gasser and Mophead who would be bench warmers on other teams become not only significant contributors, but even all-conference types. I don't like Bo Ryan - I'm pretty sure nobody does - but I've learned not to doubt him.
As big of question marks as those two are, behind them things are even more unsettled. Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren both played in a lot of games last year and although they didn't put up the most impressive stats on a consistent basis both showed flashes at times that they could fit in within the world's slowest offense. Ryan also has two years worth of unheralded, barely ranked, few stars recruits that, outside of Gasser, haven't played much and I have no doubt at least one or two of them will make a significant contribution this year.
In short, Wisconsin once again looks like it will be a down year for them on paper. But we've been saying this for like six straight years now and every year they're in contention for the Big 10 title and end up a lock for an NCAA bid by early February, so it wouldn't shock me if that ends up being the case once again. I will say this though - if they end up doing it, it will be the most impressive of their surprisingly good seasons yet, because I see all kinds of troubles in Badgerland.
DWG Over/Under Conference Wins: 8.5
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday Talkings - 4/28/2011
Do you guys have any idea how hard it is to come up with things to write for a Twins/Gopher basketball blog when there's nothing going on with Gopher basketball and the Twins suck worse than your life does? Seriously, before long most of the blog entries here are going to be like, "Hey, have I told you about my bunions? Oh, you're gonna love this story! So, I line up my cold cuts on the couch next to me, but as I'm stacking them up, they keep falling into my foot bath!"
You just watch, it's going to happen. Although, once again due to the Twins' ineptitude, I don't think anybody is reading anyway. Yes, it must be due to the Twins' ineptitude.
Anyway, I'm just going to sit here and type things as I think of them. You monkeys will read anything.
- Speaking of reading anything, have you been checking out Grantland.com, Bill Simmons new sports and pop culture site? I like it overall so far, mainly because it gives you 4-5 new articles every day to choose from. It's certainly been a mixed bag, with great stuff like Klosterman's great piece about a JuCo basketball game in North Dakota from 1988 (I know it sounds weird, just read it) mixed in with some complete garbage like this (hatchet job on stats using basketball as an example), this (brutally bad and rambling article that states it's point and then never comes close to touching on it again), and this (weird attack on Blake Lively that doesn't belong on this site - or anywhere, really) as well as some weird homer shit from Simmons about the Bruins. Overall though, there are 3 or so pretty entertaining pieces per day and more good than bad, so I'd recommend making it part of your daily internet routine. Or not, whatever. Like I care.
- Twins are winning 3-1 right now in the fourth. Kind of a weird feeling.
- Maybe we should talk some Big 10 hoops, eh? Since that's kind of the whole reason I started this blog - well, that and boredom....maybe a little egotism. Going to be kind of an odd year since there's so much talent leaving. Of the three all Big Ten teams only Jared Sullinger, Jordan Taylor, Trevor Mbakwe, William Buford, Draymond Green, and John Shurna are back. Only 3 of the 6 honorable mentions are back as well (wait, Lewis Jackson was honorable mention all Big Ten? How is this possible? Is there some sort of degree of difficulty modifier added due to being 5-foot-6?)
One of the players I'm most intrigued with this year is Illinois freshman point guard Tracy Abrams, who ranks as the #13 point guard and #58 overall recruit according to Rivals. As you probably are aware of, for some reason when Chester Frazier graduated Bruce Weber decided Demetri McNuggets was going to be there point guard and never bothered to get another one. This led to McCamey putting up good stats (although he couldn't put up a single rep on the bench press at the NBA Combine) and constantly unraveling at the end of games because, as anybody could tell, he wasn't a god damn point guard. Now, still thanks to Weber's complete inattentiveness to the position (Tubby -> Hi) they are giving the job to Abrams because he's the only PG on the roster. Illinois has plenty of talent back so basically their entire season hinges on if Abrams can handle the PG position. Always good to have your season's success hanging on whether an 18-year old kid can play the most important position on the court in his first year jumping from High School to major College ball.
The other player who I think will have the biggest impact on a team's success or failure this year is Brandon Wood of Michigan State. Wood was a lightly recruited combo guard out of high school who signed with Southern Illinois and then transferred to Valpo. He blossomed with the Crusaders, averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebs, and 3 assists in his last two years and lighting up North Carolina for 30, Michigan State for 24, and Purdue for over 20 twice in those two years. He's eligible immediately since he's already graduated, and with the Spartans losing Kalin Lucas (expected) and Korie Lucious (unexpected) they're thin in the back court (unlike Draymond Green). I fully expect Wood to end up being their primary ball-handler. If he's a disaster Michigan State's season will likely be as well, unless Green can run full-time point forward duties.
Finally, I am curious to see how Jordan Taylor does with nothing around him. He obviously had a monster season last year but he had Jon Leuer to help take a lot of the defensive attention off of him, and even Keaton Nankivil to help. Now they're both gone and I know Bo Ryan and the gay Badgers always find ways to win and somebody always steps up but I really don't see anyone on this roster capable of becoming a viable second scorer. It's all going to be up to Taylor, and he's either going to average 24 pts/8 rebs/7 assists per game or he's going to end up shooting in the low 30s percentage-wise. Maybe both.
- For the record I am VERY unhappy with Emma Stone's new blonde hair. Very unhappy. I'm super glad I broke up with her now. She's 10 times hotter with red hair, and that might be a low number.
- Russell freaking Martin leads the AL in voting at catcher? Jesus it's almost all Yankees. Something needs to be done about this process. Maybe it should be like having a baby should be and you have to pass some kind of competency exam first. First, Martin doesn't even have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. Second, he's hitting just .230, 8th among AL catchers with at least 100 PAs. He ranks 6th in HRs and RBI amongst AL catchers and 5th in OPS. I'm guessing this is simply a case of being a Yankee and having a name people recognize as having been really really good in the NL a few years ago. Poor Alex Avila. He's having a monster season so far (note: I had no idea) and he'll have to catch a break to make the All-Star game. Derek Jeter (who is actually having a worse season at the plate than Alexi Casilla) garnering more votes than Asdrubel Cabrera is actually a bigger travesty, but writing about Jeter being overrated is like telling jokes about airplane food at this point.
- You can go ahead and put me squarely in the camp of "Josh Selby won't get it figured out." Guy's got AND 1 All-Star written all over him. Skip to My Lou 2 - The Reversoning.
- Cliff Lee shut out the Red Sox tonight and allowed just two hits, which wouldn't really be all that surprising since it is Cliff Lee after all, but I was doing some digging into this game for gambling purposes (I ended up not wagering on the game) and it's actually amazing considering how the current Sox have done in their careers against Lee. Marco Scutaro has hit .302 against him, Pedroia has hit .364, Darnell McDonald .400, and Adrian Gonzalez an incredible .700. Kevin Youkilis hasn't hit him that well, but he's drawn 4 walks to 2 strikeouts and has a .400 OBP against Lee. He's dominated Ellsbury and Varitek, but really based on history the Sox should have had some success against Lee. Which once again proves that nothing makes any sense ever.
- You know, Daenarys Targaryen is a dead-ringer for Claire from Lost. Check it:
I speak truth.
Like always.
You just watch, it's going to happen. Although, once again due to the Twins' ineptitude, I don't think anybody is reading anyway. Yes, it must be due to the Twins' ineptitude.
Anyway, I'm just going to sit here and type things as I think of them. You monkeys will read anything.
- Speaking of reading anything, have you been checking out Grantland.com, Bill Simmons new sports and pop culture site? I like it overall so far, mainly because it gives you 4-5 new articles every day to choose from. It's certainly been a mixed bag, with great stuff like Klosterman's great piece about a JuCo basketball game in North Dakota from 1988 (I know it sounds weird, just read it) mixed in with some complete garbage like this (hatchet job on stats using basketball as an example), this (brutally bad and rambling article that states it's point and then never comes close to touching on it again), and this (weird attack on Blake Lively that doesn't belong on this site - or anywhere, really) as well as some weird homer shit from Simmons about the Bruins. Overall though, there are 3 or so pretty entertaining pieces per day and more good than bad, so I'd recommend making it part of your daily internet routine. Or not, whatever. Like I care.
- Twins are winning 3-1 right now in the fourth. Kind of a weird feeling.
- Maybe we should talk some Big 10 hoops, eh? Since that's kind of the whole reason I started this blog - well, that and boredom....maybe a little egotism. Going to be kind of an odd year since there's so much talent leaving. Of the three all Big Ten teams only Jared Sullinger, Jordan Taylor, Trevor Mbakwe, William Buford, Draymond Green, and John Shurna are back. Only 3 of the 6 honorable mentions are back as well (wait, Lewis Jackson was honorable mention all Big Ten? How is this possible? Is there some sort of degree of difficulty modifier added due to being 5-foot-6?)
One of the players I'm most intrigued with this year is Illinois freshman point guard Tracy Abrams, who ranks as the #13 point guard and #58 overall recruit according to Rivals. As you probably are aware of, for some reason when Chester Frazier graduated Bruce Weber decided Demetri McNuggets was going to be there point guard and never bothered to get another one. This led to McCamey putting up good stats (although he couldn't put up a single rep on the bench press at the NBA Combine) and constantly unraveling at the end of games because, as anybody could tell, he wasn't a god damn point guard. Now, still thanks to Weber's complete inattentiveness to the position (Tubby -> Hi) they are giving the job to Abrams because he's the only PG on the roster. Illinois has plenty of talent back so basically their entire season hinges on if Abrams can handle the PG position. Always good to have your season's success hanging on whether an 18-year old kid can play the most important position on the court in his first year jumping from High School to major College ball.
The other player who I think will have the biggest impact on a team's success or failure this year is Brandon Wood of Michigan State. Wood was a lightly recruited combo guard out of high school who signed with Southern Illinois and then transferred to Valpo. He blossomed with the Crusaders, averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebs, and 3 assists in his last two years and lighting up North Carolina for 30, Michigan State for 24, and Purdue for over 20 twice in those two years. He's eligible immediately since he's already graduated, and with the Spartans losing Kalin Lucas (expected) and Korie Lucious (unexpected) they're thin in the back court (unlike Draymond Green). I fully expect Wood to end up being their primary ball-handler. If he's a disaster Michigan State's season will likely be as well, unless Green can run full-time point forward duties.
Finally, I am curious to see how Jordan Taylor does with nothing around him. He obviously had a monster season last year but he had Jon Leuer to help take a lot of the defensive attention off of him, and even Keaton Nankivil to help. Now they're both gone and I know Bo Ryan and the gay Badgers always find ways to win and somebody always steps up but I really don't see anyone on this roster capable of becoming a viable second scorer. It's all going to be up to Taylor, and he's either going to average 24 pts/8 rebs/7 assists per game or he's going to end up shooting in the low 30s percentage-wise. Maybe both.
- For the record I am VERY unhappy with Emma Stone's new blonde hair. Very unhappy. I'm super glad I broke up with her now. She's 10 times hotter with red hair, and that might be a low number.
- Russell freaking Martin leads the AL in voting at catcher? Jesus it's almost all Yankees. Something needs to be done about this process. Maybe it should be like having a baby should be and you have to pass some kind of competency exam first. First, Martin doesn't even have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. Second, he's hitting just .230, 8th among AL catchers with at least 100 PAs. He ranks 6th in HRs and RBI amongst AL catchers and 5th in OPS. I'm guessing this is simply a case of being a Yankee and having a name people recognize as having been really really good in the NL a few years ago. Poor Alex Avila. He's having a monster season so far (note: I had no idea) and he'll have to catch a break to make the All-Star game. Derek Jeter (who is actually having a worse season at the plate than Alexi Casilla) garnering more votes than Asdrubel Cabrera is actually a bigger travesty, but writing about Jeter being overrated is like telling jokes about airplane food at this point.
- You can go ahead and put me squarely in the camp of "Josh Selby won't get it figured out." Guy's got AND 1 All-Star written all over him. Skip to My Lou 2 - The Reversoning.
- Cliff Lee shut out the Red Sox tonight and allowed just two hits, which wouldn't really be all that surprising since it is Cliff Lee after all, but I was doing some digging into this game for gambling purposes (I ended up not wagering on the game) and it's actually amazing considering how the current Sox have done in their careers against Lee. Marco Scutaro has hit .302 against him, Pedroia has hit .364, Darnell McDonald .400, and Adrian Gonzalez an incredible .700. Kevin Youkilis hasn't hit him that well, but he's drawn 4 walks to 2 strikeouts and has a .400 OBP against Lee. He's dominated Ellsbury and Varitek, but really based on history the Sox should have had some success against Lee. Which once again proves that nothing makes any sense ever.
- You know, Daenarys Targaryen is a dead-ringer for Claire from Lost. Check it:
I speak truth.
Like always.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Gophers vs. Badgers: Live Blog
Seeing as how it's the opener of Big Ten play, I figured I might as well hanker down with my libration of choice and put some thoughts to paper. Well, to screen. You know what I mean. You don't always have to be so liberal.
20:00 - Ah, the Kohl Center, full of a bunch of retards dressed all in red. Did I ever tell you I was there for the Lawrence Westbrook game? So awesome. When he hit the shot to send the game to OT the entire place went silent, except for me, Bogart, and Dawger up in the upper deck who were pretty much losing our damn minds. Such a great time, especially later when Dawger slapped a piece of pizza out of some insolent jerks mouth. But that's neither here nor there, and not my story to tell.
20:00 - By the way, I'm just going to go ahead and admit I'm going to misspell Bruesewitz throughout this entire thing.
19:35 - Great defense by Ralph Sampson right off the bat forcing Jon Leuer into an airball, and he then gets the ball on the block, backs Leuer in, and scores on a nice hook shot. Great start for the big guy. It can be easy to take him for granite and concentrate on Mbakwe, Nolen, and Hoffarber, but Sampson is going to have to come up big if the Gophers want to grab an upset.
18:55 - Rodney Williams just fouled Keaton Nankivil on a 3-pointer, and he makes all three. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.
18:36 - Rodney makes up for it with a big dunk and the foul. He even makes the free throw which is pretty unexpected.
17:39 - Jordan Taylor and Leuer miss 28-footers on back-to-back possessions sandwiched around a missed Blake jumper. If they're going to keep taking those shots they can have them all night long.
16:57 - After Mbakwe picks the ball cleanly from Taylor (for serious), Nolen puts up a three-pointer early in the shot clock, hitting backboard before he hits anything else. Let's just keep the ball inside, ok? Like right there where Rodney gets it deep against Bruesewitcz where Rodney's athleticism makes it a complete mismatch.
15:23 - 7-7 as we go to the first timeout. If the Gophers continue to pound the ball inside they have a chance, and so far the switching man-to-man they're playing has worked well. I really wish Mo Walker wasn't hurt, because for those 10 minutes he gives per game he is a very quality player, and is particularly missed in a game like this where the Gophers need to get the ball in the paint as much as possible. Hopefully all he needs is a little tender love and care and he'll be back soon.
15:23 - You know who Mo reminds me a little bit of? Courtney James. I mean, Courtney was definitely better as a freshman, but I think Mo has that potential if he loses a bit of weight and works hard. Or, it might be easier just to get Courtney back. You know he has eligibility left. What's the statue of limitations on hitting somebody with a phone book, anyway?
15:12 - See what I'm saying? Get the ball inside to Mbakwe and Wa la! 2 points.
14:25 - Berggren hits a 18 footer and I guarantee this guy is going to be annoying as all hell the next two years. I don't understand why Wisconsin always has to have someone of his elk.
13:04 - Hoffarber from 28 feet. BANG! Gophers now lead 14-9. Man, I have really done a 360 when it comes to my opinion of the Hoff. Maybe it's because they have enough size, maybe it's because they have enough good defenders, or maybe Hoffarber has just developed a complete game this year, but I can't imagine this team without him. Although yes, he still makes me want to strangle a stranger watching his defense at times.
12:28 - Wisconsin missed three lay-ups. That boats well for the Gophers.
10:49 - Whoops, my comment about Walker earlier is now a mute point, because they just flashed the graphic that he's out for the season. Really a bummer. Hopefully he doesn't use eating and more eating to ease the pain. Not that I've ever done that. Shut up.
9:20 - Nolen with a rebound. That's two fantasy points. And Sampson misses a three. He's a little too much in love with that. Don't be a Rickert.
8:30 - Holy crap move there by Armelin. This guy is unbelievably athletic. He's the closest thing to Rico Tucker I've seen since Rico Tucker. Hopefully Tubby is a smart enough coach to give him a little bit of rope and won't bench him for every turnover the way Monson handled Tucker. He really just cut off his nose despite his face on that one, and it came back to haunt him. I mean, you know that's why he was fired, right? Mishandling the greatest Gopher prospect of all-time is a pretty big deal.
6:58 - 19-19 heading at the timeout. Jordan Taylor is starting to penetrate and then either score or find an open jumper for any of the plethora of white guys Wisconsin trots out. Gophers need to nip this in the butt before it gets out of control.
6:00 - I really don't understand how any of these guys from Minnesota could go to Wisconsin. What a bunch of traitor jerks. Wisconsin sucks and smells like venison and cheese and brandy and dumbness. Who would ever voluntarily move there for four years? There must be some really good french benefits we aren't aware of.
5:48 - Devoe cannot guard Taylor. At all. Tubby may need to go a "only rest Nolen when Taylor is on the bench strategy." Whatever, I'm sure he'll play it by year, but if Taylor can do whatever he wants all game things aren't going to go well.
4:11 - Devoe with a pull up three that hits nothing but the backboard. He then fouls Taylor on the drive, sending him to the line where he will undoubtedly make both. Really gunning for least valuable player here, aren't ya?
2:20 - Sampson with a nice little pump-fake from 18 feet out, getting Leuer off his feet and then a nice drive inside for a three-point play to cut Sconnie's lead to 3. That was badly needed.
1:49 - Gophers go to a zone, a move I really hate here because the Gophers suck at playing a zone. And, on queue, Leuer knocks down a three-pointer. If Wisconsin goes on a run here, Tubby is going to be this game's escape goat, and it will be well deserved. Going zone against these guys is loonacy.
35.6 - 33-27 Wisconsin, and it should have been more but the ball slipped out of Leuer's hand on a wide open layup. Irregardless, the Gophers are going to need to play better, and are going to need Al Nolen to stop Taylor if they want to win, let a lone stay in the game.
HALF - 33-29 at half thanks to a nice bounce pass by Armelin leading to a dunk by Iverson. Gophers are within reach, but their defense needs to get much better. They also kind of drifted away from pounding the ball in the paint on offense. If they can get back to getting the ball to the post on offense and get back to a man-to-man with Nolen on Taylor, they have a shot.
HALF - Arapaho of nothing, I'm a little bit annoyed by this Twins offseason thus far. The losses off the team far outweigh the gains, meanwhile the Tigers and White Sox have clearly improved their teams. And I don't really see any moves the Twins can make to really upgrade at this point. Thanks Mauer! We're now a third place team every year.
19:16 - Taylor blows by Nolen and finds Gasser for a lay-up, Nolen blows by Taylor and misses a layup, Taylor then finds Leuer for a three-pointer and it's now 38-29 Badgers. For all intensive purposes this game is over.
18:15 - Jordan Taylor is completely unguardable. Case and point, he just went right passed Nolen and then hit a jumper over Sampson who was just a half-second too slow jumping out. This really isn't fair.
16:56 - The Gophers have made 11 field goals tonight. Great. I mean, I could really care less how they score, and if they are scoring from the line that's great, but the offense has been pretty ugly tonight. Which, along with the defense makes a perfect pear.
13:35 - Badgers now up 45-36 and the Gophers are starting to miss a lot of open shots. Might be time to give up the goat on this one.
12:32 - I take it back, it's now just 45-41 after a Hoffarber three-pointer. Taylor called for a pretty clear blocking foul against Nolen, but announcer guy thinks it was a bad call. I'm pretty sure announcer guy is a complete jackwagon.
11:42 - Another three by Devoe hits nothing but backboard. I'm starting to think he might be the worst good shooter in America. Besides Scottie Reynolds.
10:40 - Joseph for three to cut it to 48-44. I'm like a reverse jinx tonight. Seriously this game is chalk full of examples where I rip somebody and then they do something good. And on that note, Rodney Williams sucks!
8:56 - Rodney with a great drive. He missed, but Mbakwe cleaned it up to cut it to 2. And then Tim freaking Jarmusz hits a three to make it 5. That's so stupid. This entire wisconsin team is nothing but two good players and a bunch of dandy little nancies who shoot three pointers every time they get the ball. It's like watching Michigan play. When the Badgers play the Wolverines there might not be a two-pointer attempted all game. Fairies.
6:56 - Gophers just took the lead on a great drive by Devoe who dished to Mbakwe for the dunk, now 54-53. I have no idea how Minnesota is leading in this game. My brain is literally exploding right now.
6:42 - So what's Wisconsin's answer after a timeout? A 27-footer by Leuer (which he missed). It's like Bo Ryan has completely lost his mind. I mean, there's no love loss between me and Bo, so I could care less, but it's just bizarre watching them completely disregard anything inside that line.
6:11 - Nankivil for three to give Wisconsin the lead back. These guys are so gay.
5:20 - Sigh. Sampson just sits there and let's Taylor hit a three. Awful defense. That was as easy as Taylor going to the corner and putting his PIN number into the ATM machine. Easy money.
5:10 - And Hoff throws it away. God damn it.
3:56 - That is now the third three pointer Joseph has put up that has hit nothing but backboard. You could go ahead and say I'm flummoxed by this, as well by the lack of playing time for Nolen. That is not helping my fantasy team Tubby.
2:00 - Nolen misses a runner and a lay-up, but Ralph's o-board and draw of the foul on Leuer mean he'll be shooting free throws with the Gophers down 3 when we get back. Please make them.
2:00 - Sampson makes just one, but the rebound on the second goes out-of-bound off Wisconsin. Time to get a bucket here.
1:38 - Nolen goes right by Sampson but misses the lay-up, offensive board to Ralph who is fouled. Big shots here.
1:38 - makes the first.
1:38 - misses the second, dammit. Gophers down by 1 right now, despite a 40-22 rebound margin. Everybody has said that the Gophers' poor free throw shooting would cost them, and now it's looking like those chickens might be coming home to roast.
1:10 - Taylor with a three point play. I really hate that guy. He's such a jack of all traits, and he always seems to kill the Gophers in the end.
52.4 - Sampson with a short jumper to pull the Gophers to within 2. It's not over yet, but I honestly have no faith in the Gophers to stop Wisconsin. I just don't think they're up to stuff.
18.3 - Nolen with great defense to force a miss by Taylor, but Leuer grabs the huge huge rebound. Watching that on replay, that is 100% Sampson's fault because Leuer straight up beat him into the lane. That was a huge play, and should have been completely avoidable. Just awful.
16.7 - Sampson fouls out to send Leuer to the line for a one-on-one in a 2 point game.
16.7 - makes both. Joseph puts the pedal to the medal but misses the shot, and a foul on the rebound by Nolen. Shit.
0:00 - Final score: Wisconsin 68, Minnesota 60. The Gophers played better than I thought and at several points were a hare's breath from taking control of this game, but just couldn't get it done. There are still some glaring on this team, and I don't know how many of them are fixable. We'll have to see how they rebound from an 0-2 start, because they have no chance at beating the Spartans on Friday.
I'm really bumped out right now.
20:00 - Ah, the Kohl Center, full of a bunch of retards dressed all in red. Did I ever tell you I was there for the Lawrence Westbrook game? So awesome. When he hit the shot to send the game to OT the entire place went silent, except for me, Bogart, and Dawger up in the upper deck who were pretty much losing our damn minds. Such a great time, especially later when Dawger slapped a piece of pizza out of some insolent jerks mouth. But that's neither here nor there, and not my story to tell.
20:00 - By the way, I'm just going to go ahead and admit I'm going to misspell Bruesewitz throughout this entire thing.
19:35 - Great defense by Ralph Sampson right off the bat forcing Jon Leuer into an airball, and he then gets the ball on the block, backs Leuer in, and scores on a nice hook shot. Great start for the big guy. It can be easy to take him for granite and concentrate on Mbakwe, Nolen, and Hoffarber, but Sampson is going to have to come up big if the Gophers want to grab an upset.
18:55 - Rodney Williams just fouled Keaton Nankivil on a 3-pointer, and he makes all three. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.
18:36 - Rodney makes up for it with a big dunk and the foul. He even makes the free throw which is pretty unexpected.
17:39 - Jordan Taylor and Leuer miss 28-footers on back-to-back possessions sandwiched around a missed Blake jumper. If they're going to keep taking those shots they can have them all night long.
16:57 - After Mbakwe picks the ball cleanly from Taylor (for serious), Nolen puts up a three-pointer early in the shot clock, hitting backboard before he hits anything else. Let's just keep the ball inside, ok? Like right there where Rodney gets it deep against Bruesewitcz where Rodney's athleticism makes it a complete mismatch.
15:23 - 7-7 as we go to the first timeout. If the Gophers continue to pound the ball inside they have a chance, and so far the switching man-to-man they're playing has worked well. I really wish Mo Walker wasn't hurt, because for those 10 minutes he gives per game he is a very quality player, and is particularly missed in a game like this where the Gophers need to get the ball in the paint as much as possible. Hopefully all he needs is a little tender love and care and he'll be back soon.
15:23 - You know who Mo reminds me a little bit of? Courtney James. I mean, Courtney was definitely better as a freshman, but I think Mo has that potential if he loses a bit of weight and works hard. Or, it might be easier just to get Courtney back. You know he has eligibility left. What's the statue of limitations on hitting somebody with a phone book, anyway?
15:12 - See what I'm saying? Get the ball inside to Mbakwe and Wa la! 2 points.
14:25 - Berggren hits a 18 footer and I guarantee this guy is going to be annoying as all hell the next two years. I don't understand why Wisconsin always has to have someone of his elk.
13:04 - Hoffarber from 28 feet. BANG! Gophers now lead 14-9. Man, I have really done a 360 when it comes to my opinion of the Hoff. Maybe it's because they have enough size, maybe it's because they have enough good defenders, or maybe Hoffarber has just developed a complete game this year, but I can't imagine this team without him. Although yes, he still makes me want to strangle a stranger watching his defense at times.
12:28 - Wisconsin missed three lay-ups. That boats well for the Gophers.
10:49 - Whoops, my comment about Walker earlier is now a mute point, because they just flashed the graphic that he's out for the season. Really a bummer. Hopefully he doesn't use eating and more eating to ease the pain. Not that I've ever done that. Shut up.
9:20 - Nolen with a rebound. That's two fantasy points. And Sampson misses a three. He's a little too much in love with that. Don't be a Rickert.
8:30 - Holy crap move there by Armelin. This guy is unbelievably athletic. He's the closest thing to Rico Tucker I've seen since Rico Tucker. Hopefully Tubby is a smart enough coach to give him a little bit of rope and won't bench him for every turnover the way Monson handled Tucker. He really just cut off his nose despite his face on that one, and it came back to haunt him. I mean, you know that's why he was fired, right? Mishandling the greatest Gopher prospect of all-time is a pretty big deal.
6:58 - 19-19 heading at the timeout. Jordan Taylor is starting to penetrate and then either score or find an open jumper for any of the plethora of white guys Wisconsin trots out. Gophers need to nip this in the butt before it gets out of control.
6:00 - I really don't understand how any of these guys from Minnesota could go to Wisconsin. What a bunch of traitor jerks. Wisconsin sucks and smells like venison and cheese and brandy and dumbness. Who would ever voluntarily move there for four years? There must be some really good french benefits we aren't aware of.
5:48 - Devoe cannot guard Taylor. At all. Tubby may need to go a "only rest Nolen when Taylor is on the bench strategy." Whatever, I'm sure he'll play it by year, but if Taylor can do whatever he wants all game things aren't going to go well.
4:11 - Devoe with a pull up three that hits nothing but the backboard. He then fouls Taylor on the drive, sending him to the line where he will undoubtedly make both. Really gunning for least valuable player here, aren't ya?
2:20 - Sampson with a nice little pump-fake from 18 feet out, getting Leuer off his feet and then a nice drive inside for a three-point play to cut Sconnie's lead to 3. That was badly needed.
1:49 - Gophers go to a zone, a move I really hate here because the Gophers suck at playing a zone. And, on queue, Leuer knocks down a three-pointer. If Wisconsin goes on a run here, Tubby is going to be this game's escape goat, and it will be well deserved. Going zone against these guys is loonacy.
35.6 - 33-27 Wisconsin, and it should have been more but the ball slipped out of Leuer's hand on a wide open layup. Irregardless, the Gophers are going to need to play better, and are going to need Al Nolen to stop Taylor if they want to win, let a lone stay in the game.
HALF - 33-29 at half thanks to a nice bounce pass by Armelin leading to a dunk by Iverson. Gophers are within reach, but their defense needs to get much better. They also kind of drifted away from pounding the ball in the paint on offense. If they can get back to getting the ball to the post on offense and get back to a man-to-man with Nolen on Taylor, they have a shot.
HALF - Arapaho of nothing, I'm a little bit annoyed by this Twins offseason thus far. The losses off the team far outweigh the gains, meanwhile the Tigers and White Sox have clearly improved their teams. And I don't really see any moves the Twins can make to really upgrade at this point. Thanks Mauer! We're now a third place team every year.
19:16 - Taylor blows by Nolen and finds Gasser for a lay-up, Nolen blows by Taylor and misses a layup, Taylor then finds Leuer for a three-pointer and it's now 38-29 Badgers. For all intensive purposes this game is over.
18:15 - Jordan Taylor is completely unguardable. Case and point, he just went right passed Nolen and then hit a jumper over Sampson who was just a half-second too slow jumping out. This really isn't fair.
16:56 - The Gophers have made 11 field goals tonight. Great. I mean, I could really care less how they score, and if they are scoring from the line that's great, but the offense has been pretty ugly tonight. Which, along with the defense makes a perfect pear.
13:35 - Badgers now up 45-36 and the Gophers are starting to miss a lot of open shots. Might be time to give up the goat on this one.
12:32 - I take it back, it's now just 45-41 after a Hoffarber three-pointer. Taylor called for a pretty clear blocking foul against Nolen, but announcer guy thinks it was a bad call. I'm pretty sure announcer guy is a complete jackwagon.
11:42 - Another three by Devoe hits nothing but backboard. I'm starting to think he might be the worst good shooter in America. Besides Scottie Reynolds.
10:40 - Joseph for three to cut it to 48-44. I'm like a reverse jinx tonight. Seriously this game is chalk full of examples where I rip somebody and then they do something good. And on that note, Rodney Williams sucks!
8:56 - Rodney with a great drive. He missed, but Mbakwe cleaned it up to cut it to 2. And then Tim freaking Jarmusz hits a three to make it 5. That's so stupid. This entire wisconsin team is nothing but two good players and a bunch of dandy little nancies who shoot three pointers every time they get the ball. It's like watching Michigan play. When the Badgers play the Wolverines there might not be a two-pointer attempted all game. Fairies.
6:56 - Gophers just took the lead on a great drive by Devoe who dished to Mbakwe for the dunk, now 54-53. I have no idea how Minnesota is leading in this game. My brain is literally exploding right now.
6:42 - So what's Wisconsin's answer after a timeout? A 27-footer by Leuer (which he missed). It's like Bo Ryan has completely lost his mind. I mean, there's no love loss between me and Bo, so I could care less, but it's just bizarre watching them completely disregard anything inside that line.
6:11 - Nankivil for three to give Wisconsin the lead back. These guys are so gay.
5:20 - Sigh. Sampson just sits there and let's Taylor hit a three. Awful defense. That was as easy as Taylor going to the corner and putting his PIN number into the ATM machine. Easy money.
5:10 - And Hoff throws it away. God damn it.
3:56 - That is now the third three pointer Joseph has put up that has hit nothing but backboard. You could go ahead and say I'm flummoxed by this, as well by the lack of playing time for Nolen. That is not helping my fantasy team Tubby.
2:00 - Nolen misses a runner and a lay-up, but Ralph's o-board and draw of the foul on Leuer mean he'll be shooting free throws with the Gophers down 3 when we get back. Please make them.
2:00 - Sampson makes just one, but the rebound on the second goes out-of-bound off Wisconsin. Time to get a bucket here.
1:38 - Nolen goes right by Sampson but misses the lay-up, offensive board to Ralph who is fouled. Big shots here.
1:38 - makes the first.
1:38 - misses the second, dammit. Gophers down by 1 right now, despite a 40-22 rebound margin. Everybody has said that the Gophers' poor free throw shooting would cost them, and now it's looking like those chickens might be coming home to roast.
1:10 - Taylor with a three point play. I really hate that guy. He's such a jack of all traits, and he always seems to kill the Gophers in the end.
52.4 - Sampson with a short jumper to pull the Gophers to within 2. It's not over yet, but I honestly have no faith in the Gophers to stop Wisconsin. I just don't think they're up to stuff.
18.3 - Nolen with great defense to force a miss by Taylor, but Leuer grabs the huge huge rebound. Watching that on replay, that is 100% Sampson's fault because Leuer straight up beat him into the lane. That was a huge play, and should have been completely avoidable. Just awful.
16.7 - Sampson fouls out to send Leuer to the line for a one-on-one in a 2 point game.
16.7 - makes both. Joseph puts the pedal to the medal but misses the shot, and a foul on the rebound by Nolen. Shit.
0:00 - Final score: Wisconsin 68, Minnesota 60. The Gophers played better than I thought and at several points were a hare's breath from taking control of this game, but just couldn't get it done. There are still some glaring on this team, and I don't know how many of them are fixable. We'll have to see how they rebound from an 0-2 start, because they have no chance at beating the Spartans on Friday.
I'm really bumped out right now.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Half-assed Wisky preview
Here's your precious preview. Hope you love it.
1. Who is good on Wisconsin? Trevon Hughes has reached "unguardable" status and Jason Bohannon is a better version of Hoffarber. More disheartening than that, however, is Jordan Taylor has become a mini-version of Hughes. So that's three top-shelf perimeter threats for Wisconsin versus one good perimeter defender on the Gophers. Joy.
2. Who is going to be good for the Gophers? Probably nobody. Westbrook tends to play well against the Badgers, but Hughes won't have to guard Nolen since he can't read or whatever and instead can shut down Sir Lawrence. A good bet would be Sampson here since Wisconsin is nothing more than a perimeter team these days, but the one big guy they have is biggish and will be able to push Ralph around. Maybe his jumper will be falling. Let's hope.
3. What should we expect out of Wisconsin in March? Probably a 4 or 5 seed, and they'll probably be a trendy pick to be upset in the first round by someone like St. Mary's. But they'll beat them, and then beat someone like Wake in the second round before bowing out in the Sweet 16. Because that's what Wisconsin does. They overachieve with limited talent. Again and again and again. Must be nice.
4. Any chance the Gophers can pull this one out? Pretty unlikely, but the Badgers are extremely reliant on the three-pointer so an off-shooting night would give the Gophers a chance. Of course, the Gophers can't defend the three to save their lives so I don't see this happening.
5. I suppose you have a prediction for us? It's gonna be cold. It's gonna be grey. And it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.
Wisconsin 70, Minnesota 38.
1. Who is good on Wisconsin? Trevon Hughes has reached "unguardable" status and Jason Bohannon is a better version of Hoffarber. More disheartening than that, however, is Jordan Taylor has become a mini-version of Hughes. So that's three top-shelf perimeter threats for Wisconsin versus one good perimeter defender on the Gophers. Joy.
2. Who is going to be good for the Gophers? Probably nobody. Westbrook tends to play well against the Badgers, but Hughes won't have to guard Nolen since he can't read or whatever and instead can shut down Sir Lawrence. A good bet would be Sampson here since Wisconsin is nothing more than a perimeter team these days, but the one big guy they have is biggish and will be able to push Ralph around. Maybe his jumper will be falling. Let's hope.
3. What should we expect out of Wisconsin in March? Probably a 4 or 5 seed, and they'll probably be a trendy pick to be upset in the first round by someone like St. Mary's. But they'll beat them, and then beat someone like Wake in the second round before bowing out in the Sweet 16. Because that's what Wisconsin does. They overachieve with limited talent. Again and again and again. Must be nice.
4. Any chance the Gophers can pull this one out? Pretty unlikely, but the Badgers are extremely reliant on the three-pointer so an off-shooting night would give the Gophers a chance. Of course, the Gophers can't defend the three to save their lives so I don't see this happening.
5. I suppose you have a prediction for us? It's gonna be cold. It's gonna be grey. And it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.
Wisconsin 70, Minnesota 38.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Almost Gophers
I've been meaning to do this since like, midseason, but never got around to it. Since I'm bored, I'm going to give it a shot right now.
Here is a look at the various first year division I players this year who were linked to the Gophers at one point, either through getting an offer, or rumored interest on one side or the other, alphabetically because I don't know how else to do it. (NOTE: The "Bummer?" category assumes the Gophers could sign the player without giving up anybody else from the 2008 class - not realistic but makes more sense to do it that way).
ORLANDO ALLEN
From: Paris, TX
Position: Center
Size: 6-11, 267
Credentials: #55 on Rivals list of top JuCo players (he's a sophomore), 2 stars from scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Oklahoma (had originally signed with Seton Hall before attending Juco)
Minutes per game: 5.5
Highlights: 2.5 points, 1.0 rebs per game...Season highs 10 points and 5 boards against UM-Eastern Shore
Would have been: No better than third on the center depth chart
Bummer?: Minorly, maybe.
ARMOND BATTLE
From: Plymouth, MN
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6-7, 185
Credentials: 2 stars from Scout, 3 from Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Minimal
Signed with: Tulsa
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: Looking like a redshirt
Would have been: Probably better than Travis Busch
Bummer?: Not at all
JARED BERGGREN
From: Princeton, MN
Position: Center
Size: 6-10, 235
Credentials: #74 on Rivals150, #15 center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Wisconsin
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: Looking like a redshirt
Would have been: Likely a clone of Colt Iverson
Bummer?: A little, but not much
ANDREW BROMMER
From: Rosemount, MN
Position: Power Forward/Center
Size: 6-9, 235
Credentials: 2 stars from Rivals, #38 center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Not much
Signed with: Iowa
Minutes per game: 9.0
Highlights: 1.2 points, 1.2 rebs per game...career high of five points against West Virginia...5-22 on free throws this season
Would have been: Bench fodder
Bummer?: Not in the least, dude sucks
JOSH CRITTLE
From: Chicago, IL
Position: Power Forward/Center
Size: 6-8, 260
Credentials: #38 PF on Rivals, #30 Center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Oregon
Minutes per game: 14.7
Highlights: 3.1 points, 3.0 rebs per game...10 points vs. Oregon State...8 pts & 9 rebs vs. Wash State
Would have been: Probably in the mix somewhere, ahead of Busch if nothing else
Bummer?: Kind of
MARCUS DENMON
From: Kansas City, MO
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6-3, 185
Credentials: #150 on Rivals150, #33 SG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Minimal
Signed with: Missouri
Minutes per game: 17.5
Highlights: 7.3 points, 2.4 rebs per game...Double digit points 9 times...career high 16 vs. Iowa State
Would have been: A definite contributor
Bummer?: With the difficulty the Gophers have had on offense, most definitely
AUSTIN DUFAULT
From: Killdeer, ND
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-8, 210
Credentials: #35 PF on Scout, 3-stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Colorado
Minutes per game: 32.0
Highlights: 9.2 points, 4.0 rebs per game...Double digit points 12 times...career high 21 points vs. UL-Monroe...played 42 minutes in OT loss to Texas
Would have been: In the mix with Carter, Bostick, and Busch
Bummer?: Numbers a bit inflated by playing so many minutes for a bad team, but he's a versatile scorer who will only get better. Definite bummer.
KRYS FABER
From: Palmdale, CA
Position: Center
Size: 6-11, 265
Credentials: #22 center on Rivals, #36 center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: DePaul
Minutes per game: 8.4
Highlights: 1.9 points, 1.8 rebs per game...Career high 11 points against Providence...appeared in all but three games this season
Would have been: The third big man
Bummer?: Maybe a little, but if can't be a big contributor for a crap team like DePaul, it's unlikely he could do much for the Gophers
COURTNEY FORTSON
From: Montgomery, AL
Position: Point Guard
Size: 5-10, 175
Credentials: #60 on Rivals150, #9 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: High (but never offered)
Signed with: Arkansas
Minutes per game: 32.5
Highlights: 14.6 points, 5.5 rebs, 6.2 assists per game...Second in the SEC in assists...Good chance to be SEC newcomer of the year...Triple double (20/10/11) against NC Central...double figure points in all but three games
Would have been: Might be a starter, given Westbrook and Nolen's recent troubles
Bummer?: More than I can possibly articulate
NATHEN GARTH
From: Memphis, TN
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-3, 180
Credentials: Three stars on Rivals, 2 on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Originally signed with Gophers before Tubby changed his mind
Signed with: New Mexico
Minutes per game: 18.9
Highlights: 4.7 points, 3.5 assists per game...12 points vs. VCU...10 assists vs. Ole Miss...1.7-1.0 assist/turnover ratio
Would have been: Probable backup point guard (with Devoe moving to backup SG full-time)
Bummer?: Yes, would take a lot of worry away from hoping Justin Cobbs is good next year
STEPHEN GOINS
From: Chicago, IL
Position: Center
Size: 6-10, 250
Credentials: #27 center on Rivals, not ranked on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (no offer)
Signed with: Maryland
Minutes per game: 3.0
Highlights: 0.5 points, 1.0 rebs per game...career highs are 1 point and 2 rebounds...played in only four games...career best 6 minutes played vs. Youngstown
Would have been: Behind Jon Williams on the depth chart
Bummer?: Not one bit
DRAYMOND GREEN
From: Saginaw, MI
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-6, 235
Credentials: #122 on Rivals150, #26 PF on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Michigan State
Minutes per game: 9.2
Highlights: 2.4 points, 2.8 rebs per game...15 points and 12 rebounds vs. Indiana...10 points and 7 rebounds vs. Alcorn State...53% field goal shooter
Would have been: Good chance at starting
Bummer?: Absolutely
SCOTTIE HARALSON
From: Jackson, MS
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6-4, 215
Credentials: #38 SG on Scout, 3 stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: UCONN
Minutes per game: 3.9
Highlights: 0.9 points per game...played in just 10 games...scored 6 points vs. Delaware State
Would have been: Hard to say, but probably competing for Shamala's minutes
Bummer?: He's supposedly a shooter, and the Gophers could use more of them, but not really
VERDELL JONES
From: Champaign, IL
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-5, 176
Credentials: #126 on Rivals150, #32 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Indiana
Minutes per game: 27.6
Highlights: 9.8 points, 3.4 assists per game...started 20 games...18 points and 7 assists vs. Minnesota...13 pts, 7 rebs, 6 assists vs. Michigan
Would have been: Likely backup point guard (again, moving Devoe to full-time backup SG)
Bummer?: Turns the ball over too much, but would definitely help when Nolen and Westbrook struggle. I'll say a reluctant yes.
TRAVIS LESLIE
From: Decatur, GA
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6-4, 195
Credentials: #116 on Rivals150, #23 SF on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (never offered)
Signed with: Georgia
Minutes per game: 14.3
Highlights: 6.3 points, 3.9 rebs per game...scored 23 points vs. Loyola-Chicago...19 points and 8 rebounds vs. Tex A&M-CC
Would have been: Likely behind Bostick
Bummer?: Not really.
LUKE LOUCKS
From: Clearwater, FL
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-5, 205
Credentials: #86 on Rivals150, #22 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (never offered)
Signed with: Florida State
Minutes per game: 19.0
Highlights: 3.7 points, 2.3 assists per game...14 points and 6 assists vs. Coastal Carolina...played in every FSU game this season
Would have been: Another backup PG candidate
Bummer?: A 6-5 point guard contributing nightly on a NCAA tournament bound team? Oh yeah, most definitely a bummer.
STAN SIMPSON
From: Chicago, IL
Position: Power Forward/Center
Size: 6-9, 220
Credentials: #22 Center on Scout, 3-stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Illinois
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: Redshirting
Would have been: Tough to say with no minutes under his belt this year
Bummer?: Minimally
JORDAN TAYLOR
From: St. Louis Park, MN
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-1, 190
Credentials: #124 on Rivals150, #30 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Wisconsin
Minutes per game: 12.7
Highlights: 1.6 points, 1.0 assists per game...10 points scored vs. Iowa...25% shooting, 15% from three
Would have been: Behind Devoe
Bummer?: I hate his game, so not at all for me, despite the need for better guard play on the team
STEVEN TOYLOY
From: Miami, FL
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-8, 255
Credentials: #16 on Rivals JuCo rating, 3 stars on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Cincinnati
Minutes per game: 16.3
Highlights: 4.0 points, 3.9 rebounds per game...14 points and 9 rebounds vs. Ark-Pine Bluff...57% shooter from the floor
Would have been: Ahead of J-Will
Bummer?: Wouldn't have been more than a backup, so not really
ANTHONY TUCKER
From: Minnetonka, MN
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-4, 200
Credentials: #33 PG on Scout, 3 stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Minimal
Signed with: Iowa
Minutes per game: 21.1
Highlights: 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds per game...24 points vs. West Virginia...43% from three...multiple suspensions, including the entire second semester
Would have been: Arrested or, more likely, suspended
Bummer?: On the court yes. Off the court no. Overall, no.
ELOY VARGAS
From: Plantation, FL
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-10, 215
Credentials: #26 on Rivals150, #12 PF on Scout
Gophers level of interest: High (never offered)
Signed with: FLorida
Minutes per game: 3.1
Highlights: 0.7 points, 0.7 rebounds per game...played in just 7 games with a high of 8 minutes...0-8 on Field Goals this year
Would have been: No clue. Turned out to be a total project.
Bummer?: Initially, yes. After this season, not so much
MARTEZ WALKER
From: Aston, PA
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6-6, 225
Credentials: 3 stars on Rivals, 2 on scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (never offered)
Signed with: No where (signed with Louisville as a HS freshman, then de-committed and never ended up landing anywhere - I can't find any info on why)
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: I have no god damn idea
Would have been: Probably better than Shamala
Bummer?: Impossible to say
OTHERS WITH MINOR LINKS: Juco PF Keith Ramsey is in the rotation for Missouri, PG Jorge Gutierrez is doing a good job as backup PG for Cal, SG Kendall Durant never ended up enrolling at Virginia Tech and has disappeared, PF Jarrod Jones is starring for Ball State, and SG Shaquille Johnson is starting for Marshall.
So there you have it. Really, the only guy I really wish was here is Fortson, but I'm not sure I'd trade any of the five guys Tubby brought in for him. Maybe Bostick, just because there really aren't minutes available for him where as Fortson could contribute immediately, but overall: Bravo Tubby, bravo.
Here is a look at the various first year division I players this year who were linked to the Gophers at one point, either through getting an offer, or rumored interest on one side or the other, alphabetically because I don't know how else to do it. (NOTE: The "Bummer?" category assumes the Gophers could sign the player without giving up anybody else from the 2008 class - not realistic but makes more sense to do it that way).
ORLANDO ALLEN
From: Paris, TX
Position: Center
Size: 6-11, 267
Credentials: #55 on Rivals list of top JuCo players (he's a sophomore), 2 stars from scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Oklahoma (had originally signed with Seton Hall before attending Juco)
Minutes per game: 5.5
Highlights: 2.5 points, 1.0 rebs per game...Season highs 10 points and 5 boards against UM-Eastern Shore
Would have been: No better than third on the center depth chart
Bummer?: Minorly, maybe.
ARMOND BATTLE
From: Plymouth, MN
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6-7, 185
Credentials: 2 stars from Scout, 3 from Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Minimal
Signed with: Tulsa
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: Looking like a redshirt
Would have been: Probably better than Travis Busch
Bummer?: Not at all
JARED BERGGREN
From: Princeton, MN
Position: Center
Size: 6-10, 235
Credentials: #74 on Rivals150, #15 center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Wisconsin
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: Looking like a redshirt
Would have been: Likely a clone of Colt Iverson
Bummer?: A little, but not much
ANDREW BROMMER
From: Rosemount, MN
Position: Power Forward/Center
Size: 6-9, 235
Credentials: 2 stars from Rivals, #38 center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Not much
Signed with: Iowa
Minutes per game: 9.0
Highlights: 1.2 points, 1.2 rebs per game...career high of five points against West Virginia...5-22 on free throws this season
Would have been: Bench fodder
Bummer?: Not in the least, dude sucks
JOSH CRITTLE
From: Chicago, IL
Position: Power Forward/Center
Size: 6-8, 260
Credentials: #38 PF on Rivals, #30 Center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Oregon
Minutes per game: 14.7
Highlights: 3.1 points, 3.0 rebs per game...10 points vs. Oregon State...8 pts & 9 rebs vs. Wash State
Would have been: Probably in the mix somewhere, ahead of Busch if nothing else
Bummer?: Kind of
MARCUS DENMON
From: Kansas City, MO
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6-3, 185
Credentials: #150 on Rivals150, #33 SG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Minimal
Signed with: Missouri
Minutes per game: 17.5
Highlights: 7.3 points, 2.4 rebs per game...Double digit points 9 times...career high 16 vs. Iowa State
Would have been: A definite contributor
Bummer?: With the difficulty the Gophers have had on offense, most definitely
AUSTIN DUFAULT
From: Killdeer, ND
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-8, 210
Credentials: #35 PF on Scout, 3-stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Colorado
Minutes per game: 32.0
Highlights: 9.2 points, 4.0 rebs per game...Double digit points 12 times...career high 21 points vs. UL-Monroe...played 42 minutes in OT loss to Texas
Would have been: In the mix with Carter, Bostick, and Busch
Bummer?: Numbers a bit inflated by playing so many minutes for a bad team, but he's a versatile scorer who will only get better. Definite bummer.
KRYS FABER
From: Palmdale, CA
Position: Center
Size: 6-11, 265
Credentials: #22 center on Rivals, #36 center on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: DePaul
Minutes per game: 8.4
Highlights: 1.9 points, 1.8 rebs per game...Career high 11 points against Providence...appeared in all but three games this season
Would have been: The third big man
Bummer?: Maybe a little, but if can't be a big contributor for a crap team like DePaul, it's unlikely he could do much for the Gophers
COURTNEY FORTSON
From: Montgomery, AL
Position: Point Guard
Size: 5-10, 175
Credentials: #60 on Rivals150, #9 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: High (but never offered)
Signed with: Arkansas
Minutes per game: 32.5
Highlights: 14.6 points, 5.5 rebs, 6.2 assists per game...Second in the SEC in assists...Good chance to be SEC newcomer of the year...Triple double (20/10/11) against NC Central...double figure points in all but three games
Would have been: Might be a starter, given Westbrook and Nolen's recent troubles
Bummer?: More than I can possibly articulate
NATHEN GARTH
From: Memphis, TN
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-3, 180
Credentials: Three stars on Rivals, 2 on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Originally signed with Gophers before Tubby changed his mind
Signed with: New Mexico
Minutes per game: 18.9
Highlights: 4.7 points, 3.5 assists per game...12 points vs. VCU...10 assists vs. Ole Miss...1.7-1.0 assist/turnover ratio
Would have been: Probable backup point guard (with Devoe moving to backup SG full-time)
Bummer?: Yes, would take a lot of worry away from hoping Justin Cobbs is good next year
STEPHEN GOINS
From: Chicago, IL
Position: Center
Size: 6-10, 250
Credentials: #27 center on Rivals, not ranked on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (no offer)
Signed with: Maryland
Minutes per game: 3.0
Highlights: 0.5 points, 1.0 rebs per game...career highs are 1 point and 2 rebounds...played in only four games...career best 6 minutes played vs. Youngstown
Would have been: Behind Jon Williams on the depth chart
Bummer?: Not one bit
DRAYMOND GREEN
From: Saginaw, MI
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-6, 235
Credentials: #122 on Rivals150, #26 PF on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Michigan State
Minutes per game: 9.2
Highlights: 2.4 points, 2.8 rebs per game...15 points and 12 rebounds vs. Indiana...10 points and 7 rebounds vs. Alcorn State...53% field goal shooter
Would have been: Good chance at starting
Bummer?: Absolutely
SCOTTIE HARALSON
From: Jackson, MS
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6-4, 215
Credentials: #38 SG on Scout, 3 stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: UCONN
Minutes per game: 3.9
Highlights: 0.9 points per game...played in just 10 games...scored 6 points vs. Delaware State
Would have been: Hard to say, but probably competing for Shamala's minutes
Bummer?: He's supposedly a shooter, and the Gophers could use more of them, but not really
VERDELL JONES
From: Champaign, IL
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-5, 176
Credentials: #126 on Rivals150, #32 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Indiana
Minutes per game: 27.6
Highlights: 9.8 points, 3.4 assists per game...started 20 games...18 points and 7 assists vs. Minnesota...13 pts, 7 rebs, 6 assists vs. Michigan
Would have been: Likely backup point guard (again, moving Devoe to full-time backup SG)
Bummer?: Turns the ball over too much, but would definitely help when Nolen and Westbrook struggle. I'll say a reluctant yes.
TRAVIS LESLIE
From: Decatur, GA
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6-4, 195
Credentials: #116 on Rivals150, #23 SF on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (never offered)
Signed with: Georgia
Minutes per game: 14.3
Highlights: 6.3 points, 3.9 rebs per game...scored 23 points vs. Loyola-Chicago...19 points and 8 rebounds vs. Tex A&M-CC
Would have been: Likely behind Bostick
Bummer?: Not really.
LUKE LOUCKS
From: Clearwater, FL
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-5, 205
Credentials: #86 on Rivals150, #22 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (never offered)
Signed with: Florida State
Minutes per game: 19.0
Highlights: 3.7 points, 2.3 assists per game...14 points and 6 assists vs. Coastal Carolina...played in every FSU game this season
Would have been: Another backup PG candidate
Bummer?: A 6-5 point guard contributing nightly on a NCAA tournament bound team? Oh yeah, most definitely a bummer.
STAN SIMPSON
From: Chicago, IL
Position: Power Forward/Center
Size: 6-9, 220
Credentials: #22 Center on Scout, 3-stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Illinois
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: Redshirting
Would have been: Tough to say with no minutes under his belt this year
Bummer?: Minimally
JORDAN TAYLOR
From: St. Louis Park, MN
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-1, 190
Credentials: #124 on Rivals150, #30 PG on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Wisconsin
Minutes per game: 12.7
Highlights: 1.6 points, 1.0 assists per game...10 points scored vs. Iowa...25% shooting, 15% from three
Would have been: Behind Devoe
Bummer?: I hate his game, so not at all for me, despite the need for better guard play on the team
STEVEN TOYLOY
From: Miami, FL
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-8, 255
Credentials: #16 on Rivals JuCo rating, 3 stars on Scout
Gophers level of interest: Offered
Signed with: Cincinnati
Minutes per game: 16.3
Highlights: 4.0 points, 3.9 rebounds per game...14 points and 9 rebounds vs. Ark-Pine Bluff...57% shooter from the floor
Would have been: Ahead of J-Will
Bummer?: Wouldn't have been more than a backup, so not really
ANTHONY TUCKER
From: Minnetonka, MN
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6-4, 200
Credentials: #33 PG on Scout, 3 stars on Rivals
Gophers level of interest: Minimal
Signed with: Iowa
Minutes per game: 21.1
Highlights: 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds per game...24 points vs. West Virginia...43% from three...multiple suspensions, including the entire second semester
Would have been: Arrested or, more likely, suspended
Bummer?: On the court yes. Off the court no. Overall, no.
ELOY VARGAS
From: Plantation, FL
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6-10, 215
Credentials: #26 on Rivals150, #12 PF on Scout
Gophers level of interest: High (never offered)
Signed with: FLorida
Minutes per game: 3.1
Highlights: 0.7 points, 0.7 rebounds per game...played in just 7 games with a high of 8 minutes...0-8 on Field Goals this year
Would have been: No clue. Turned out to be a total project.
Bummer?: Initially, yes. After this season, not so much
MARTEZ WALKER
From: Aston, PA
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6-6, 225
Credentials: 3 stars on Rivals, 2 on scout
Gophers level of interest: Medium (never offered)
Signed with: No where (signed with Louisville as a HS freshman, then de-committed and never ended up landing anywhere - I can't find any info on why)
Minutes per game: 0.0
Highlights: I have no god damn idea
Would have been: Probably better than Shamala
Bummer?: Impossible to say
OTHERS WITH MINOR LINKS: Juco PF Keith Ramsey is in the rotation for Missouri, PG Jorge Gutierrez is doing a good job as backup PG for Cal, SG Kendall Durant never ended up enrolling at Virginia Tech and has disappeared, PF Jarrod Jones is starring for Ball State, and SG Shaquille Johnson is starting for Marshall.
So there you have it. Really, the only guy I really wish was here is Fortson, but I'm not sure I'd trade any of the five guys Tubby brought in for him. Maybe Bostick, just because there really aren't minutes available for him where as Fortson could contribute immediately, but overall: Bravo Tubby, bravo.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Rod Will Report
My good buddy Dawger heading to Cooper last night to check out the Cooper/Benilde tilt, and was kind enough to send an exclusive report to DWG:
WWW- You should have come to the Cooper/Benilde game last night. I walked
in at the same time as the Great Tubby Smith. I also shook his hand and
told him how lucky MN was to have him (and if he wanted to he could have
his way with me or my girlfriend).
Rodney thoroughly dominated Jordan Taylor and Armond Battle. Cooper was up
by 23 at halftime. I think Rodney had at least 25 pts and was hitting from
all over the place. Jordan Taylor is a humongous (build wise) point guard
and I'm sure he'll do great at Wisconsin. He has a nice shot and is
extremely quick. Armond Battle has signed with Tulsa and looked pretty
solid as well.
Besides Coopers gym looking like a Snoop Dog video the game was awesome and
I highly recommend going to watch Rodney play a game.
Suck it, Dawg.
Thanks for the report Dawg. Hopefully Williams can get his grades where they need to be, and he can help with the great turnaround for the program Tubby is busy engineering.
Rutgers +9.5 vs. Villanova
NC State -2 vs. Georgia Tech
Purdue -2 @ Penn State
UCONN -2.5 @ Cinncinnati
Iowa +16 @ Indiana
UNC-Wilmington -4 vs. Northeastern
Yesterday: 2-2
Season: 243-217
WWW- You should have come to the Cooper/Benilde game last night. I walked
in at the same time as the Great Tubby Smith. I also shook his hand and
told him how lucky MN was to have him (and if he wanted to he could have
his way with me or my girlfriend).
Rodney thoroughly dominated Jordan Taylor and Armond Battle. Cooper was up
by 23 at halftime. I think Rodney had at least 25 pts and was hitting from
all over the place. Jordan Taylor is a humongous (build wise) point guard
and I'm sure he'll do great at Wisconsin. He has a nice shot and is
extremely quick. Armond Battle has signed with Tulsa and looked pretty
solid as well.
Besides Coopers gym looking like a Snoop Dog video the game was awesome and
I highly recommend going to watch Rodney play a game.
Suck it, Dawg.
Thanks for the report Dawg. Hopefully Williams can get his grades where they need to be, and he can help with the great turnaround for the program Tubby is busy engineering.
Rutgers +9.5 vs. Villanova
NC State -2 vs. Georgia Tech
Purdue -2 @ Penn State
UCONN -2.5 @ Cinncinnati
Iowa +16 @ Indiana
UNC-Wilmington -4 vs. Northeastern
Yesterday: 2-2
Season: 243-217
Sunday, April 29, 2007
2008 Prospects
As mentioned earlier, it looks pretty likely the Gophers will have four scholarships available for the class of 2008. Looking at scout.com, it doesn't look like a pretty picture, but seeing as Tubby has just started recruiting for Minnesota instead of Awesome Dan Monson, hopefully some of the players who weren't interested in the Gophers will change their minds.
The top two instate players are already gone (Thanks Dan!), both Jordan Taylor of Benilde and Jared Berggren of Princeton have signed with Wisconsin. So that sucks. There really isn't much other talent of note in the state, and the Gophers already signed two star center Andrew Brommer of Rosemount, who probably sucks since he was signed by Monson.
There are two three-star players who are listed as having interest in Minnesota right now, SF Klay Thompson from California, and PF Draymond Green from Michigan. Thompson is not likely, as every other school on his list is on the west coast, and it seems unlikely he would sign with the Gophers.
Green is a very interesting possibility, as he had originally signed with Kentucky and pulled out when Tubby left. What is also interesting about this, is that Tubby still has to hire to assistant coaches to round out his staff. According to Jeff Shelman, one person he's considering is Saginaw High School's head coach Lou Dawkins, which just so happens to be the school Draymond Green is attending.
Even more interesting, is that this doesn't look like it would be a simple hire just to get Green to sign. Dawkins played under Smith when he was at Tulsa, and has been very successful at Saginaw, going 78-7 in his three years there and winning the state title this year. Hiring him would not only get a good, up and coming assistant, but would also increase the chances of Draymond Green signing with the Gophers. So hurry up and do it already.
UPDATE: So Draymond Green is from Michigan, and I found a blog written by Joe Rexrode for the Lansing State Journal. He says that he talked to Green about Michigan State, and Green said '"Ever since I was a child, MSU was my dream school. Even this year I wanted to go there, but then Tubby Smith came and presented his program to me. I didn't have an offer from Michigan State and I can't just constantly wait, so I committed to him."
And if MSU came after him now? "I don't know what I would do right now," he said.'
So basically he wants to go to Michigan State, he just hasn't been offered (he's been offered by Minnesota, Clemson, Boston College, and DePaul.) The Spartans have signed just two players for 2008, and I have no idea what their scholarship situation is, but I think it would be nice to just hurry up and get him signed already.
The top two instate players are already gone (Thanks Dan!), both Jordan Taylor of Benilde and Jared Berggren of Princeton have signed with Wisconsin. So that sucks. There really isn't much other talent of note in the state, and the Gophers already signed two star center Andrew Brommer of Rosemount, who probably sucks since he was signed by Monson.
There are two three-star players who are listed as having interest in Minnesota right now, SF Klay Thompson from California, and PF Draymond Green from Michigan. Thompson is not likely, as every other school on his list is on the west coast, and it seems unlikely he would sign with the Gophers.
Green is a very interesting possibility, as he had originally signed with Kentucky and pulled out when Tubby left. What is also interesting about this, is that Tubby still has to hire to assistant coaches to round out his staff. According to Jeff Shelman, one person he's considering is Saginaw High School's head coach Lou Dawkins, which just so happens to be the school Draymond Green is attending.
Even more interesting, is that this doesn't look like it would be a simple hire just to get Green to sign. Dawkins played under Smith when he was at Tulsa, and has been very successful at Saginaw, going 78-7 in his three years there and winning the state title this year. Hiring him would not only get a good, up and coming assistant, but would also increase the chances of Draymond Green signing with the Gophers. So hurry up and do it already.
UPDATE: So Draymond Green is from Michigan, and I found a blog written by Joe Rexrode for the Lansing State Journal. He says that he talked to Green about Michigan State, and Green said '"Ever since I was a child, MSU was my dream school. Even this year I wanted to go there, but then Tubby Smith came and presented his program to me. I didn't have an offer from Michigan State and I can't just constantly wait, so I committed to him."
And if MSU came after him now? "I don't know what I would do right now," he said.'
So basically he wants to go to Michigan State, he just hasn't been offered (he's been offered by Minnesota, Clemson, Boston College, and DePaul.) The Spartans have signed just two players for 2008, and I have no idea what their scholarship situation is, but I think it would be nice to just hurry up and get him signed already.
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