Minnesota

This Gonzaga team is special. Great backcourt. Great Frontcourt. Kentucky and Louisville transfers. Great passing, three point shipooting and inside play.
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Yes, but we need to use our quickness to drive the ball, draw the defenders and kick the ball out. I'm nit seeing much from the Georgia guards here. Gonzaga is really good, but we showed a different level of D tonight and need to maintain that intensity on Friday. When we play hard, we will be a tough team to beat. I'm so glad we saw our guys hit a high level early in the season for once, albeit only for spurts tonight. Go Redmen!!!
 
A few observations. Our last 8-10 minutes of the first half were frustrating and tough to watch. However, our defense for the other 30 minutes was as good as it's been the last few years. I also thought we saw very impressive minutes at times from each starter (everyone had a good stretch where they played well), so you hope they can play to their strengths and learn to appreciate and take advantage of what each does well. Free throws were terrible and our 3's were worse than normal, so I think it's only upside from here in those categories. Finally, although Minny was a big team, we didn't play small today for most of the game, except for where we drove the ball into someone's gut a few times...that's where we should kick it out for an open three. All in all a gutsy comeback and great win for this time of year. Now, time to top it with an even greater win on Friday. I can't wait.
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The first half wasn't as terrible as it was frustrating. Pretty good play with the exception of the free throws and 3pt shooting which absolutely killed us. I do think we got jobbed by the refs. The bogus goal tending call was a turning point and at least two foul calls on Harrison were ridiculous. At least two of them were him GETTING fouled. How about Green getting called for a charge for touching the defenders arms as he went for a shot? Sure he was planted but he did not body him. If you don't call the shooting foul, you don't call that at all.
The difference was the past three season we would have seen one of out guys lose it. DH, Pointer or Obekpa. They kept cool and that made a difference. The Free Throws drive me nuts though. That could have been the difference in the game right there.
 
A few observations. Our last 8-10 minutes of the first half were frustrating and tough to watch. However, our defense for the other 30 minutes was as good as it's been the last few years. I also thought we saw very impressive minutes at times from each starter (everyone had a good stretch where they played well), so you hope they can play to their strengths and learn to appreciate and take advantage of what each does well. Free throws were terrible and our 3's were worse than normal, so I think it's only upside from here in those categories. Finally, although Minny was a big team, we didn't play small today for most of the game, except for where we drove the ball into someone's gut a few times...that's where we should kick it out for an open three. All in all a gutsy comeback and great win for this time of year. Now, time to top it with an even greater win on Friday. I can't wait.
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The first half wasn't as terrible as it was frustrating. Pretty good play with the exception of the free throws and 3pt shooting which absolutely killed us. I do think we got jobbed by the refs. The bogus goal tending call was a turning point and at least two foul calls on Harrison were ridiculous. At least two of them were him GETTING fouled. How about Green getting called for a charge for touching the defenders arms as he went for a shot? Sure he was planted but he did not body him. If you don't call the shooting foul, you don't call that at all.
The difference was the past three season we would have seen one of out guys lose it. DH, Pointer or Obekpa. They kept cool and that made a difference. The Free Throws drive me nuts though. That could have been the difference in the game right there.
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I agree, and we showed all the right levels of maturity. Even sticking to our game plan when things were teetering. We fought hard and that will serve us well. I don't get too caught up with the refs, as those things do balance out to some extent even if they're not fully even by the end. The technical helped.
 
A few observations. Our last 8-10 minutes of the first half were frustrating and tough to watch. However, our defense for the other 30 minutes was as good as it's been the last few years. I also thought we saw very impressive minutes at times from each starter (everyone had a good stretch where they played well), so you hope they can play to their strengths and learn to appreciate and take advantage of what each does well. Free throws were terrible and our 3's were worse than normal, so I think it's only upside from here in those categories. Finally, although Minny was a big team, we didn't play small today for most of the game, except for where we drove the ball into someone's gut a few times...that's where we should kick it out for an open three. All in all a gutsy comeback and great win for this time of year. Now, time to top it with an even greater win on Friday. I can't wait.
Click to expand...

The first half wasn't as terrible as it was frustrating. Pretty good play with the exception of the free throws and 3pt shooting which absolutely killed us. I do think we got jobbed by the refs. The bogus goal tending call was a turning point and at least two foul calls on Harrison were ridiculous. At least two of them were him GETTING fouled. How about Green getting called for a charge for touching the defenders arms as he went for a shot? Sure he was planted but he did not body him. If you don't call the shooting foul, you don't call that at all.
The difference was the past three season we would have seen one of out guys lose it. DH, Pointer or Obekpa. They kept cool and that made a difference. The Free Throws drive me nuts though. That could have been the difference in the game right there.
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Like I said there are always bad calls; we got the best "bad" call on the night when Jordan got a bogus foul call under the basket, followed by a T that seemed very quick (although you never know what went on before the T that might have triggered what seemed to be a quick whistle.) Anyway we got a 5 point play I believe started by a terrible call putting Jordan on the line. IMO, the refs were fine; they missed a couple but they always do; the game is just too fast for them to get everything right. I do agree with our players keeping their cool; good sign.
 
A few observations. Our last 8-10 minutes of the first half were frustrating and tough to watch. However, our defense for the other 30 minutes was as good as it's been the last few years. I also thought we saw very impressive minutes at times from each starter (everyone had a good stretch where they played well), so you hope they can play to their strengths and learn to appreciate and take advantage of what each does well. Free throws were terrible and our 3's were worse than normal, so I think it's only upside from here in those categories. Finally, although Minny was a big team, we didn't play small today for most of the game, except for where we drove the ball into someone's gut a few times...that's where we should kick it out for an open three. All in all a gutsy comeback and great win for this time of year. Now, time to top it with an even greater win on Friday. I can't wait.
Click to expand...

The first half wasn't as terrible as it was frustrating. Pretty good play with the exception of the free throws and 3pt shooting which absolutely killed us. I do think we got jobbed by the refs. The bogus goal tending call was a turning point and at least two foul calls on Harrison were ridiculous. At least two of them were him GETTING fouled. How about Green getting called for a charge for touching the defenders arms as he went for a shot? Sure he was planted but he did not body him. If you don't call the shooting foul, you don't call that at all.
The difference was the past three season we would have seen one of out guys lose it. DH, Pointer or Obekpa. They kept cool and that made a difference. The Free Throws drive me nuts though. That could have been the difference in the game right there.
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The FTs were frustrating, but I actually think it will be a strength this season if Obekpa can come through. The guys almost seemed to be expecting to lose tonight. That is the negative side of playing all those minutes as outmanned freshmen. I think the win could go a looooong way if they don't get slaughtered by Gonzaga Friday.
 
I agree, and we showed all the right levels of maturity. Even sticking to our game plan when things were teetering. We fought hard and that will serve us well. I don't get too caught up with the refs, as those things do balance out to some extent even if they're not fully even by the end. The technical helped.
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At first I thought it might be a makeup call for the two bad calls against Obekpa but I'm guessing he used some profanity right in front of the ref. His back was to us but apparently he has a rep for that and that was the one downside of the refs for Minn. They were familiar with his antics.
 
This thread on the MINNY board is funny. They said Lavin out coached a pitino and then say that the "rabid, Pro-NYC crowd" rattled their seniors.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?58374-Out-coached-tonight
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Lavin did outcoach him. That frosh was the most solid player on the floor and he got benched. It was like Mahoney and Roshown Mcleod. Mcleod would be playing brilliantly and then get benched.
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Oh no I agree for sure, i just found the thread funny cause Lavin gets killed on here and the pitino name is supposed to be so excellent. And the crowd rattling the seniors made me laugh. Don't know why pitino didn't play that guy, then put him in when the game was over, kid was pissed.
 
I agree, and we showed all the right levels of maturity. Even sticking to our game plan when things were teetering. We fought hard and that will serve us well. I don't get too caught up with the refs, as those things do balance out to some extent even if they're not fully even by the end. The technical helped.
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At first I thought it might be a makeup call for the two bad calls against Obekpa but I'm guessing he used some profanity right in front of the ref. His back was to us but apparently he has a rep for that and that was the one downside of the refs for Minn. They were familiar with his antics.
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From reading the Minny link that Jack posted, it looks like you're right. It may not have been a bad call, but was certainly fortunate for us when many of the other calls were not. We'll take it. Now, let's get back to working on that free throw shooting as we'll need it to be back on track by Friday.
 
The FTs were frustrating, but I actually think it will be a strength this season if Obekpa can come through. The guys almost seemed to be expecting to lose tonight. That is the negative side of playing all those minutes as outmanned freshmen. I think the win could go a looooong way if they don't get slaughtered by Gonzaga Friday.
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I thought so too but seeing DH missing free throws is rough. Part of the end result was I think our guys wore them down. We looked a lot fresher the last 8 minutes.
 
Also...18 offensive rebounds with three from Pointer. Marillac feels like crying tears of joy!
This team has to be relentless on the offensive glass to play anywhere near their potential. That is what strikes fear in opposing coaches....seing Dom Pointer off the three point line and dunking missed shots.

They out-rebounded Minny 47-40 overall.
 
uh oh Marillac talking in the third person...

Pointer has some freakish athletic ability. Love it.
 
Also...18 offensive rebounds with three from Pointer. Marillac feels like crying tears of joy!
This team has to be relentless on the offensive glass to play anywhere near their potential. That is what strikes fear in opposing coaches....seing Dom Pointer off the three point line and dunking missed shots.

They out-rebounded Minny 47-40 overall.
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Going into this game, we were leading the BE in rebounding at 44.7 per game. The 47 tonight can't hurt. Go figure. I'll take a full out effort from the whole team in this area all year. It leads to run outs and these other teams can't handle us in the open court. Long way to go, but there were very good early signs tonight.
 
Harrison played pretty bad tonight but came up big when it mattered.

Phil Greene, who had been pulling a disappearing act over the last few games and for most of this game, hit two big jumpers when we needed them.

Pointer just continues to make everyone eat crow. Sure he still makes some boneheaded plays, but he got the small crowd and the team to wake up tonight.

Obekpa is such a good anchor to this team.

For branch it is like 1 great play and then 3 bad plays. I would enjoy his presence in the game much more if he cut down on his mistakes

Jordan had an up and down game, but was generally solid and without him in the first half we coulda gone down by 15.

Overall a good game, good defense, bad FTs, this Gonzaga team is good but not unbeatable. Will be interesting to see
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Concise and to the points of the game! We won with inconsistent guard play and poor free throw shooting. That will not work against Gonzaga. Obekpa is clearly the difference on this team thus far. The guards need to step up big time for the Zags and their shooting needs to be on target but a split in this tournament is acceptable given our circumstances.
 
This thread on the MINNY board is funny. They said Lavin out coached a pitino and then say that the "rabid, Pro-NYC crowd" rattled their seniors.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?58374-Out-coached-tonight
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Lavin did outcoach him. That frosh was the most solid player on the floor and he got benched. It was like Mahoney and Roshown Mcleod. Mcleod would be playing brilliantly and then get benched.
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I'm not getting it: What is this fascination with Rick Pitino's kid ... other than that he's Rick Pitino's kid?
 
Harrison played pretty bad tonight but came up big when it mattered.

Phil Greene, who had been pulling a disappearing act over the last few games and for most of this game, hit two big jumpers when we needed them.

Pointer just continues to make everyone eat crow. Sure he still makes some boneheaded plays, but he got the small crowd and the team to wake up tonight.

Obekpa is such a good anchor to this team.

For branch it is like 1 great play and then 3 bad plays. I would enjoy his presence in the game much more if he cut down on his mistakes

Jordan had an up and down game, but was generally solid and without him in the first half we coulda gone down by 15.

Overall a good game, good defense, bad FTs, this Gonzaga team is good but not unbeatable. Will be interesting to see
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Concise and to the points of the game! We won with inconsistent guard play and poor free throw shooting. That will not work against Gonzaga. Obekpa is clearly the difference on this team thus far. The guards need to step up big time for the Zags and their shooting needs to be on target but a split in this tournament is acceptable given our circumstances.
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We would have no choice but to accept it if we lose, but I don't accept us making excuses going in. Forget "our circumstances" and let's play ball. We can beat them if we play well...not out of our minds, but just execute well on D, hit our FT's, a reasonable % of threes and continue to rebound. This is a big game, we know it, and I expect us to show up and play like it.
 
The thing in my opinion that turned the tide in the first half to Minnesota, was when Obekpa was called for the offensive goal tend, and Minny went to the other side and hit a 3 pointer. A 5 point swing that seemed to get Minnesota going. Sorry if someone already mentioned this. Haven't read all the pages
 
The thing in my opinion that turned the tide in the first half to Minnesota, was when Obekpa was called for the offensive goal tend, and Minny went to the other side and hit a 3 pointer. A 5 point swing that seemed to get Minnesota going. Sorry if someone already mentioned this. Haven't read all the pages
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No question that was the turning point. To be honest, it was a little disappointing. This a very experienced senior-laden team. They shouldn't let stuff like that get to them.

It seems like they still don't expect to win games like these. They need a confidence boost and Gonzaga can be just. It wouldn't hurt to put three years of demons away by beating Cuse by double-digits.
 
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