Badgers lose to Gophers..

[JHHawk]

last nite in the Barn.
I cannot help myself...I am addicted to Big Ten bb ,so I watched this game.
Things that stood out:

1. Bo Ryan works the refs as hard as any coach in the league, and while Lavin was touting Bo's technical last nite as grand strategy, it actually allowed Minny to make 4 straight fts,and give the gophers a nice 9 point working margin at half.

2. Tubby going to a 2-3 zone for most of the game really kept the Badgers from getting in an offensive rythmn. Lavin cited it, and it was apparent that eventually the Badgers were going to start missing those bombs and it stifled them inside. Now, that said, Minnys overall length is conducive to using this tactic.

3. Say what you want about Tubby...he has brought Gopher bb back from the Monson-zombie state it existed in for 6-7 years....the Barn was rocking, and the students were out in big numbers having a good time rooting for their team. Makes me wistful for the good ole days when Carver was alive(as recently as 2006) and the students were flooding the floor after another big ten victory...(watching Adam kiss Kendra in his sweaty jersey)...and having fun with Iowa bb.

4. These two teams have a lot of young talent. Wisky played a nice mix of frosh(brueswitz,evans)sophs(taylor,wilson),juniors(nankavil,leuer,jarmaus) along with their seniors(hughes,jabo)...and have Bergrenn in the wings...I do not see them dropping off much next year...

Meanwhile Minny have frosh(cobbs,Willams,) sophs (Iverson,Sampson,Joseph) juniors Hoffbarger,Nolen(out -academics)..returning...unless rumors of a mass exodus are true, the gophers will be decent again next year...

5. I have to tip the hat to the gophers for team solidarity for shaving their heads to honor a cancer patient who is related to their staff somehow...I know it is corny,but I just sensed that they might rally around it..and based on how they played last nite..they might just get on a role,even without nolen. They have IU at home Sunday,then Purdue comes to town..if they can pull the upset vs PU...they might just make a run to the bubble...longshot,but possible.

Hoffarber is just about the best shooter in the country this year...leads the country in 3 point percentage..around 50%..on a lot of attempts.
He really has impressed me this year..I thought he was a one trick pony who fell off that pony last year,but he has gotten stronger, quicker, is putting the ball on the floor more,and scoring from more places on the floor. Gives me some hope for Iowa players like May,Gatens,Payne ect...who have to improve in many facets of their games..

just rambling...no Iowa games for 8 days...ouch

 

[loesshillshawk]

I agree Tubby took a team that had not been to the big dance for 10 years...and now look. Hired same time as Lick...but the supporters say it is unfair to compare Iowa to Minnesota....why? Tubby is a better coach, dynamic guy, got the students interested again...good recruiter...while we struggle.

 

[olivecourt]

just to let you know, up here in minnesota folks are saying some of the exact same things about tubby that they are saying about lickliter in iowa. the win over wisconsin was nice but it came after they gave away a must-win at northwestern. they have also had a ton of problems with ineligible players, off-court arrests, etc.

yes, tubby got the gophers to the dance last year, which was huge. but there is a ton of frustration up here with the team as it is right now. everyone expected more and they expected it sooner. sound familiar?

 

[storminspank]

just to let you know, up here in minnesota folks are saying some of the exact same things about tubby that they are saying about lickliter in iowa. the win over wisconsin was nice but it came after they gave away a must-win at northwestern. they have also had a ton of problems with ineligible players, off-court arrests, etc.

yes, tubby got the gophers to the dance last year, which was huge. but there is a ton of frustration up here with the team as it is right now. everyone expected more and they expected it sooner. sound familiar?

I was going to say the same thing. Up in the Cities, there are a lot of ****** off people at Tubby.

Nature of the Beast.

 

[ibahawkeye]

Any chance that we could offer a TL for Tubby trade?

 

[JHHawk]

I expected the Gophers to be better also...losing Mbakwe and White early did not help..Mbakwe was their best big man in the november exhibitions..and then Nolen.

That loss to Michigan at home was the killer for them. Purdue lost at NW also...that happens.

I sense they are going to make a run to the bubble..we will see.

 

[iahawk20]

I expected the Gophers to be better also...losing Mbakwe and White early did not help..Mbakwe was their best big man in the november exhibitions..and then Nolen.

That loss to Michigan at home was the killer for them. Purdue lost at NW also...that happens.

I sense they are going to make a run to the bubble..we will see.

They have a good enough team to finish the season strong and make a run in the BTT. Despite a couple of big losses in a row they bounced back nicely. It helps they still have us at home, a guranteed win for them.

 

[koolhandlick]

Yes but if we stay with in ten points it's another moral victory. One step closer to another COY award.

 

[jparmley3]

Yes but if we stay with in ten points it's another moral victory. One step closer to another COY award.

We are only 3 (moral) victories away from tying the school record set in 1986-87.

It's well within our reach!

 

[NewMexHawk]

If Minny fans had Lickliter for one season in a trade with Iowa, they would be greatful to get him back the following year...

 

[JHHawk]

Minny is kicking IU so far with a halftime lead of 44-25....Gophers are clinging to a thread hoping for the Tourny...they need to beat Purdue on Wed and Illini in champaign to have a shot. Or have a huge BTT. But,they sure look good tonite.
The Barn is rocking again. Laravee keeps saying it is one of the greatest venues for BB in college bb...and the Barnyard is alive.
Michigan and Purdue student sections were also on fire today. In Purdues case, it paid off, but PSU held off Michigan in Ann Arbor...yikes,here comes the Nits.

 

[racerhawk]

I thought Bo Ryan's behavior was pretty tacky, to be honest. He's a great coach, but you could see him calling the ref a f'n A'hole more than once. Is that common?

Bo Ryan definitely works those refs hard...as much as anyone I've ever seen. I guess that had one too many "f'n a'hole" comments at this point in the season.

 

[iahawk20]

Minny is kicking IU so far with a halftime lead of 44-25....Gophers are clinging to a thread hoping for the Tourny...they need to beat Purdue on Wed and Illini in champaign to have a shot. Or have a huge BTT. But,they sure look good tonite.
The Barn is rocking again. Laravee keeps saying it is one of the greatest venues for BB in college bb...and the Barnyard is alive.
Michigan and Purdue student sections were also on fire today. In Purdues case, it paid off, but PSU held off Michigan in Ann Arbor...yikes,here comes the Nits.

It makes it hard to watch really. We are so far behind every big 10 school with the exception of PSU. Not just in wins and losses but the program as a whole.

 

[JHHawk]

Minny bb looks pretty fun tonite with dunks galore...that Rodney Williams is a skywalker!!

Watching that PSU game vs NW and today vs Michigan, I just do not know how they lost 12 straight...they look like a very talented team this week. Hawks are lucky we do not play them in Happy Valley...can we hold them off for 10th or 9th? If we do not beat IU, we could still end up in 11th...we need that IU game..and the NW game just to be sure.

One comforting thought is that Minny bb was dormant until Tubby came and in a year,it came alive bigtime...same could happen next year at Iowa if the Hawks find the magic formula ...we win most of our home games..it would sure save the angst of lick being on the hot seat and Carver being a morgue. Go Hawks!!