Spartans-Gophers in-game thread

[Gopher07]

14-6 MSU leads with 8:45 to go in the first half, Gophers need to figure out their offense or this one is going to get ugly fast.

[GopherCrazy]

anyone know if its getting streamed somewhere?

[Schlic Daddy]

We are getting killed on the offensive glass. Down 19-12 with 5:01 to go in the first half.

[Gopher07]

28-20 now, 2:57 remaining. Ugly game by our guys so far.

[FiveStarFan]

ralph is getting a quick lesson of big 10 inside game today

[Caravan Shaker]

anyone know if its getting streamed somewhere?

http://www.justin.tv/timmex

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

9-2 to end the half

[FiveStarFan]

If we keep driving to the hole we will open this up

[Gopher4Life]

>>ralph is getting a quick lesson of big 10 inside game today<<

He's not the only one who's a bit lost out there.

Heart plus home crowd plus Tubby might keep us in the game.

Let's just say our 12-0 record wasn't fashioned against teams of thoroughbreds who have been coached to defend.

BTW, we STILL don't seem to have a go-to offensive threat.

[BBShopGo4]

The guys are hustling their butts off. They do seem to be running around a bit much and need to be more organized on their rotations and doubles so they don't leave open looks. It's also a great sign that they just keep fighting. There were a couple of points where they could have hung their heads, but they clawed their way back to within one at the half.

I think our deep bench is starting to wear out the Spartans a bit. Lot's of Sparty fouls in that first half. I'm hoping that we can keep running fresh guys at them and win a battle of attrition.

Go Gophers!

[gopher7]

- Where is Westbrook? This is the 2nd time in the 2 big games we've had that he's been a non-factor.

- We REALLY need to do better on the defensive glass, MSU's offensive rebounding is killing us right now.

[Gopher07]

The game is starting to slip from us, 38-30 now. Tons of fouls to start the second half.

[Gopher07]

Guys hustling out there ... 38-34 now.

[FiveStarFan]

westbrook seems to be lacking heart and want-to. If Nolen would keep driving to the hole their scorers will quickly be in foul trouble

[freshtrout]

Westbrook has too many TO's ..

[Anderson8284]

Gotta love our heart.

Grimm on the radio has been getting on the refs a bit.

Just got done running errrands, now am back to "work"

[Gopher07]

We're just getting killed now because our offense can't do squat. 44-34, MSU.

[FiveStarFan]

too many shooters on msu and the defense is nowhere what it was the first half i.e. open shooters all over the state end

[FiveStarFan]

our trademark defense is letting this one slip out of our hands. We can compete with these guys no doubt, but we cant shoot with em

[Gopher07]

No one gets back on D. Sick.

[Gopher07]

Embarrassing play this half.

[FiveStarFan]

agreed. that 2 min span of wide open play almost looked like Tubby conceeded that we cant beat this team playing "our" game and we lost at that also

[freshtrout]

M St has way too many scorers for us to deal with. Few offensive rebounds hurts....

[FiveStarFan]

see you next year at the barn MSU!!

[sllygphr]

We're shooting 35%?

[Schlic Daddy]

We just can't defend off of their screens...leaving people wide open. Well we have something to work on now. As poor as our offense has been, our defense is losing this one. Leaving people wide open and giving WAY too many second chances.

[TcGophers]

and guess what guys and gals...there goes are rankings and the start to maybe a horrible big ten season if we cant beat buckeyes..im really nervous for our team..lousville has fallen to hell so im not sure..Nit..

[FiveStarFan]

I wouldnt go quite that far Tc....msu is a pretty good team.

[NateDawgUM]

Haha, we lose to a top 10 caliber team at home and people are already mailing in the season. Love it guys!

We didn't play well, didn't shoot well, and Michigan State had more talent. We have a lot of things to work on.

Time to get after Ohio State on Saturday.

[MRJ]

The bottom line is that Michigan State is a much better team than we are right now...they made a lot of big plays and we didn't respond well to a lot of what they did, especially in the second half.

The biggest thing I don't like about this game is that our defense has been awful in the second half. Maybe we blew our wad somewhat in the first half with how well we were defending, but the second half effort defensively has been very poor.

A lot of guys were also forcing things offensively, which led to some of our defensive problems.

Having said all of that, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played this season.

[TcGophers]

Yea, I would of loved to win this home opener though. Explain Illinois? they gonna win it all or what.

[TcGophers]

Would of liked to see some more inside plays..anough with the perimiter shooting..MSU is crazy defense.

[TcGophers]

haha suton, chump

[FiveStarFan]

Illinois has a chance but they just dont have what it looks like to me. Personally I think Mich. St. will have another big 10 champ at the end of the year. Illinois will be a force in the next couple years tho!

[FiveStarFan]

I thought Devoe should have got a bit more pt with Nolen

[ncgo4]

Our whole team just got a real schooling. Our Big Boys (Colt & RS) just got a real arse whooping from MS's Big Men. We were completely outmuscled, out positioned and outplayed. To compound the problem, Jonathan Williams was absolutely no help whatsoever.

Long range this won't hurt that much. I suspect that the Tubster will explain in language that is easily understood about position and blocking out. I fully expect Iverson and Sampson to learn the lesson well. I expect us to rebound nicely against Ohio State.

Finally, all that depth we've been writing about...it'll be back.

[FiveStarFan]

Our whole team just got a real schooling. Our Big Boys (Colt & RS) just got a real arse whooping from MS's Big Men. We were completely outmuscled, out positioned and outplayed. To compound the problem, Jonathan Williams was absolutely no help whatsoever.

Long range this won't hurt that much. I suspect that the Tubster will explain in language that is easily understood about position and blocking out. I fully expect Iverson and Sampson to learn the lesson well. I expect us to rebound nicely against Ohio State.

Finally, all that depth we've been writing about...it'll be back.

couldnt agree more!

[BBShopGo4]

OK, we got beat by a better team. The sky is NOT falling! Pretty much every prediction had us losing and MSU is a top 10 team. I think this will be a good learning experience for our young team. Lots of guys played and got their feet wet in what B10 basketball is all about. Remember, we're starting two freshman big men, our starting PG is a SO and his backup is a FR.

Bottom line: Disappointed? Sure. But, we showed we can compete with one of the top B10 teams, but their superior talent and experience won out. Tubby has lots of good film to teach from. We move on to Ohio State.

Go Gophers!

[Gopher4Life]

Would last year's Gophers starters have matched up better with this year's Spartans? I think so...which tells me this year's starters have a lot of long range potential and we have better depth overall, but we're certainly not where we want to be yet. The Big Ten just doesn't allow freshmen to replace seniors. Tubby should have quite a team when Nolen's a senior, Iverson, Sampson, and Joseph are juniors, etc.

Add me to those who are not impressed with Westbrook.