Minnesota @ Wisconsin game thread

[gophersfan]

wow the border battle is here. do we have a prayer of winning in Madison.

[Dr.Don]

YES!!!!! Gophers by 8.

[maliksealy]

it's gonna be so tough..but i cant wait.

[GopherCrazy]

even though we're ranked... it will be an upset if we win.

[6Gophers]

I road win in the Big Ten is very hard to come by and although our Gophers are leaps and bounds better than in the past, getting a road win in Madison will be very difficult. Because of that, I'm predicting a loss for our boys (please don't flame me), and because I think we'll lose, I'm more interested in seeing how they hold up against a hostile environment. Granted, the Kohl Center is FAR from being one of the more hostile environments (see Duke and Kansas), but because it's a rivalry game, the home team typically wins.

I hope I'm wrong and I will announce my mistake on a mountain top if I am!! GO GOPHERS!

[RomaGopher]

Any stream for tonight match?

[UofM Fan]

Getting screwed by the refs 8 seconds in!! Only in Wisconsin!

[gophersfan]

that was a foul on Wisconsin and no call. thank Refs.

[gophersfan]

Great Defense in the backcourt.

[GopherCrazy]

gah, Sampson just cannot shoot the ball well..

[kramer]

the refs are already calling this game like a pac-ten game

[gophersfan]

wow 10-2 lead in Madison.

[gophersfan]

make that 12-5 lead.

[UofM Fan]

Got to keep Landry off the boards!

[gophersfan]

stay out of foul trouble Gophers. Wisconsin with 5 turnovers.

[GopherCrazy]

Cmon Hoff!!! GET HOT!

[gophersfan]

Bo Ryan is whinning to the Refs about a Wisconsin foul. hahahahaha

[Gold Rush]

Yeah he is working the refs --- he wants to keep up that home cooking.

[FiveStarFan]

gotta get RSIII outta there right now

[GopherCrazy]

someone should tell sampson not to shoot again... ever.

[UofM Fan]

He looked good on the block, maybe thats where he should stay.

[FiveStarFan]

someone once told me he has a good jump shot...not at game time yet

[Dean_Youngblood]

gophers are doing well with johnson sitting on the bench with 2 fouls...

[Zales04]

Is it me or did Leuer take too many steps on that drive of his a while ago?

[UofM Fan]

Bostick and Johnson 2 fouls each 2 minutes played. Not good!

[FiveStarFan]

horrible pass JAS!

[Moonlight]

Yes, Zales

[FiveStarFan]

poor passing and bad rebounding. Reminds me of Mich. St. so far

[TheDinkytowner]

JAS must sit.

[TheDinkytowner]

we haven't scored in 6 minutes

[Moonlight]

Finally a foul on Wisky

[FiveStarFan]

OMG this is ugly

[gophersfan]

Sampson please never take a outside jumper again. 2nd one in this game.

[Moonlight]

And finally a travel called.

[akgopher]

Carter was out of control and needs to sit.

[TheDinkytowner]

haven't scored in almost 8 mins....

[Moonlight]

An Ugly game was predicted. We can win ugly.

[FiveStarFan]

this is exactly one of the instances that I keep pointing out to people, Westbrook has been on the court the last three min and has been absent on both ends.

[akgopher]

Gullickson and Leuer killing us.

[Moonlight]

Wisconsin has us in experience. The game is young - no panicking please!
Should we pull Sampson now?

[Moonlight]

Sigh - all that defense just to have Westbrook take a bad shot...

[FiveStarFan]

Gophers are playing out of control. I'm very surprised Tubby hasnt called a T.O.

[TheDinkytowner]

I think we'll settle down in the 2nd half

[Dean_Youngblood]

UH OH

[FiveStarFan]

Time out PLEASE!!!!

[UofM Fan]

What is Nolen doing? Get in control!

[TheDinkytowner]

this is our first big game on a hostile court

[Bayfieldgopher]

Outclassed in all facets. weloose by 20

[FiveStarFan]

2nd half? lets hope its not a 20 pt game at this pace

[akgopher]

I like Nolen, but I don't know if he could put in 20 if he was in the gym by himself.

[Moonlight]

He doesn't like to call time outs.
Again, the foul discrepancy. Bo knows fouling.

[akgopher]

call a frickin timeout

[Dean_Youngblood]

GAME OF RUNS BOYS...

[ShowinGoldyLove]

Our 2 guards are going 1 on 1 WAY too much. We really have to pass the ball and RELAX...make them play D for even 15 secs!

[akgopher]

wisky looks like it might run a marathon

[UofM Fan]

Ugly, we look tired on D

[calminnfan]

Ummm...if this game keeps going the way it is, the Gophers will be lucky to be ranked in the top 50 when it is over.

[FiveStarFan]

the team that is in control and aggressive will always have less fouls, this is just a very young untraveled team

[MRJ]

I usually don't complain about officiating and I expected to get homered here, but the Badgers have like what? TWO fouls for the half. With how physical this game is, that is ridiculous.

[TheDinkytowner]

we have 2 points in the last 12 mins.

[TheDinkytowner]

now 4

[FiveStarFan]

Wisc PF/C just out handled our PG AND SG

[akgopher]

Did Monson blow-off Leuer? He's playing like he's pissed.

[Slim Tubby]

Too young...too soon...and no "star" to take over the game. We're going to lose some games this year and dropping one to a veteran club like WI on the road is no disgrace. It's not over yet but a comeback for a win is not likely....

[TheDinkytowner]

fouls MN 8, WI 4

[Moonlight]

Westbrook....

[FiveStarFan]

Westbrook......

[akgopher]

Joseph seems a step slow at PG

[UofM Fan]

Come on Carter we need some spark!

[FiveStarFan]

:D

[akgopher]

big hoop

[gophersfan]

We are within 8.

[FiveStarFan]

yeah!!!! not sayin its over but we could be up 10 EASY

[TheDinkytowner]

holy crap

[Moonlight]

I like how you think, 5star!

[TheDinkytowner]

we could also be down 20

[MRJ]

Everybody needs to relax, its still the first half. College basketball is a weird game and things can change in a hurry. Not suggesting that we'll come back and win, but there is always a chance.

[Moonlight]

But we're not!

[akgopher]

We could still end-up losing by 20 if we come out cold in the 2nd half

[gophersfan]

big time 3 to end the half for Wisconsin. that was not good.

[akgopher]

I won't miss Landry next year

[UofM Fan]

Are you kidding me! Iverson needs to come up with that pass. If the pass touches your hands you need to catch it!!

[TheDinkytowner]

JAS comes through in the clutch. Sit, my boy.

[MRJ]

After that last turnover, was it imminently predictable that Landry would hit a three or what? ;)

Some times, you can just see it coming...

(oh, and nobody will miss those ridiculous glasses he wears either)

[FiveStarFan]

I like how you think, 5star!

ya we're on the same page. JAS with another horrible pass and a 3 later and we got a mountain to climb in -20 weather...:eek:

[The Truth]

It looks to me that you're suffering a huge disparity at the free throw line. Is the game being officiated that closely or are the calls of the "questionable" type you see many home teams get?

[Gopher07]

Yup, totally pissing down our legs. Awful.

Better hope we can open the second half on a bit of a run and cut it to 5 or so early or it will get out of hand.

[akgopher]

I have a feeling that Charissa might be the only thing keeping me watching this game to the end.

[TheDinkytowner]

*Stat of the 1st half: 0-0 from the charity stripe

[Moonlight]

Bo is the master at this. Between his coaching and whining, they are always on the good side of officiating

[MRJ]

The free throw discrepancy is called BoBall.

Ever since he's been with Bucky, they've had calls go their way like no other. Bucky will tell you its the way he teaches them (perfect defense :rolleyes:). Everybody else seems to disagree...

[TheDinkytowner]

Becky is also shooting 50% so hopefully they cool down

[FiveStarFan]

I would pay to hear the a** ripping at half. Only 3 Wisc players scored jeez

[UofM Fan]

I won't say that the officials have been horrible but I think it is pretty amazing that we took as many contested shots as we did and did not attempt a single free throw. WTF!

[BarnBoy]

Painful to watch. Everything on offense seems forced.

[Drex96]

I like Nolen, but I don't know if he could put in 20 if he was in the gym by himself.

And apparently neither can anyone else, including the so-called shooting guards. Stick to comments that make sense, AK.

[The Truth]

8 to 5 fouls isn't that bad until you see that Wisconsin has 8 FT attempts on 8 fouls and the Gophers have 0 on 5. That's perplexing because it seems from the Gametracker your young men are taking it to the rack and Wisconsin is the one trying to do the damage from the perimeter.

[TheDinkytowner]

only 2 assists?

[MRJ]

Truth,

That's how it always goes for visitors to Madison. The key is trying to overcome it, something only eight out of 114 teams have done during his tenure there :rolleyes:

[FiveStarFan]

the first 5 min of the second half are going to tell you a lot

[bballfanatic]

I won't say that the officials have been horrible but I think it is pretty amazing that we took as many contested shots as we did and did not attempt a single free throw. WTF!

Great defense contesting every shot will do that.

[TheDinkytowner]

at least next year we'll have a veteran squad

[The Truth]

24 shot attempts and 10 of them 3's..yet Wisconsin is going to the line a great deal.

[ChemEGopher]

So far, so not good. My thoughts on the half are HERE (http://clubtubby.blogspot.com)

[TheDinkytowner]

did the halftime guys say "only 22 points for the #18 team? what's up with that?"

[MRJ]

They played in too much of a hurry in the first half. Especially once the Badgers started scoring. Nolen tried to go one-on-one too much without having an option to pass to. Need to play more under control and I think they can come back.

But there was WAY too much one-on-one dribbling and out of control moves to the basket going on.

[BUGuy]

JAS needs to stay on the bench. I am sorry but 3 passes and three crucial turnovers come on man that's trash. It's gonna be climb to get back in this game but I think we can do it. Damian barely played at all and hopefully he can come in and set the tone on defense.

[The Truth]

I can't see the game:

What kind of defense are the Gopher's playing? Are they playing straight man or mixing it up with some zone. I know Coach Smith plays a lot of Zone on OOB entries underneath the opponents basket so I'm wondering.

[TheDinkytowner]

1. we jump out to 10-2 lead in first 3 minutes
2. we get outscored 31-12 the last 17 minutes

[akgopher]

anyone catch the turnover differential

[UofM Fan]

Great defense contesting every shot will do that.

Will do what? Cause you to not shoot free throws? I was inferring it is rare to take that many shot inside with defender tightly contesting you shot and having ZERO fouls called.

[TheDinkytowner]

DJ's 2 quick fouls in opening mins. also hurt

[Moonlight]

We're inexperienced and it shows. It'll be a learning experience. We can hope it comes after the half!

[MRJ]

Damian's two fouls contributed a lot to the problems, especially defensively. I should have known how this would go after the officials waited a whole eight seconds before calling a foul on him.

[TheDinkytowner]

At least NW will be demoralized when we play them next

[Moonlight]

DJ's 2 quick fouls in opening mins. also hurt

Big time!

[TheDinkytowner]

Damian's two fouls contributed a lot to the problems, especially defensively. I should have known how this would go after the officials waited a whole eight seconds before calling a foul on him.

7 seconds, actually

[Dean_Youngblood]

this is why i like hockey...

[MRJ]

Dinkytowner,

Let's at least let the second half play out before we start thinking about Northwestern. I know it doesn't look good, but I for one want to see how the fellas respond before writing this one off...

[TheDinkytowner]

Dinkytowner,

Let's at least let the second half play out before we start thinking about Northwestern. I know it doesn't look good, but I for one want to see how the fellas respond before writing this one off...


Not writing it off, just saying that NW will be demoralized after blowing their huge lead against Purdue

[MRJ]

yeah, I saw that game too...

I actually feel really bad for NU in hoops, they never seem to get ANY breaks...

[FiveStarFan]

first FT

[UofM Fan]

21.25 seconds to our first free throws!

[TheDinkytowner]

?

[FiveStarFan]

We pressed to start, tried the zone and now we're pressing with it looked to be man to man

[UofM Fan]

Sampson with some nice blocks!!

[gophersfan]

now we starting to play like a Gophers team. let keep it up.

[gophersfan]

what the hell was AL Nolen doing there.

[FiveStarFan]

what has happend to Nolen's control?

[MRJ]

Was anybody else secretly hoping Bo's face would pop right off there??:D

[UofM Fan]

Bo Ryans pissed! Not getting his moneys worth

[TheDinkytowner]

2-1 fouls!

[TheDinkytowner]

3-1!

[MRJ]

Not so fast, there's your make up call!!

[TheDinkytowner]

The Bo Ryan special

[TheDinkytowner]

Nolen gotta sit

[The Truth]

FT's might look a little different in the second half. I've seen it a thousand times: Completely different calls from first to second half. I would let Wisky keep chucking it from 3

[Moonlight]

Is the cameraman ill?

[FiveStarFan]

get back on D!! my god lazyness

[TheDinkytowner]

3-3 fouls

[MRJ]

Wow, that was a nice grab by Sampson :p

[Moonlight]

Thanks, Dinkytowner, cause we know the announcers aren't going to let us know.

[TheDinkytowner]

Iverson 2 points, 0 rebounds

[FiveStarFan]

Ralph is playing a good game now except he is half a** running down on D

[UofM Fan]

How many times do you think you have seen the commercial where the kids sinks the shot off the roof. I think I've seen it 10,000 times, at least!

[MRJ]

Nope...Tom Hamilton is too busy loving up Bo and the Badgers....

[TheDinkytowner]

Thanks, Dinkytowner, cause we know the announcers aren't going to let us know.

u want me to stop?

[The Truth]

A 9 point game and 8 of that difference came on the FT line...by a team determined to shoot the 3pt shot at all costs it would seem.

Basketball is a funny game sometimes.

[Moonlight]

Not at all - I meant it. It drives me nuts that they dont' give info.
AND OH MY GOD! NO FOUL??

[UofM Fan]

oh, Big John!!

[MRJ]

That was a nice block by Landry...But...I don't have a lot of faith in big Jon :(

[FiveStarFan]

out classed, out hussled, out played.

[TheDinkytowner]

JW gets our 3rd assist of the night!

[MRJ]

Is it just me, or is Blake looking a little gun-shy lately???

[FiveStarFan]

Blake officailly has no confidense right now

[FiveStarFan]

shut up BO! god

[UofM Fan]

I wouldnt mind seeing Hoff sit for ahwile and let Bostick take his place.

[TheDinkytowner]

we need a solid run soon

[MRJ]

To be honest, for all the comments I've made to this point, I actually do like Bo as a coach. He gets the most out of his players and they play really well together.

I'm like five-star, sometimes I just wish he would stop WHINING...

[Moonlight]

Why are they talking to him??
I'm glad our coach doesn't look like the spawn of satan.

[UofM Fan]

I hope BTN doesn't show the ad with Butch banking in the three unless there is a badger game. Otherwise, I'm sure it's hurting their ratings

[FiveStarFan]

I wouldnt mind seeing Hoff sit for ahwile and let Bostick take his place.

I couldnt agree more!

I have no idea how this is still a single digit game still.

[The Truth]

I like Bo Ryan as a coach but damn him to hell for Kirk Penny.

[gophersfan]

Ticky Tack foul on AL Nolen.

[FiveStarFan]

peace out Al damn...fouls

[UofM Fan]

This is unbelievable!

[TheDinkytowner]

I think Bo Ryan's favorite holiday is Halloween because he can go as himself.

[Moonlight]

Is it a good sign where the ref pats Bo on the butt?
And moments later, 4th foul on Nolen
And moments later another on Carter

[MRJ]

foul calls like that last one on the trap are why Bo works the refs so hard

[FiveStarFan]

cant wait to hear how we havent beaten anyone after this

[The Truth]

This is unbelievable!

I'm following the gametracker and I have to concur.

Wisky is winning this ballgame at the FT line. I hate to watch a game like that. From the stats it seems that Wisky is even with the Gophers if you ask me and are downright putrid from 3.

[TheDinkytowner]

7-3 on the fouls this half

[gophersfan]

Hoorible 3 by Hoff.

[FiveStarFan]

c'mon Blake!

[MRJ]

That's the second straight three tonight where Blake wasn't online with the release :(

[UofM Fan]

That would have been huge!

[TheDinkytowner]

MN 1-2 from FT
WI 9-12 from FT

[UofM Fan]

man, we have to get fouled 2 or 3 times before the refs pull the whistle out of bo butt to call a foul

[MRJ]

Just getting back to the Purdue-NW game for a minute, did anyone see the intentional foul they called on Kramer's breakaway? That still goes as the worst foul call of the night so far...

[The Truth]

MN 1-2 from FT
WI 9-12 from FT

The three quick fouls on Carter and Nolen must have been a thing of beauty to watch. Geez..that's just tough.

[gophersfan]

we got ourself a game boys.

[TheDinkytowner]

8-4 on the fouls

[The Truth]

This game can be won. It's there for the taking if the Gophers can just fight through some of this junk.

[FiveStarFan]

gotta stop pressing if we cant stop fouling on it

[MRJ]

Okay, Blake is officially broken!!!!:mad::(

[FiveStarFan]

get Blake out of this game

[UofM Fan]

can anyone else play right now besides Hoff

[MRJ]

Is it just me, or do all of the Badgers' post players look like clones??

[GOLDY1966]

Absoluately no movemnet on offense. Westbrook somehow gets his shot to drop after taking the ball totally by himself. I noticed four WI players in the paint during the entire time he dribble dribble dribbled...not one even had to move or guard anyone. Then he promptly commits an idiotic foul as he is running beside his man on defense at midcourt.??????

We are just not playing smart...

[The Truth]

Double digit offensive rebounds is a sign of effort.

[GOLDY1966]

I have yet to see anyone run a screen (or Hoff run his man off on a screen, for that matter).

[MRJ]

Yeah, we could easily win this game

If....the refs didn't target Nolen and Johnson for fouls

If....Blake could hit a shot

If...we could actually get to the free throw line

If...well, you get the idea :o

[FiveStarFan]

C-Sampson
PF-Johnson
SF-Carter/Bostic
SG-Westbrook
PG-Joesph

Go with it lets roll and make it a game

[TheDinkytowner]

We need some Tubby magic and fast

[FiveStarFan]

I forgot get on the damn boards!

[TheDinkytowner]

Iverson has 0 rebounds

[MRJ]

You have got to be kidding me!!!

Does Hughes pray to the heavens every night???

[TheDinkytowner]

Getting outrebounded 27-18

[TheDinkytowner]

It's gonna be 3-pointer time here fast

[FiveStarFan]

our team has zero muscle. Our biggest guy Iverson is consistantly out of position

[GOLDY1966]

...he travels a lot. Now if the stripes can call it. :confused:

[MRJ]

Well, at least the guys are still battling :o

[FiveStarFan]

Bostic doing his best

[Moonlight]

Bostick showing some game

[MRJ]

They won't...remember...this is BOBALL!!!

[TheDinkytowner]

MN 1-2 FT
WI 13-16 FT

[FiveStarFan]

unfortunitly "battling" gets a foul called on marroon and gold

[TheDinkytowner]

MN 17 PF
WI 9 PF

[TheDinkytowner]

We need the Hoff to get his magic back

[FiveStarFan]

2 ft!!!! are you kidding only in the big 10

[Moonlight]

I'm sure Tubby is taking some notes here.
Its amazing as bad as we're playing that we are even in striking distance

[TheDinkytowner]

If we just starting fouling on purpose toward the end, do you think anybody could tell?

[UofM Fan]

I'm sure Tubby is taking some notes here.
Its amazing as bad as we're playing that we are even in striking distance

Thats because the Badgers are not as good as all the fans think they are. Without their home court they are middle of the road in the Big Ten

[MRJ]

Did you just see Bo??? That was hysterical....LOL!!!

He's standing there saying "Greg, Greg, Greg" to one the officials with his hands folded like he's in church :rolleyes:

That pretty much sums it up for me

[Moonlight]

If we just starting fouling on purpose toward the end, do you think anybody could tell?
HA!
Bo would just cry for an intentional!

[TheDinkytowner]

Thats because the Badgers are not as good as all the fans think they are. Without their home court they are middle of the road in the Big Ten


And of course Michigan State doesn't play at Kohl this year so that will make their home record look even better

[FiveStarFan]

what a missed chance...this team needs Royce White's ability

[TheDinkytowner]

We could also use Mbakwe on the boards

[Moonlight]

Wasn't that a charge?? :)

[gophersfan]

anyone see BO Ryan. he looking for a offensive foul.

[UofM Fan]

listen to them whine, you can take a charge running backwards!

[TheDinkytowner]

Refs gotta give us some fouls at the end so the box score looks better

[FiveStarFan]

We could also use Mbakwe on the boards

Very true!!!
:D the fans there are so brainwashed they forget that a foul can be called on the home team

[threeball2k]

And of course Michigan State doesn't play at Kohl this year so that will make their home record look even better

Michigan State has never won at the Kohl Center, so that doesn't make much sense...

[MRJ]

What I'm seeing here is that Bucky is okay this year, nothing more, nothing less.

Their fans can pat themselves on the back that this is some kind of real contender if they want, but I just don't see it. They'll make the tournament, but I'm not impressed with them at all.

Honestly, I think Michigan State will kill them...

[Moonlight]

Bye-bye Al.
Krabbenoff - I suggest you don't pat him on the head

[TheDinkytowner]

Michigan State has never won at the Kohl Center, so that doesn't make much sense...

They're clearly the best team in the BT and would have the best shot of anybody winning there this year.....so it does make sense

[gophersfan]

7 point game.

[FiveStarFan]

I like Bostic driving!

[TheDinkytowner]

who are you rooting for threeball2k? I see it was your first post.

[UofM Fan]

How are we only down 7? We have played terrible. No rebounding, tons of turnover, no free throws.

[Moonlight]

3 minutes down by 7 - pretty good when its 5 against 8 :)

[gophersfan]

Tubby pissed off. how was that a foul.

[Moonlight]

Go Hoffburger!

[UofM Fan]

absolutely screwed!!! Bo Ryan must have no gag reflex.

[MRJ]

Wow, even the announcers are bitching about that last call on Damian!!! LOL

[FiveStarFan]

WTF!?!?!?!?

[TheDinkytowner]

absolutely screwed!!! Bo Ryan must have no gag reflex.

LOL!!!

[FiveStarFan]

WOW!!! YES!

[akgopher]

unreal

[FiveStarFan]

you have to brake our leg to have a foul called ...amazing

[MRJ]

Things all of the sudden are getting REALLY interesting!!!

[FiveStarFan]

gotta hit our 5 FT that we get ouch

[Moonlight]

Bo must practice that look in the mirror every night so he can do it w/o cracking up.

[TheDinkytowner]

the ol' miss your own FT play works every time

[akgopher]

interesting no Devoe and Tubby going with Hoffarber, Westbrook, and Bostick

[gophersfan]

what a horrible time for a turnover by Minnesota.

[akgopher]

remember when we thought Molinari was a defensive genius?

Dammit Carter!

[ShowinGoldyLove]

interesting no Devoe and Tubby going with Hoffarber, Westbrook, and Bostick
And coming back to make it a game!

[Moonlight]

Argh.