BleedGopher
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per Marcus:
DEFENSIVE IDENTITY – Through the first five games of the season, the Gophers fell in love with scoring the ball. They averaged 95.4 points during that span, which was the highest in program history to open the season. That included reaching the century mark against Niagara (107-81) and Alabama A&M (100-57). Minnesota still leads the Big Ten in scoring offense with 89.4 points, but that is not the identity that won 24 games last season and reached the first NCAA tournament for Richard Pitino. Pitino’s team averaged just 75.2 points last season, but it was one of the top teams in the country in defensive efficiency. It’s great to be able to put points on the scoreboard, but the Gophers can’t rely on outscoring teams, especially as the competition gets tougher. Miami (Fla.) shot 56 percent inside the arc and hit 10 three-pointers in Minnesota’s only loss this season last week. Junior guard Dupree McBrayer, who missed the Miami game with a leg injection, was back in the lineup Sunday against Rutgers and provided a huge lift defensively with two steals and two blocks. Reggie Lynch and Jordan Murphy make it tough on opponents in the paint (averaging six blocks combined), but they can’t allow opponents to get too many second-chance opportunities. Rutgers had 17 offensive rebounds Sunday, but only three in the second half.
http://www.startribune.com/can-the-gophers-return-to-a-defensive-identity-this-season/462124393/
Go Gophers!!
DEFENSIVE IDENTITY – Through the first five games of the season, the Gophers fell in love with scoring the ball. They averaged 95.4 points during that span, which was the highest in program history to open the season. That included reaching the century mark against Niagara (107-81) and Alabama A&M (100-57). Minnesota still leads the Big Ten in scoring offense with 89.4 points, but that is not the identity that won 24 games last season and reached the first NCAA tournament for Richard Pitino. Pitino’s team averaged just 75.2 points last season, but it was one of the top teams in the country in defensive efficiency. It’s great to be able to put points on the scoreboard, but the Gophers can’t rely on outscoring teams, especially as the competition gets tougher. Miami (Fla.) shot 56 percent inside the arc and hit 10 three-pointers in Minnesota’s only loss this season last week. Junior guard Dupree McBrayer, who missed the Miami game with a leg injection, was back in the lineup Sunday against Rutgers and provided a huge lift defensively with two steals and two blocks. Reggie Lynch and Jordan Murphy make it tough on opponents in the paint (averaging six blocks combined), but they can’t allow opponents to get too many second-chance opportunities. Rutgers had 17 offensive rebounds Sunday, but only three in the second half.
http://www.startribune.com/can-the-gophers-return-to-a-defensive-identity-this-season/462124393/
Go Gophers!!