BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,728
- Reaction score
- 16,038
- Points
- 113
per Marcus:
Best player: JORDAN MURPHY
Why: Murphy basically went from worst to first as far as what type of impact he had for the Gophers from the beginning to the end of 2017. He failed to reach double figures in scoring in seven of his first nine games of the year. He only averaged 7.4 points for the Gophers during a 4-5 start to Big Ten play last season. How erratic was Murphy’s play to that point? He went from a 21-rebound game vs. Michigan State to just one rebound in a loss vs. Wisconsin. But he finished last season on a double-double tear that carried over to a record-setting pace this season. Murphy averaged 15.2 points and 11.9 rebounds in his final 11 games last season, including seven double-doubles. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior put himself into Big Ten player of the year conversation this season leading the league in points (19.1) and rebounds (12.6) through 14 games in 2017-18.
Best moment: NCAA TOURNAMENT SELECTION SHOW
Why: The bad vibes that came from the eight-win season seemed to be wiped away for good when Gophers fans, players and coaches celebrated last season's NCAA tournament selection show in a suite at US Bank Stadium. The 16-game turnaround led to a No. 5 seed in Milwaukee against Middle Tennessee. The outcome wasn't what Pitino and company wanted (injuries to Mason and Springs had a lot to do with that early exit), but it didn't take away from how much the program injected life back into a passionate fan base starving for a contender. Looking forward to seeing what makes this list for the Gophers in 2018. Happy New Year!
http://www.startribune.com/what-made-this-best-list-for-gophers-basketball-in-2017/467469893/
Go Gophers!!
Best player: JORDAN MURPHY
Why: Murphy basically went from worst to first as far as what type of impact he had for the Gophers from the beginning to the end of 2017. He failed to reach double figures in scoring in seven of his first nine games of the year. He only averaged 7.4 points for the Gophers during a 4-5 start to Big Ten play last season. How erratic was Murphy’s play to that point? He went from a 21-rebound game vs. Michigan State to just one rebound in a loss vs. Wisconsin. But he finished last season on a double-double tear that carried over to a record-setting pace this season. Murphy averaged 15.2 points and 11.9 rebounds in his final 11 games last season, including seven double-doubles. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior put himself into Big Ten player of the year conversation this season leading the league in points (19.1) and rebounds (12.6) through 14 games in 2017-18.
Best moment: NCAA TOURNAMENT SELECTION SHOW
Why: The bad vibes that came from the eight-win season seemed to be wiped away for good when Gophers fans, players and coaches celebrated last season's NCAA tournament selection show in a suite at US Bank Stadium. The 16-game turnaround led to a No. 5 seed in Milwaukee against Middle Tennessee. The outcome wasn't what Pitino and company wanted (injuries to Mason and Springs had a lot to do with that early exit), but it didn't take away from how much the program injected life back into a passionate fan base starving for a contender. Looking forward to seeing what makes this list for the Gophers in 2018. Happy New Year!
http://www.startribune.com/what-made-this-best-list-for-gophers-basketball-in-2017/467469893/
Go Gophers!!