I didn't think it was worth starting a new thread with just my thoughts, but I am becoming a little more concerned about this team now than I was two weeks ago. If you go back to the 2nd half against FSU, the Gophers have played 5 relatively ugly half's in a row, especially on the offensive end of the floor. I'd like to see more movement offensively: both ball and player movement. I do like that we run a lot of high pick and roll, but in conference play we will need more wrinkles and I think teams will dare Nate/Dupree to give the ball up to Reggie/Jordan/Eric until those 3 prove to be more efficient scorers in the paint. There were times against both Vanderbilt and NJIT that a better opponent would have put the game away from the Gophers: in the Vandy game it was the opening 7:30 where the Gophers managed 2 points and in the NJIT game it occurred in the second half where the Gophers went more than 6:30 of game time without a field goal. That's not to say bad half's or games can't or shouldn't happen, but it's three games in a row now where the offense has been nonexistent for long stretches. When you don't finish at a high rate in the paint, don't have an abundance of 3 point shooting, and (usually) struggle at the line it's tough to know what the answer is.
Individually, the one player I am most concerned about is Jordan Murphy. I feel the like scouting report is out on Murphy much like it was on Joe Coleman and Murphy doesn't appear to have added anything to his offensive game over the Summer. He needs to either improve his handle and court vision so his drives become more effective or add a consistent jumper to open up more lanes for himself. If he's struggling now in the non conference portion of the schedule, it likely will only get worse in conference play where coaches/players are already familiar with him. I don't claim to be the body language guy, but Murphy didn't exactly appear engaged against NJIT either.
Pitino has mentioned after the last two games that it's nice to be able to win when you don't play well, and that is certainly true...but at some point you need to fix the not playing well part. Obviously this team is much more fun to watch than last year's squad but they need to reach the level of play they have shown in stretches (against Arkansas, St. John's) a little more consistently to really make a 180 from last year.
