DanielHouse
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It takes toughness to win games on the road in Big Ten play. During a 59-52 win at Wisconsin, the Gophers showed they have what it takes to grind out conference wins in tough environments.
Minnesota led by 15 points at halftime, behind a 15-point first half outburst by guard Amir Coffey. However, the margin was quickly erased out of halftime. The Badgers were on a 9-0 run until graduate transfer Bruck Stull drilled back-to-back three-pointers to put the Gophers back up by 12 points. Wisconsin put together one final scoring surge and trailed by just four points with 2:50 remaining.
After so many excruciating defeats against Wisconsin, it felt like momentum was starting to shift. Star big-man Jordan Murphy fouled out with 3:49 remaining, but sophomore Eric Curry stepped up with several key rebounds. At one point, the foul margin was 14-5 in favor of Wisconsin. With 1:16 remaining, the Badgers completed an 8-0 run to trim the Gophers’ lead to just two points.
The Gophers managed to overcome the adversity. Minnesota quickly locked down on defense for a critical three-possession stretch. Guard Dupree McBrayer poked the ball loose and finished an easy layup in transition. On the next possession, the senior guard created another turnover and delivered a big two-hand slam. It put the Gophers up by eight points with 58 seconds remaining and fueled a key 59-52 win over the Badgers.
Entering the game, Minnesota had lost eight straight in the Border Battle series. They hadn’t defeated the Badgers since an 81-68 win during Richard Pitino’s first season in 2014. The program also had just one all-time victory at Kohl Center. In 2009, Minnesota left Wisconsin with a 78-74 overtime victory, behind 29 points from guard Lawrence Westbrook. This win also marks the first time since 1973 that the Minnesota football and basketball teams won in the same season at Madison.
In Big Ten games, Amir Coffey has elevated his play to another level. The junior guard exploded onto the scene with 15 straight points to fuel a 15-3 run in the first half. He had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes.
Wisconsin started the game on a 6-0 run, but the Gophers quickly clamped down on defense.
The Badgers went almost nine minutes without a field goal and committed four turnovers. Prior to Thursday’s game, Wisconsin had committed the third-fewest turnovers in the NCAA (9). They finished with 11 total turnovers in Thursday’s loss. Dupree McBrayer was very active around the ball and helped create deflections around the arc. The Gophers also received excellent contributions from Eric Curry, Michael Hurt and Bruck Stull on both ends of the court, specifically defensively. The entire unit collectively communicated to handle Wisconsin’s inside-out action and low post game.
At one point. Wisconsin missed nine consecutive shots until Brevin Pritzl drilled an open three-pointer out of a Happ double-team. Nearly ten minutes into the game, neither team cracked double digits and shot a combined 7-for-23 from the floor. The Gophers’ backcourt started 1-for-6 until Amir Coffey came to life. He scored 15 straight points, including two three-pointers and a tough floater in the lane. His aggressive attack off the dribble and smooth three-point jumpers helped Minnesota grab a large lead. At halftime, Minnesota led 29-14 and held Wisconsin to their lowest point total in a half since Nov. 30, 1999. The Badgers shot just 23 percent from the floor in the first half and went 2-for-14 from behind the arc.
The Gophers pushed the tempo and were patient with their offensive possessions. When Minnesota pushes the tempo, they have so many weapons. Guard Gabe Kalscheur can hit trailing three-pointers and Amir Coffey attacks off the dribble. Minnesota had 22 total fast break points and flourished when pushing the basketball.
The Badgers started the second half by mounting a comeback behind seven consecutive points from big-man Ethan Happ. They went on a 9-0 run, including a three-pointer by D’Mitrik Trice. Wisconsin outscored the Gophers 12-2 to begin the second half due to fouls and turnovers. A 15-point Minnesota lead was quickly trimmed to just five. The Badgers started to push the ball inside to Nate Reuvers and Ethan Happ for easy low post baskets. It quickly narrowed the Gophers’ lead to four points with 2:50 remaining.
In the second half, the Gophers’ offensive possessions locked up and the team went on a scoring drought that spanned 6:16. They were impatient during many of those possessions have to take better care of the basketball.
Minnesota eventually made a lineup change and started to improve overall ball movement. Brock Stull hit back-to-back three-pointers and helped the Gophers put an end to Wisconsin’s scoring run. He was valuable on both ends of the court, along with Michael Hurt, who contributed as a passer and cutter. Stull's passing ability helped the Gophers move the ball and establish patient offensive possessions. The bench minutes by Stull, Hurt and Eric Curry made a big difference in this game. The trio combined for a critical 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Before Thursday’s game, the Gophers ranked No. 11 nationally in offensive rebounds with 14.5 per game. They also ranked No. 29 in total rebounding. Freshman Daniel Oturu has grabbed 8.1 total rebounds per game and Jordan Murphy is averaging 12.6. With the addition of Eric Curry, this statistic is only going to improve. The group combined for 21 rebounds as Minnesota won the rebounding margin 37-25. Wisconsin also shot just 5 for 22 from behind the arc. Late in the game, they strategized to send Ethan Happ to the free throw line. He made just one of his seven free throws and the Gophers prevented him from taking over in the post (17 points). Throughout the night, Minnesota’s team defense was the reason they managed to steal a huge road win over the Badgers.
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Minnesota led by 15 points at halftime, behind a 15-point first half outburst by guard Amir Coffey. However, the margin was quickly erased out of halftime. The Badgers were on a 9-0 run until graduate transfer Bruck Stull drilled back-to-back three-pointers to put the Gophers back up by 12 points. Wisconsin put together one final scoring surge and trailed by just four points with 2:50 remaining.
After so many excruciating defeats against Wisconsin, it felt like momentum was starting to shift. Star big-man Jordan Murphy fouled out with 3:49 remaining, but sophomore Eric Curry stepped up with several key rebounds. At one point, the foul margin was 14-5 in favor of Wisconsin. With 1:16 remaining, the Badgers completed an 8-0 run to trim the Gophers’ lead to just two points.
The Gophers managed to overcome the adversity. Minnesota quickly locked down on defense for a critical three-possession stretch. Guard Dupree McBrayer poked the ball loose and finished an easy layup in transition. On the next possession, the senior guard created another turnover and delivered a big two-hand slam. It put the Gophers up by eight points with 58 seconds remaining and fueled a key 59-52 win over the Badgers.
Entering the game, Minnesota had lost eight straight in the Border Battle series. They hadn’t defeated the Badgers since an 81-68 win during Richard Pitino’s first season in 2014. The program also had just one all-time victory at Kohl Center. In 2009, Minnesota left Wisconsin with a 78-74 overtime victory, behind 29 points from guard Lawrence Westbrook. This win also marks the first time since 1973 that the Minnesota football and basketball teams won in the same season at Madison.
In Big Ten games, Amir Coffey has elevated his play to another level. The junior guard exploded onto the scene with 15 straight points to fuel a 15-3 run in the first half. He had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes.
Wisconsin started the game on a 6-0 run, but the Gophers quickly clamped down on defense.
The Badgers went almost nine minutes without a field goal and committed four turnovers. Prior to Thursday’s game, Wisconsin had committed the third-fewest turnovers in the NCAA (9). They finished with 11 total turnovers in Thursday’s loss. Dupree McBrayer was very active around the ball and helped create deflections around the arc. The Gophers also received excellent contributions from Eric Curry, Michael Hurt and Bruck Stull on both ends of the court, specifically defensively. The entire unit collectively communicated to handle Wisconsin’s inside-out action and low post game.
At one point. Wisconsin missed nine consecutive shots until Brevin Pritzl drilled an open three-pointer out of a Happ double-team. Nearly ten minutes into the game, neither team cracked double digits and shot a combined 7-for-23 from the floor. The Gophers’ backcourt started 1-for-6 until Amir Coffey came to life. He scored 15 straight points, including two three-pointers and a tough floater in the lane. His aggressive attack off the dribble and smooth three-point jumpers helped Minnesota grab a large lead. At halftime, Minnesota led 29-14 and held Wisconsin to their lowest point total in a half since Nov. 30, 1999. The Badgers shot just 23 percent from the floor in the first half and went 2-for-14 from behind the arc.
The Gophers pushed the tempo and were patient with their offensive possessions. When Minnesota pushes the tempo, they have so many weapons. Guard Gabe Kalscheur can hit trailing three-pointers and Amir Coffey attacks off the dribble. Minnesota had 22 total fast break points and flourished when pushing the basketball.
The Badgers started the second half by mounting a comeback behind seven consecutive points from big-man Ethan Happ. They went on a 9-0 run, including a three-pointer by D’Mitrik Trice. Wisconsin outscored the Gophers 12-2 to begin the second half due to fouls and turnovers. A 15-point Minnesota lead was quickly trimmed to just five. The Badgers started to push the ball inside to Nate Reuvers and Ethan Happ for easy low post baskets. It quickly narrowed the Gophers’ lead to four points with 2:50 remaining.
In the second half, the Gophers’ offensive possessions locked up and the team went on a scoring drought that spanned 6:16. They were impatient during many of those possessions have to take better care of the basketball.
Minnesota eventually made a lineup change and started to improve overall ball movement. Brock Stull hit back-to-back three-pointers and helped the Gophers put an end to Wisconsin’s scoring run. He was valuable on both ends of the court, along with Michael Hurt, who contributed as a passer and cutter. Stull's passing ability helped the Gophers move the ball and establish patient offensive possessions. The bench minutes by Stull, Hurt and Eric Curry made a big difference in this game. The trio combined for a critical 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Before Thursday’s game, the Gophers ranked No. 11 nationally in offensive rebounds with 14.5 per game. They also ranked No. 29 in total rebounding. Freshman Daniel Oturu has grabbed 8.1 total rebounds per game and Jordan Murphy is averaging 12.6. With the addition of Eric Curry, this statistic is only going to improve. The group combined for 21 rebounds as Minnesota won the rebounding margin 37-25. Wisconsin also shot just 5 for 22 from behind the arc. Late in the game, they strategized to send Ethan Happ to the free throw line. He made just one of his seven free throws and the Gophers prevented him from taking over in the post (17 points). Throughout the night, Minnesota’s team defense was the reason they managed to steal a huge road win over the Badgers.
VIDEO:
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