DanielHouse
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With Big Ten play starting to catch stride, Tuesday night was another opportunity for the Gopher basketball team to extend their early success in conference play. With a tough and physical Maryland team traveling to Minnesota, they faced another solid test. These two teams were very evenly matched on paper and it translated to the court.
The Gophers led by eight points early in the second half, but Maryland guard Anthony Cowan caught fire. He had 23 second half points and Maryland shot 70 percent in the final 20 minutes (16-for-23). Minnesota also made just nine of their 23 attempts (39 percent) from the free throw line in an 82-67 loss.
Maryland big-man Bruce Fernando could be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft and entered Tuesday’s game scoring 14.6 points per game and grabbing 10.1 rebounds. Minnesota was tasked with finding a way to defend him, while limiting foul trouble. He had ten points and 11 rebounds, along with Jalen Smith, who added 21 points and eight boards.
In the final 13 minutes of the game, Maryland switched into a zone defense and the Gophers’ offense locked up. As Minnesota continued to miss free throws, Maryland made 24 of their 27 tries and the Gophers had trouble with their length, quickness and athleticism. Anthony Cowan’s shooting came to life and the Terps were 6-for-7 from behind the arc.
The score makes it look like Maryland ran away with the game, but Minnesota controlled most of the first half.
The Gophers jumped out to an early lead behind a three-pointer from Gabe Kalscheur. He opened the night with seven consecutive points, including a beautiful corner three. Moments later, Dupree McBrayer grabbed a lose ball and finished with an easy layup in transition. Minnesota was isolating Daniel Oturu in the post and he converted in 1-on-1 situations. The Gophers went on a long scoring drought for more than two minutes and Maryland quickly knotted the game at 15.
The Terps continued to move the ball into the post and went on a 6-0 run over 1:27, including a nice finish by forward Jalen Smith. Minnesota’s offense dried up for more than two minutes and Maryland grabbed a two-point advantage.
At the seven-minute mark of the first half, Jordan Murphy went to the bench with two fouls and Daniel Oturu quickly picked up a pair of his own. In their absence, Matz Stockman provided valuable minutes and hit a tough shot in the post. Murphy quickly returned and made a very patient move to draw a foul. He missed the free throw, but Dupree McBrayer knocked down a three-pointer off the glass. The Gophers suddenly led by five with just over a minute left in the first half.
Moments later, Eric Curry stole the basketball and found Amir Coffey in transition for a slashing layup. Coffey didn’t score until the 1:11 mark of the first half, but added five consecutive points before halftime. Minnesota led by six points at the break behind ten points from guard Gabe Kalscheur.
Coffey brought the aggressive mentality into the second half, knocking down several off balance jumpers in traffic. He was attacking off the dribble and started to impose his will. When he plays with his mentality, he has the ability to take games over. He attacked big-man Bruno Fernando and drew a foul, sending him to the bench with three fouls. Both teams battled foul trouble the entire night, especially in the post. The Gophers had three players with three fouls at the 11:47 mark of the second half, including Jordan Murphy and Gabe Kalscheur.
In the second half, Maryland went on a 7-0 run, turned up the defense and started hitting shots. They flashed into a little zone and the Gophers’ offense struggled to move the basketball. Minnesota had to get the basketball into the middle and move it from side-to-side. The Gophers have struggled shooting threes when they are out of rhythm. Zone defenses force teams to take those long shots out of sets, rather than in sync. If you’re moving the ball, it’s different, but Minnesota couldn’t find a way to do it against all of Maryland’s length.
The entire complexion of the game shifted when the Terps went into the zone. The Gophers also went scoreless for more than three minutes and shot just 39 percent at the free throw line.
Maryland led by four points until Amir Coffey attacked off the dribble and found Gabe Kalscheur for an effortless three-pointer. It didn’t last long as the Terps quickly went on a 9-0 run behind a quick 16 points from guard Anthony Cowan. He was setting his shots up off the dribble and displayed a very quick release.
Maryland’s zone defense and the Gophers’ struggles at the line were a major difference in this game. The Terps snapped Minnesota’s six-game winning streak and handed them their first home loss of the season.
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The Gophers led by eight points early in the second half, but Maryland guard Anthony Cowan caught fire. He had 23 second half points and Maryland shot 70 percent in the final 20 minutes (16-for-23). Minnesota also made just nine of their 23 attempts (39 percent) from the free throw line in an 82-67 loss.
Maryland big-man Bruce Fernando could be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft and entered Tuesday’s game scoring 14.6 points per game and grabbing 10.1 rebounds. Minnesota was tasked with finding a way to defend him, while limiting foul trouble. He had ten points and 11 rebounds, along with Jalen Smith, who added 21 points and eight boards.
In the final 13 minutes of the game, Maryland switched into a zone defense and the Gophers’ offense locked up. As Minnesota continued to miss free throws, Maryland made 24 of their 27 tries and the Gophers had trouble with their length, quickness and athleticism. Anthony Cowan’s shooting came to life and the Terps were 6-for-7 from behind the arc.
The score makes it look like Maryland ran away with the game, but Minnesota controlled most of the first half.
The Gophers jumped out to an early lead behind a three-pointer from Gabe Kalscheur. He opened the night with seven consecutive points, including a beautiful corner three. Moments later, Dupree McBrayer grabbed a lose ball and finished with an easy layup in transition. Minnesota was isolating Daniel Oturu in the post and he converted in 1-on-1 situations. The Gophers went on a long scoring drought for more than two minutes and Maryland quickly knotted the game at 15.
The Terps continued to move the ball into the post and went on a 6-0 run over 1:27, including a nice finish by forward Jalen Smith. Minnesota’s offense dried up for more than two minutes and Maryland grabbed a two-point advantage.
At the seven-minute mark of the first half, Jordan Murphy went to the bench with two fouls and Daniel Oturu quickly picked up a pair of his own. In their absence, Matz Stockman provided valuable minutes and hit a tough shot in the post. Murphy quickly returned and made a very patient move to draw a foul. He missed the free throw, but Dupree McBrayer knocked down a three-pointer off the glass. The Gophers suddenly led by five with just over a minute left in the first half.
Moments later, Eric Curry stole the basketball and found Amir Coffey in transition for a slashing layup. Coffey didn’t score until the 1:11 mark of the first half, but added five consecutive points before halftime. Minnesota led by six points at the break behind ten points from guard Gabe Kalscheur.
Coffey brought the aggressive mentality into the second half, knocking down several off balance jumpers in traffic. He was attacking off the dribble and started to impose his will. When he plays with his mentality, he has the ability to take games over. He attacked big-man Bruno Fernando and drew a foul, sending him to the bench with three fouls. Both teams battled foul trouble the entire night, especially in the post. The Gophers had three players with three fouls at the 11:47 mark of the second half, including Jordan Murphy and Gabe Kalscheur.
In the second half, Maryland went on a 7-0 run, turned up the defense and started hitting shots. They flashed into a little zone and the Gophers’ offense struggled to move the basketball. Minnesota had to get the basketball into the middle and move it from side-to-side. The Gophers have struggled shooting threes when they are out of rhythm. Zone defenses force teams to take those long shots out of sets, rather than in sync. If you’re moving the ball, it’s different, but Minnesota couldn’t find a way to do it against all of Maryland’s length.
The entire complexion of the game shifted when the Terps went into the zone. The Gophers also went scoreless for more than three minutes and shot just 39 percent at the free throw line.
Maryland led by four points until Amir Coffey attacked off the dribble and found Gabe Kalscheur for an effortless three-pointer. It didn’t last long as the Terps quickly went on a 9-0 run behind a quick 16 points from guard Anthony Cowan. He was setting his shots up off the dribble and displayed a very quick release.
Maryland’s zone defense and the Gophers’ struggles at the line were a major difference in this game. The Terps snapped Minnesota’s six-game winning streak and handed them their first home loss of the season.
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