U of Minnesota Game Thread

[Grizzled_Jack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

This is the king of thread drifts

Right you are.

[bub94]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

Nagy:

We've got to get Kai going somehow--he's putting so much pressure on himself he's not thinking clearly--he's really struggling.

I think that is hitting it on the head. I too believe Kai is putting too much pressure on himself. I also think we are putting too much on him too. Maybe he needs to watch a good comedy (Tommy Boy/Old School) and get a good laugh. Loosen up and enjoy himself. Still a lot of the season to go.

Just read the article JackJD posted the link to. SDSU outscored Minnesota in the second half. Clint had a nice night of shooting, going 8-13 for 25 points.

[KUlawJack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

We certainly want to avoid defamation but message boards seem to be full of unsupported opinions -- not very actionable. As far as putting limits on the "speech" going on, that's up to the person who set up the board. If a person sets up a message board and limits what can be said, that's their choice and the Constitution has nothing to say about it. I don't think it has anything to do with the First Amendment concept of "free speech".

(Now, I recognize that most of us walk around thinking we have the right of "free speech" which means to many of us that we can spout off just about whatever we want but technically, that's not real accurate. We have many misconceptions about the rights in the Constitution...and we have had courts chewing over those concepts and misconceptions for more than 200 years.)

It may be thread drift, but I fully support this post.

[JimmyJack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

First Amendment protections don't necessarily extend to private property in the physical world. For example, a store can kick you out if you wear a t-shirt they find objectionable. Over time, those same standards are gradually extending to the virtual world. Filbert, the proprietor of this "establishment" can set his own standards of acceptable behavior. And as far as libel goes, you can't count on being anonymous in an online venue, either. A discussion board isn't a "discussion in the sense that your words and the context of the conversation disappear into the ether. It's more like a printed medium where your published statements are subject to the possibility of legal action. This is virtual reality, but it's still reality and what's said here has consequences in the "real" world.

So I guess the same kind of common sense that keeps you from putting a sign on your office door calling your boss a bad name or sending out a company email calling a coworker a drunk should apply here. Express your opinions and back them up, but be mindful that it's not a free-for-all without consequence.

I try to remind myself that we're talking about 18-22 year-old young adults here. Sometimes we forget that those are kids out on the court, somebody's son or daughter, and not some big-time sports icon. Maybe it's easier for me to remember how young they are because I see them every day in my classes. That doesn't mean they're immune from criticism. But we have to keep the context clear in our minds.

[JackJD]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

Here's the lead paragraph from this morning's Mpls Star-Tribune's story (with photos):

In the Gophers' final contest before the most significant men's basketball game of their nonconference schedule -- against No. 9 Louisville on Dec. 20 -- South Dakota State didn't pose much of a challenge. Until the second half, of course.

Here's a LINK.

[Cadsev]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

Why not? What's the use of wasting a scholarship on someone who can't do what he's receiving the scholarship to do? He was recruited to PLAY basketball. This is his fourth season, he's the biggest post player on the active roster, and yet he gets 7 minutes against a team with two pretty good 6-10+ players in the lineup. Seems like something's a little wrong there.

You have to have a valid reason for yanking a scholarship and I do not believe that performance is one of the reason. NCAA rule and all . . . plus it's not Nagy's nature. Bigs are premiums and even if you think he's not cutting it you won't find another 6'11 athlete hanging around. Some coaches would run the kid off but that's different than pulling the scholarship...it's more convincing the athlete they will never play, treat them like crap etc. Again not Nagy's style.

[JackJD]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

I talked to a fan who was at the game last night and they thought Engen did some nice things during the game.

[tattoo]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

First Amendment protections don't necessarily extend to private property in the physical world. For example, a store can kick you out if you wear a t-shirt they find objectionable. Over time, those same standards are gradually extending to the virtual world. Filbert, the proprietor of this "establishment" can set his own standards of acceptable behavior. And as far as libel goes, you can't count on being anonymous in an online venue, either. A discussion board isn't a "discussion in the sense that your words and the context of the conversation disappear into the ether. It's more like a printed medium where your published statements are subject to the possibility of legal action. This is virtual reality, but it's still reality and what's said here has consequences in the "real" world.

So I guess the same kind of common sense that keeps you from putting a sign on your office door calling your boss a bad name or sending out a company email calling a coworker a drunk should apply here. Express your opinions and back them up, but be mindful that it's not a free-for-all without consequence.

I try to remind myself that we're talking about 18-22 year-old young adults here. Sometimes we forget that those are kids out on the court, somebody's son or daughter, and not some big-time sports icon. Maybe it's easier for me to remember how young they are because I see them every day in my classes. That doesn't mean they're immune from criticism. But we have to keep the context clear in our minds.

Yawn! Let it go, you are putting me to sleep!

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

I would be surprised if the Gophers are a .500 team in the Big Ten this year. They are a poor shooting team that beat us on quickness and defense. Aside from Louisville in a week, they have a cupcake non-conf schedule and almost all are at Williams Arena. Against a team like the Badgers or Michigan, this Gophers team will stuggle to score points.

The refs did a good job last night, but the charge call against Callahan coming out of a timeout when we were down 7 (I think with about 4-5 mins left) was a horrible call and stuck the knife in our comeback chances. It should have been the hoop and the harm with Callahan going to the line with the possibility of cutting the lead to 4. Instead, the basket is waved off, the Gophers go on something like a 8-0 run culminated by a 3 point basket by #20 in the wing and the game was over.

[91jack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

the refs have been very good all game. we don't need to start complaining about them now.

I haven't read the whole post(yet) but I don't know about good the whole game. Maybe that's why Pam was so pissed about their women losing 2 years ago. She's used to those calls.
I think the turning point of the game was when we were down 7 and hit a driving layup. They called a charge. Take away the basket and free throw and then Minn scores the next 5 points(at least). That was a piss poor call.

I'm not going to say anything bad about Iverson. He made his choice and that's all fine with me. I did hear that "there were just some oppertunties at Minnesota that made it a great situation for him". One they listed was to play early and often because of Minnesota's size. SDSU has the same problem. I think it's funny when you say that USD and SDSU were not out of it but then that's a reason why you went to Minnesota. Just say you wanted to go to a big time conference and be done with it. If he went to SDSU, we probably win that game and a few others.

[sizzleman]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

I'm not going to say anything bad about Iverson. He made his choice and that's all fine with me. I did hear that "there were just some oppertunties at Minnesota that made it a great situation for him". One they listed was to play early and often because of Minnesota's size. SDSU has the same problem. I think it's funny when you say that USD and SDSU were not out of it but then that's a reason why you went to Minnesota. Just say you wanted to go to a big time conference and be done with it. If he went to SDSU, we probably win that game and a few others.

If Hansb. went to SDSU we would have won that game.....unfortunately he didn't. Its our coaching staff that needs to get them here.

[BTownJack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

You have to have a valid reason for yanking a scholarship and I do not believe that performance is one of the reason. NCAA rule and all . . . plus it's not Nagy's nature. Bigs are premiums and even if you think he's not cutting it you won't find another 6'11 athlete hanging around. Some coaches would run the kid off but that's different than pulling the scholarship...it's more convincing the athlete they will never play, treat them like crap etc. Again not Nagy's style.

You are correct!

[91jack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

Casey needed to show some senior leadership there and set it up rather than taking two bad shots and then failing to get back on defense and giving up a layup.

Earlier in the first half, he had a bunch of turnovers and made a really dumb foul on a layup by Nolen.

I can't fault his effort, but honestly, we're still in search of a point guard.

I'd like to see us get one more little run and make this a single digit game. The Jacks have played very well in stretches tonight. I doubt we'll encounter too many players as athletic as Minnesota's first six in the Summit League. I think Tubby's got a nice team there.

I was wondering what we'd get out of him this year. Nagy said he would have won us 4 more games last year. He's only had 3 turnovers three times this year and 2 once so he's been protecting the ball well. His assists have been 4(2), 3(2), 2(4), 1(1) and 0(1).
The main drawback on him I see is his shooting. He was 5-5 against Oral Roberts, 1-1 against Upper Iowa and 2-2 against Centenary but other than those 3 games, he's struggled. He's shot 0-4, 0-1, 3-12, 1-3, 1-5, 3-9 and 1-8. Those aren't good numbers. 0-1 and 1-3 are fine but the others aren't. He's a average player and he does cut back on our TO's which is important.
I just wish Dale, Michael and he could hit the outside jumper consistently.

[JimmyJack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

I was wondering what we'd get out of him this year. Nagy said he would have won us 4 more games last year. He's only had 3 turnovers three times this year and 2 once so he's been protecting the ball well. His assists have been 4(2), 3(2), 2(4), 1(1) and 0(1).
The main drawback on him I see is his shooting. He was 5-5 against Oral Roberts, 1-1 against Upper Iowa and 2-2 against Centenary but other than those 3 games, he's struggled. He's shot 0-4, 0-1, 3-12, 1-3, 1-5, 3-9 and 1-8. Those aren't good numbers. 0-1 and 1-3 are fine but the others aren't. He's a average player and he does cut back on our TO's which is important.
I just wish Dale, Michael and he could hit the outside jumper consistently.

Good points. I was a little hard on Mac. He does bring some toughness with him and as you point out, he's taken good care of the ball most of the time.

[BTownJack]

Re: U of Minnesota Game Thread

Terry's write up of the game:

Barn burner
Gophers thwart late Jackrabbit rally
Terry Vandrovec • December 11, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - For the second year in a row, South Dakota State made Minnesota sweat in the second half, forcing the Gophers to go back to their formidable full-court press to protect the remnants of a once-sizable lead.

That made the loss doubly disappointing.

The Jackrabbits cut a 19-point deficit to five in the second half, but ultimately fell 74-60 to unbeaten Minnesota before a crowd of 12,388 Wednesday at Williams Arena. The defeat drops SDSU - a team with one scholarship senior - to 4-6 on the season and 0-12 in the series.

"I fully believe you play the way you think," coach Scott Nagy said. "Our kids just don't fully believe they're as good as they are. I don't know how to help them get over that hurdle. But it's costing us games."

(read more)