Game Day Open Thread - Minnesota Gophers

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 10:30 AM EST in Basketball

Penn St. Nittany Lions at Minnesota Golden Gophers, Jan 11, 2009 3:30 PM EST


Penn State Nittany Lions 13-3 (2-1)		Minnesota Golden Gophers 14-1 (2-1)

Huge game at Minnesota today. The winner of this game can start thinking about booking their tournament trip. The loser gets pushed back into the mushy middle of the conference fighting for their playoff lives.

You can watch the game at 3:30 PM ET on the BTN. Team stats after the jump.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Golden Gophers Basketball Schedule

Next 5 Games

Penn St.	Sun 01/11	3:30 PM EST
@ Wisconsin	Thu 01/15	9:00 PM EST
@ Northwestern	Sun 01/18	2:00 PM EST
Purdue	Thu 01/22	7:00 PM EST
@ Indiana	Sun 01/25	12:00 PM EST

Last 5 Games

@ Iowa	Thu 01/08	W 52 - 49
Ohio St.	Sat 01/03	W 68 - 59
Michigan St.	Wed 12/31	L 58 - 70
High Point	Sun 12/28	W 82 - 56
SE Louisiana	Tue 12/23	W 80 - 71

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Lawernce Westbrook	14	23.0	4.0	9.4	42.7	1.6	4.6	35.9	3.1	3.8	83.0	0.5	1.6	2.1	1.7	1.9	0.9	0.2	2.1	12.8
Damian Johnson	12	26.8	4.1	7.6	53.8	0.2	1.2	14.3	1.2	2.3	53.6	1.8	2.2	4.1	2.8	1.2	2.2	2.3	2.6	9.6
Blake Hoffarber	14	23.8	3.0	6.6	45.7	2.1	5.1	40.8	0.9	1.2	76.5	0.6	3.0	3.6	1.2	1.6	0.9	0.1	1.1	9.0
Al Nolen	15	29.2	2.5	6.5	37.8	0.8	2.7	29.3	2.6	3.9	67.2	0.7	3.1	3.9	5.9	1.5	2.1	0.2	2.5	8.3
Colton Iverson	15	18.8	2.6	4.3	60.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.5	2.6	59.0	2.0	2.3	4.3	0.7	1.1	0.3	1.8	2.1	6.7
Ralph Sampson III	15	17.5	2.8	5.5	51.2	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.7	1.0	73.3	1.5	2.3	3.7	0.7	0.5	0.2	1.4	2.1	6.3
Travis Busch	15	13.9	2.2	4.1	53.2	0.4	0.7	54.5	1.1	1.5	69.6	0.9	1.4	2.3	0.3	0.8	0.6	0.1	1.1	5.9
Jamal Abu-Shamala	15	15.1	1.9	3.7	50.0	0.7	1.9	35.7	0.7	1.0	73.3	0.4	1.9	2.3	0.7	1.0	0.3	0.3	1.2	5.1
Devoe Joseph	15	14.7	1.5	4.1	37.1	0.7	2.1	34.4	0.2	0.4	50.0	0.5	1.2	1.7	1.7	1.5	0.8	0.0	0.6	4.0
Paul Carter	10	13.4	1.3	4.4	29.5	0.0	0.6	0.0	1.4	1.8	77.8	1.7	1.3	3.0	0.9	1.4	0.5	0.7	1.7	4.0
Devron Bostick	15	10.1	1.4	2.9	48.8	0.7	1.4	47.6	0.3	0.5	62.5	0.1	1.3	1.5	0.9	0.9	0.5	0.0	0.7	3.8
Jonathan Williams	8	7.4	0.8	1.4	54.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.8	1.8	0.4	1.2	0.2	0.9	1.5	1.5
Kevin Payton	7	5.7	0.0	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	0.4	1.0	0.4	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.7	0.0
	15	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.9	2.2	4.1	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Penn State Nittany Lions

Nittany Lions Basketball Schedule

Next 5 Games

@ Minnesota	Sun 01/11	3:30 PM EST
Michigan St.	Wed 01/14	6:30 PM EST
@ Indiana	Sat 01/17	6:00 PM EST
Michigan	Tue 01/20	9:00 PM EST
Iowa	Sat 01/24	6:05 PM EST

Last 5 Games

Purdue	Tue 01/06	W 67 - 64
@ Wisconsin	Sat 01/03	L 61 - 65
Northwestern	Wed 12/31	W 61 - 57
Sacred Heart	Tue 12/23	W 73 - 65
Lafayette	Sun 12/21	W 83 - 55

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Talor Battle	16	36.6	5.8	13.0	44.2	2.8	6.6	41.5	4.6	6.6	70.5	0.9	5.1	6.1	5.3	2.1	1.4	0.1	1.8	18.9
Stanley Pringle	15	29.9	5.5	10.8	50.6	2.3	4.4	53.0	1.8	2.3	79.4	0.7	2.1	2.8	3.2	1.7	1.4	0.2	2.0	15.1
Jamelle Cornley	16	34.0	5.8	11.4	50.3	0.4	0.9	42.9	2.3	4.1	56.1	1.9	5.1	7.0	1.2	1.8	0.3	0.2	1.8	14.2
Danny Morrissey	15	20.2	2.1	5.5	37.3	1.3	4.2	31.7	0.6	0.8	75.0	0.3	1.5	1.8	1.7	0.9	0.5	0.0	1.5	6.1
Andrew Jones III	16	24.1	2.2	4.0	54.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.1	1.9	58.1	2.2	3.6	5.8	0.2	1.1	0.6	0.5	2.1	5.5
David Jackson	16	24.6	1.8	4.4	40.0	0.2	1.1	17.6	1.8	2.4	73.7	1.8	2.2	4.1	1.0	1.3	0.5	0.4	2.2	5.4
Jeff Brooks	15	17.1	1.5	3.7	39.3	0.3	0.6	44.4	0.8	1.3	63.2	1.5	2.5	4.0	0.8	1.0	0.3	0.3	2.1	4.0
Cammeron Woodyard	12	8.7	1.0	2.0	50.0	0.7	1.2	53.3	0.2	0.3	50.0	0.4	0.9	1.3	0.2	0.6	0.2	0.0	0.4	2.8
Chris Babb	11	8.0	0.5	1.9	23.8	0.3	1.5	17.6	0.5	0.8	55.6	0.2	0.7	0.9	0.5	0.6	0.2	0.0	0.4	1.6
Steve Kirkpatrick	6	2.8	0.3	1.7	20.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.5	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.7
Will Leiner	6	3.8	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.2	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.0	0.8	0.0
Adam Highberger	4	3.2	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.5	0.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.0
	16	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.7	1.7	3.4	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

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Comments

When was the last time...

PSU had an early season conference game that was this anticipated? Should Penn State win, are we looking at “others receiving votes?”

Penn State Proud, Lionspride

by Lionspride on Jan 11, 2009 11:16 AM EST reply actions

I don't think we'd get "others receiving votes"

If we won the conference…

Maybe if we beat Minnesota and MSU we’ll get some thought to being ranked.

by PizzaDelivery on Jan 11, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Win or Lose...

making most of our free throws will be the biggest victory. That means that Ed can actually look at a glaring problem and fix it. If it is fixed it could make the difference later in the season.

I was out in the trenches, which enables me to paint such a powerful picture, like Apocalypse Now.-Cormega

by OMEGAMAN on Jan 11, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions

Classic situation...

Where the team gets some interest and flakes out.

They’ll get exposed for being undersized, horrible from the free throw line, and simply overmatched from a talent level.

Ed is worthless.

A close loss at Wisconsin, a 2-0 conference start at home…a 13-3 record…this is the peak of the season…its downhill from here.

Hope I’m wrong, but DeChellis has given us this story too many times before.

by NittanyBadger on Jan 11, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions

Ed can't catch a break

I will not deny that this team has faltered on the bigger stages for several reasons, but lumping it all on Ed just does not fit.

How many players from the Jerry Dunn era abandoned this program when a coach who wanted to make them work came in? How many injuries have kept this team from improving? What kind of praise would DeChellis be getting if Claxton hadn’t gone down and this team would have made the tournament last year?

Is Ed the answer to turning this program around, thats hard to say. When you are not a well known coach trying to recruit at a school not known for basketball it makes it incredibly difficult to build a program.

However, what he has done with limited depth over the past few years and the start to conference play so far, I’m excited to see what they can do this year. I would not be surprised to see them finish in the top half of the conference, barring anymore unforeseen injuries. My one gripe: GET THEM TO MAKE FREE THROWS ED!

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

So just how many years does a man get?

We’re still blaming Jerry Dunn?
Are you insane? (I know you’re not because you username is dead on)

Boy, it sure hasn’t taken Tubby Smith too many years to turn Minnesota around.
But Penn State? Nope, just keeping putting faith in Ed DeChellis, whose stellar resume includes one tournament appearence with Eastern Tennessee, and a basketball career that blossomed on the hard woods of Penn State — Beaver Campus.

Its pathetic.

Ed is the problem. Its not even debatable.
In parts around the country good coaches turn programs around in 2 years.
Ed is on year 6.

Curley has no business being an athletic director, and the continued failure of the basketball program is the most glaring example.
Just keep glamoring for the glory days of Rec Hall and being in the A-10.
What a joke

by NittanyBadger on Jan 11, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

Lookin' sharp

I think Ed has a new haircut this week.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:39 PM EST reply actions

1st timout

We’re getting killed on the boards. Minnesota is outhustling us to the loose balls. Pringle got some open shots but couldn’t get them to go down.

Jeff Brooks looks good on one play and completely lost on the next. But with a score of 5-6 we’re off to a good start.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions

Awful offense

Everyone just standing around passing it around the perimeter. Brooks lets a pass bounce off his hands out of bounds.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:47 PM EST reply actions

Verdict on Ott

I know hes just getting in after having to sit out because of the transfer but any thoughts on Ott to this point?

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:48 PM EST reply actions

Ott

Remember Milos?

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed

I hoped being that he was not Serbian we might be in for a better player, Ott with the and one! there we go, haha

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Cuz Battle tipped it away from the two Minny guys that had Ott boxed out.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

Trying to be positive

Im trying to be optimistic

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

Feet planted?

I didnt see any movement in Danny’s feet?

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions

The Press

We’re not handling it well. Nice of the ref to stop play on the inbound to fix the net and give them a chance to set up.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:55 PM EST reply actions

Nice Break

but didnt get back, just getting killed outside

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:56 PM EST reply actions

Crap

9-2 by Minnesota since the last media timeout. We’re in danger of letting this one get away.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:57 PM EST reply actions

This is ridiculous

No foul, DJ may have hammed it up a bit but come on. They’ve taken 11 shots and 7 of them were threes

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 3:57 PM EST reply actions

Ugh

They’re killing us in rebounds. Just plain out hustling us to every loose ball.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 11, 2009 3:59 PM EST reply actions

Hopefully We can weather the storm

Just getting worked at this point, hang with till we can eventually go on a run

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

This is UGLY.

And I’m not just talking about The Barn’s color scheme.

by cjapsu on Jan 11, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

BABB!

Getting Babb the time and hes been huge

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 4:02 PM EST reply actions

The good thing

is that there is no way Minnesota can keep up this shooting, they won’t shoot 60 percent for the game and they’re bound to miss A THREE. I’m not on the ledge yet, not in terrible shape with the exception of Pringle in foul trouble

by GiveitToRoyster on Jan 11, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions