MinnesotaGriz
Well-known member
Well, I got the matchup I wanted to see at the beginning of the tournament, but unfortunately it's the double consolation game and not the tourney championship.
I'm a University of Minnesota season ticket holder so I've already had the chance to see these guys play several times in person this year. Even though we are struggling, this is going to be a great opportunity for the Griz to pickup a win. This is the worst Minnesota team I've seen in the last 20 years. They'll be lucky to win 4 games in the Big Ten this year. Like the Griz, they are really struggling to find themselves right now.
If we want to beat Minnesota there are really only three players we need to focus on:
1. Lawrence McKenzie - Starts at either the point or the 2 depending on the matchups. He's a transfer from Oklahoma, but grew up in Minneapolis. He's the Gophers most consistent scoring threat, but prone to turnovers and bad shot selection. He loves to jack up the three ball, so if we have another game where we stand around and don't get a hand up, it's going to be a long night. I'd deny him the ball as soon as he gives it up, and pressure him hard when he has it. Force him to over-penatrate where we can stand in and take some charges or make him throw it away. I would put Rundles on him from tap to finish. Cameron, being from Minneapolis has experience playing against McKenzie, and I'm sure would be amped up for the opportunity.
2. Dan Coleman - Probably the most talented player on the team, but plays soft for his size at 6'8". He has three-point range and can put it on the floor, but does not want to play inside. Deny him the ball and play really aggresive with him (rough him up a little bit early in the game) and he should dissappear. He's a total confidence player..if he plays well early we'll be in trouble. Put Strait on him on D, and have Andrew go back at him hard on O. He plays soft post D. He'll just play behind and can block a few shots, (use some head fakes) but Strait should be able to get him in foul trouble.
3. Spencer Tollackson - Big and aggressive. 6'9" - 260. He's been battling a stomach virus, so may see limited minutes. He's the Gophers only true low post scoring threat. The way Minnesota has been shooting from beyond the arc, I think they are really going to try to look to get him the ball deep inside. I think both Hasquet or Strait will have their hands full if we let him catch it low on the block. If we work hard and don't let him establish position where he wants it, he's not nearly as effective. He has limited range, and is not good off the dribble. All he wants to do is bang down low and get easy layups and garbage putbacks. We'll have to box him off the glass every possesion cause he crashes hard.
Other guys to watch for:
Limar Wilson - Bryan Ellis clone with a jumpshot, would like to have these two stand back to back before the game to see who's taller. Limar can't be any taller than 5'8" but he's an absolute jet in the open court. Need to stop him in transition. He'll hit the occasional 3, but he's a streaky outside shooter.
Jamal Abu-Shamala - A walk-on last year who earned an scholie this season by shooting the lights out. This year he's playing more like a walk-on again. I pray he doesn't find his stroke against the Griz, cause he if he gets hot..look out.
Outside of the guys I mentioned, I would be shocked if anybody else on the team individually scores more than 10 points. They don't have any offensive fire power at all. If we play tough D, and shoot better than 40% from the field, we probably win. Overall this Minnesota team is probably the worst in the Big Ten. Their only wins are against North Dakota State and Long Island, both at home. They've lost at home to Winona State (D2) and Iowa State, not to mention the losses in this tournament to Marist, and the pounding they got today from Southern Illinois. I would love nothing more than to see the Griz beat the crap out of the Gophers, Monson needs to be fired. So let's go Griz!!!!
I'm a University of Minnesota season ticket holder so I've already had the chance to see these guys play several times in person this year. Even though we are struggling, this is going to be a great opportunity for the Griz to pickup a win. This is the worst Minnesota team I've seen in the last 20 years. They'll be lucky to win 4 games in the Big Ten this year. Like the Griz, they are really struggling to find themselves right now.
If we want to beat Minnesota there are really only three players we need to focus on:
1. Lawrence McKenzie - Starts at either the point or the 2 depending on the matchups. He's a transfer from Oklahoma, but grew up in Minneapolis. He's the Gophers most consistent scoring threat, but prone to turnovers and bad shot selection. He loves to jack up the three ball, so if we have another game where we stand around and don't get a hand up, it's going to be a long night. I'd deny him the ball as soon as he gives it up, and pressure him hard when he has it. Force him to over-penatrate where we can stand in and take some charges or make him throw it away. I would put Rundles on him from tap to finish. Cameron, being from Minneapolis has experience playing against McKenzie, and I'm sure would be amped up for the opportunity.
2. Dan Coleman - Probably the most talented player on the team, but plays soft for his size at 6'8". He has three-point range and can put it on the floor, but does not want to play inside. Deny him the ball and play really aggresive with him (rough him up a little bit early in the game) and he should dissappear. He's a total confidence player..if he plays well early we'll be in trouble. Put Strait on him on D, and have Andrew go back at him hard on O. He plays soft post D. He'll just play behind and can block a few shots, (use some head fakes) but Strait should be able to get him in foul trouble.
3. Spencer Tollackson - Big and aggressive. 6'9" - 260. He's been battling a stomach virus, so may see limited minutes. He's the Gophers only true low post scoring threat. The way Minnesota has been shooting from beyond the arc, I think they are really going to try to look to get him the ball deep inside. I think both Hasquet or Strait will have their hands full if we let him catch it low on the block. If we work hard and don't let him establish position where he wants it, he's not nearly as effective. He has limited range, and is not good off the dribble. All he wants to do is bang down low and get easy layups and garbage putbacks. We'll have to box him off the glass every possesion cause he crashes hard.
Other guys to watch for:
Limar Wilson - Bryan Ellis clone with a jumpshot, would like to have these two stand back to back before the game to see who's taller. Limar can't be any taller than 5'8" but he's an absolute jet in the open court. Need to stop him in transition. He'll hit the occasional 3, but he's a streaky outside shooter.
Jamal Abu-Shamala - A walk-on last year who earned an scholie this season by shooting the lights out. This year he's playing more like a walk-on again. I pray he doesn't find his stroke against the Griz, cause he if he gets hot..look out.
Outside of the guys I mentioned, I would be shocked if anybody else on the team individually scores more than 10 points. They don't have any offensive fire power at all. If we play tough D, and shoot better than 40% from the field, we probably win. Overall this Minnesota team is probably the worst in the Big Ten. Their only wins are against North Dakota State and Long Island, both at home. They've lost at home to Winona State (D2) and Iowa State, not to mention the losses in this tournament to Marist, and the pounding they got today from Southern Illinois. I would love nothing more than to see the Griz beat the crap out of the Gophers, Monson needs to be fired. So let's go Griz!!!!
