Gophers Dancing!

Mark this down as the most improbable one-week turnaround in MN sports since...well...the 2009 Twins winning the AL Central! A week ago, Tubby and the Gophers were barely even a bubble team. Today, they are an 11-seed in the NCAA tournament. I am generally very anti conference tournaments, as I feel that most teams have nothing to really play for...but this year, the tournament saved the season for Minnesota. That, and the road win at Illinois, which may have nudged us into the field over the Illini.

I caught both the MSU and Purdue games...and I really think the team is better off without Al Nolen, as Devoe Joseph is really coming into his own and the offense just seems to run more smoothly with him at the point. Also, Colton Iverson finally decided to man up and start throwing his 6' 11" frame around in the lane. He played GREAT in Indy...and I loved that he scrapped with that fat albert (D. Green) from Michigan State.

Finally, while Xavier is a tough draw, the location in Milwaukee could NOT any more favorable. Wow...there may be 8,000+ Gopher fans at the Bradley Center on Friday.

A Classic "who needs it more?" night

While MCA applies his blue face paint and dons his Wojo jersey tonight, I'll be skimming through the NU vs. MN baskeball game...because as a proud new DirecTV subscriber, I actually get the Big Ten Network now (who else would actually carry this atrocious game?). Anyway, just wanted to go on record as saying that I'll be 100% in the Gophers' camp tonight, as a road loss at Northwestern would be crippling to their already slim post-season hopes. Also, NU is so awful that I can hardly watch...it's painful.

MCA, what's your prediction for tonight? I say Duke wins handily tonight...and UNC takes the game at Cameron (not having Lawson will be too much to overcome, no?).

Gopher Hoops - headed back to the barn

Guys,

I noticed that one of you voted for "Tubby takes the Gophers back to the dance" as your Christmas wish (it actually wasn't me, despite my Dad's obsession with the team). Anyway, since I'm headed to the game on Saturday at Williams Arena, I figured I'd get everyone fired up about the FUTURE of the squad. As you probably heard, Tubby hauled in a pretty solid recruiting class (consensus top 20-30 in the nation). This Youtube video is a highlight reel of the most high-profile among them, Ralph Sampson III. I'm sure it was edited carefully to showcase every facet of his game, but I got pretty excited when I saw him actually use a few low post moves, hit the mid-range bank shot (a la Tim Duncan) and knock down a couple of threes. Very encouraging, especially after watching Dan Coleman and Spencer Tollackson underachieve for the last three years. This kid could be absolutely ruling the paint in the Big Ten in a couple years. I can't wait to watch him stuff all those goonish, crew-cutted clones at Wisconsin.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g330I1FIZY