The Gophers males’s basketball crew will play 18 consecutive Huge Ten video games from Tuesday by means of early March.
Given the U’s document — 6-6, 0-2 total within the Huge Ten — that may look intimidating for a crew chosen to complete twelfth within the league. Gopher coach Ben Johnson sees it in a different way.
“We all know we will play higher. And we all know we’re not taking part in our greatest and even near it,” Johnson mentioned Monday. “So I feel there’s extra starvation to indicate how we prepare. It is a type of issues the place we have now actually good practices. And we have to discover a approach to translate that into a extremely good recreation.”
The Gophers’ return to Huge Ten play is a recreation towards No. 14 Wisconsin (10-2, 2-0) at 8 p.m. Tuesday on the Kohl Heart in Madison, Wis.
Minnesota has misplaced twice in Huge Ten play in December – 89-70 to now – No. 1 Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., and 90-75 to Michigan at Williams Enviornment.
A yr after Minnesota gained the Huge Ten title at Michigan and all the time competed in droves within the common season, the Gophers misplaced a two-game dropping streak to Wisconsin in Ben Johnson’s inaugural season 68-67 on Feb. 23 and 66-60 on 30 Jan.
Nonetheless, Minnesota completed 4-16 in convention play, the place it was tied final yr. The Gophers should pull off a handful of wins and surprises to keep away from ending the basement in a row.
Minnesota is coming off a 12-day layoff since a slender 58-55 win over Chicago State on Dec. 22 as Thursday’s Alcorn State recreation was canceled as a consequence of Alcorn State journey points. With no contest, the Gophers have targeted on particular issues. in offensive and defensive
In assault, they deal with taking part in with rhythm and motion of the ball. They’ve misidentified what did and didn’t work; Issues to discard or increase within the playbook.
Minnesota cannot be counted on success on the primary offensive.
“Simply having a barely higher tempo by way of ensuring it would not get caught quick. and get the ball again To make it go somewhat sooner in lots of areas. Simply extra circulation,” Johnson mentioned. “As soon as we bought the ball shifting … our numbers actually improved.”
The Gophers have established a protection and counterattack precept. however specializing in executions
“Can we make it tougher? Can we do it sooner? Can we do higher? Can we do it extra bodily?” Johnson asks, “particularly if you’re speaking to younger individuals or individuals with (much less) expertise.”