Former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher describes Tubby Smith’s team as “solid” most of the year and predicts guard play will be factor No. 1 determining success in the NCAA tournament. Minnesota plays its opening game Thursday night in Greensboro, North Carolina against Texas.
“Consistent guard play is really, really key. …The big men I think have come along a little bit,” Dutcher said on Friday. “(Ralph) Sampson particularly has come along. (Colton) Iverson is starting to play a little bit better. … They’ve got to get consistent guard play.”
Consistent inconsistency has been a problem throughout the winter for the Gophers, while front court freshmen center-forwards Sampson and Iverson have been adjusting to the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota ranked next to last among Big Ten teams in total turnovers, and sixth in assists. Not all of that is the responsibility of the guards but much is.
The guard group also struggled with shooting three pointers. The three point field goal percentages for Lawrence Westbrook, Al Nolen, Blake Hoffarber and Devoe Joseph are .353, .294, .341 and .383. Nolen and Hoffarber have had particularly disappointing seasons shooting the ball. Nolen regularly declines to even attempt 20 footers and Hoffarber has been shut down by defenses that are playing him as a three point specialist after he made .427 percent last season. As a team the Gophers ranked last in the conference in three point percentage at .327.
Westbrook is the team’s leading scorer at 12.4 points per game. He is also the team’s best scorer late in games and most able to create his own scoring opportunity. His heroics helped the Gophers to two wins over Wisconsin.
The Gophers’ pressure defense sometimes can be the team’s best offense, turning turnovers into baskets. They will test Texas, 22-11, on Thursday and the results could determine the winner.
The Gophers, 22-10, are 2-2 in their last four games but 6-9 in their last 15. Against the top three finishers in the regular season conference standings, Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois, the Gophers were 1-5.
Dutcher suggests, though, Minnesota is a young team, getting better. Can fans be happy with this season and beyond. “I think so,” he said. “There’s hope. … A young ball club. You look at what they lose, they’re adding more than they’re losing with the recruits that they’ve got coming. So I think the pieces are there to have a pretty solid basketball team.”
The Gophers, who have only two seniors on the roster, are in the tournament for the first time since 2005. They have also avoided —ugh—an invitation to the NIT. “The fans are back in Williams Arena,” Dutcher said. “It’s great to see the enthusiasm for the team. If they go back to the NIT it would be a real step back. …”