Tubby Smith sent two freshmen to meet with the media after yesterday’s 82-69 loss to No.1 ranked Ohio State. It was the first time in memory that the Gophers coach has dispatched two first year players instead of upper classmen to participate in the post-game press conference.
It was freshmen guards Austin Hollins, Chip Armelin and Maverick Ahanmisi who won praise from Smith yesterday. He “liked” the play of the three who totaled only three turnovers in 63 combined minutes in the game, while front line juniors Trevor Mbawke, Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson had 12 turnovers in 72 minutes.
Smith said he “didn’t like” the performance of that trio who not only turned the ball over but had foul problems, four each. It was a very long afternoon for Iverson with five turnovers, four fouls, one rebound and no points in 14 minutes.
Mbawke, who had four turnovers in 25 minutes, picked up his third foul with about 13 minutes remaining in the second half, then got his fourth several minutes later and went out of the game not to return. Sampson had three turnovers in 33 minutes and went scoreless in the second half after having 14 points at halftime.
Mbawke, Sampson and Iverson helped make the Gophers the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in the Big Ten going into the game, but Ohio State out rebounded Minnesota 39-33 including a 22-9 difference in offensive rebounds. Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said his team prioritized rebounding before the game and that because the Gophers are aggressive shot blockers (have been league leaders) it “opens up some avenues” for his players to have second chances.
The Gophers (5-6 in the Big Ten) lost their third of four games without injured point guard Al Nolen. Minnesota misses his playmaking, particularly the ability to drive to the basket and score or create an opportunity for teammates. The Gophers perhaps took a small step toward solving the problem with Armelin who scored a career high 14 points, showing speed to the basket and ability to improvise his shot.
Hollins got his first start, played 32 minutes and scored eight points while Ahanmisi had only one turnover in eight minutes while directing the team. Maybe Ahanmisi plays more in place of Nolen starting with Thursday night’s home game against Illinois, or perhaps even Armelin who has been a shooting guard in high school and with the Gophers.
“I am pretty much confident enough to try it,” Armelin said yesterday.
Nolen’s replacement in the last four games, Blake Hoffarber, hurt his knee yesterday and even though Smith expects him to be back for Illinois, Hoffarber, a shooting guard, is playing out of position. Asked after the game if his freshmen will play more minutes against Illinois than they have been during the Big Ten schedule, Smith said they certainly will if his veterans don’t play better.