Save the miraculous Blake Hoffarber shot against Indiana at Conseco last March, the Gophers of last season beat who they were supposed to beat and lost to whom they were supposed to lose. Hoopraker looks forward to the progress Tubby Smith has hopefully made in restoring some of the luster to Minnesota’s proud hoops history.
The Damian Johnson Fan Club
The last time Hoopraker saw the Gophers live, Damian Johnson impressed. He’s one of the best defenders in the Conference disrupting offensive sets with his uncanny knack of getting into passing lanes. Add to his overall game a confident mid-range jumper and the Gophers have All-Conference sleeper. For season two to take the next step, critical is the development of Johnson (when he returns from a broken left hand) and sophomore point guard and fellow defensive force Al Nolen.
Gopher fans have reason to be optimistic. Still, while the Gophers made remarkable strides over the Danny Monson era on overall intensity and team defense, Minnesota’s offense was characterized as one more dependant on the freelance skills of its thin roster than offense. While a deeper and more talented roster will give Tubby more flexibility, as Hoopraker observed, a team penchant for random dribbling, little movement without the ball and an offense reduced to one player trying to make a play on his own, particularly troublesome out of timeouts, needs to be addressed. If not, the likes of Bo Ryan, Matt Painter, Tom Izzo, Todd Lickliter and maybe even Thad Matta will be ready the second time around.
We’ll be watching closely as to how it shakes down in the Barn as will fellow Damian Johnson lover, Paging Jim Shikenjanski, who is now churning out excellent Gopher propaganda The Daily Gopher.
Fill Bryce-Jordan, Please.
If there was one positive to be gleamed from the devastating injuries to Geary Claxton, The Tweener that Roared, and then Jamelle Cornely, Brookhaven High’s finest, Coach Ed DeChellis found it in the emergence of a confident and talented freshman point guard, Talor Battle. No doubt, DeChellis acheived more last season with more adveristy than any coach would wish upon John Calipari. With Battle running the team and Cornley back 100%, a deeper Penn State team looks to make it back to the NCAAs, something well within its reach this season.
The State College faithful are ready. Hell, we’ve recently discovered a well-done Penn State dedicated hoops blog, Crispin and Cream, among the 4,243 Nittany Lion football sites.
Red Don’t Dance
Here’s an entertaining video brought to you by our friends at Badgercentric. Coach may have earned a night out at the Union Terrace but keep the post players in the bowels of Camp Randall.
I also think Penn State basketball can get to the postseason this year. Other than Cornley and Morrissey, we’re young but I like Battle and Jeff Brooks, plus, we’ve got Villanova transfer Andrew Ott getting ready to play.
Left by Lion Heart on November 17th, 2008