So, you may have heard about a little kid that sang the national anthem before the St. Cloud State game. It was bound to show up on youtube, and it finally has. This kid and his voice on the eve of an historic election couldn’t have been more serendipitous.

This should also give you at least three more reasons to like Kevin Payton, Blake Hoffarber, and Damian Johnson.

Wednesday night’s Gopher win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits was dreadful for everyone, and somehow more dreadful than last season’s “victory” over the Jackrabbits. The Gophers were looking back on a string of impressive wins, or looking ahead to finals, Louisville, Christmas break, and maybe summer vacation. Clearly, neither team wanted to be there, and the fans were more than a little tired due to the 8:00 pm start, and tired of playing less than mediocre opponents. At least the Gophers mixed things up a bit.

Excuse me please for going into great detail about the game’s storyline. All you really need to know is that the Gophers jumped out to an 11-0 lead, built the lead to 19 with three minutes left in the first half, got lazy in the second half allowing the Jackrabbits to get within five points half way through the second half, and realizing that they indeed did need exert some effort, went on to put the game away for a 14 point win, 74-60. Despite the sheer boredom experienced by all involved, there was a bit of news, including the first starts by the twin towers, Damian Johnson developing into a legitimate scoring threat, and even some quality minutes from Kevin Payton.

Tubby Smith has been looking for the right opportunity to start both of his quasi-seven-footers all season. Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III played on the same summer league team, but due to injuries, especially Paul Carter’s ankle injury and Jonathan Williams hernia, he was wary of playing the two freshman together. With Jonathan Williams healed to enough to be on the court, thought not to play what anyone would recognize as basketball, Iverson and Sampson III started against the much smaller Jackrabbits. One would think that starting two seven footers against a team whose tallest regular player barely reaches 6′7” would be an advantage, and it was to a point. The two freshman each recorded four blocks. The Jackrabbits just couldn’t score on the inside, and along with Damian Johnson’s five blocks, the Gophers had more blocks than SDSU had two point field goals.

As good as their interior defense was, Sampson and Iverson got torched every where else. The biggest problem was the smallness of South Dakota State. Iverson and Sampson, both very mobile for players their size, are not as mobile as players half a foot shorter than them. The two freshman often looked like there were in slow motion when they were dragged out to the perimeter, which happened much more often in the second half. When they were that far from the basket, they also couldn’t track down rebounds, and the Jackrabbits were more often than not able to get rebounds and loose balls.

The twin towers offense was more out of sync than anything else. Iverson and Sampson III showed they were aware of where each other were on the court, and attempted to pass the ball to each other high over the heads of their defenders, but each also overestimated the height of their team mate, leading to a couple ugly turnovers. The potential is there, but the execution isn’t, yet.

Damian Johnson filled in on offense when his teammates struggled. He scored a career high 21 points, and also shot the ball 15 times, making 10, each of which must also be career highs. As is his custom, he scored from everywhere inside the three point line. His patented runners in the lane were unstoppable, and he also knocked down a few nice mid-range jumpers. I’m not sure what Dan Monson intended for Johnson, especially considering his criminally limited playing time his freshman year, but he has quickly become one of the best slashing forwards in the Big Ten. Now only if he could remember how to shoot free throws.

And finally there is Kevin Payton.  He didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but still made quite a bit of the opportunity for more playing time created by Blake Hoffarber’s injury, but he did keep to the Hippocractic Oath, first, he did no harm, and he got in in the first half. I completely understand that he isn’t the best basketball players, but for everything else he does, he deserves to be rewarded with as much playing time as possible, and it was great to see him get a few, even slightly meaningful minutes.

Who did what?

• Jamal Abu-Shamala played a quiet 21 minutes, scoring five points with three assists and two turnovers. He was far from spectacular, but must have earned back some measure of confidence from Tubby Smith to get that much playing time.
• Damian Johnson had a career high with 21 points, blocked five shots, and added 6 rebounds, an assist and a steal. One for four on free throws though, ouch.
• Ralph Sampson was in a double figures again with 10 points, but was only 3-8 from the field. On the plus side, he made all four free throw attempts he took on a night when his team barely cracked 50%
• Colton Iverson struggled in his rematch against just about all of his high school opponents. He had only 4 points and two rebounds, and looked confused when Sampson III was on the court.
• Al Nolen came as close as any Gopher to getting a triple double he had eight points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists. He did have three turnovers, but also forced three turnovers of his own.
• Kevin Payton didn’t do anything to reduce his playing time, and may have even earned a bit more.
• Travis Busch is still Mr. Mid-range. He had six points and three rebounds.
• Devoe Joseph was an adequate fill in when Nolen was out, but was nothing special. He had four points and an always positive zero turnovers.
• Lawrence Westbrook continues to be a big scorer off the bench with 12 points. Tubby Smith has apparently cemented Westbrook into the instant offense role. With  the Gophers continuing to have excellent starts, there hasn’t been a need to start the Arizona scoring record holder. When he does come into the game, he is often up against a back-up guard who is out of his league trying to keep up with the Gopher guard.
• Devron Bostick looked good during his eight minutes of playing time, scoring four points with 2 assists. As his confidence builds, so should his playing time. Unfortunately, he may be the biggest victim of a loaded roster.

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits

8:00 pm (CST) at Williams Arena

Radio: WCCO 830 AM

Tv: Big Ten Network

Tickets: Row 9, in the upper deck at the three point line

Last year at about this time, a confident Gopher basketball team was hoping to cruise past seemingly over matched South Dakota State, and the confidence nearly cost the team their season. In front of a particularly moribund crowd, the Gophers eeked out a victory in a game that the really should have lost. In the non-loss, the Gophers were out rebounded 36-22, including 16-5 on the offensive end, despite having a size advantage at every position on the court. The Jackrabbits wanted it more, and were almost able to outwork the Gophers for the win.

With their talent and athleticism, Minnesota should once again be able to win without even trying. However, after their first half wake-up call against Cornell, and with a roster riddled with injuries, it is doubtful that the Gophers will overlook the Jackrabbits. Colton Iverson certainly won’t. The native South Dakotan will be facing 7 other South Dakotan on SDSU’s roster. Those seven will want another chance to show that they deserved the out of state scholarship. Iverson will want to exact revenge for the double teams and hard fouled that he endured as the top played in the state for most of his career. With only one Jackrabbit 6′7” or taller averaging more than 10 minutes per game, Wednesday could look a lot like Iverson’s high school days, dominating much shorter teams.

Keys for the Gophers

1. Cope with the injuries. Blake Hoffarber and Paul Carter are out for sure. Devron Bostick has a tweaked ankle too. Jonathan Williams is far from 100%. The Gophers will need to find some chemistry and rotation that can play well together.
2. End it early. If SDSU is anything like they were last year, they will hang on until the very end. Last year the Gophers trailed by as many as 9 in the first half, and never led by more than 6, the eventual margin.
3. Go inside every possession. With their size advantage, Iverson, Sampson, or Williams should touch the ball every possession in a position to score. They don’t need to shoot every position, but with a half foot height advantage it should alwasys be an option.

Keys for the Jackrabbits

1. Shut down the Gophers on the outside. This is the only area where SDSU really excels, and if they the Gophers are cold from behind the three point line, they will be able double team on the inside without horrible repercussions.
2. Take care of the ball. The Jackrabbits turned the ball over more than almost every other team in the country last season, but committed only 11 turnovers when they played the Gophers. They aren’t much better this year, and will need to play mistake free to even have a chance.
3. Keep it close. South Dakota State does not have the fire power to make a comeback if the get down early.

Key Players for the Gophers

1. Kevin Payton. I may regret this, but with Hoffarber out and Bostick hurt, he should get more playing time than usual.
2. Colton Iverson faces what is more or less his home town team.
3. Travis Busch has been playing well, and with their lack of height, Busch should be able to try a few post-up moves (note, be able is the same as should).

Key Players for the Jackrabbits

1. Garret Callahan lit up the Gophers for 28 points om 18 shots last year. This year he is averaging 18 ppg. He brings the firepower, and it will be his responsibility to keep it close.
2. Kai Williams is a tweener who could pass for an interior player only on the Jackrabbits, and is secondon the team in rebounding and scoring.
3. Anthony Cordova is the only player for SDSU who is 6′7” and expects to see serious minutes. He leads the team in rebounding.

Prediction: 77-52

Your Prediction:

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As the nation pauses for a day to remember all that we have, we as Minnesotans, students, alumni, and Gopher fans also have plenty to be thankful for. However, instead of pointing out the obvious (except one exception), I’d like to draw your attention to unsung, rarely noticed people, places, and things that make attending Gopher basketball games a true delight.

1. “Hail Minnesota” is both Minnesota’s song and the school song of the University of Minnesota. Its epic drumroll and superfluous fanfares set the mood on game day perfectly. Unfortunately, when it is played about 45 minutes before tip off there are rarely more than 100 or so people in the arena, but the 11,000-14,000 others that attend games are missing out. It is really a shame the pep-band doesn’t play it when more people are around. If have the chance, get to the game early, and listen in on this great tradition.

2. The older gentleman with the striped shirt who sits about 15 rows behind the visitor’s bench. is a treat. I don’t know his name, how old he is, where he comes from, or what he does, but to see him wave his cane at the end of the rouser, or in anger when a referee makes a particularly bad call, should show the rest of the crowd that its ok to get into the game, even if you aren’t sitting in the cheap seats.

3. The ushers in the student section have a particularly ungrateful task. Not only do they need to put up with occasionally drunk and unruly college students, but they have to do so when they would rather

watching the game mere feet from the court. Instead, of being grumpy, they take up their task with a smile, always have a kind word or smile, and on more than one occasion have demonstrated infinite patience. Next time you are a game and you see the guy who looks like Alan Alda or the two ushers that look a little too much like Statler and Waldorf, say hi and thank them, they deserve it.

4. The student section gets a lot grief, some it deserved. They aren’t as roudy as Duke, but the aren’t as vulgar as the Badgers either. For every intoxicated student chanting something that is inappropriate (or very appropriate depending on the situation) there are plenty of very passionate and knowledgeable students that have been watching Gopher basketball for years. They are proud of the tradition and want to bring it back. The Barn Yard isn’t the best in the country, but the foundation is there, and they will be back.

5. The fans in the obstructed seats know they are playing the lottery when they buy a ticket. Some of the obstructed seats require fans to turn their heads slightly to the left or right, while others require them to have a great imagination, because the large post a foot in front of them is anything but transparent. But they come anyway, and are some of the loudest and most enthusiastic people in the building.

6. Dick Jonckowski has been been the public address announcer at Williams Arena since I started attending games when I was five years old, and probably long before that. He doesn’t  always get the players name’s right, has never  pronounced a name of African or Eastern European origin the same way twice. He also doesn’t try to be bigger of the game, or draw unnecessary attention to himself. He is an institution much like Williams Arena, traditional, unique, endearing, and irreplaceable.

7. Kevin Payton’s basketball career hasn’t gone has hoped. He isn’t the versatile and tall point guard that was supposed to drive teams crazy on both end of the court. Instead he has had to be content with the equivalent of Thanksgiving left overs, playing most often at meaningless times and meaningless game. However, instead of sulking, complaining, and doing more harm than good, he has found a role on the team even more valuable the role he could have on the court. He has become a leader, leading the team on to the court at the beginning of each half, leaping off the bench celebrate and encourage his teammates, and spending more time standing on the bench and leading cheer than the cheer leaders. He is the kind of player that makes college athletics special.

8: If you leave Williams Arena from the University Avenue gate, the odds are you’ll be treated to a tuba mini-parade. As the tuba players head back to wherever they keep their tubas, you’ll hear them play the sweet sounds of “Hey Baby”. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor bitterly cold temperatures that are enough to freeze lips to brass instruments keep them from playing outside after games, and the long walk back to Coffman wouldn’t be the same without them.

9. The Gophers are the only Division I team in the state. Some people think it is absolutely ridiculous that states like Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota have more than one Division I team in the state, and I agree, those states have too many. Minnesota is lucky though. There is something special that such a ethnically and geographically diverse state can all be cheering for the same team. On a January night, a Somali kid from Cedar-Riverside can have a whole lot in common with a Czech iron miner in Hibbing, a German beet farmer outside Moorehead, an Indian doctor in Rochester, a Hmong farmer outside of Marshall, and a fortune 500 CEO in downtown Minneapolis, if only for a few hours.

10. Williams Arena, The Barn, is unique in so many ways, and all too often under appreciated. Yes its old, and the pain is chipping and there is more than one rusty girder, but the elevated floor sets stage for drama, suspense, passion, and so much more. Its one of a kind, and its in our own back yard, and for that I am thankful.

Everything that Travis Busch needs, Kevin Payton has. Everything that Kevin Payton needs, Travis Busch has. And for this reason, instead of the Gophers having two solid contributors, they have two players that just can’t seem to fit in.

Kevin Payton has received more grief than any player on the current roster. He has been criticized to the point that some have advocated stripping him of his scholarship. Most players who average less than 10 minutes per game and barely score one point per game don’t draw much attention, let alone ire. But Kevin Payton is not most players.

He is tall. He is quick. He is fast. He is extremely athletic. He was a state champion hurdler who was one of the top scorers in New Jersey, not exactly a waste land of basketball talent. Physically, he should be a game changer, but basketball is not played on paper, and unfortunately for Kevin Payton and the Gophers, also requires some psychological mettle.

If Kevin Payton had Travis Busch’s intensity, decisiveness, and instincts, I have know doubt that not only would the Gophers not have a point guard problem, but Kevin Payton would be one of the better point guards in the Big Ten. How many other 6′4” point guards with above average ball handling and defensive skills are there in the conference?

However, of course, he will not appear on any all conference teams or receive a mention even when he is in the game. Payton’s problem is between his ears.

What we like

For all the criticism he has received, Payton has not let if affect him. He tries, which in this day and age, is more than can be said for a lot of Division one athletes. He goes to class, never misses a practice, and by all accounts adds a sense of stability and maturity in the locker room that will be even more important this year with the influx of young talent.

He also has size and athleticism. Two things that can not be taught. If he has learned how to use what he has during the off-season, he could salvage what is left of his career.

What needs to improve

Either he thinks too much, or not enough. He has stood wide open, with no one within five feet of him, and stood completely still. After an excruciating few seconds, he will often launch an off rhythm shot as a defender rushes at him. This helps explain while he shot 3 of 20 from the field last year. If he isn’t paralyzed with fear or indecision, he is charging full-bore into a sea of defenders, with the best possible outcome being a turn over that that doesn’t lead to a fast break. A 1:1 point to turn over ratio is not a good thing. His only hope seems to be to get some confidence, some basketball knowledge, or both. If not, the Gophers will have to rely on a freshman and a sophomore to run their offense, while a junior sits on the bench.

What to expect

I’m a Kevin Payton guy. I recognize that not every one can be a star, and that having a good person on a team can be just as important as a good scorer. Having said that, I don’t anticipate that Kevin Payton will be able to effectively tap into the skills and athleticism that he has and the team needs. Expect what you saw last year, a guy who can play above average defense with great speed, but also a guy who often looks lost on the offensive end.