Here we come NIT! In their first measuring stick game since a loss to Florida State, the Gophers learned that they just can’t compete against quick, athletic teams. In my preview of last night’s game, I wrote that good coaching and preparation should have enabled the Gophers to overcome the weaknesses that Florida State so often exploited. Unfortunately, UNLV watched the FSU game film more than the Gophers, and the Rebels looked just like the Seminoles as they won 81-64.

In a fast paced, loosely officiated game, the Gophers couldn’t keep up with UNLV’s star guard Wink Adams, who scored 20 points and added 7 assists without turning the ball over. Matt Shaw added 14 points and 10 rebounds, as the Gophers were dominated inside and out.

UNLV’s guards used their height advantage to shoot and pass over the shorter Gopher defenders, the Rebels shot 11-22 from the three point line and recorded 19 assists on their 25 made field goals. When they weren’t hitting from long distance or dishing assists, UNLV was getting to the free throw line, where they barely missed. They made 20-24 from the line.

The Gophers simply struggled. Lawrence McKenzie scored 8 points on 2-11 shooting (a disturbing 0-6 from inside the three point line). Spencer Tollackson shot the ball only 4 times, and missed 5-7 free throws. Dan Coleman scored 10 and pulled down 8 rebounds, but it wasn’t close to enough to make up for the poor performances by the other seniors. Tubby Smith once again called out the seniors on their poor performances, and McKenzie and Coleman left their all tournament team medals on the table, signaling that they understand that beating up on bad teams only to get beat themselves isn’t good enough any more.

At least we know what to expect now. Minnesota can’t beat athletic teams. If Minnesota was in a more athletic conference, they would be in big trouble, and the losses to these athletic teams would signal the beginning of a downward spiral that could put an NIT trip in doubt. Fortunately, the Big Ten is not an athletic conference, and Minnesota should be able to beat one of the “Big Three” at home, handle the rest of the conference at The Barn, pick off the lower teams on the road, and finish around .500 in the Big Ten.

Unrealistic expectations, both positive and negative, have accompanied each loss and winning streak. Especially during the Holiday season, it is best to follow Aristotle’s advice: “In all things moderation.”

Who did what

• Dan Coleman didn’t play as well as he has the last few games, but he shot 50% from the floor and led the Gophers in rebounds.
• Spencer Tollackson played only 16 minutes, and didn’t do too much when he was on the floor except miss free throws. The big, lumbering center from Chaska didn’t have the speed or quickness to compete.
• Lawrence McKenzie struggled as well. He led the team with 11 shots, and had 3 assists and 3 turnovers.
• Lawrence Westbrook scored 7 and pulled down 5 rebounds, but at least he didn’t turn the ball over.
• Jamal Abu-Shamala continues to struggle with his shooting, but 5 rebounds is nothing to sneeze at.
• Al Nolen played like a freshman for the first time this season, and struggled in all facets of the game. Most notably, he committed 4 turnovers and with no assists.
• Travis Busch saw the floor in the first half. This isn’t good.
• Jonathan Williams played as much as Tollackson, but at least pulled down a rebound (or 4, compared to Tollackson).
• Blake Hoffarber led the Gophers in scoring, shooting 5-8 from the floor and 3-6 from behind the line, and scored 13 points.
• Damian Johnson appears to have kicked the turnover bug, and scored 7 points to go along with 5 rebounds.

My apologies for the above head line. I initially wrote a few others, but they all quickly veered into existential or psychological territory, describing the Gophers quest for self-awareness and knowing their true identity. I also tried a few referencing Las Vegas institutions, everything from taking a bite out of UNLV (because of Tark the Shark of course, but would a Gopher bite even alter a jump shot?), attacking the Rebels with the ferocity of a white tiger (but given the Sigfried and Roy incident a few years ago, and recent events in San Francisco, it just seemed too soon), and neither fat Elvis or Wayne Newton conjure up any images that I would want to subject anyone to, so you get the cliche of a head line, and I sincerely apologize.

Last night the Gophers coasted to an 83-66 win over Kennesaw State in rather non-descript fashion. They jumped to a 21 point half time lead, and then concentrated more on making sure no one got hurt or exhausted. Dan Coleman continues to shoot well, and led the team with 24. Lawrence Westbrook added a carreer high 11, Damian Johnson keeps turning the ball over, and Spencer Tollackson can’t rebound. But given an intentional lack of intensity against a team who would be thrilled to crack the top 300 in the RPI, everything but the final score is generally meaningless.

In tonight’s game against UNLV, everything has meaning. It is the Gopher’s third and final “loseable” game of the nonconference schedule, against a Sweet 16 team from a year ago, in a hostile environment, on 24 hours rest. A win tonight against UNLV will be the most important non-conference road victory in a few years, and could catapult the Gophers into the top 25, and maybe, depending on how everything else works out, into the NCAA tournament in a couple months.

If this game was played at this time last year, the Gophers would have been thrilled to be within 30 points at half time. UNLV was well on its way to its best season in years, and the Gophers…well…remember that loss to Marist? But a new season brings lots of changes, and the prospects heading into this season were headed in opposite directions. UNLV lost 4 starters, all started more than 30 games, from a 30 win team. Wink Adams, the lone returning starter, averages 14 ppg and is the teams leading scorer. But even with the departures, this won’t be an easy win.

By all accounts, Adams is stellar perimeter defender with the potential to frustrate Gopher guards in the half court offense. Don’t be surprised if the Lawrences throw up some ill-advised shots, and if entry passes are tough to come by. Hopefully Minnesota learned how to exploit in your face perimeter defense after their immense struggles against Florida State. If they can’t handle UNLV’s quickness and can’t get the ball inside, the Gophers will struggle. UNLV also doesn’t beat themselves (only 11 turnover per game). But the Gophers are rolling, Dan Coleman has found himself, and won’t be intimidated by UNLV’s athleticism and hostile environment.

Prediction- 68-62 Gophers