From The Barn

The Worst: Michigan 83 – Gophers 55

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by Face.

Pathetic.  Embarrassing.  Unbelievable.  What ever negative word someone wants to use to describe the Gophers effortless, aloof performance against the Michigan Wolverines would probably be deserved.  At a time when Minnesota needed to come out firing against a team with nothing to play for, a time that called for nothing more than a solid performance [...]

Continue Reading

Next Year’s Nucleus

Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by JF.

I hope you’ll excuse me for not delving into the finer details of Minnesota’s latest blown lead and missed buzzer beater. If you saw last season’s Michigan game, or this year’s games against Michigan State or at Indiana and Northwestern you know how the story goes. This team is as formulaic as any of the [...]

Continue Reading

It’s a Blowout!: Gophers 81 – Indiana 58

Posted on 21. Feb, 2010 by Face.

Two days after ripping Wisconsin with the season on the line at Williams Arena, the Gophers once again came back ready to play and dumped the Indiana Hoosiers by 23 points.  The Gophers held Indiana to 32% shooting from the field and, perhaps more important, didn’t allow them to get anything going from beyond the [...]

Continue Reading

Bubble burst(ing) Michigan 71 – Gophers 63

Posted on 12. Feb, 2010 by Face.

I came into yesterday’s game with above-average expectations for a team that, for the most part, has underachieved all season.  They’d been up and down for the better part of the last month but were coming off a stretch where they had won two of three and seemed to have been gaining some momentum after [...]

Continue Reading

Gophers at Penn State: Much needed changes for a Must Win Game

Posted on 05. Feb, 2010 by JF.

Golden Gophers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

1:00 pm (CST) at Bryce Jordan Center (University Park, PA)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: Big Ten Network

For the better part of a month, I’ve been claiming each upcoming game was not a must win. Those games were important, and every conference game ultimately will have some impact on a potential [...]

Continue Reading

Game 16 Preview: Gophers vs. Ohio State

Posted on 09. Jan, 2010 by JF.

Golden Gophers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

2:30 pm (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: Big Ten Network

Tickets: Best available- Row 11, upper deck, baseline (obstructed)

Evan Turner has had this game circled for a while. As early as December 19th, 2009, only two weeks after an ugly and scary back injury that easily [...]

Continue Reading

Game 14 Preview: Gophers vs. Iowa

Posted on 02. Jan, 2010 by JF.

Golden Gophers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

3:00 pm (CST) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: Big Ten Network

One year removed from questioning whether the Minnesota-Iowa rivalry, once one of the most intense in all of college basketball, was dead, I’ve decided to find out first hand. In a first but hopefully not last [...]

Continue Reading

Game 10 Review: Gophers step it up even if the competition doesn’t

Posted on 13. Dec, 2009 by JF.

St. Joe’s is the best opponent to set foot in The Barn this season, by far, but after a close opening few minutes, the Gophers took over, and the only question about the game’s outcome by half time was the final score. Even though Minnesota’s 97-74 victory was their closest home win of the season, [...]

Continue Reading

Game 4 Preview: Gophers vs. Butler

Posted on 25. Nov, 2009 by JF.

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Butler University Bulldogs
7:30 pm (CST) at the Anaheim Convention Center

Radio: WCCO 830 AM

TV: ESPN 2

And now the season really begins. Sure those three other games count, but the outcomes were never in doubt and the results would have only mattered had the Gophers lost, and if they had, you [...]

Continue Reading

Game 1 Review: A little rust, but Gophers roll past Tennessee Tech

Posted on 14. Nov, 2009 by JF.

Even good shooting teams have bad shooting nights.  What often separates good shooting teams from bad shooting teams is shot selection. Open shots won’t always fall, but they have a much better chance of going in than well covered, rushed or reckless shots. All too often last season, most possessions for the Gophers  seemed to [...]

Continue Reading

And finally a positive distraction

Posted on 04. Nov, 2009 by JF.

Golden Gophers vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs

7:00 pm (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: Bigtennetwork.com (Streaming for $2.99)

Tickets: Best available- Row 11, upper deck, center court

It has been pointed out many times here and by many others elsewhere that Gopher basketball is the perfect distraction from the cold dark winters that embrace [...]

Continue Reading

Gophers defeat Northwestern 66-53: As it happened

Posted on 12. Mar, 2009 by JF.

Like just about everyone else, I spent a good part of the lunch hour listening to the game on the radio while also trying to follow it on line. Thankfully, the Big Ten Network decided to replay the game, giving me a chance to see what happened without the Gopher radio announcers constantly badgering the [...]

Continue Reading

Tubby, time out, turnovers, put tournament in doubt

Posted on 08. Mar, 2009 by JF.

And now the waiting, the worrying, and the wondering can begin in earnest. With a chance to jump off the bubble and land comfortably in the NCAA tournament, season long problems persisted and the Gophers dropped their heartbreaking and winnable Big Ten finale to Michigan. The regular season loss was a microcosm of a roller [...]

Continue Reading

Three streaks down, another to go?

Posted on 26. Feb, 2009 by JF.

Golden Gophers vs.  Illinois Fighting Illini

6:00 pm (CST) at Assembly Hall

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
Tv: Big Ten Network
Liveblog: Yup
In a season of snapped streaks this one might be too much. After winning at Wisconsin, beating Illinois, and sweeping Indiana for the first time in far too long, the Gophers attempt to break Illinois’s stranglehold at Assembly [...]

Continue Reading

One down, two to go in “Operation get three, drama free”

Posted on 23. Feb, 2009 by JF.

Get rid of your expectations and enjoy the ride. Trying to figure out how the Gophers will play on any given night will just give you a headache, and any Gopher fan will want to be pain and distraction free from what will surely be the most exciting last three Big Ten games that the [...]

Continue Reading

Barn Blurbs 2/16/09

Posted on 16. Feb, 2009 by JF.

Offensive Offense
Minnesota’s futility when they have the ball is now worse than it was a year ago, and quickly approaching 2007 levels. Change it up Tubby.
Bubble still inflated
All the experts have the Gophers in the NCAA tournament for the time being, but the bubble could be about to pop.
No votes in the coaches poll
For the [...]

Continue Reading

Another bounce back against the Buckeyes

Posted on 07. Feb, 2009 by JF.

#19  Golden Gophers vs.  Ohio State Buckeyes

7:00 pm (CST) at Value City Arena

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
Tv: Big Ten Network
Chatroom: Yup

When  Minnesota last played Ohio State, the Buckeyes were reeling after the loss of David Lighty, and the Gophers had just suffered a drubbing at the hands of Michigan State. Coming into today’s game, the Gophers [...]

Continue Reading

Barn Blurbs 2/4/09: Pre-game Reading

Posted on 04. Feb, 2009 by JF.

Reminder: Free t-shirt give-away
Guess the score, win a Barn Yard “Tubbytown” t-shirt.
UGA should try Tubby, then Bobby
Perhaps they should go for a coach they could actually get?
Cooper feels a Royals pain
Minnesota’s other D-I team wins easily. Royce White and Rodney Williams each scored 21 points.
Gophers men: Road to Big Ten title is full of bumps
Winning [...]

Continue Reading

Gophers face Spartans for a share of first place

Posted on 03. Feb, 2009 by JF.

#19 Golden Gophers vs. #13 Michigan State Spartans

7:30 pm (CST) at The Breslin Center (East Lansing, Michigan)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: Big Ten Network
Liveblog: Starting half an hour before the game.
How about that for a pleasantly unexpected headline? After Purdue’s loss at Ohio State and Michigan State’s latest slips against formerly cellar dwelling Penn State [...]

Continue Reading

Gophers crush Illinois for a streak of their own

Posted on 30. Jan, 2009 by JF.

Highlights from BTN

So much for the 20 game losing streak to Illinois, and so much for anything resembling reasonable expectations for the rest of the year.  After a blistering forty minutes of in your face, no gimmicks, straight up defense, the Gophers blew the doors off The Barn and blew out the Fighting Illini, 59-36. Any [...]

Continue Reading

1/30/09 Barn Blurbs: Streak is snapped edition

Posted on 30. Jan, 2009 by JF.

Surprise, Surprise
The Gophers are a good surprise. Our eastern neighbors are surprising too.
Jim Souhan: As defensive efforts go, U’s certainly was an eye-opener
”I think Monson’s defense, maybe he wanted to let the other team score,’ Westbrook said.” It certainly works at Grinnell.
Gophers stop Illini
The loss was the worst for Illinois since an 88-57 defeat [...]

Continue Reading

#24 Minnesota vs. #20 Illinois: Gophers hope to end “Krushing” streak like its 1999.

Posted on 28. Jan, 2009 by JF.

#24  Golden Gophers vs. #20 Illinois Fighting Illini

8:00 (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: BTN

Tickets: Still a few obstructed seats left

Chatroom: I won’t be here, but if you are, stop by and discuss the game
Minnesota is 0 for the 00’s against Illinois, and has not won against the Illini since February 3, [...]

Continue Reading

Barn Blurbs for 1/28/09

Posted on 28. Jan, 2009 by JF.

We’ll have our preview for the Illinois game up tonight. Until then…
Nolen Starting a Turnaround?
Scout.com looks at Al Nolen’s struggles, and if he finally got his game sorted out against Indiana.
Add Alabama to Tubby Smith Rumors
But why?
Gophers are a cooperative effort
Should be subtitled “Team work through video game” or “Find your own thesis”.
Word is [...]

Continue Reading

Gophers go inside, get out with a win

Posted on 26. Jan, 2009 by JF.

Led by Damian Johnson and a nearly-dominating performance by Ralph Sampson III, the Gophers held off a feisty Indiana squad playing its best game of the year to win 67-63. The Gophers didn’t blow out Indiana, but Minnesota’s willingness establish an offensive identity and simultaneously develop an inside presence should be heartening. They are still [...]

Continue Reading

Cold shooting night brings cold dose of reality

Posted on 23. Jan, 2009 by JF.

By now you have probably familiarized yourself with all the gory details of Minnesota’s not as close as the score 70-62 loss to Purdue. It was another loss, and nothing we haven’t seen before. The Gopher’s can’t win a half court game against a quality team playing a quality game. So instead of dwelling on [...]

Continue Reading

#20 Minnesota vs. #18 Purdue: Gophers trying to repeat Boilermakers’ success

Posted on 21. Jan, 2009 by JF.

#20  Golden Gophers vs. #18 Purdue Boilermakers

6:00 (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
TV: ESPN 2

Tickets: Still a few obstructed seats left

Chatroom: I won’t be here, but if you are, stop by and discuss the game
A young Big Ten team beats the highly ranked Louisville Cardinals on a neutral court, gains confidence from [...]

Continue Reading

Is the Iowa rivalry dying?

Posted on 07. Jan, 2009 by JF.

#19  Golden Gophers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

6:00 pm (CST) at Carver Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
Tv: ESPN2

Liveblog: Yes. I’ll be typing away, just like the CSU game.

There was a time not too long ago in fact, when a basketball game between Minnesota and Iowa meant something. It was a game to look forward [...]

Continue Reading

Gophers bounce back big over Buckeyes

Posted on 04. Jan, 2009 by JF.

ESPN Highlights
Big Ten Network Highlights
After what could have been a confidence crippling, season opening loss to Michigan State (much like last year’s home loss to Indiana), an intense and determined Gopher basketball team led #23 Ohio State by as much as 18 late in the second half on their way to a 68-59 [...]

Continue Reading

#21 Gophers vs. #23 Buckeyes: Two teams trying to find their footing

Posted on 02. Jan, 2009 by JF.

#21  Golden Gophers vs. #23 Ohio State Buckeyes

11:00 am (CST) at Williams Arena

Radio: WCCO 830 AM
Tv: Big Ten Network
Tickets: A few obstructed seats scattered around
Chatroom: Yes. Check in a couple of hours before the game.

About two weeks ago, a game that seemed to be a standard early Big Ten match-up suddenly took on national significance. [...]

Continue Reading

Blowout caps Minnesota’s best start since 1948

Posted on 29. Dec, 2008 by JF.

Highlights from ESPN
Highlights from BTN
Did people care about strength of schedule in 1948? Is this Minnesota’s weakest non-conference schedule since 1948. I’m guessing the answer to both of those questions is no. Regardless of the Gophers’ non-conference opponents so far, they have started  the season with twelve straight wins for the first time since the [...]

Continue Reading