gophers/ncaa

Although snapping Kansas' 47-game non-conference home winning streak may have been asking a lot, Kansas made every effort to hand this game over to the Gophers and the ladies simply refused to take it. The Gophers could easily have taken Kansas down to the wire if they had hit several chip shots inside down the stretch. Shooting 25% in the second half is just not enough to beat Kansas on their home floor. If the Gophers were 7-2 at this point I would be confident in their position as an NCAA tournament hopeful, but 6-3 really requires that they win out the last 5 non-conference games (all home games that they "should" win against mid-majors). The Gophers really blew their chance at a signature win in the non-conference by losing the last couple of games. 11-3 going into the B1G schedule means 9-7 gets them to 20 regular season wins, but with 8 of 16 games against AP top 25 teams, this will require a better effort than they have shown in the last two games. As for Borton, I stand by my statement at the beginning of the year - if the Gophers do not win 20+ games this year with an NCAA tournament berth, Teague should clean house to give the ladies a chance to reach their potential under a different coach. 20+ wins is what this team is capable of and Borton has to be held accountable if they can't accomplish this. Listening to my brother-in-law (a season ticket holder) reflect wistfully about the Glen Mason era in football, however, makes me wonder who we are likely to find as a replacement...

Amen InformedOne! First to all the Borton bobos out there a warning "I don't like Coach B". Now then, We have had two straight games against tough opponents, both of which we were in position to win but literally gave them away. By Coach B's own admission, out post play is not up to snuff, yet she refuses to tinker with her line up or playing time in any significant way. Exactly what is she getting paid for?? Continuing to play our backcourt line up 35-39 minutes a game only insures that by the time the B1G games comes around, they will be running on fumes. Even if Coach B manages to squeek out 20 wins and a tournament bid, she needs to go.

There used to be a time when the GOPHERS were RANKED. Choo, choo...

Did anyone notice how small the crowd was for Virginia game? Borton should be gone for just the drop in attendance. It's just sad what they have left happen to a once proud program.

I was part of the small attendance at the VA game and it was embarrassing for a televised game. I feel for the players who are struggling under this mess that Coach B has made. True they have not been playing very good basketball lately, but Coach doesn't do much to put them in a position to win (X's and O's wise). I hope Bailey gets well in a hurry so we have a little more depth in the backcourt; as well as Zahui B getting her to shore up the front court.

I hate to look to Zahui B as a messiah for the inside game, but with Riche's inconsistency and Loberg's traditional problems with physical play at center, she could see significant playing time right out of the gate. I think she can start sometime in December so this may be "just in time" delivery for the B1G season. While I like what Mullaney brings in terms of scoring and generally solid point play, Bailey is certainly missed for her defensive intensity and I can't help but think that should couldn't at least have made the defensive effort against Virginia a little more respectable. Time will tell, but if they continue to play at the current level of performance, it's an WNIT year (sadly). I think that this team is capable of so much more.