Tag: Big Ten Basketball

10 for 20: Minnesota basketball

Minnesota hoops in the 2020s

Our “10 for 20” series on the questions or challenges facing non-Wisconsin Big Ten basketball programs in the 2020s begins with the enemy in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Golden Gophers made the Final Four in 1997, but they did so under a wayward Clem Haskins regime which wasn’t NCAA-compliant. They haven’t been back since. More than that, they haven’t made a single Sweet 16 in the past 22 years. They have won two NCAA Tournament games total.

When Tubby Smith landed Royce White, he seemed to have found the breakthrough player who could make Minnesota basketball a top-tier power — or at least a strong second-tier program — in the Big Ten. However, White never did play for the Gophers due to off-court troubles. He eventually transferred to and played for Iowa State, where he won an NCAA Tournament game and showed how well he could play. Royce White is the biggest “what if?” for Minnesota basketball from the 2010s.

As the scene shifts to the 2020s and the future of the Gophers, the big question seems to be this: Can Minnesota ever stack together consecutive quality seasons? It is noticeable how elusive back-to-back good seasons are — and have been — in Williams Arena. Get this, part one: Minnesota has made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances ONCE in the past 24 seasons, in 2009 and 2010. Get this, part two: The last time Minnesota made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as a single-digit seed was 1994 (a 6 seed) and 1995 (an 8 seed). When the Gophers made the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Tournaments, they were a double-digit seed both years. Under Tubby Smith and now under Richard Pitino, the refrain remains the same for Minnesota basketball: The Gophers might have one relatively good season, but they lose the momentum the following year. This program ping-pongs back and forth between hope and mediocrity.

Minnesota would love to sustain momentum as a program, but it never can seem to do just that. It’s wonderful from a Wisconsin fan’s point of view. We will see if the 2020s create a more consistent Minnesota basketball program. Badger fans hope the Gophers never find the magic formula.

10 for 20: Big Ten basketball in the 2020s

Big Ten hoops in the next decade

We have arrived at the final 10 days of the 2010s. The Big Ten came close to winning a college basketball national championship this past decade, and the team which was in position to claim that title was none other than the Wisconsin Badgers, in 2015 against the Duke Blue Devils. However, a man named Grayson Allen — before becoming college basketball’s most central on-court villain — caught fire. Tyus Jones, a Minnesotan, thwarted the Badgers, and the best Wisconsin hoops team in modern times was denied its ultimate crowning moment, two days after it scored one of the most significant victories in college basketball history, the upset of 38-0 Kentucky. Hashtag #38and1.

Michigan reached two national championship games this past decade and gave Louisville a very good run in 2013. Ohio State made the Final Four under Thad Matta in 2012 but lost in the national semifinals to Kansas. Michigan State reached several more Final Fours, including at the start and end of each decade. The Spartans were there in Indianapolis in 2010, and they were there in 2019 in Minneapolis, but they couldn’t break through in national semifinals this past decade, losing all three times they made the Final Four over the past 10 seasons. Their last win in a Final Four game was the 2009 semifinal versus Connecticut in Detroit.

The Big Ten will try to knock the door down in the 2020s and claim an elusive college basketball national championship. Meanwhile, programs in the lower rungs of the league will try to attain more modest achievements. We are going to look at the main question or challenge facing the 13 non-Wisconsin Big Ten basketball programs this decade. We can then measure the Badgers’ larger situation against these other 13 programs, and appreciate both the successes and unattained goals Wisconsin can keep in mind as it moves into a new decade. Stay tuned for the “10 for 20” basketball series here at Badgers Wire.

Ohio State basketball drops to No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Ohio State basketball drops to No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

When two Big Ten schools meet on the court so far this basketball season, the odds are against the visiting team.  Ohio State was 9-0 heading into its match against the then 4-5 Minnesota Gophers. Poised to take the No. 1 spot had they remained unbeaten; the Buckeyes could not overcome the Gophers who held Ohio State to a season-low 38.3% shooting and the team dropped to No. 4 as a result in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

Kansas took over the No. 1 spot, followed by Gonzaga (2), and Duke (3) ahead of the Buckeyes. Louisville (5), Kentucky (6), Virgina (7), Maryland (8), Auburn (9), and Oregon (10) round out the top ten. Auburn (9-0) is the only remaining unbeaten school in the top 10 while San Diego State (10-0) are the only other team in the top 25.

The Big Ten has a total of five teams in the USA TODAY Coaches poll with Michigan at No. 15,  Michigan State at No. 18, and Penn State making its first appearance at No. 24.

The Ohio State Buckeyes return to action at home against Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday before traveling to Las Vegas to square off against another top-ranked opponent in the University of Kentucky.

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Notre Dame Basketball: Robby Carmody Injured Late in Loss at No. 3 Maryland

The worst part of the night came in the games final minute when sophomore guard Robby Carmody suffered what appeared to be a significant knee injury that could very-possibly cost him the rest of the season.

Notre Dame had a tough time getting anything to work the final 36 or so minutes of Wednesday night’s loss at No. 3 Maryland, as the Irish fell 72-51.

The worst part of the night came in the games final minute when sophomore guard Robby Carmody suffered what appeared to be a significant knee injury that could very-likely cost him the rest of the season.

The Mars, Pennsylvania product had been averaging 5.5 points per game for Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish but it would appear his 2019-20 season is done almost as soon as it began.

The one good thing to be seen from this moment was a classy showing of sportsmanship from the entire Maryland team right after the game went final.

For Notre Dame an already thin bench gets that much thinner as the Irish have now lost two players in the last two days, after Chris Doherty announced he was leaving the team Tuesday.

Watch – Notre Dame Basketball Routed at No. 3 Maryland

The first half particularly was challenging for the Irish, who made only eight field goals and shot 1 for 11 from 3-point range.

Despite keeping pace early with No. 3 Maryland, Notre Dame found itself on the short end of a 19-7 run to end the first half and never recovered in a 72-51 road loss Wednesday.  The Irish (6-2) began this ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup by jumping out to a five-point lead in the first five minutes.  They kept pace for another 11 minutes, tying the game at 13 before the Terrapins (9-0) blew it open and never looked back, leading by as much as 27 in the second half.  The Irish dropped to 4-3 all-time in the annual challenge between the two power conferences.

Jalen Smith led the Terrapins with a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds to go with five blocks.  Eric Ayala scored 14, and Aaron Wiggins had 11, two of which came on a thunderous put-back dunk of his own shot to end the first half.  The Terrapins never allowed the Irish to get into a shooting rhythm, limiting the guests to 29 percent from the field.  The first half particularly was challenging for the Irish, who made only eight field goals and shot 1 for 11 from 3-point range.

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John Mooney continued to be Notre Dame’s most dependable player, achieving his fifth double-double of the season with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds.  Prentiss Hubb matched Mooney’s team highs of five field goals and three 3-pointers, finishing with 13 points and leading the Irish with three assists.  Rex Pflueger was held scoreless, missing both of his 3-point attempts, and committed a game-high five turnovers.  It was a surprising off night for Pflueger, who has enjoyed a balanced season to this point.

The Irish were unable to keep up with the quicker Terrapins, who held a 15-7 advantage in fast break points.  They also outscored the Irish in points in the paint, 36-22.

With time winding down Notre Dame’s Robby Carmody went down with what appeared to be a significant knee injury and initial reports do not sound good for the Irish sophomore guard.

The Irish return to action Saturday when they host a struggling Boston College squad.

 

This article was written by new Fighting Irish Wire contributor Geoffrey Clark

Notre Dame Basketball: Previewing Test at No. 3 Maryland

The teams have not met since Jan. 15, 2014, a 74-66 win for the Terrapins.  It will be the Irish’s first true road game and their first contest against a ranked opponent since suffering their only loss of the season Nov. 6 at No. 9 North Carolina.

Notre Dame (6-1) faces its toughest test of the season to date Wednesday when it visits No. 3 Maryland (8-0) for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.  The teams have not met since Jan. 15, 2014, a 74-66 win for the Terrapins.  It will be the Irish’s first true road game and their first contest against a ranked opponent since suffering their only loss of the season Nov. 6 at No. 9 North Carolina.

Looking for their fifth ACC/Big Ten Challenge victory in seven appearances, the Irish once again will rely on John Mooney to do the heavy lifting.  Mooney posted a double-double in four of his first five games and extended his streak of at least 13 rebounds to four games Nov. 26 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson.  If the Preseason All ACC First-Team member can make it five straight 13-board games, he will be the first Irish player to do it since Luke Harangody in 2008-09.

Also recording double-doubles in Juwan Durham, doing so twice over the past three games.  With Mooney sidelined by illness Nov. 18 vs. Presbyterian, Durham had 11 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.  In the Fairleigh Dickinson game, he scored 12 points, grabbed 11 boards and blocked four more shots.  Joining Mooney against North Carolina last season, Durham is the sixth Notre Dame player under Mike Brey to reach double figures in scoring and rebounding while also achieving four blocks.

Through seven games, Rex Pflueger has done his best to come back from the torn ACL that prematurely ended his season last year.  In addition to averaging 7.3 points a game, he is one of 12 major conference players to average at least four rebounds (4.1), three assists (3.4) and two steals (2.0).  Other prominent players in that group include Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, North Carolina’s Cole Anthony and Kansas’ Devon Dotson.