HHC Report Card: 2012 Minnesota Golden Gophers Home

Explaining The Grades:

Near Flawless	Poor
Good	Awful
Average

OFFENSE:

The Huskers were fairly efficient in the first half, and had they not missed a couple of "bunnies," they would have reached 37-39 points. Though I suppose you could also say NU was pretty fortunate to get that three at the buzzer, so it probably evens out.

I want to talk about that play because I want to give B-Rich HUGE props for recognizing that at the end of half number one, the clock DOES NOT STOP after a basket. I see so many players who seem clueless about this and take their jolly time inbounding the ball. Brandon was all over it and made a nice baseball pass to Caleb for that shot. Headsy play.

Nebraska was pitiful in the second half. Lower than an "F". They had thirteen points scored at the 5 minute mark of the second half, and something like six at the 8 minute mark.

Bo Spencer appeared to be either sick or disinterested for much of the game. His stats (18 points, 5 assists) were bloated by "scrapping the offense" at the end and Minnesota kind of going to a "prevent" to make sure they didn't foul. But there was one notable time in the first half where he had a WIDE OPEN three that he didn't take, and a couple others where it appeared away from the ball, he wasn't working hard.

WAY TOO MUCH DRIBBLING with nothing going on in the second half.

DEFENSE:

Just like offense, Nebraska played GOOD defense in the first half. Yet in the second half, Minnesota got a dunk or lay up on about 75% of their possessions in the final five minutes, en route to 54% shooting from the field.

Also, Nebraska allowed FORTY bench points from the Golden Gophers. That's right, FORTY bench points.

Nebraska's press was very Mickey Mouse at the end and all of the defensive intensity of the first 25 minutes of this game seemed to dwindle in the closing moments.

REBOUNDING:

Second chance points KILLED Nebraska today, and the Huskers were out boarded 29 to 20.

Blah blah blah, the Huskers don't have Diaz or Andre "NBA ready" Almeida.

However, Minnesota doesn't have their LEGITIMATE First Team All-Big Ten post, either. Adjust.

BALL HANDLING:

13 turnovers, not bad. However, a TON in the first half that along with missed bunnies, took Nebraska out of a position to have a commanding lead. The box score for some reason doesn't have "points off of turnovers" in the version I'm looking at, so I can't put that score, but I'm willing to bet it was quite a few, especially in half number one.

COACHING:

The second half was pathetic. The team appeared flustered and unnerved. What's worse, nobody in the building really seemed to care, players included.

OVERALL GRADE:

Nebaska has now lost SIX games at home, in year SIX of Doc Sadler, with SIX upperclass scholarship players appearing in todays tilt against a "Last Four In" or "Last Four Out" team playing without its potential All-American player. Minnesota is a mediocre team; we, are NOT. I don't want to hear the term 'mediocre' anymore because its not fair to mediocre teams. We are not close to that.

This is Doc Sadler's "best team," and we'll be lucky to win two more games (home for Iowa, at PSU), with or without Jorge Brian Diaz.

That, folks, is not good. Not good at all.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Bo Spencer

SEASON TOTALS:

Bo Spencer - 6

Brandon Richardson- 5

Toney McCray - 5

Jorge Brian Diaz - 3

Brandon Ubel - 1

Dylan Talley - 1

Josiah Moore - 1