Wednesday basketball with much to say

The game of basketball is full of bounces and on Thursday was no different. I was so pumped to get my share of basketball in with the Gophers-Ohio State game on a 6 and the Timbewolves-Philadelphia 76ers on at 7.

The Gophers game looked like a copy and paste game of the Iowa debacle. The score at halftime was respectable being only down by 6 to Ohio State. The second half of both games has been nothing but tough to watch. The turnovers are incredible with lazy passes and guys just making bad decisions.

One major flaw I trouble understanding is seeing the big men come towards the point trying to handle the ball like a point guard and there goes Ohio State. I don’t have trouble with them rotating but please don’t put it down and try to dribble out of trouble. The show of panic is evident with passes thrown that have no chance unless the guys are 8 feet tall. It is just plain disappointing but still hang on a small hope things can get better.

I saw something I have never seen in all the years I have watched basketball and that was seeing the refs whistle break and he stood there trying to fix it which he eventually did. Is this just another sign of the Gophers struggle when even a whistle gets broken? The other evidence of things going south quickly was seeing Trevor Mbakwe go for a dunk and the ball hits the back of the rim and bounces out. It is just not meant to be.

The number one team in the nation, Indiana is coming to the Barn on the 26^th so hang on followed by another home game and then the last 2 on the road.

The Timberwolves come out of the All Star break with as fast as basket as a game could start the game. The team scores the most points in opening quarter which was the most in any quarter in any of the games this season scoring 35.

Ricky Rubio gets his 500^th assists in his first 67 games. I pray this is only the beginning for this super star. He is worth the price of admission alone.

The first quarter sees the Wolves get 35 and in the fourth quarter only manage 1 made basket and yet the team still won.

The play of Derrick Williams and Nikolai Pekovic is only getting better and even better is the consistency.

One thing these 2 games had in common comes in the form of a player, Evan Turner who played for Ohio State and was the number 2 pick overall by the 76ers.

The Gophers season is in trouble but not over yet by any means and the youthful Timberwolves are getting better and fun to watch.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick