Minnesota Overwhelms Arkansas
November 22, 2016
The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team took a strong step toward respectability with a convincing 85-71 win over the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks.
A worthy opponent from the SEC, the Razorbacks entered the game undefeated and jumped ahead by 13-7, but grew careless during a 9-0 Minnesota run and could not recapture the lead.
Arkansas is no longer considered a SEC powerhouse, having gone 16-16 last season and bearing little resemblance to the Razorback teams coached by Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson. Minnesota, however, would have settled for a .500 record last year, having gone 8-23 under head coach Richard Pitino, including losses to South Dakota, South Dakota State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Rutgers.
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson has built and a formidable team around seniors Moses Kingsley and Dusty Hannahs, but neither was effective in the first half against the Gophers. A basket by Reggie Lynch gave Minnesota a 27-17 lead, and Arkansas caved. The confused Razorbacks were forced into turnovers and trailed by 42 to 25 at halftime.
Any comeback efforts were stifled by the Gophers as an Amir Coffey basket shot Minnesota to a 47-28 lead. The Razorbacks failed to mount a counterattack, and the Williams Arena crowd of 8,997 relaxed and sat back to enjoy the balance of the contest.
Coffey, held scoreless in the first half, poured in 19 second-half points to lead the Gophers. The lead increased to 75-52 at the 5:23 mark of the period.
“These guys,” Pitino said after the game, “feel good about themselves. They deserve to be successful. We’re a totally different team from last year.”
The Gophers have added the 6-8 Coffey and the 6-10 Lynch to a starting lineup that includes 6-6 holdover Jordan Murphy.
“We have more length and shot-blocking ability,” said Pitino. “We have good passers and have shown good ball movement. The guys are willing to share the ball.”
Six Gophers scored in double figures against Arkansas including reserves Eric Curry and Akeem Springs. Lynch scored 10 before leaving due to an ankle injury.
Tougher tests for Minnesota will come in future games against Florida State and Vanderbilt.