Bye Bye Blackbirds
December 2016
The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team continued to pile up non-conference wins with victories over Northern Illinois and Long Island University (LIU) at Williams Arena. The Gophers record is now 11-1 which stands in stark contrast to the 8-23 mark amassed in all of last season.
The Gopher record would be perfect were it not for a 75-67 road defeat at the hands of Florida State in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge on November 28. In the Big Ten, now only Maryland has as many non-conference wins as the Gophers.
“We’re not last year’s team,” said coach Richard Pitino, pointing to the additions of Reggie Lynch, Amir Coffey, Eric Curry, and Akeem Springs to add to the trio of Nate Mason, Jordan Murphy, and Dupree McBrayer.
“Reggie Lynch right now,” the coach said, “is one of the best centers in our league, and he can only get better.”
He described his players as “willing passers” content to see teammates succeed. “They find ways to make plays.” At the same time, “it’s important for Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer to give us the scoring punch we need.” Both were at their peaks against LIU, scoring 19 and 21 points, respectively.
“They know each other’s strengths, and winning helps unselfishness.”
Northern Illinois came on strong in the first half, led by Jaylen Key and Marshawn Wilson, and the Gophers played tentatively, leading by 29-23 at the break. The Huskies had not defeated a Big Ten foe since 1999, but were looking to pull an upset until Lynch took control with a pair of free throws and a 46-35 Gopher lead. He finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Murphy had 12 points and 10 boards. The Gophers out-rebounded NIU 48-28 en route to a 77-57 win.
Against Long Island’s Blackbirds, Lynch got into early foul trouble and spent most of the game riding the bench, but a flurry of three-point baskets from Mason, McBrayer, Springs, and Curry staked Minnesota to a 38-24 halftime advantage. In the second half, it was all McBrayer. He scored on seven of eight field goal attempts in the 76-66 Gopher victory.
Coffey sat out the game with the Blackbirds, suffering from what Pitino described as a case of “turf toe.”