Gophers Slip Past Chicago State
December 16, 2015

Former Minnesota basketball coach Jim Dutcher once said, “Gopher fans don’t get mad. They just stay at home.”

This version of “Minnesota nice” describes the current situation in which the basketball program finds itself. While season ticket holders quietly fume at home, their seats at Williams Arena, for the most part, are empty. The news that 10,175 people attended the game between the Gophers and Chicago State on December 16 was greeted by gales of laughter as nowhere that many people were in the building including ushers, media members, and concession workers. Season ticket holders obviously could not give away their seats (the University counted them anyway).

At last count, there are 351 institutions of higher learning engaged in the sport of intercollegiate basketball. At game time, Chicago State’s basketball offense ranked 342nd. The Cougars entered Williams Arena with a nine-game losing streak including a 77-35 pasting by Northwestern. Coach Tracy Dildy’s troops did manage to subdue Trinity International for their last win.

It was, therefore, with great surprise when Clemmye Owens hit on a three-point basket attempt to give the upstart Cougars a 22-15 lead in the first half. The Gophers could only stand and watch, as playing defense apparently was a foreign concept to them.

Coach Dildy used 13 players in the first half, and there were moments when the Gophers played as if all 13 were on the floor at the same time. The kids who sweep the floor during timeouts were more animated than the Gophers who it appeared were more concerned with finals week than playing basketball.

Minnesota coach Richard Pitino also was not above mixing and matching in a quest to find a presentable lineup. Reserve Jordan Murphy scored on a slam dunk to tie the score, then made a pair of free throws to put the Gophers in the lead. Charles Buggs came off the bench to score 10 first-half points.

Minnesota led 32-24 at the break, and the Cougars capitulated. A brief Chicago State run was halted when Joey King hit on a pair of free throws for a 51-37 lead with nine minutes left to go in the period. Despite a comfortable lead, the Gophers still had spurts when they were caught clueless, standing around both on offense and defense. One can only guess as to what their practice sessions look like.

Minnesota eventually walked away with a 70-52 win.

Before the game, the 2016 team yearbook was put on sale for public purchase. Fans seeking entertainment might do better to buy the book and forget the game.

Non-starter Murphy finished with 12 points and 18 rebounds. Buggs and Carlos Morris each scored 14 points. Owens led the Cougars with a dozen points.