Gophers Drop Big Ten Opener to Michigan
January 2, 2014

In Richard Pitino’s Big Ten debut as coach of Minnesota, the Gophers missed shots and a shot at an opening win, losing to Michigan 63-60 at Williams Arena. The Wolverines were without star forward Mitch McGary, who is awaiting back surgery, and lost another big man, Glenn Robinson III, who injured his ankle while blocking his fourth shot of the game fewer than three minutes into the second half. Robinson limped off the court and didn’t return.

“He tried to run down in the hallway during the media time out, he couldn’t do it, so why make it worse?” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “It says a lot about what our coaching staff really preaches every day is that everybody has to be ready all the time.” The player who was ready was freshman guard Zak Irvin, who had made a pair of three-pointers in the first half. After Robinson’s injury, Irvin made three more, at critical times, and connected on 5 of 8 three-pointers in the game (with all of his shots coming from beyond the arc). “Zak Irvin had practiced for that opportunity,” said Beilein.

Minnesota outrebounded Michigan, getting 10 offensive boards in the first half and having an overall 38 to 24 edge for the game. Elliott Eliason led all rebounders with 10 but foul trouble limited his minutes in the second half. In addition, the second chances weren’t enough to make up for cold shooting (the backcourt Tennessee trio of Austin Hollins, DeAndre Mathieu, and Andre Hollins were a combined 7 for 29 in the game) and costly turnovers down the stretch.

The game brought out the best in the Williams Arena crowd, which was loud and created the atmosphere the barn is known for. Neither team built a double-digit margin, and the lead changed frequently in the second half. Irvin’s three-pointer put Michigan ahead 44-42, but Minnesota’s Malik Smith responded in kind to put the Gophers ahead. Irvin then hit another for a 47-55 Wolverines lead.

After Minnesota tied the game, Michigan pulled ahead with a pair of baskets by Jon Horford after precise passes from Nik Stauskas, who led all players with seven assists. Off the bench, Horford kept Michigan close with his seven points and seven rebounds in the first half, and the Stauskas-Horford connection clicked down the stretch. Both players had 14 points, second only to Irvin’s 15.

Michigan seemed in control in the last minute, but the final 36.1 seconds were wild. The Wolverines needed to make free throws and protect the ball, but it wasn’t that easy for them. Stauskas made only one of two from the line for a 60-54 lead, but Smith cut that in half with a three-pointer from the left corner.

After a time out, the Wolverines inbounded, and Stauskas was pressured and lost the ball at the baseline. As players grappled for it, the ball squirted beyond the end line and was awarded to Minnesota with 21.7 seconds left. Pitino called his final time out. As he diagramed options for his team on offense, the officials reviewed the loose ball on video, and emerged from the huddle with a reversal of the call, allowing Michigan to maintain control.

Pitino wasn’t necessarily surprised by the change. “To be honest, that happened right in front of us, and I knew it wasn’t our ball.” The coach was surprised, however, that he wasn’t informed of the change until the Gophers came out of the time out. Down by three, Minnesota immediately fouled freshman Derrick Walton after the inbound. Walton missed both free throws.

Andre Hollins then missed a shot, and Horford was fouled with 12.4 seconds to go. He made the first for a four-point lead but missed the second. Malik Smith was fouled by Stauskas as he launched a long shot at the other end. The shot nearly went in, but Smith was left with three free throws rather than a shot at a four-point play that would have tied the game.

Smith made all three, and the Gophers quickly fouled Stauskas, who made both free throws to make the score 63-60 with 4.5 seconds left. Minnesota raced downcourt, and this time the Wolverines avoided fouling, not coming close to Smith as he unloaded another long one that missed as the game ended.

“It looks like Big Ten basketball is back,” was Beilein’s assessment of a game that had excitement and chances for both teams to win.