Hot Hollins Smashes Wildcats
January 6, 2013
Red-hot Minnesota junior guard Austin Hollins sank an amazing five 3-point baskets in a row to lead his Gophers past a methodical Northwestern five and a 69-51 victory at Williams Arena before a crowd announced at 12,750.
Hollins’ heroics came in the second half as the Gophers tallied 52 points, compared to only 17 before the half. Northwestern entered the game determined to play a throwback-style of basketball that milked every 30 seconds that the ball was in their possession. One could think that Wildcat coach Bill Carmody was determined to set the pace for a 31-30 Northwestern win. Accomplishment of that goal requires extreme team discipline, and it took the Gophers more than a half of basketball to break it down. When it did break, it was Hollins who led the charge. Minnesota mounted a 22-5 run, and disciplined Wildcat basketball flew out the window.
After finishing with only two points at the half, Hollins wound up with 19 to lead all scorers. Every Gopher who entered the game scored, led by Rodney Williams with nine. Minnesota shot 48 percent from the field, compared to 39 percent for the Wildcats. The Gophers held a 47-20 advantage in rebounding.
“There will be games like this for us,” observed Minnesota coach Tubby Smith. In the first half, “Northwestern controlled the tempo,” and the Gophers led by only 17-14. “You have to remember that the most insignificant score in basketball is the halftime score,” he said.
“We were playing great defense, but they were, too.” In the second half, the Wildcat game plan was shattered by Hollins’ precision from the three-point line, and the Gophers outscored the shaken Wildcats by 52 to 38.
Smith reported that Hollins is healthy now. He had suffered a groin pull in the game with USC. “When he’s making his shots, we’re a different team.”
Last season, Northwestern started off like a house on fire, and there was talk of the Wildcats making their first NCAA Tournament appearance. This season they will be lucky to make the NIT.