Gophers Sneak by Jackrabbits
December 12, 2007
On the day when local newspapers announced the signing of coach Tubby Smith to a $13-million, seven-year contract, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball team nearly laid an egg on the floor of Williams Arena but recovered in time to defeat South Dakota State University 78-72.
SDSU, whose mascot resembles Bugs Bunny, got off to a jackrabbit start against Minnesota, racing to leads of 15-9 and 28-19. The Gophers, meanwhile, played as if they somehow resented the deal their coach received from the university’s administration.
“Anyone can beat us on any given night,” said a pragmatic Smith after the game reached its conclusion. “It’s good that we got away with the win.”
For his part, South Dakota State coach Scott Nagy observed, “We have a chance to be a very good Division I basketball team.” The chance may well be there, but it had not been evidenced by his team’s record of 3-5 going into the game. Among the losses was an 80-51 drubbing administered by Oral Roberts University on December 8.
Many in the announced crowd of 12,025 at Williams Arena voiced concern that perhaps the Gophers regarded SDSU too lightly and did not display the full amount of energy necessary for victory. After all, last season Minnesota waxed the Jackrabbits 77-53, and that was the Gopher team that won only nine games. The stage was set, therefore, for Minnesota to look past SDSU to the next opponent. But senior guard Lawrence McKenzie disagreed. “This game was important to us,” he said, “despite the fact that we did not play well.”
Never has Minnesota played so poorly against South Dakota State. In the 2005-2006 season, the Gophers toyed with the Jackrabbits, 80-61. In fact, Minnesota has never lost to the school from Brookings, South Dakota, going 11-0. Founded in 1881, SDSU boasts an enrollment of 11,706 students, many of whom hail from nearby Minnesota. South Dakota State is in the final year of a five-year reclassification from Division II to Division I. Last season, the Jackrabbits lost 24 of 30 games. This season, coach Nagy is starting two freshmen and two sophomores.
“I play a lot of young guys,” Nagy told reporters after the game, “but tonight they came in [to Williams Arena] with a great mentality. We were able to handle Minnesota’s pressure. The Gophers score a lot of points off turnovers, and we were able to keep our turnovers to a minimum tonight.” (Minnesota, on the other hand, starts three seniors.) The difference between the two teams showed itself in the rebounding totals. Despite not having any discernable height advantage, SDSU outrebounded Minnesota 41-26, including a 21-9 advantage in the second half.
“We’re a team that loves to rebound the ball,” Nagy said. “No matter who we play we want to outrebound them. Our rebounding effort tonight showed that we can handle just about any opponent under the boards. Rebounding is a reflection of how hard the team plays.”
What kept the Gophers in the game was a season-high 56.2 percent shooting average (27 of 48 from the field). Minnesota also tied a season high with 24 assists. The assists-to-turnover ratio was 2.4-to-1.
In the first half, Minnesota fell behind by as many as nine points before taking the lead, 33-31, on a jump shot by Spencer Tollackson with 3:24 left in the period. The Gophers led only by a single point at the half.
The lead was extended to 56-50 on a layup by Kevin Payton, but the Jackrabbits would not fold. Given earlier success, SDSU hung close and regained the lead at 66-65 on a free throw by Garrett Callahan. Tollackson then gave the lead back to Minnesota on a successful jumper with 5:25 left in the game, and the Gophers held on for the win. Callahan led all scorers with 28 points.
A standout performance by Dan Coleman propelled the Gophers to victory. Coleman scored a season-high 24 points, recording back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his career. Coleman has shot 58.8 percent (20 for 34) over the last two games. Tollackson (14 points) scored in double figures for the fifth time this season. Meanwhile reserve Damian Johnson tied a career-high with four blocked shots (Johnson has multiple blocks in five of eight games this season). Johnson also chipped in with three field goals and four free throws.
Mohamed Berte had 11 rebounds for the Jackrabbits. Kai Williams had seven, as did Michael Loney. No Gopher had more than six boards.
Coach Smith promised that the mistakes the Gophers made against underdog SDSU will be well remembered during the team’s upcoming practice sessions. “Oh, they won’t forget [the mistakes]. I promise you they won’t forget this game.”