Gophers Win Two
December 8 and 10, 2014
Big Ten men’s basketball programs are fond of scheduling early-season games against inferior opponents to beef up their won-loss records for NCAA tournament judges. Sometimes this can backfire. Teams representing new and obscure colleges from unknown locales show up in a Big Ten facility and are transformed into giant-killers. Both Michigan and Nebraska paid the price with staggering losses to the unknown New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Incarnate Word, respectively.
Minnesota was not about to experience upset city when it scheduled the University of North Dakota (founded in 1883) and Southern University, which has been around since 1880. While this was the Gophers’ first meeting with the Jaguars from Southern, North Dakota and Minnesota in the past have met 18 times. In fact, North Dakota in the first meeting of the two schools triumphed by the score of 18 to 16. That was in 1914, not one of coach Dr. L.J. Cooke’s best years.
Relations between Minnesota and the hockey-obsessed school from Grand Forks soured in recent decades due to the obstinate nature of the University of North Dakota in refusing to drop the distasteful nickname Fighting Sioux. As a result, Minnesota and North Dakota had not met on the basketball floor since 1983 when the Gophers won 78-73. The 1983 North Dakota team was a good deal more proficient than the 2014 team.
This season’s UND team is led by guards Estan Tyler and Quentin Hooker, the latter from Brooklyn Park, Minn. Hooker brought with him a contingent of fans and family but failed to shine, garnering only seven points plus a technical foul. Tyler tallied eight points.
As usual, Minnesota started slow, allowing the nickname-less North Dakotans to take a 10-5 lead before a three-point basket by Carlos Morris tied the score. A Maurice Walker dunk shot placed the Gophers in the lead, one which they would not relinquish. With five minutes left in the first half, Minnesota was sailing along with a 38-21 lead. At the half, the lead was 43-26.
No serious UND threats were mounted in the second half, and Minnesota’s lead widened to as much as 36 points. Transfer from New Mexico State Terrel de Rouen was the only Nodak finishing in double figures with 10 points. The final score was Minnesota 92, North Dakota 56. Six Gophers hit double figures led by Walker’s personal-best 22 points.
The exhilaration following the decisive win was tempered by the news that freshman power forward Josh Martin had deserted the program to pursue other opportunities. This left coach Richard Pitino with a short bench and only 10 squad members. A couple of injuries here and there could put Pitino in the same situation former women’s basketball coach Pam Borton faced last season when only seven healthy players suited up for the NIT tournament.
Southern University, the lesser-known school in Baton Rouge, La., arrived at Williams Arena without a sports information person and a game plan. Whomever is listing the heights of individual Jaguars on the roster must have a vivid imagination. Inches have been added here and there. Center Keith Davis is the shortest 6-10 in college basketball history.
Short in stature, the Southern Jaguars resembled a pack of angry puppies nipping at the heels of Hell’s Angels members, with predictable results. The Gophers started slow, falling behind 6-3, then outscored Southern 12-0, and the rout was on. By halftime, it was 46-23. Andre Hollins had three three-pointers and 14 points. Most of the announced crowd of 11,409 were yawning and checking their watches.
More mayhem occurred in the second half as the lead widened. Only three Jaguars participated in the scoring and one, guard Adrian Rodgers, finished with 18 points. The Gophers won by the score of 85 to 57. By then the building was nearly empty. High-point man was Hollins with 24.
The one-sided contest was useful in that it allowed 6-11 freshman center Bakery Knoate ample playing time. The obviously-raw rookie from Mali played 23 minutes and scored six points, all from the free-throw line.