Revitalized Gophers Mow Down Central Florida
Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Playing as if possessed by demons, the Minnesota Gophers raced to an easy 74-63 win over a previously undefeated Central Florida team at Williams Arena on December 12.

The tone of the game was set by burly 6-9 center Spencer Tollackson 30 seconds into the contest. Tollackson snared an offensive rebound, missed a shot, fought for the ball, shot again, and converted a three-point play for a 3-0 Gopher lead. Tollackson went on to score Minnesota’s first seven points. His inspirational play fired the Gophers to a 16-0 scoring burst and a 25-9 lead, helped in no small measure by eight points from junior forward Dan Coleman.

“I thought Coleman played an outstanding all-around game,” said Gophers coach Jim Molinari after the game. Coleman finished with 29 points (on top of 28 in the previous game against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock) and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Tollackson also registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Minnesota outrebounded Central Florida by 42-30, a stark contrast to the game against Little Rock in which the Gophers could manage only 16 rebounds, compared to 43 for the opposition. In fact, against the Floridians, the Gophers had already accumulated 16 boards with 7:19 left in the first half. “Our whole defensive effort in the first half was strong—and that includes rebounding,” Molinari said. In the time between games, the coach challenged his team to pound the boards. “Players learn what you emphasize, not what you teach,” he observed.

Minnesota led Central Florida 36-21 at the half. The Gophers pulled down 25 rebounds, nine of them on the offensive end, much to the delight of a Williams Arena crowd announced at 10,059. The noise level in the Barn was as high as it has been all season.

Minnesota’s record against non-conference opposition is now 5 wins against 7 losses. Central Florida fell to 6-1. It should be noted, however, that the Golden Knights had not played the strongest schedule in the NCAA coming into Williams Arena. Wins had come over the likes of Florida Tech, Rollins, and Stetson. Yet, last season, UCF had lost by only 59-57 to Kentucky at Rupp Arena. The team’s coach, Kirk Speraw, has guided the Golden Knights to four NCAA tournament appearances since arriving at the Orlando school in 1993.

“Minnesota came out and displayed great energy on the boards,” Speraw said. “When they were on that 16-0 run we missed a lot of shots and that hurt our confidence.” He credited Molinari with providing the forward motion for Minnesota’s improved play since the departure of former head coach Dan Monson.

Once again, three native Minnesotans led the Gophers in scoring—Coleman with 29, Tollackson with 13, and Lawrence McKenzie with 9. Even the formerly flummoxed Jamal Abu-Shamala from Shakopee, Minn., came out of his funk to nail three 3-pointers on four attempts. “Jamal has huge character,” said Molinari. “His play gave us a lift.”

Minnesota’s biggest lead in the game was 17 points. The Gophers scored on 15 of 24 shots in the paint, 10 points off offensive rebounds, and 7 points off turnovers.