Gophers Outplayed by Milwaukee
December 16, 2015

All manner of weakness was revealed in the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team during the Gophers 74-65 loss to the University of Wisconsin at Milwukee at Williams Arena on December 23.

Three deficient areas were immediately evident – defense, shooting, and rebounding. Minnesota is not up to Big Ten par in any of the three, and that spells big trouble for the Gophers in upcoming conference competition. Teamwork is totally lacking in coach Richard Pitino’s 2015-16 squad, and that spells total disaster for the team as the season progresses. This could be an epic disaster wherein a 20-point loss represents the opposing coach taking pity on Pitino’s mismatched players.

As for the Milwaukee game, one only needed to note that the Panthers front line measured 6-10, 6-8, and 6-6, and the Gophers were in trouble from the start. Even Pitino’s surprise starting of 6-6 freshman Jordan Murphy had little influence.

Indeed, no one was particularly astonished when Milwaukee junior guard Akeem Springs scored a three-point basket to give the Panthers an 8-0 lead. After that the Gophers were merely along for the ride. Soon it was 18-7 for the visitors, and it was good night, nurse. The sparse crowd of Gopher die-hards sat on their hands and dreamed of the holiday ahead.

As the end of the half loomed, a dunk by Murphy tied the score at 30, but Panther baskets by Jayquan McCloud, Austin Arians, and Jordan Johnson put Milwaukee up by five at the break.

Minnesota came out with no energy in the second half and, with the period half over, trailed by 61-50. UW-Milwaukee is forecast to finish third in the 10-team Horizon League. Gopher fans could only take solace in the fact that their team wasn’t facing the top two teams in that league.

For the record, it should be noted that a driving layup by Carlos Morris put Minnesota within 61-53, but that was it. Other layups were blown, defensive assignments botched, and rebounds were snatched away. The final margin of defeat was nine points, and it could have been worse.

“They took our confidence away,” mumbled Pitino after the game.

“They made plays, and we didn’t. We’re not a great shooting team, and we don’t have great low-post presence. We’re frustrated, but we knew this would be difficult.”

Morris led all scorers with 24 points. Johnson had 19 points for the Panthers.