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Michigan State Spartans avoid upset at the Barn

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This one truly was a barn-burner. Coming off a five-game hot streak in the Big Ten, Michigan State was looking to keep its position at the top of the conference, but the Golden Gophers had a different idea in mind. The first half alone had 16 lead changes and 4 ties. Minnesota’s Ralph Sampson III showed off his creativity with a variety of baby hooks and shots in the paint. … [Read more...] about Michigan State Spartans avoid upset at the Barn

Can Gophers Ralph Sampson III Follow Dad to the NBA?

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Minnesota Golden Gophers Coach Tubby Smith has seen drastic, if not dramatic improvements in the game of senior Center Ralph Sampson III. "His consistency, his numbers have improved each year. They haven't been leaps and bounds, but I think a lot of it has to do with Ralph getting in better shape, not that he hasn't worked at it, but he's had to focus on learning to breathe … [Read more...] about Can Gophers Ralph Sampson III Follow Dad to the NBA?

Mbakwe Dominating Around the Rim for Gophers Basketball

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The Minnesota Gophers Basketball team struggled rebounding the ball at times last year. While they ranked third in the conference in rebounding, some of their bigger losses came due to a lack of dominant inside force to clear the boards and not give the opponent second chance opportunities. The last man that could be legitimately considered a competent rebounder for the … [Read more...] about Mbakwe Dominating Around the Rim for Gophers Basketball

The Backdoor Cut Analyzes the Minnesota Gophers Basketball Team’s Hot Start

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The Gophers Basketball Team is 5-0 with a Puerto Rico Tip-Off win under their belts and wins over four 2010 NCAA tournament teams....Trevor Mbakwe was named the Big Ten Player of the Week and the Gophers have smooth sailing to an undefeated non-conference season...The Backdoor Cut breaks down how the Gophers have done it and what they need to do to keep the good times rolling … [Read more...] about The Backdoor Cut Analyzes the Minnesota Gophers Basketball Team’s Hot Start

Minnesota Gopher Basketball Hot, but Can it Last?

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The Minnesota Gophers basketball team is the hottest in the country right now. As pretty as those words sound to what Tim Brewster once called “Gopher Nation”, the last two of that sentence are the ones that will matter the most in the long run. With great success comes great scrutiny, and with great scrutiny you might start to see things that you may not want to. Is … [Read more...] about Minnesota Gopher Basketball Hot, but Can it Last?

5 Reasons Gopher Basketball Finishes in Big 10’s Top 3

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Royce White gone, Cory Joseph never arriving, leading scorer graduated, no impact recruits. Now that we have the negatives out of the way, it’s time to flip the script and turn our attention to the optimism flying around the Minnesota Gophers Basketball program with the top five things that could lead the Gophers to the top of the Big Ten conference. … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons Gopher Basketball Finishes in Big 10’s Top 3