BallHype - Latest Minnesota Golden Gophers News Articles

Superstar Offspring Play In ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 18:20:52 +1900

Ralph Sampson III is five inches shorter than his famous father, at a mere 6’11’’, and chose not to be the second coming at his dad’s C’ville alma mater. Sampson plays for Tubby Smith at the University of Minnesota. The freshman from Duluth, GA is averaging six points and four rebounds in just under 16 minutes per game this season. Last night Sampson had one rebound, one assist and two blocked shots in 17 minutes. According the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Sampson is unfazed by his hoop pedigree. According to Ralph3, last night’s home matchup in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against dad’s Virginia Cavaliers was "just another game." While Sampson’s parents have groomed his individuality, he’s got support in the famous family club at Minnesota. Gophers assistant coach Saul Smith played for his father, head coach Tubby Smith, at Kentucky. Graduate manager Ryan Saunders is the son of former Gophers guard and Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders. ...

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Tuesday Night Hoopla: Review Of College Basketball

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 14:06:56 +1900

This Game Should Have Been Better Two minutes. Jon Scheyer made a three-pointer after two fast paced, hard-fought minutes. Two minutes later, Purdue finally scored when Chris Kramer hit a jumper to make the game 7-2. It would seem the Boilermakers were a little too hyped to play Duke Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. In the second half, Purdue had another scoring drought of over four minutes. If JaJuan Johnson had not scored eight points in a row, Purdue would have not scored until 10:48 left in the game when E’Twaun Moore hit a jumper. In the match-up of star 6’8” sophomore forwards, Duke’s Kyle Singler out-played Purdue’s preseason Big Ten player of the Year candidate, Robbie Hummel. Even if the stat lines don’t look as such. I must admit, even as a Dukie, I did not buy into Singler until a few games into the season. Working hard over the summer to add 10 pounds of muscle, Singler looks the part of a McDonald's All-American. And the ...

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Golden Gophers Face First Real Test

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 17:11:29 +1900

Like their football counterparts, Tubby Smith's Golden Gophers have gotten off to a great start against a set of fairly soft opponents. Finally, the Gophers are consistently beating teams they should beat, which wasn't always the case under Dan Monson. 6-0 is great, but its where the Gophers should be. A loss Georgia Southern would have been a huge upset and a sign that little had changed from the years when the Gophers' NCAA hopes were hanging by a thread before the Big Ten season even started. Tonight, the Gophers have a chance to move to 7-0 at the expense of an opponent who can actually give them a game. UVA is just 3-2 after starting 3-0, but they are still a member of the ACC, a conference that has given the Gophers fits over the years. The Gophers haven't won their game in the Big Ten/ACC challenge since the 2002-2003 season, which saw them go relatively deeply into the NIT. It would be very easy to overstate the importance of tonight's game, but it's really just another non-conference ...

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2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers: What Did We Learn? (Part One)

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 04:24:13 +1900

Here is the first part of a series where I try my hardest to break down the 2008 Gophers. It's a look back at a season of ups and downs, and a look ahead to a new start on campus. Let's start with the good news. The 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team started out 7-1. They beat Bowling Green on the road, spoiled Illinois' Homecoming week, and finally vanquished the demons of West Lafayette. Their only loss before November came to an Ohio State team that was finally finding their offensive identity. At best, the Gophers were going to their first Rose Bowl since 1961. At worst, at least they had a bowl berth. On top of this, the team was playing out it's final season in the HHH Metrodome, a stadium that became synonymous for uneven and disappointing play. Then, reality set in. Minnesota started off November by blowing a trap game against Northwestern on a fluke misplay by their most consistent player, Eric Decker. As an encore, they were completely dominated in a game ...

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Responsibility: It's Not Just For Iowa Fans And Bathroom Stalls

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:11:33 +1900

A story rumbling around the message boards concerns two Iowa fans who were caught having adult relations in a Metrodome handicapped stall last Saturday, an event that has probably garnered more reaction than the lackluster 55-0 game itself. The punchline of the story, as it's usually reported, is this: "the woman was released to her husband, the man to his girlfriend." Hilarious, right? Right, and, as a side note, really just an insignificant footnote, it shows the blackened moral abyss into which we've descended. I don't mean sex. No matter how pious or amoral a society, alcohol doesn't mix well with inhibitions and intoxicating scents often create lustful air. Hook-ups are virtually inevitable, be it in the taverns of Shakespeare's England or in the dark corners of swank Atlanta clubs. And I'm certainly not opposed to personal responsibility. The two were clearly in violation of Minnesota law and, surely more embarrassing, have to own up to their behavior with ...

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Dome Debacle: Minnesota Golden Gophers Embarassed in Last Home Game

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:51:46 +1900

After having attended the Minnesota Golden Gopher’s last game in the Metrodome Saturday there a few things that need to be discussed. The Gophers going away party was crashed by their bitter out of state rival, Iowa. The Hawkeyes left Minnesota with a 55-0 win marking the second most lopsided victory in the history of the rivalry. So what’s my problem with Minnesota? The University of Minnesota is planning on opening a new stadium beginning in the fall of 2009. A beautiful stadium, with a beautiful view, was about to be spoiled by a horrific fan base. This stadium is expected to be a key proponent in the turnaround of this program. First off “The Dome” was completely full Saturday night, with over 68,000 fans. How is that a horrific fan base one might ask? Well considering there were probably 30,000 Hawks fans there, then yes that is rather pathetic. Gopher fans everywhere selling their tickets outside of the Metrodome while their college team inside is ...

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Minnesota Golden Gophers Program, Fair-Weather Fans Not Worthy of New Dome

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:51:46 +1900

After having attended the Minnesota Golden Gophers' last game in the Metrodome Saturday, there a few things that need to be discussed. The Gophers' going-away party was crashed by their bitter out-of-state rival, Iowa. The Hawkeyes left Minnesota with a 55-0 win, marking the second-most lopsided victory in the history of the rivalry. So, what’s my problem with Minnesota? The University of Minnesota is opening a new stadium beginning in the fall of 2009. But a beautiful stadium, with a beautiful view, is about to be spoiled by a horrific fanbase. This stadium is expected to be a key proponent in the turnaround of this program. First off, the Metrodome was completely full Saturday night with over 68,000 fans. How is that a horrific fanbase one might ask? Well, considering there were probably 30,000 Hawks fans there, that is rather pathetic. Gopher fans were everywhere selling their tickets outside of the Metrodome, while their ...

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Minnesota Golden Gophers Program, Fair-Weather Fans Not Worthy of New Stadium

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:51:46 +1900

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Iowa-Minnesota: Greene Sets School Mark for Rushing Yards, Hawkeyes Win 55-0

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:44:20 +1900

It was a night to forget for the Minnesota Golden Gophers as the Iowa Hawkeyes trounced the home team in their final game at the Metrodome. Iowa improved to 8-4 on the season and with this convincing 55-0 victory, they could be well on their way to the Alamo Bowl come New Year's. The Hawkeye defense stymied the Gopher offense, allowing only six first downs the entire game. They also held Minnesota to seven total yards of rushing. The same could not be said about the Minnesota defense, which allowed 483 yards of Hawkeye offense, 222 of which was on the ground. Iowa's stellar ground game was led by star running back Shonn Greene, who had 22 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Greene became the first back since Curtis Enis of Penn State to rush for 100 or more yards in every Big Ten contest in a single season. He also broke Tavian Banks' single-season Iowa rushing total with 1,729 yards this year to go along with 17 rushing touchdowns. However, Greene's ...

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Iowa-Minnesota: The Battle For The Floyd Of Rosedale

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:07:25 +1900

A rivalry that dates all the way back to 1935 will see its last ever matchup at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota later tonight. Yes, it is time to award the Floyd of Rosedale, a bronze trophy in the form of a pig, to the victor of two teams that have been resurgent in the Big Ten in 2008. The Floyd has gone to the Hawkeyes six of the past seven years, but the hometown Gophers might have something to say about that this year. However, the Hawkeyes have won four of their last five games, and Minnesota has lost three straight after a hot 7-1 start. Iowa is led by potential Heisman trophy candidate Shonn Greene, who leads the nation in rushing. Greene and the Hawkeyes are on a roll right now, and a win against the Gophers could put them in a New Year's Day bowl game. Minnesota needs a victory to gain respect and better placement in their potential bowl game. Both teams have good defenses, but I think Greene and the Iowa rushing attack will be able to control the game, and ...

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