2008-09 Minnesota Gophers Basketball Schedule
Coach Tubby Smith's Outlook For The Season
Oct 29, 2008
Hopes are high among Gopher fans for an improved 2008-2009 men's basketball team, following Coach Smith's first season at Minnesota, where he led the team to a 20-13 record, more than doubling the previous season's win total with essentially the same group of players. An even better record, contention for the Big Ten conference title, and an NCAA tournament berth top the list of those hopes.
Coach Tubby Smith Stresses Strength Of Recruiting Class
On October 17th, 2008 Coach Tubby Smith and his Minnesota Gophers Men's Basketball team held their annual media day, answering questions about the outlook for the upcoming season. Coach Smith sounded optimistic during the media day questioning, much of it regarding an excellent batch of recruits, all of whom will see action immediately upon the early-November start of the season. In Junior college transfers Paul Carter (F/ 6-8) and Devron Bostick (G/6-5), Smith feels they were able to recruit some maturity and leadership. Both of these ju-co's play multiple positions.
Gopher Hoopsters Improved At Every Position
In fact, Tubby feels that, due to the recruiting, the Gophers have improved at every position. At guard, Freshman recruit Devoe Joseph will compete for playing time with returnees Al Nolen, Lawrence Westbrook and Blake Hoffarber. Joseph, out of Ajax, Ontario, Canada was one of the final cuts for the 2008 Canadian Men's Olympic Team.
Addressing size, Coach Smith feels recruits Ralph Sampson III (C/F 6-11) and Colt Iverson (C/F 6-10), both Freshmen, will more than fill the gap left by the graduation of big men Tollackson and Coleman. Sampson III, the son of NBA great Ralph Sampson II, averaged 19.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7 blocks a game in Duluth, Georgia high school. Iverson, of Yankton, South Dakota, averaged a double-double in 20 games during his Senior season.
New Players Expected To Contribute Immediately
Coach Smith expects all of the incoming players to contribute immediately, and feels that, overall, the Gophers have improved in size, speed and ball handling. In terms of team leadership, helping the new guys to adjust, the coach is looking to Seniors Jamal Abu-Shamala and Jonathon Williams, as well as Al Nolen leading the floor attack from the point. If Coach Tubby Smith's assessment is correct, it seems fans have a good shot at seeing their hopes fulfilled.
2008-2009 Gophers Men's Basketball Schedule:
( all times Central Standard / Home games in CAPS)
- Nov 3 / ST. CLOUD STATE- (exh)-7 pm
- Nov 6 / NORTHERN STATE- (exh)-7 pm
- Nov 14 / CONCORDIA-8 pm-(NABC Classic)
- Nov 15 / BOWLING GREEN-8 pm-(NABC Classic)
- Nov 16 / GEORGIA ST-6 pm-(NABC Classic)
- Nov 22 / @ colorado state-930 pm
- Nov 26 / EASTERN WASHINGTON-730 pm
- Nov 29 / N. DAKOTA STATE-1 pm
- Dec 2 / VIRGINIA-830 pm
- Dec 6 / CORNELL-1 pm
- Dec 10 / SO.DAKOTA STATE-8 pm
- Dec 20 / @ louisville-1pm
- Dec 23 / SE LOUISIANA-8 pm
- Dec 28 / HIGH POINT- 6 pm
- Dec 31 / MICHIGAN ST- 5 pm
- Jan 3 / OHIO STATE- 11 am
- Jan 8 / @ iowa- 6 pm
- Jan 11 / PENN STATE-1 pm
- Jan 15 / @ wisconsin- 8 pm
- Jan 18 / @ northwestern- 1 pm
- Jan 22 / PURDUE- 6 pm
- Jan 25 / @ indiana-11 am
- Jan 29 / ILLINOIS- 8pm
- Feb 4 / @ michigan state-730 pm
- Feb 7 / @ ohio state-7 pm
- Feb 10 /INDIANA- 8 pm
- Feb 14 / @ penn state 1230 pm
- Feb 19 / @ michigan 6 pm
- Feb 22 / NORTHWESTERN 2/6 pm
- Feb 26 / @ illinois 6 pm
- Mar 3/4/5 WISCONSIN TBA
- Mar 7/8 MICHIGAN TBA
- Mar 12-15 Big Ten Tourney/Indianapolis
Follow the Gophers Men's Basketball 2008-2009 season at Gophersports.com, the source of much of the information in this article.
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