University of Minnesota Athletics
MBB: Breaking Down The 2005-06 Golden Gophers
10/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Up-tempo basketball is a staple in a Dan Monson coached basketball team. So is versatility. This year’s Golden Gopher Basketball team predicts not to deviate from either of Monson’s philosophical mainstays. In fact, the Gophers could be the most versatile offensive package that Monson has ever assembled.
The return of senior guards Adam Boone and Moe Hargrow, along with 2004-05 All-Big Ten performer Vincent Grier, gives the Maroon and Gold a plethora of flexibility. In addition, the Gophers return last year All-Freshman selection, Dan Coleman, and the ever- explosive Rico Tucker. All five of those players have the ability to score in transition, from the three-point line as well as around the basket. This should help pry open Monson’s bag of offensive tricks and return the Gophers back to the scoring machine of the past when they led the league in scoring in 2002 and were second in scoring offense in 2003.
“We feel we have very good skill players, and versatile ones that can play multiple positions”, Monson said. “We would like to play more up-tempo than last season and put our skill guys in positions where they can make things happen.”
Last season, the Gophers relied on a more traditional Big-Ten power offensive approach, utilizing the strength and size of 7-foot Jeff Hagen. While the Gophers struggled some from beyond the arc, shooting 29% in Big Ten play, the gritty Gophers seemed to hit all the big shots which catapulted Minnesota to a Monson best (10-6) Big Ten record. The Gophers will have sophomore Spencer Tollackson and freshman Jonathan Williams dueling in the paint this year. Both have shown the ability to score around the basket and, moreover, the ability to pass the ball to open cutters and spot up shooters (something the Gophers now have plenty of).
Look for Coach Monson to fuse all the pieces together as he works to get the Gopher offense to match the accomplishments of last year’s defense. Monson feels the key to this year’s team will be developing a trusting environment among teammates; one that will produce a selfless mentality.
“The key will be if we move the ball and play unselfishly,” Monson added. “We need to find the open man for the open shot. If we do that, we’ll be able to put up points.”
• DEFENSE •
The Minnesota defense took on a new attitude and intensity last season. The Gophers played with tenacity and purpose on the defensive end of the floor. Minnesota was third in the Big Ten, giving up only 62.7 points per game in conference play. Only Final Four teams, Illinois (60.6 ppg) and Michigan State (62.2 ppg) were better defensively than the Maroon and Gold in 2005. Minnesota led the league in field goal percentage defense (.424) and three-point percentage defense (.274) and led the conference with 8.56 steals per game. Three Gophers finished in the top 10 in the Big Ten in steals and Hagen led the league in blocks at 2.12 per game in conference action.
The Gophers are primarily a man-to-man defensive system with athletic wings that can pressure ballhandlers out on the floor. Minnesota must replace the savvy of Brent Lawson, the quickness of Aaron Robinson and the shot-blocking of Hagen. But, the Gopher defensive system is based on “team” principles of five players playing as one cohesive defensive unit.
“Our team won a lot of games last season through gutsy effort on the defensive end,” Monson said. “We need to replace some intangibles on that end of the floor this season, but we have a better athletic base to build from at the beginning of this season. We have long athletes that can get their hands on a lot of balls and can alter shots. A lot of our success will depend on our toughness inside, on the boards and pressuring the ballhandler.”
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN
• POINT GUARD •
The Gophers are in a unique position of losing a veteran point guard, Aaron Robinson, and returning a veteran point guard, Adam Boone. Boone tore a bicep before the 2004-05 season, but was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, letting the senior finish his career on the floor instead of on the disabled list. Boone comes into the season at full strength after taking part in the entire off-season conditioning program and playing in the Pro-City Summer League. After transferring from North Carolina before his junior season, Boone played in all 30 games in 2003-04, and started 27. He led the team and was ranked fifth overall in the Big Ten in assists with 123 (4.10 per game). The 123 assists were the 10th-most in a season in Gopher history. Through his high school and college career, Boone has been an excellent three-point shooter. He’s been known to make 40 or 50 three-pointers in a row from a spot during practice. For the Gophers to be successful this season, Boone must connect from long range.
“We’re thrilled for Adam that he can finish his college career in uniform on the floor playing basketball and not in the training room,” Monson said. “When Adam plays aggressively, he plays his best basketball. We expect him to play aggressively all season.”
Another returning letterman who saw significant action at the point last season is sophomore Rico Tucker. Tucker is a tremendous athlete who can play both guard positions. His aggressiveness on the defensive end of the floor enabled him to finish 10th overall and lead all Big Ten freshmen in steals last season at 1.44 per game. In his first year, Tucker played in all 32 games, starting four, but his play suffered in the back half of the Big Ten season. It seemed Tucker had hit the “freshman wall” more than either of his freshmen teammates. However, in April, Tucker was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease which affected his play for the final two months of the season. Tucker is now being treated with medication and has been at full strength since July. Tucker scored in double figures 10 times as a freshman and averaged 5.8 points per game. With both point guards versatility, Monson can utilize both Boone and Tucker on the floor at the same time.
“We asked a lot of all of our freshman last season and that will not change in their second year,” Monson said. “We can use Rico at either guard position because of his athletic ability and when he’s involved defensively, he carries that into his offensive game.”
Another player who could see time at the point is senior Maurice Hargrow. During his redshirt year last season, Hargrow worked extensively at the point with the scout team. Sophomore walk-on Ryan Saunders could also see time at the point this season.
• GUARD •
The deepest and most flexible position on the Gophers this season, Minnesota will be led at guard by All-America candidate Vincent Grier. The first team All- Big Ten selection in 2004-05, Grier is the second leading returning scorer (Carl Landry, Purdue 18.1 ppg) in the conference this season having averaged 18.0 points in conference action last season. Grier fills a stat sheet each and every game and was ranked in five different Big Ten statistical categories last season. He was third in points, 13th in rebounds (5.6 rpg), 14th in free throw percentage (.744), seventh in defensive rebounds (4.38) and led the league in steals (2.19). It may not always look orthodox, but Grier is one of the best finishers in college basketball. Give him a seam in the half-court offense or a full-head of steam on the break and Grier is virtually impossible to stop. In addition, he made more trips to the free-throw line and made more free throws than any other player in the Big Ten last season.
What sets Grier apart is his ability to take over games and put his team on his back during crunch time. He was the only player in the league to score more than 30 points twice last season. His 32 points vs. Wisconsin, 26 in the second half, earned him Big Ten and National Player of the Week honors. Grier scored in double figures 31 times in 32 games in 2004-05 and scored more than 20 points, 10 times.
And its not all offense for the senior from Charlotte, N.C., Grier was the best defensive player on the gold-medal winning United States World University Games team this past summer. He led the team in steals with 26 and averaged 11.1 ppg during the tournament. Villanova head coach Jay Price, who coached the team to a gold medal had this to say about Grier, “He was incredible defensively, coming up with so many steals, so many rebounds, and he finished on the other end,” Wright said of Grier, “He is quietly our MVP.”
“What makes Vincent Grier a special player is his extraordinary effort every time he’s on a basketball floor,” Monson said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s practice, pick-up or the NCAA Tournament, Vincent will give you everything on every possession. That rubs off on other players.”
Minnesota welcomes back Maurice Hargrow to the lineup after sitting out the last season and a half transferring to Arkansas and then transferring back to Gold Country. The fifth- year senior was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention player as a sophomore and was second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. He’s another lanky, athletic player who can put the ball on the floor, get to the rim, make threes and is the Gophers’ best perimeter defender. His last action was in 2003-04 when he played in 16 games, starting 15. He averaged 11.4 points and 2.8 assists in 31.1 minutes of action. Hargrow has scored more than 700 career points and in double figures 37 times. In addition, he has more than 259 career rebounds and 153 career assists. ‘Moe’ is another Gopher who can put a lot of crooked numbers on a stat line and could become the 33rd player in Minnesota history to score 1,000 career points.
“Moe has improved as a basketball player over the past year. We’re excited to see him back in a Minnesota uniform,” Monson said. “He’s going to be a huge part of this team’s success this season. He’s an excellent athlete, he can shut down the opponents’ top scorer and he has added a lot to his game over the past season and a half.”
Grier and Hargrow will share this position with a variety of players including Tucker, Boone and freshmen Damian Johnson, Kevin Payton and Brandon Smith.
• FORWARD •
Another position where the Gophers have two veterans returning is forward. Senior J'son Stamper and sophomore Dan Coleman shared time last season and will be the Gophers’ one-two punch again this year. Stamper, a junior college transfer from Independence Community College, played in every game last year and started four. Despite playing 17.2 minutes per game, the native of the Bronx, was 19th in rebounding in the conference averaging 5.0 per game. Stamper is the player Monson puts in at the end of games to come down with the tough rebound. Stamper keyed the Gophers home victory over Indiana with eight points and seven rebounds in the second half, six of those rebounds in the final three minutes. Against Ohio State, Stamper hit the game- winning layup off a loose ball scramble with 34 seconds left.
“J represents our toughness. He sets the example,” Monson said. “He does all the things that coaches can appreciate. He’s always around the ball when it counts and no one is going to outwork him.”
Coleman was an All-Big Ten Freshman Team member last season after averaging 8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The multi-dimensional Coleman can play with either his back to the basket or out on the perimeter. He’s a very long player who can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. His three-pointer with 1:14 left at Purdue, capped a 16-point second half comeback vs. the Boilermakers. Coleman started 27 of the 32 games last season and shot .342 from three-point range. He scored in double figures 12 times last season.
“D.C. is ready to take the next step,” Monson said. “No one works harder on his game and he’s improved his strength and conditioning over the offseason. He’s a very difficult player to guard, but we need him to become more consistent on both ends of the floor this season.”
• CENTER •
Minnesota’s biggest void they will have to fill is the loss of All- Big Ten Honorable Mention center Jeff Hagen. Sophomore Spencer Tollackson will be the main component to cushion the departure of Hagen to graduation. Tollackson played in all 32 games and started three as a true freshman. He has Big Ten size at 6-9, 267 and has transformed his body in the weight room over the past year. Tollackson has a soft jump shot out to 15 feet and can score in the low post. He’s an excellent passer for a big man and can run the floor in transition. The Chaska, Minn., native was the Gophers’ representative on the Big Ten Foreign Tour team, averaging 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
“Spence will play an important role for our team this year,” Monson said. “He responded very well last season when Jeff went down with injuries and we believe he can be a quality Big Ten center this season.”
Another player who will take some minutes at center is redshirt freshman Jonathan Williams. Williams suffered a sprained knee in the 2004-05 preseason that never healed properly. Williams played in only two games before being granted a medical redshirt. Williams is another Gopher who has worked hard in the weight room and has lost a significant amount of weight to get in shape for this season. The St. Cloud, Minn., native is a force on the defensive end with his shot-blocking ability and is an extremely quick leaper for his size.
“Jon has all the tools to be a quality big man in this conference,” Monson said. “He’s one of those players that just has that knack for blocking shots and he can fill a big role for us this season”
• FRESHMEN/WALK-ONS •
Minnesota has another talented freshman class arriving in Gold Country this season. Damian Johnson, Kevin Payton and Brandon Smith will look to break into the Gopher lineup this season. All three are versatile athletes who can play multiple positions. Johnson, a 6-7 forward from Louisiana, is a long and lanky athlete that will look to contribute at the small forward position. Johnson was 5A All-State in Louisiana and led his team to a runner-up finish at the state tournament. He will help back up the small forward position. Payton is a smooth athlete who can create his own shot off the dribble or get to the rim off the bounce. Originally from Austria, Payton moved to Camden, N.J., before his junior year and earned All-South Jersey accolades despite missing seven games with a separated shoulder. He had surgery on that shoulder this summer and has been limited in preseason workouts. Payton averaged 26.1 points per game, third-best in South Jersey, and played in the Capital Classic for the United States All-Stars. Smith is a physically- gifted athlete who was considered the top recruit in the state of Minnesota his senior season. He was the MVP of the Inner City Basketball Classic and works extremely hard on both ends of the floor.
“What I like about these freshmen is they are all gym rats,” Monson said. “They’re intelligent players who want to get better. They give us tremendous flexibility with our lineups and we’re not going to ask them to do too much in their first seasons.”
Another player on the roster that won’t see time this season is junior Lawrence McKenzie. McKenzie is sitting out the year after transferring from Oklahoma. McKenzie, a Minneapolis Henry product, was a member of the All-Big 12 Reserve Team in 2004-05 and will play both guard positions for the Gophers starting next season.
Walk-ons have played an important part in the development of Dan Monson’s program over the past seven years. Last year’s seniors Jeff Hagen and Brent Lawson were former walk-ons that earned scholarships before their time was done in the Barn. This season, Monson has three walk-ons that will contribute to the success of the program. Senior Zach Puchtel transferred back to his hometown after attending Harvard for two seasons where he played football and basketball. His physical presence will help down in the post this season. Sophomore Ryan Saunders played in 10 games as a true freshman last season and has put on 20 pounds of muscle since the beginning of last season. A student of the game, Saunders will see playing time at point guard this season. Freshman Jamal Abu- Shamala is a walk-on from Shakopee, Minn., who turned down offers from other Division I schools to be a Gopher. He was named all-state last season and was a Mr. Basketball finalist while leading his team to a state championship.
“Walk-ons have always been an important part of the Minnesota Basketball program,” Monson said. “Numerous times in my coaching career I’ve had players start as walk-ons and become starters in the latter stages of their careers. Some have become all- conference award winners and captains for my teams.”
• SCHEDULE •
The Gophers take on another challenging schedule in 2005-06. Minnesota’s opener on Nov. 18 vs. North Dakota State is the beginning of a three-game homestand to start the season. On Nov. 30, the Gophers hit the road for the first time as they travel to Maryland as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The game will be shown live on ESPN2. The matchup vs. the Terrapins begins a stretch of four games in two weeks against major conference opponents. Minnesota travels to the desert on Dec. 5 to face the Sun Devils of Arizona State on Fox Sports Net. The Gophers then return home to play host in back-to- back games against UNLV and UAB in Williams Arena. Minnesota begins the Big Ten season with two games at home vs. Northwestern on Jan. 7 and Wisconsin on Jan. 10. The Border Battle vs. the Badgers will be the third of five regular season national television broadcasts.
The Big Ten schedule has Minnesota playing Ohio State and Penn State only on the road and Indiana and Michigan State in the Barn. The Indiana game on Jan. 29 will be the Gophers only regular season appearance on CBS. The Gophers close the regular season in Evanston against the Wildcats on March 4. The Big Ten Tournament returns to Conseco Fieldhouse and Indianapolis, Ind., on March 9-12. Selection Sunday is March 12 and the Gophers hope to see their name called again this season.
“We’ve put together a challenging schedule and one that our fans should enjoy,” Monson said. “We have quality non-conference games at home and on the road and obviously the Big Ten will be a battle each and every game for two months. It was a thrill for us in March to watch on Selection Sunday and see our name go up on the screen. We think this schedule will help us hear our name again this season.”
