We're Dancin'!

After an amazing run in the Big Ten Tourney...Team Tubby has found itself in the Big Dance for the second consecutive year. They walloped Penn State. They escaped Michigan State. And, finally put a big whooping on Purdue to essentially clinch their spot in the field of 65. The Ohio State game was close until the 12 minute mark in the second half...then we collapsed...4 games in 4 nights with every game (except for Michigan State) starting earlier than the day before...we were bound to falter, eventually. This is my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Other thoughts and random observations from the tourney and teams:

* Someone's facebook status claimed Evan Turner looks like an 'Avatar'. My wife also chimed in that he speaks like he's deaf. I loved both.

* How about Bostick coming out of nowhere and getting major minutes in all the must win games? This is why I love Tubby. Bostick was in the doghouse all of last year because he didn't play defense. He got suspended right away this year and was buried in the bench. But, the kid to his credit stuck with it and is always the first one off the bench to congratulate his teammates when a time out is called on the floor. I don't mind his game either, in fact I think he brings an offensive spark off the bench...which the Gophers need (because Cobbs and Williams won't bring anything perimeter wise, or just plain offense for that matter). Maybe I'm giving Tubby too much credit, and it was more of an act of desperation than anything...either way though...it worked.

* Westbrook's antics in the late stages of the Michigan State team had me furious. He converts a difficult three point play in overtime. To put us up by seven or eight. He then bullrushes the screening of Raymar Morgan to put him at the line for two free throws/double bonus (luckily he misses them both). Then instead of passing the ball, Westbrook dribbles into a double team (because he wants to rack up his point total at the free throw line) and loses the ball which results into a quick two points for Michigan State. We still escape with a win, but doesn't this sequence sum up his career. He makes a great play for three points and virtually gives up four (even though they missed the two automatic free throws) by just simply being selfish.

* Let's give Colton Iverson some more clock. We win ugly. Our biggest wins this year (Butler, Michigan State, Purdue) have been when Colton is playing extensively. His offensive game is coming around a little bit...but he brings more intangibles than anything. How about when Draymond Green when out of his way to make sure he threw an elbow in Colton's direction while rolling around on the floor? Now we didn't get the benefit of the call, but at the same time Draymond Green's head is elsewhere if he's thinking about cheap shots over actually making a play. I like what Colton brings to the game...and not many teams (even the good ones) can match his size and toughness.

* Devoe Joseph single-handedly helped us pull out a win against Michigan State. If he doesn't drill down those two threes in overtime...we would be talking about another Gopher collapse down the stretch and landed right in the NIT field...which would've catapulted Illinois into the Big Dance instead of the Gophers.

* Purdue looked terrible (in both games by the way). I know they don't have Hummel anymore, but they didn't even show up and the Conseco Fieldhouse is in their backyard. Even with all this said, I still think they sneak into the Sweet Sixteen somehow. People undervalue defense in the tourney and I think Purdue is pretty stout, they just have to find some ways to score on the offensive end.

SBG