Joseph, Gophers’ backcourt run past Ohio State

Ohio State vs Minnesota

When Minnesota point guard Al Nolen picked up his second foul midway through the first half of Saturday’s game against Ohio State, the Golden Gophers lost their most valuable backcourt player. Someone needed to fill the void, and in his team’s moment of need, Devoe Joseph answered the call.

Joseph backed up his better-known teammate with distinction. The freshman’s five-point flurry initiated a 16-0 first-half run that propelled Minnesota past Ohio State, 68-59, in Williams Arena. Inspired by the energy Joseph brought to the floor, a sluggish Minnesota club came to life, running rings around a slower Ohio State outfit that sorely missed the veteran presence of wing player David Lighty.

This crucial Big Ten battle didn’t start quite so well for Tubby Smith’s team. The Gophers—who could not afford to lose two straight conference home games after playing a soft non-conference schedule—had to gain a quality win to bolster their NCAA Tournament credentials. Feeling the pressure of the occasion, the guys in gold lacked purpose in their offensive sets and hoisted tentative shots without making any attempt to break down the Buckeyes’ defense. Nolen was the man Minnesota relied on to create opportunities for his teammates, especially with dribble penetration. When the stellar point guard picked up his second foul with 11:45 remaining in the first half, the Gophers were left without any offensive cohesion. Nolen’s departure led to a Minnesota scoring drought that lasted nearly seven minutes. A packed house in The Barn became justifiably concerned.

With his team sliding behind the Bucks and looking for answers, Joseph rose to the occasion. Besides scoring five points, Joseph dished out an assist and contributed lock-down defense during the telltale 16-point burst that turned a 22-15 deficit into a 31-22 Gopher advantage. Ohio State used three straight three-point baskets to creep within three points (36-33) early in the second half, but after that brief Buckeye response, Minnesota’s backcourt—awakened by Devoe Joseph—quickly found its footing.

The Gophers swarmed Ohio State’s primary ballhandlers early in the second half, forcing a series of turnovers with a full-court press that led to run-outs and easy baskets. Just as soon as the Buckeyes began to breathe down their necks, the Gophers produced an 11-0 run to establish a 47-33 lead and regain full control of the contest. With Lighty--a member of OSU’s 2007 national runner-up squad--sitting on the bench due to an injury, Thad Matta’s men could not call upon the kind of leader who could have broken the Minnesota press and restored order to the Ohio State camp. Yes, the Buckeyes fought within seven points (64-57) with 44 seconds left in regulation, but the Gophers knocked down their free throws to settle the issue once and for all.

What will these teams take from today’s game in Bloomington, Minn.? Minnesota, quite simply, secured a must-have victory. The NCAA Tournament committee doesn’t just look at conference records—something Ohio State discovered last season. It’s not enough to have a winning record in the Big Ten or any other league. What counts in March is a conference resume that includes victories over the toughest teams, the ones likely to reach the field of 65. Minnesota and other Big Ten bubble teams won’t make the Big Dance solely by sweeping Indiana and Northwestern. The Gophers need a few scalps, and this win over Ohio State is certainly one of them.

As for the Buckeyes, this loss isn’t a killer by any stretch. Road losses are far easier to take than home losses, and after holding off Iowa in Columbus last Wednesday, the Buckeyes haven’t lost ground in the Big Ten race. Given their impressive package of non-conference wins—at Miami, versus Notre Dame on a neutral court, and against Butler at home—the Bucks just have to be solid in Big Ten play in order to punch a Dance card. If OSU can hold the fort until Lighty returns in mid-February, Mr. Matta will likely push his team past the NIT, and on to greener pastures.

Ultimately, the biggest on-court needs for each of these two teams—based on Saturday’s action—are eerily similar. Both Minnesota and Ohio State need to avoid turning the ball over against full-court defensive pressure, while getting better and more consistent production from their post players. The Gophers have a terrific backcourt that is relied on to generate most of Minnesota’s offensive production, but just the same, UM’s big men can’t fade into the background as they did for large stretches of today’s game. Ohio State’s trees possess more talent and natural ability than anyone Tubby Smith could throw at them, but in the case of the Buckeyes, it’s up to the perimeter people to avoid turnovers, run halfcourt sets, and feed the ball to the low post. Dallas Lauderdale and B.J. Mullens can become imposing forces within six feet of the goal, but if they don’t get touches, they won’t be able to make their presence felt for OSU.

Chalk one up today for Minnesota and its deep backcourt, which proved to be more than just Al Nolen. The Gophers—like the Buckeye team they just defeated—will need many contributors as this Big Ten basketball season gets off the ground.

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