Down with Goldy is right. It was only an exhibition. It is entirely meaningless. It may have even been unfair. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t get a bit excited.

In a game that wasn’t even really that (by definition a game involves competition, and I’m not sure what transpired can in any way be defined as competitive) the Gophers turned a 22-11 lead into a  60-13 laugher, and there were still 16 minutes left to play.

Even in a slaughter such as this, there are real reasons for optimism.  Minnesota’s point total, a whopping 114 points, is the most in years, including exhibition games.  Last season the Gophers played three Division II teams, including an 8 point win in the exhibition opener against  St. Cloud State 88-80. The Gophers won both exhibition games a season earlier as well, but their highest point total was 92 points, and their largest win was by a margin of 35 points.

Exhibition games, and most games in the early season are notoriously sloppy. This was not the case at all last night.  Minnesota’s offense was crisp and the mistakes were few. The Gophers committed only five turnovers, and even the outside shooting picked up as the game went on. Perimeter play isn’t quite what it needs to be to get the attention of Big Ten defenses, though it was better than last year. The Gophers held a major advantage in size, and  it showed. Minnesota’s interior players scored at will, with combined shooting of 19-32, and even that included a poor 2-9 performance by Paul Carter.

The defensive performance was equal parts intimidating and terrifying as the Gophers systematically dismantled the Bulldogs. In the first half UMD committed more turnovers than shots attempted. Obviously this is a statistic you don’t often see and goes a long way in explaining how a relatively close game could so quickly turn into something other than a competition. Unfortunately, open perimeter shots were still an issue. UMD scored 30 of their 47 points behind the three-point line. Open three point shots are going to be an unfortunate side-effect of Tubby Smith’s famed ball-line defense. It would be nice to see this eventually improved.

On a night with distractions swirling, the Gophers put all the attention back on the court where it should be. Even if three certain individuals aren’t able to rejoin the team, the Gophers will be alright.

Who did what:

• Rodney Williams Click here to view the embedded video. welcome to big time college basketball. Unfortunately, solid defense, court awareness, and outside shooting don’t find their way on youtube. All were on display by the Gopher freshman. He made two open three-pointers (yes they were wide open, but no one could do that for us last year) and wreaked havoc in the full-court press. He finished with 11 points, two blocks, two steals, and the roof-raising jam.
• Paul Carter might just need to calm down and slow down. In scrimmages and practices he can dominate. Once the whistle blows though, he can’t seem to finish even though there is no increased difficulty in his shot attempts. Even if his intensity keeps the ball out of the basket, it will keep him on the court. He finished with 8 rebounds in only 24 minutes.
• Damian Johnson has really polished his offensive game in the off-season and added some more aggressive rebounding too. He scored 16 points on 9 shot attempts from the field. The senior captain had his fair share of dunks, and also several mid-range jumpers. His defensive game is a given, with seven steals and three blocks. I’d like to think he got something of a triple-double with the points, 10 rebounds, and 10 forced turnovers.
• Ralph Sampson III bulked up and there was no one on the Bulldogs that could handle him. He scored 13 points with six blocks and six rebounds. More importantly, he was able to get to the line six times making five. A realistic goal for Sampson this season is to score in double figures, and getting half way their for free should raise his point total considerably.
• Lawrence Westbrook had an easy night, scoring 19 points, most of which seemed to be wide-open lay-ups. There was some concern that the new slim senior would lose strength along with his bowling ball of a body. It wasn’t evident last night as he continued to dive through the lane and get to the line.
• Al Nolen played within his means on offense, which meant focusing more on distributing the ball than shooting. Nolen led his team with 6 assists and no turnovers.
• Blake Hoffarber struggled from the outside, again, but showed that his all-around game is coming along nicely. He repeatedly worked his defenders on back door cuts and added a dare I say “athletic” put-back.
• Colton Iverson was a dominating force on the inside, and had the vague appearance of Cole Aldrich. The hair is shorter and the muscles are bigger. He showed a nice hook-shot that is undefendable. Iverson also realizes that playing time is on the line. He threw himself after a loose ball in the middle of a blow out. The coaches have to like that.
• Devoe Joseph clearly likes playing the shooting guard position. He scored 8 straight points in the first half. He shared the court with all the Gophers guards, possibly indicating Tubby Smith isn’t quite set on a back court rotation.
• Justin Cobbs has a motor. He hounded the UMD guards all night. He also showed an ability to penetrate and to give his teammates the ball in a position to score with an amazing five assists in 14 minutes. If there is any opening at all, he is willing to shove a pass through it. Ralph and Colton, keep your head on a swivel.
• Dominique Dawson could have been a star at the Division II level. Instead, he is a Gopher bench warmer who has to be happy with four points in six minutes.

Related posts:

1. And finally a positive distraction
2. Newcomers lead Gophers to impressive win
3. Gophers survive in a game that thankfully does not count

Golden Gophers vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs

7:00 pm (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Radio: WCCO 830 AM

TV: Bigtennetwork.com (Streaming for $2.99)

Tickets: Best available- Row 11, upper deck, center court

It has been pointed out many times here and by many others elsewhere that Gopher basketball is the perfect distraction from the cold dark winters that embrace Minnesota for seemingly months on end. After a tumultuous week, the Gopher basketball program will ironically provide a distraction from itself.

Trevor Mbakwe is out until his legal situation is clarified. Devron Bostick is suspended for a rules violation (most likely academic), and Royce White thought he was too cool to pay for some merchandise at Macy’s (dude, it is Macy’s, you can do better). With so much negative news swirling about the team, an actual (exhibition) game could not occur at a better team.

In situations like this there is always the possibility that the off court controversy could carry on to the court and lead to poor concentration and lack-luster play. Don’t count on it Thursday night.  The core of Minnesota’s NCAA tournament team is back, including senior leaders Lawrence Westbrook and Damian Johnson as well as the ever vocal Paul Carter. These three will not let off court issues spill on to the court. Tomorrow night will provide an excellent opportunity for them to show why Tubby Smith has entrusted them with the leadership of his team.

There is, of course, basketball to be played. The Gophers kick off the exhibition season against the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. The sometimes hockey power house and reigning Division II football champion does have a basketball team, and by Division II standards, they aren’t that bad. Last year the Bulldogs finished with a 20-11 record, good enough for fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  Bringing everyone back except leading scorer John Vaudreuiel, the Bulldogs expect to have another successful season.

Gopher keys to the game:

• Show the fans, coaches, and themselves that the off the court issues are just that, off the court. Make smart decisions, play as a team, and put in maximum effort. In an exhibition game, especially the first exhibition game, measuring those factors can be a bit of train wreck. Play is often sloppy and players are not used to working with each other. No one is asking for perfection. Any troubling issues should be obvious. Hopefully we won’t see them.

• Correct the outside shooting issues. Last season the Gophers were one of the worst three point shooting teams in the country, and they knew it. By the end of the season, they were reluctant to take even open outside shots, which allowed defenders to pack the lane and prevent any inside scoring. Blake Hoffarber is healthy. Justin Cobbs showed an excellent shot during Tubby’s Tip-off. Even Damian Johnson started to show some confidence from mid-range and beyond towards the end of last season. The shooting will need to improve for the Gophers to have a break through season, and the sooner the better.

• Find a power forward. Minnesota came into the season with great depth, and losing any two players would not have been detrimental to the team’s success. However, when those two play the same position, what was once depth is now a shallow hole. Luckily the Gophers still have plenty of bodies to fill the power forward position, though none are true power forwards. Damian Johnson, Ralph Sampson III, and Paul Carter should all get some time there. When they do though, the bigger question may be who becomes the back-up center and small forward.

Bulldog keys to the game

• Find a replacement for John Vaudreuiel. The now graduated forward led his team in scoring 17 times last season and in rebounding 11 times. That is a huge hole to fill, but there are some players ready to step up. Brian Sykora averaged more than 15 points and nine rebounds per game. Steve Klass made 73 three pointers last season. Freshman Jake Hottenstine nearly led his team to a state championship in Wisconsin and received some Division I interest even though he looks like a five year old.

• Get off to a fast start. The Bulldogs won’t have enough fire-power to make any comebacks, so they’ll need to avoid an early deficit. In their first exhibition against University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, they stuck around and only trailed by four at half-time. They ran out of gas after that, but playing a Division I team close for 20 minutes must be a confidence builder.

• Find a tape of the Syracuse-LeMoyne game. Crazier things have happened.

Related posts:

1. Gophers run past, soar over Bulldogs
2. #19 Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Penn State: Another small opponent, and more big problems?
3. Gophers bounce back big over Buckeyes

So maybe he hasn’t grown up. Word leaked late this afternoon that Royce White was arrested in October for shop lifting and fifth degree assault. For non-legal scholars, fifth degree assault is defined here. Both crimes appear to be firmly on the idiotic side of the idiotic-harmful pendulum, and the indefinite suspension punishment appears appropriate at this time. No doubt this is stupid, but he is hardly a threat to society (especially when compared to the charges another Gopher power forward is facing). He is, however, a threat to his own career.

I have to plead ignorance when it comes to getting through to an incredibly talented 18 year who also happens to have incredibly poor decision making skills. Royce White has shown that when motivated enough he can stay out of trouble and be a good teammate. He also has a history of idiocy that makes me wonder if he will soon join the unfortunately long list of other stupid but talented people who have thrown away great opportunities.

White needs to be suspended, and only he and Tubby Smith know what it will take for him to learn that he needs to get his act together. If I was Tubby Smith, I’d keep him off the team until he can demonstrate that he can behave and until he shows enough remorse in actions and words that it is clear this will be the last time he messes up. And that remorse, it can’t be about missing out on playing time. It  needs to be about making a horrible decision and showing that he has learned from it.

College kids, especially freshman, are notoriously stupid. I was too. Luckily I never got into that kind of  trouble for poor decisions. If I was a talented basketball player who had been told that I was invincible, maybe I would have.

Royce White, you are now on your third chance. Don’t blow it. This is about more than basketball. This is about your life.

Related posts:

1. Royce White grew up, now can he live up to expectations?
2. Royce White has a blog?
3. Bad Hair Day for Royce White

Hopefully this is a minor violation and that both players will atone for their mistakes and re-join the team soon. Regardless, this, along with the Mbakwe situation, is not a good way to start the season.

Related posts:

1. And finally a positive distraction
2. Rules Violation Specified: Royce White arrested for stupidity
3. The Unknowns

Two bizarre quotes stand out. “The decision is not at all based on whether I feel he is innocent or guilty. It’s an educational decision that I feel will allow Trevor to learn from.” -Joel Maturi. Mr. Maturi, what lesson are you attempting to teach?

“But credit Minnesota as an institution for taking a stand and not using the “innocent until proven guilty” card so many programs play in the spirit of winning at all costs.” -Gary Parrish. Maybe, just maybe, the innocent until proven guilty card is played because it is the foundation of our criminal-justice system.

Rush The Court releases their pre-season bracket, and the Gophers check in as a six seed.

Big Ten Geeks finds that freshman do improve. I just wish they had created a graph charting fan frustration with freshman.

Cory Joseph enjoyed his visit. Be optimistic: “[Smith's] an unbelievable coach,” Joseph said. “He’s a great guy. He’s down to earth.” Be pessimistic: “At the same time, I still gotta check out other schools. … [I'll] keep on looking into all the schools.”

Another Big Ten preview. This one picks the Gophers sixth.

Related posts:

1. The Unknowns
2. Barn Blurbs: It is about that time
3. Barn Blurbs 3/10/09

Every new season brings with it a host of questions about incoming players. For the Gophers, three players bring an unusual amount of uncertainty to the team. The playing status of Trevor Mbakwe and Bryant Allen will remain a mystery until at least December, while walk-on Dominique Dawson has a chance to be more than the typical floppy haired bench-warmer.

Trevor Mbakwe

Word came down from on high (Joel Maturi) that Trevor Mbakwe will remain quasi-suspended from the team until his legal situation is resolved. This is obviously a huge blow to the team and of course to Mbakwe who was looking for a fresh start after a disappointing freshman year at Marquette.

Before I describe the impact on the team, it would be remiss of me to not comment on Maturi’s decision. Keeping Mbakwe on the team (though barred from playing in games) may have been the most beneficial decision for the team in the long run and for Mbakwe himself; it does not make this the right decision.

Mbakwe is accused of assault under semi-dubious circumstances and is awaiting trial. Maturi announced in September that Mbakwe could practice but not play, and that continues to be the policy. Maturi reasoned that keeping this arrangement is best for everyone involved. However, Mbakwe has not admitted to any violation of team rules. He has not been convicted of any crime. Maturi has not stated that Mbakwe is being punished for any wrong doing, and yet he is not allowed to play. The last time I checked, being accused of a crime is not the same as being convicted, and “punishment” for no wrong doing whatsoever flies in the face of a lot of what this country stands for. Maturi is not judge, jury, and executioner, and he should not have injected himself into Mbakwe’s playing status. If no team rules were violated, and the court has not ruled on a player’s guilt or lack there of, he or she should be allowed to play until the court decides or they broke a team rule, plain and simple. As Down with Goldy succinctly points out, not even the NCAA has any rules or regulations preventing a player from participating in athletics while facing criminal charges.

The Daily Gopher erroneously argues that Maturi’s decision sends a message that participating in athletics is a privilege and not a right. While this is obviously true (I’ve sadly never taken the court at Williams Arena as a Gopher), why should a privilege be revoked when a player stands accused but not convicted of a crime? What message does this send if Mbakwe is exonerated? Don’t be in the wrong place at the wrong time. What did he do wrong? Is being in the vicinity of a crime and matching a generic suspect description enough to revoke that privilege. Yes, athletes should act like their great opportunity for a free education is a privilege, but in what way did Mbakwe act like it is not?

I’ll spare you the race and class conflict analysis with which my liberal arts degree has armed me, but this does not meet any standard of fairness.

Regardless  of whether it is right or wrong, this decision is not the end of the world for the Gopher basketball team. Assuming Mbakwe can join the team sometime in December, the Gophers will have an impact newcomer just in time for the Big Ten season who will be familiar with his teammates and ready to contribute right away. Royce White and Paul Carter will get more playing time and will be able to develop more when the games are less meaningful and the competition is a lower quality. If Mbakwe were allowed to play and then left the team, there would be a gaping whole to fill. Yes, the Gophers are deep, but that depth quickly gets shallow if Royce White isn’t ready for prime-time and Carter fails to put his many tools to good use.

If all goes as planned, the Mbakwe situation will be resolved one way or another by the time the Big Ten season begins, and the Gophers can move on with or without their prized junior-college transfer.

Bryant Allen

The Gophers haven’t had a multi-sport basketball player of the caliber of Bryan Allen since Dave Winfield. Allen, who you may have seen recently returning punts and getting his face smashed in by dirty California Golden Bears special teams players, may have more pro potential in basketball than in football. He was the all time leading scorer in Missouri high school basketball history with a game and a shot that are almost as sweet has his hair. Vince Grier, you have been usurped.

Combine his ample basketball skills with his track star speed, fearlessness and dare I say insanity of returning punts, and Allen has all the makings of an impact player if and when he joins the team. The if and the when are both huge questions though. Allen has maintained his intent to play basketball, and it reportedly helped contribute to his decision to attend the University of Minnesota, but I can’t help but fear that things may change once football season is over. The kid may just need a break, and who can blame him? If he does play, it most certainly won’t be until the football season is over, and the date the season will end is far from decided. If the football team makes a bowl-game, he will arrive barely in time for the Big Ten season.

There is also a question of how much he can contribute. With his full attention towards football and without an opportunity to practice with the team, it may be unrealistic to expect that he is game ready from day one with the basketball team. Not many freshman point guards excel in big time college basketball, and those that do don’t have to contend with multiple sports as well as the responsibility of being a full time college student. If he joins the team, don’t expect more than spot minutes initially. If he develops his game and learns the system, he could see up to 10 minutes per game by the end of the conference season. If the football team and basketball team continue to head in opposite directions, don’t be shocked if Allen focuses more on basketball in the upcoming seasons.

Dominique Dawson

I’ll be the first to admit that I may be getting a bit ahead of myself, but Dominique Dawson is not the average walk-on. You can see this just by looking at him. He doesn’t look like he is still stuck in eighth grade. He doesn’t look like he shouldn’t have even been on his high school team. He isn’t a little pudgy or disconcertingly skinny. He looks like a player.

Listed at 6′7” and 240 pounds, Dawson is by far the most athletic walk-on the Gophers have had in years. While playing for a dreadful Southwest High School team, he averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds per game. More importantly, he doesn’t play like a walk-on. Based only on the scrimmage during Tubby’s Tip-off (I told you I was getting ahead of myself) he didn’t stand out, good or bad. No one with a scholarship is in danger of losing playing time, at least not yet. He just looked like an ordinary Division I player out there with his team mates. He kept up, fought hard, and never looked like the only walk-on on the court. Four  years with one of the best coaches in the country will change that. It is a bold prediction, and I am going way out on a limb, but by the time Dawson finishes his Gopher career, he will be an important part of the team.

Related posts:

1. Barn Blurbs 11/03/09
2. Tubby’s Tip-off- The Youtube Roundup
3. A preview of the Gophers for Big Blue

The nation has taken notice that the Gophers should be very good this season. The AP and ESPN both have the Gophers ranked in their pre-season Top 25 polls, with little agreement between the coaches and the media. Others (bloggers, what do they know?) have the Gophers ranked at #14, #18, #20, #23, #24,

The Big Ten Geeks also predict big things in the next few months.

Now to  decide who  plays and how much.

I guess some people play Big Ten fantasy basketball, and for them there is a preview too.

The  Gophers show up at least twice on annual best games lists.

Cory Joseph was in town, took in the Timberwolves game, and met Lebron James according to various sources. Sure beats Iowa City…

If you see some bright greenish yellow t-shirts at The Barn this year, they may very well be the sportsmanship police. Hey Barnyard, you are being watched.

At some point Williams Arena acquired a blog. It will be interesting to see what it turns into once the season starts.

Spencer Tollackson will be the color commentator for radio broadcasts this season. A secret plan to spur ticket sales perhaps?

I’m getting married next August, and will gladly accept a signed Tubby Smith basketball as a gift.

UM Hoops points out scatter plot style that the poor outside shooting Gophers at the very least didn’t shoot it too often from out there.

Coming soon, a look at the three unknown quantities on the Gopher roster, a quick glance at the non-conference season, and a preview of the first exhibition games against Minnesota Duluth

Related posts:

1. Barn Blurbs 11/03/09
2. Barn Blurbs 3/11/09
3. Barn Blurbs 3/2/09

And off we go on another adventure with the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher basketball team. There is always something magical about this time of year. March madness is great with so much meaningful basketball crammed in to two short weeks, but I might just prefer the two weeks leading up to the season.

Optimism is boundless, and the possibilities are endless.

When March finally rolls around, we already know too much. Reality has set in. Any hope of a conference title has already been realized or dashed. A chance at a long run in the tournament has been lessened by a bad seed. Even the teams that surprise can only last so long. All but one team goes home unhappy. Now though, every team has a chance at the national title. Every player has a chance to become the talk of the nation.

Boundless optimism was on display Friday night in the most well-attended season opening celebration in recent memory. Both sides of the arena were full, along with half the student section and several rows in the end-zone opposite the student section. It didn’t match the crowds lining up for weeks in Kentucky or the sell-out at the Breslin Center, but this is Minneapolis, and there is plenty to do. A moderately sized and enthusiastic crowd watching relatively meaningless basketball on a Friday night is more than anyone thought they would see 4 years ago. NIT games were more poorly attended than Friday night’s festivities. Enthusiasm is building.

The evening started off with player introductions complete with overwrought video. The theme of the season is apparently “Transforming into the Future” and after watching the video, I’m expecting some sort of robotic shape-shifting to take place at least once during the season. Videos based on critically slammed blockbusters are never a good thing, but at least someone showed enough restraint to avoid “GI Jo(seph)” in which Devoe Joseph obliterates the Big Ten.

Following introductions and warm-ups (in which it became clear that half of Lawrence Westbrook is missing) the evening officially began with the 3-point contest. Ladies and gentleman, Blake Hoffarber is back. Showing no signs of his sophomore slump, the junior shooting guard scored 14 points to take the 3 point shooting contest title. The release was fast, the feet were set, the shot was soft, and the net did not have a chance. The complete scoring was as follows:

Round 1
Devron Bostic 8       Al Nolen 9

Paul Carter 7             Devoe Joseph 6

Blake Hoffarber 10   Damian Johnson 7

Justin Cobbs 11          Lawrence Westbrook 8

Finals

Blake Hoffarber 14          Justin Cobbs 10

Not much can be gleaned from a shooting exhibition as to how the regular season will go, but Cobbs can shoot. When he is on the floor, the defense won’t be able to sag off of him.

By now you have heard and seen more than enough about the slam dunk contest. Needless to say, this team is incredibly athletic and any fast break and momentum opportunities will not be wasted.

The scrimmage, which ended the night, was about as ragged as ragged could be. It was clearly the first official practice, and Tubby Smith seemed tempted to step in and restore some semblance of order. He didn’t, no one got hurt (despite a few welcome to the Big Ten fouls), and everyone left happy.

Some player-by player observations from the scrimmage:

Paul Carter- Much like he did last year in the scrimmage, Carter put on a clinic from the inside and the outside. He scored 10 points in the first half of the scrimmage including two three pointers.

Justin Cobbs- He may still be a bit of a project on the defensive end, but Cobbs is the biggest offensive threat the Gophers have had at the point guard position in years. He doesn’t look or play like a freshman.  He is about as thick as Lawrence Westbrook was last year, but all muscle and with an inch or two height advantage. He can both shoot and take it to the rim, and is fearless without being reckless. Statistically he didn’t shake things up, but he has a presence that all too often was lacking last year.

Blake Hoffarber- The only thing worse than Hoffarber’s shooting last season was Minnesota’s ineptitude on in-bounds plays. Hoffarber came off the picket fence like something out of Hoosiers and drilled a three, yes, off an in-bounds play. If his shooting is indeed back and the rest of his game continues to progress, it will be difficult to keep him off the court.

Al Nolen- The junior point guard had a rough night airballing two three point attempts during the sloppy scrimmage. His main goal this season should be running a successful half court offense, and the informal setting was no place to judge his development in this area.

Trevor Mbakwe- I received a decent grade in high school physics many years ago, and from what I remember, 6′8” 240ish pound people should have a much harder time getting off the ground than someone smaller. Mbakwe clearly didn’t pay attention in physics. If it wasn’t for Rodney Williams, the junior forward would have the best vertical leap on the team. He brings a tenacity around the basket that is desperately needed when the Gophers take on Michigan State.

Devoe Joseph- No one told Devoe Joseph that this was an exhibition. He clearly had a lot invested in his performance, and if anything, tried too hard and suffered because of it. If he brings that attitude to practice, it will pay off during games.

Ralph Sampson- Any weight that Lawrence Westbrook lost must have been injected into the sophomore center. He looks noticeably stronger and on Friday at least, the mid-range jumper was falling.

Damian Johnson- The senior co-captain is back to his old tricks with solid defense and garbage  points around the basket. He may never be a go to offensive force, but every team needs a player that can create opportunities for himself and others, and for the Gophers, Johnson is that player.

Rodney Williams- After stealing the show in the slam dunk contest, his night was far from over. He spent more time on the court during the scrimmage than any of his teammates. It appears that the coaching staff doesn’t quite know what to do with him, and wanted to give him as many minutes with as many people in the hope of finding a place for his considerable athleticism.

Colton Iverson- The sophomore forward also appears to have bulked up. He only participated in the scrimmage (lanky white kids from Yankton usually don’t dunk or shoot well enough to show off) and didn’t get many opportunities in guard dominated action.

Royce White- The freshman forward may be the pick of many to be the freshman of the year in the Big Ten, but it was obvious he has never played against someone like Trevor Mbakwe. He would have done just fine against anyone else. However, Mbakwe’s size, speed, and power were no match for him.

Dominique Dawson- The walk-on doesn’t look like a walk-on. His athletic build seems well suited for molding by the Gopher coaching staff. The pieces aren’t quite put together though, and he should see very limited action this year.

Devron Bostick- The senior guard slipped through the evening without his name touching the notebook, make of that what you will.

Lawrence Westbrook- The arms are the same, but the rest of the senior guard is slim. It will be interesting to see how he navigates the lane in traffic. He won’t run anyone over. Can he slide by them?

Tubby Smith- Hearing the coach mic’ed the entire night was a joy. He obviously has a lot of respect for the players, and at the same time isn’t afraid to use humor to put them in their place.

Related posts:

1. Tickets, Tubby’s Tip-off
2. Justin Cobbs: Pushing the point
3. Tubby, time out, turnovers, put tournament in doubt

In lieu of the recap, more videos of the fun night at The Barn along with some grainy failed attempts at photography by yours truely, enjoy.

Mbakwe gets up, but loses it on the way up

One more inch

Bostick alley-oop

Elastic man

Over Goldy

Royce White with the backboard assist

Tubby still gets the biggest cheers

A little heavy with the smoke machine

Related posts:

1. And we’ll see you tomorrow night!
2. 2007-2008 Highlight Video
3. God Bless Canadian YouTube…More Devoe

At least during the dunk contest. We’ll be back later today with a more in-depth breakdown of last night, but until then, wow…

Related posts:

1. Rodney Williams will fly high
2. Jonathan Williams – In verse
3. Liveblogging the Selection Show