Thursday, January 31, 2008

Gophers take on Wolverines tonight

The University of Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team will take on the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena tonight at 6 p.m. Sadly the game will only be on the Big Ten network, but many local bars have nice spots where you can watch the Gophers basketball team.

The Wolverines have a very talented freshman guard named Manny Harris. Harris is averaging 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 32.5 minutes per game. Despite the explosiveness of Harris, the Wolverines are still only 1-7 in the Big Ten Conference so far, which is worse than the Gophers 2-4 mark. The Gophers are also 2-4 in road games this year, but this matchup versus a weaker opponent gives them a good opportunity to improve on that mark. Look for Blake Hoffarber to fire up a few threes and Lawrence McKenzie to penetrate the lane. Let’s go Gophers!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Gophers take on North Dakota

The Minnesota Gophers hockey team takes on the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux this weekend at Mariucci Arena in a classic border battle rivalry game. Gophers hockey tickets are over $100 each if you want to get in the door. The Gophers really need a pair of victories this weekend and you can bet Gopher Gal will be tuned into to FSN to see all the action. Go Gophers!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

WCHA Standings

I had big plans to watch the WCHA playoffs at Mariucci Arena in March, but now I am afraid the Gopher hockey team may not even make the playoffs! There are 5 weekends left before the playoffs and here are the WCHA standings:

TEAM and POINTS
> Colorado College 31
> North Dakota Sioux26
> Denver Pioneers 24
> Minnesota Duluth & Wisconsin Badgers 17
> Minnesota Gophers 15
> Michigan Tech, Minnesota State, & St. Cloud State 14
> Alaska Anchorage 8

Come on Gophers, pick up the pace!!!!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Gophers Hockey Team Disappoints Again

The Gophers hockey team lost to the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center in Madison last Friday 1-3. Kohl Center was alive and well in a sea of red Badger jerseys and the maroon and gold came out flat. Wisconsin is not a better hockey team, I just don’t understand these Gophers. I was mostly surprised that coach Don Lucia didn’t look more fired up about the game. I was shouting for the Gophers to shoot the puck about a million times. I just don’t know what they are thinking sometimes.

Saturday night the Gophers tied the Badgers 2-2. For most of the game I was certain the Gophers were going to split the series and win the Saturday night match-up, but the Badgers just rubbed salt into the wounds of our ailing Gophers by scoring two goals in the third. The Gopher hockey team has been pathetic in the third period this year. Coach Lucia has got to do something to turn that around..more conditioning, more or less line changes – something! You can’t just keep doing the same things over and over and expect the outcome to be different.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Gophers Hockey Update

Usually, I am the biggest Gophers hockey fan that I know, but these days my dad could tell you more about the Gophers hockey team than I could. Usually the Gophers are at the top of the WCHA, but these days I am not even convinced they are going to make it to the playoffs. The Gophers did get three points in Duluth last weekend when the they battled the UMD Bulldogs for a tie and win, but still after the tie and loss to the St Cloud Huskies the previous weekend, I was feeling less than excited to be a Gopher hockey fan.

This weekend will be big for the Gophers team as they battle the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center in Madison. Both teams are tied for fifth place in the WCHA. And although this is the first meeting of the season, it may determine the Gophers fate in the WCHA. Both of this weekend’s games will be televised live on Fox Sports Net North so you can bet Gopher Gal will be tuned in…well, tuned in as long as the Gopher hockey team puts up a fight and makes watching them worth my time. Go Gophers! Go!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Gopher mens basketball update

The last time I wrote about Gopher basketball I was in a Gopher basketball dream state – the Gophers had sunk Northwestern at the Barn and I was certain they were going to the NCAA Final Four (-:

Well, since then my Gopher mens basketball team beat Penn State in Pennsylvania, but then lost two close match-ups at Williams Arena losing to Indiana 60-65 and then Michigan State 73-78. The Gophers are still a solid college basketball team and I think they still have a chance to make it to the big dance. The Gophers basketball team has two road games vs. Ohio and Michigan before returning to Williams Arena to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. You can bet Gopher Gal will be at the Barn for that game! Go Gophers!

Friday, January 18, 2008

Gopher Blog

Gopher Gal has been a little MIA with the Gopher blog lately. Perhaps because it is too darn cold for my Gopher brain to function! Anyway, I apologize to my Gopher fan base and I appreciate you readers that leave comments!! You rock!! There aren’t too many Gopher blogs out there and I know mine isn’t the best, but don’t give up on me Gopher fans – more Gopher sports information is on the burner.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Gophers Basketball Wins at Williams Arena . . .again!

The big sports story on the University of Minnesota campus is definitely the Gopher mens basketball team. The Gopher team led by Tubby Smith are hot hot hot! The Gophers beat the Northwestern Wildcats last night at The Barn 82-63 – there were a number of stand out plays and players, but Gopher Gals favorite was definite the string of three pointers by Blake Hoffarber – he was on fire!!!! He sunk 5 for 5 and the Wildcats coach just shook his head in disbelief. There is something special about a nice long shot, I think I like the 3 pointer more than I like a convincing slam dunk, there is something beautiful about a ball sailing through the air and hitting the hoop and swishing through the net.

The Gopher basketball team has a tough Conference Schedule ahead of them, but I wouldn’t count them out of the big games and be sure to buy a Gopher Basketball ticket so you can have a front and center view of the action. Go Gophers!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Gophers Hockey Finally Sweep

The Golden Gopher mens hockey team swept Wayne State Warriors last weekend and Gopher Gal has just one thing to say – whew – The Wayne State Warriors have lost the last eight games and have only won 3 games all year and have the 58th ranked NCAA offense out of 59 teams – ouch - if the Gophers had lost even one game to them I would have thrown up. The Gophers dominated each game winning on Friday 5-1 and Saturday 5-2. Friday night the Gophers let walk-on senior goalie Brent Solei perform his magic between the pipes. Solei is almost the Rudy of the Gophers hockey team and it was nice to him on the ice.

Next weekend the Gophers take on the St Cloud State Huskies . . . I hope they can carry the winning momentum and beat the Huskies!

Friday, January 4, 2008

Gopher Hockey team hosts Wayne State

The Gopher hockey team has a chance to win back their fan base this weekend at Mariucci Arena when they take on Wayne State for a Friday night Saturday night series. There are still great tickets available from www.gophershockeytickets.com but it will cost you a minimum of $60. Go Gophers!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Gopher Football Player Altercation

I was reading over on www.gopherfootballtickets.com that one of my favorite Gopher Football Players was in trouble with the law during holiday break. Willie VanDeSteeg was cited for two counts of fifth-degree assault after a fight outside a bar in Biscay, Minnesota. I am sure VanDeSteeg was home visiting his parents for Christmas and must have had a rough night at the local tavern. Seriously, he’s a big boy so it must have been a tough fight. I don’t think coach Brewster will be too pleased with the news of VanDeSteegs incident…will it affect his playing time or status on the team in the new year? Hmmm….

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Gopher Basketball Tournament

The Gopher mens Basketball team went 2-1 in the Duel in Desert Las Vegas Tournament. Minnesota beat Nicholls State 77-32 Friday night in the opening game and then beat the Kennesaw State Owls 83-66 in the second game, but lost miserably to UNLV in the final game 64-81. The Gopher basketball team starts Big Ten Conference play this month and if they play like they did vs UNLV it could be a rough stretch in the Gopher Basketball season, but this Gopher gal will still be at the Barn cheering on her Gophers! Click for the Gopher Basketball Schedule.

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