Washington vs. Minnesota: Keys to a Shocking Golden Gophers Upset

The NIT semis are tonight and on paper No. 1 seeded Washington should crush No. 6 Minnesota.

I’m here to toss that paper right into the shredder.

The ESPN Accuscore simulated the game 10,000 times, and what was the final score?

Minnesota 70, Washington 68

So how does this happen in real life? Here are the three keys to ensure the hottest team in the NIT keeps on truckin’ to the finals at Madison Square Garden:

1. Feed Rodney Williams

The junior forward has averaged 23 points in the NIT and is shooting a blistering 68 percent from the floor. Williams is getting into the paint at will and seems to have finally found the confidence that was sorely lacking during the regular season.

Williams must continue to stay aggressive and take the most important shots when the Golden Gophers need it most. Nobody else in the tournament is more dangerous right now.

2. Survive on the Glass

If there is one big advantage for Washington, it’s in the rebounding department. The Golden Gophers rank 149th nationally (34.8) while the Huskies rank 5^th (40.3).

The 7’0’’ Aziz N’Diaye leads Washington with 7.3 per game, and Terrence Ross isn’t too far behind at 6.4.

That means the 6’8’’ undersized forward Trevor Mbakwe, who averages 9.1 rpg, has to avoid foul trouble and ensure he is getting a body on his defender when the shot goes up.

But he can’t do it alone.

Freshman 6’11’’ center Elliott Eliason has to get more physical inside and utilize his length. He has a grand total of 11 boards in three NIT games—that’s unacceptable.

As long as Minnesota can limit the second chance opportunities of Washington, they’ll be cancelling out their greatest asset.

3. Get Into Tony Wroten’s Head

The freshman has shown flashes of his NBA potential but is wildly inconsistent. He followed up a two-point performance against Northwestern with a 22-point outburst against Oregon.

Getting physical with him early tends to force him back toward the perimeter, where he settles for long-range shots. Considering he shoots 18 percent from three-point land, that’s exactly what the Gophers want. 

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