U runs hard, grabs first victory

A young backcourt showed some promise, with Al Nolen leading the way with 17 points in the Gophers' opener.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: November 15, 2008 - 9:59 AM

Minnesota's transition of power began Friday night when Al Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook asserted themselves as potential generals for a young team that will need them this season.

The duo helped the Gophers kick off their season with a 76-51 victory over NCAA Division II Concordia (St. Paul) in their first game of the NABC Classic at Williams Arena, which was played in front of an announced crowd of 11,818.

Westbrook finished with 13 points, three assists and two steals. Nolen led the Gophers with 17 points and six assists.

They were also leaders in other ways. Nolen helped freshmen Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III with assists in the second half, after the two young players got into early foul trouble. He also remained calm when Concordia's Mike Cunningham charged him after a hard foul.

Westbrook exemplified the meaning of hard work, as he sprinted full speed on every fast break, risked his body to get in the lane and wrestled for loose balls. Nolen said he's more comfortable as one of the team's go-to guys, especially with junior forward Damian Johnson still nursing a broken hand and senior center Jonathan Williams potentially missing up to six weeks after Friday morning surgery to repair a hernia.

"I feel like it's necessary for me to do that seeing that I have a year under my belt," he said. "I just felt like I had to get a couple guys going in the second half."

Craig Heiman led Concordia with a game-high 26 points.

Coach Tubby Smith said he expected Nolen to approach games with the same attitude he competed with Friday.

"He's the point guard; that's what he's supposed to do," he said. " We're playing without two guys that are veteran players. And it shows."

The Gophers made only 26.1 percent of their shots from the NCAA's new three-point line, which is a foot longer at 20 feet, 9 inches from the basket, and had 16 turnovers.

Although it's hard to get excited about a victory over a team that is picked to finish eighth in a Division II conference, there were positives the might translate against tougher opponents in the near future.

The Gophers pushed the pace and played fast-break basketball, a style that Smith should have an easier time maintaining because of Minnesota's newfound depth. Smith said the team had to significantly improve its rebounding -- the Gophers grabbed 56 boards to 33 for the Golden Bears. And the Gophers also moved the ball well, passing for 18 assists.

It's safe to say the grace period ended for freshmen Devoe Joseph, Sampson and Iverson and junior college transfers Paul Carter and Devron Bostick after last week's exhibitions because of the injuries.

"Those are things they're going to have to work through," Smith said. "Again, we were playing a lot of guys out of position, and that didn't help."

The Gophers take on Bowling Green tonight. The Falcons pulled out a victory over Georgia State on Friday night by sinking a three-point basket in overtime at the buzzer.

Recent Gophers stories

Hobson has career-high 30 points to lead New Mexico over Louisiana Tech 81-52 - November 15, 2008

Hobson has career-high 30 points to lead New Mexico over Louisiana Tech 81-52 - Junior-college transfer Darington Hobson scored a career-high 30 points Saturday to lead New Mexico to an 81-52 victory over Louisiana Tech in the Basketball Travelers World Vision Classic. More