Gophers postgame: Ugh. (For ugly)

I won't pretend to know what the players were thinking when they were out there Sunday.

I won't act like I know what Ralph Sampson III and Rodney Williams are thinking.

For what it's worth, I think they care about their teammates and their team.

But sometimes it's hard to tell, especially when you look at end results.

Rodney Williams: 1-2 from the field, 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 0 assists

Ralph Sampson III: 1-11 from the field, 4 points, 2 assists and a turnover.

"Ralph was struggling to score. Rodney, he's not looking to score. So this is what you get," coach Tubby Smith said. "This is how poorly and how badly it can be if you don't do those things. Something else was going on, in [Rodney's] mind. He just wasn't there today at all. Just by far – he wasn't there."

Probably not many more, and probably not enough to do anything they originally set out to do.

And after watching the team's veterans look seemingly lackadaisical in the most recent Biggest Game Of The Season, it might be time to just play the guys that are gutting it out -- the ones who really look like they're pouring their hearts and souls onto the court.

""The guys you have, you have," coach Tubby Smith said. "So you say 'OK Rodney', 'OK Ralph, it's sort of your team, you need to step up. And they tried. They tried. And I guess they gave it their best effort."

Some other notes from the game: