Honestly, it's tough to blog after a game like this, after writing another game story about how the Gophers fell short, failed to take the challenge, shot themselves in the foot. What else can you say about how dire things are looking?
Doing postgame press conferences might be starting to feel the same way for Tubby Smith, too. The Gophers' coach seemed more frustrated, angry and out of answers than ever after the 64-53 loss.
And with good reason. This game meant -- maybe -- everything to the Gophers' season. And the bulk of the Minnesota team played like they were unaware of the stakes.
"They were told what the implications were," Smith said. "And we didn't rise to the challenge. We didn't raise up.
"I hope they felt pressure," he said in reference to his team, that looked lackluster next to Northwestern. "That's what the game is about, that's what the sport is all about, measuring yourself against pressure.
"The great players, they want more pressure, the good players, they want that challenge, they seek it. They embrace it. Obviously we don't."
Coming out of the locker room, the players looked stunned. Julian Welch hung his head while he talked to the media and seemed to grasp -- somewhat -- the direness of the Gophers situation.
"I honestly don't know," he said when asked what he thought about the Gophers' chances to get to the NCAA tournament now. "It probably got a lot worse with that loss to Northwestern. We've got to win games and we've got to focus on that right now.
