Seniors get failing grades in latest effort

They were four days that could change everything; four days containing two games against ranked opponents in reinvigorated Williams Arena; four days of Barn-raising that could again make Gophers basketball the most fondly regarded sport in town.

Two close-enough-to-singe losses later, the Gophers were left lamenting the absence of their freshman backup point guard Sunday. That says something about their seniors.

Freshman guard Al Nolen didn't play against Michigan State because of a deep thigh bruise. Without Nolen, an adept ballhandler and defensive specialist, the Gophers committed numerous unforced turnovers and had trouble finding open shots in their half-court offense, unless Lawrence McKenzie was launching desperate 25-footers.

The result was a 78-73 loss and a four-day blemish on the résumés of the Gophers' three pivotal seniors.

Sports fans love promise. That's why we say, "Wait till next year." That's why recruiting publications and websites thrive. That's why Tubby Smith will get a lengthy honeymoon as Gophers basketball coach -- because his résumé offers hope.

There are three current Gophers, though, who had two chances in four days to score a season-changing or season-defining victory at Williams Arena, a chance to make Tubby's first year -- their last year -- meaningful.

If this team were a car, though, the seniors would have been the passenger seats, not the steering wheel or the engine.

Spencer Tollackson should be this team's best inside player. He missed all seven of his free throws Thursday night against Indiana, the most obvious reason for that close loss. Sunday, he had seven points and six rebounds, missing six of nine shots and two of three free throws before fouling out.

McKenzie, forced to handle the ball more because of Nolen's injury, hit a barrage of late three-pointers to inflate his scoring total to 20 on Sunday, but he had zero points in the first half, when the Gophers had a chance to take control of the game.

McKenzie is playing with a swollen right hand and is more of a shooting guard than a playmaker. That gives him more of an excuse than Coleman and Tollackson, who shied away from contact and failed to finish near the basket on Sunday, leaving Tubby with a team that at the moment looks more suited to the NIT than the NCAA.

"I need more leadership," Smith said of his seniors.

Yes, he does.

That's hardly the case. Even without Nolen, the Gophers had plenty of opportunities to make point-blank baskets. Too often, though, when they needed a basket they came down the court and saw only underclassmen such as Lawrence Westbrook and Blake Hoffarber moving without the ball as if they actually wanted it.

"We're trying to get a little tougher; more aggressive in taking it to the basket," Smith said.

There is no shame in losing against ranked teams, but if this season is going to be something other than a transition year between Dan Monson and Smith, the seniors are going to have to be tougher.

Tougher physically, especially when Coleman or Tollackson get a chance to score inside. Tougher mentally, whether that means making big free throws or driving into the teeth of the defenses.

The Gophers were missing their freshman backup point guard Sunday. That shouldn't have mattered this much.