Despite loss, Gophers played like a Top 25 team

Nov 22, 2012; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Duke Blue Devils guard Quinn Cook (2) and Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Maverick Ahanmisi (13) battle for a loose ball in the second half during the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Duke won 89-71. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

Despite losing to the No. 5 team in the country and playing a regulation game in front of 3,000 fans in a converted ballroom in the Bahamas, Tubby Smith and the Gophers have a lot to be cheerful about.

The scoreboard showed a 18-point win by Duke, but Minnesota’s presence throughout the game is worthy of praise from Gopher nation, who have been waiting years to see a winner emerge from the basketball program.

Rodney Williams and the Gophers played well, but most importantly, Minnesota played consistently, not allowing the game to slip out of their hands despite never holding a led.

There were more than a few times when it looked like the Gophers were going to make a run, taking chunks out of the lead one possession after the next, but Duke, with its shooting prowess and calm demeanor, made their shots when it mattered to keep Minnesota at bay.

Duke was simply the better team, and at No. 5 in the country, they proved that they deserved it.

With under 15 seconds to go before halftime, Gopher guard Maverick Ahanmisi drove to the basket and made a running layout, cutting the lead to 4 and leaving Duke with what seemed to be too little time to hoist up another shot.

Yet the Blue Devil’s Quinn Cook drove up the court and threw up a one-footed three pointer a half-second before the buzzer that rattled the front iron before dropping in.

The last second shot by Cook was the epitome of the game — Duke won in the statistics that mattered, shooting nearly 55 percent from the field and 80 percent beyond the arc.

Minnesota had more shots, three point attempts, rebounds, assists and blocked shots than Duke, but the Gophers only shot 40 percent while converting one out of four three pointers.

Credit Duke for the superior defense that held the Gophers to under 72 points for the first time this season.

The constant ball pressure forced a handful of turnovers in the first half while keeping the ball out of the low post for most of the game, forcing the Gophers to rely on low percentage jump shots and threes.

Minnesota needs to work on cutting down turnovers from their ball handlers, something that has irked the team all season, despite winning their first four games. Nevertheless, the Gophers proved, at least on Thanksgiving, that they have enough talent and depth to make ranked teams sweat in preparation.

The Gophers will play No. 19 Memphis Friday afternoon with the winner advancing to a consolation game that will determine 5th and 6th place in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.