Live Blog: Gophers Stun Badgers in OT, 78-74

Gophers are looking to for their first win ever at the Kohl Center tonight. This is the first time in a long time that I think the Gophers have a legitimate chance at pulling off a win in Madison. And by legitimate chance I mean about a 25% chance compared to the <1% chance the Gophers have had when heading east the last 10+ years. I am not expecting the Gophers to win tonight at Wisconsin but I would not be shocked if they did.

7:28 PM - While waiting for the game to start I ind myself watching the Gopher women playing at Ohio St (I know, I know girl's basketball isn't really a sport). The Lady Gophers are up 46-40 with under 8 minutes left. Apparently the women's team has never won at Value City arena in 23 attempts. Could this be a sign that today is the day Gopher basketball road losing streaks are broken???

7:42 PM - Somehow Northwestern is beating Purdue right now in their high school gymnasium. It's 51-43 with eight and a half minutes left. I haven't watched this game at all but the announcers just said that Purdue already has 19 turnovers. Purdue must really suck or something....

8:00 PM - Okay it's game time but the girl's game is still going. Hopefully it doesn't go into OT.

8:10 PM - Missed the tip-off but that's it (Lady Gophers won, hopefully that's a good omen) Westbrook comes out and knocks down a three to start things off. Gophers get a 10 second back court violation. Looks like we won't have to worry about a slow start tonight.

8:18 PM - Gophers are pushing the tempo in the game and it's working to their advantage. 14-10 at the 14 minute mark thanks to several turnovers by the BADgers.

8:27 PM - The Gophers second five has let the Badgers back in the game. PC has a couple turnovers while the Badgers have been able to slow the game back down. 9-0 run for Wisconsin. They're up 19-14.

8:31 PM - RSIII misses his third shot from outside 15 ft. I really wouldn't mind if he didn't shoot another one for the rest of the year. He may be able to make them in practice when he's wide open, but the when things are sped up during a game his shot gets rushed and looks real bad.

8:40 PM - This game has totally reversed since the opening minutes. Wisconsin is dominating. The Gophers offense has been reduced to Nolen or Westbrook taking their opponents one-on-one. The Badgers in the meanwhile are working the ball around, making cuts to the hoop, and making nice bounce passes to connect for easy buckets.

8:50 PM - Gophers try to close out the half strong, but turn it over after struggling to inbounds the ball once again, and Landry hits a 3 as time expires. 33-22 at the half. Gophers half court offense looks awful. There's no movement away from the ball and no one is looking to get the ball inside. Part of that is our big men's inability to get open and part of it is just lack of trying. All this results in 4 points for the Gophers in the last 11 minutes of the half.

9:01 PM - So only three Badgers have scored (BTN has only mentioned this like 1200845 times). Landry, Bohannon and Leuer. Gophers have depth but all three of these guys have played better than any Gopher on the court. I'd like to see Tubby go with an athletic line-up this half. Limit the minutes Busch, JAS, and Hoffarber get. Let's really get in Wisconsin's face and force the tempo. Hopefully Damian will come back after sitting out most of the second half with two fouls and spark the Gophers.

9:09 PM - Damian draws a shooting foul. Gophers first two free throws come with 18 minutes left in the 2nd half. Classic homecooking for the Badgers.

9:21 PM - Back and forth half so far. The Gophers are down nine but it still feels like Wisconsin is in control of the game. There have been some questionable calls both ways. Big Jon got "blocked" somehow on a two handed dunk attempt even though Landry had jumped forward into him. Before that the Gophers got a fortunate push in the back call on the offensive end with the shot clock at zero.

9:27 PM - Westbrook cuts it to 6, but the Gophers have been on a cheap fouling spree and now the Badgers are in the bonus for the rest of the game. 44-36 Badgers with 9 minutes to go.

9:39 PM - The Badgers are working the shot clock below 3 with every possession. 52 - 40 with 4:50 on the clock. The Gophers won't come back unless they can knock down about 7 threes in a row.

9:49 PM - 52-42 with 3:41 to go. I really surprised how much the Hoff has played tonight. I'd really like to see Bostick take some of his minutes, especially since it's clearly evident that Hoff has been off as of late.

9:52 PM - Nolen fouls out. The call was questionable at best. Al went for the steal in the backcourt on the full court press. Replays showed it looked like he pretty much got all ball. The free throw attempts are something like 20 to 4 in favor of the Badgers. Must be that great body control Bo Ryan teaches.

9:58 PM - Gophers are now pressing and got the Badger lead down to three. The lead is now five after the Badgers finally succcessfully broke Minnesota's press for a lay up and Carter missed the front end of a one and one. 57-52 with a minute and a half to go.

10:05 PM - The Gophers have somehow cut the lead to one. It's 60-59 with 22 seconds left. DJ hit a three after PC came up with a huge block on a Badger transition lay-up attempt. Damian's presence in this second has been key for the Gophers.

10:08 PM - Ladies and gents, we're going to overtime! Westbrook hits a three with two seconds left after two free throws by Krabbenhoft. Then, for some reason, the Badgers don't even put up a shot as time expires. The Gophers depth is going to be huge in overtime as Nolen has fouled out and Damian has four fouls.

10:15 PM - Suffocating defense by the Gophers to start overtime. The Badgers can't get a clean look. Westbrook has taken over for the Gophers. Five unanswered points for the Gophers 67-62 with 1.33 to go.

10:21 PM - If the Gophers hit their free throws, this game is over. 72-67 with 30 seconds left in OT.

10:27 PM - Gophers almost gave it away by throwing it away with 22 seconds left but Westbrook seals it with 4 big free throws and finishes with a career high 29 points. Gophers win 78-74. Damian was huge in the second half with 11 second half points. The JUCO guys also came up big. PC had 10 points and 11 rebounds and one huge block. Bostick chipped in 11 points, 4 of which came in the overtime period. Overall, a great come from behind victory for the Gophers. This is the signature win of the Tubby Smith era at Minnesota.