Based on record and opponents beat, NJIT seems like a 'yawner.... But in their lackluster season, they gave Purdue a tough time through the first half at West Lafayette. Other than that, nothing impressive to note as a team.
Their coach is Brian Kennedy, who is the nephew of Pat Kennedy who coached DePaul. Brian was on his uncle's staff there and his dad Bob Kennedy was a good coach at the prep level. I laughed at a friend who watches Purdue games and feels the same about Purdue as I do about Minnesota.. He watches future Purdue opponents as I had ZERO knowledge of the NJIt program other than they upset Michigan a few years ago. My friend is a huge basketball nut and I trust his judgement on players.. He saw highlights and shared some thoughts that I picked up and did a little more research and watching.
NJIT is in Newark, NJ and the vast majority of their team comes from within 10 miles of the campus. These are kids that WILL NOT be intimidated by anyone.. Got 3 kids from Bob Hurley's St Anthony's program in nearby Jersey City. These kids grew up together and played in parks together since they were young. When you get that familiarity, that always triggers a thought that these kids know each other well enough to give bigger squads a good game, and on a given night, who knows?? Their star is their PG/SG Damon Lynn, without a doubt. My friend has respect for the Gopher program and he told me that this kid could start for the Gophers. Again, I laughed until I saw him play. This kid can play, offensively.. He gets more than his share of steals. as well... His game has similarity to a Stephon Curry, in style, but more muscular though obviously not as good...This kid does not need much room to get off his shot and he will shoot it really deep as well as drive. EXTREMELY QUICK RELEASE OFF THE CATCH. Great FT shooter. He is the 'straw that stirs the drink' for them. A fun player to watch.
They got one of those St Anthony kids, Tim Coleman that is built strong at 6-4 and plays a good inside/outside game. I think he is their best rebounder and plays with good position and strength...They have a lot of role players at this point but if Lynn brings his "A" game, whoever guards him(Nate, Dupree, Springs, Coffey) will have their hands full. He is a really amazing catch-and-shoot kid. If Lynn would play at Minnesota, I honestly think after watching him that he would start for the Gophers. I hope that I am completely wrong and that the Gophers shut him down Thought it was just the competition level until I saw the game against Purdue. He is a legit D1 player though small.
I still think Minnesota wins this by double digits, but I don't expect this will be as easy as most fans would think.. We will dominate inside and have too much talent/athleticism for them but don't be surprised if they give the Gophers a game, in the first half. I don't think they have the horses to sustain that deep into the game, so I think a double digit win is inevitable for the Gophers.
