In a season of unknowns, the Gophers came out swinging against Louisiana-Lafayette and jumped out to a double digit lead they never gave back early in the first half. Flashing a starting lineup that was almost 100% different than last year, the Gophers used superior physicality and hot shooting to bury the Ragin’ Cajuns and take the season opener in convincing fashion 86-74, which was hardly as close as even the score suggests.
Some quick thoughts:
The Gophers destroyed a middle-of-the-road Sun Belt team
That might not sound like much but for a squad that lost to South Dakota and Milwaukee last year, the fact that they can come out on the first game of the season and mow down a not-terrible mid-major is notable.