Gophers big man Reggie Lynch felt it was disrespectful of Middle Tennessee players to publicly overlook his dominance on the defensive end of the floor, and before getting into foul trouble, he showed the Blue Raiders what he’s capable of.
Lynch already has three blocks, including this nasty one on Middle Tennessee’s leading scorer, JaCorey Williams.
Get that out of here! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/mNimKRcVqP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 16, 2017
Middle Tennessee’s Reggie Upshaw basically said Lynch wouldn’t be a problem because they had an easy time against Vanderbilt center Luke Kornet earlier this season.
“Luke Kornet is really not like anything close to me,” Lynch said in response Wednesday, via the Star Tribune. “If they want to talk trash, they can. We’re just going to not think about that and try to prepare the same way. But Luke Kornet is a 7-footer who blocks half as many shots as me and is kind of soft. So it’s not speaking too much about how I play. I’m much more physical and a defensive presence than he is.”
With Lynch off the floor in foul trouble Middle Tennessee went on a big run and pushed a lead to as high as 17 points in the second half. Minnesota cut the lead to four late but lost.
Lynch was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and he’s second in the nation in blocks.
