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Indiana (9-6, 0-2) at No. 14 Minnesota (11-3, 0-2)
Date/Time: Tuesday, January 4, 7:00PM EST on ESPN 2
Spread: Minnesota -10
Over/Under: OFF
The Hoosiers will travel to the Williams Center on Wednesday to tip off against Big 10 foe the No. 14 Golden Gophers as both teams try to register their first conference victory.
The Gophers and Hoosiers split the season series last year, with both teams winning in their home building.
Although the Gophers are 11-3 overall, they are a dismal 0-2 in Big Ten play after coming off a 71-62 loss against Michigan State their last time out. Trevor Mbakwe led the Gophers with 15 points and nine rebounds. The 6-foot-8 forward has strung together has eight double-doubles in 14 games while averaging 13.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The Hoosiers will have their hands full with the big junior inside.
As for Indiana, it has lost four straight including its second Big Ten bout to Ohio State 85-67 its last time out. The loss sent the Hoosiers straight to the bottom of the conference with a 0-2 record in conference play.
Christian Watford was the star player for Indiana scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The Hoosiers leading scorer is averaging 17.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season. He is fifth in the conference in free throw percentage (82.8) and has made a league-high 82 free throws in 95 attempts.
Minnesota is the better team in one area and has better stats in a couple more. The Hoosiers, though, are better with three-point shooting, 38 to 33 percent. Sophomore guard Jordan Hulls ranks 17th in the nation in three-point percentage at 51.7 percent.
The Gophers boasts its own 3-point sniper in Blake Hoffarber who has made nearly 40 percent of his 104 attempts from beyond the arc to rank 14th in the nation in three pointers attempted.
The Golden Gophers are better in keeping down the fouls, which should play a huge role in time of possession. Minnesota also leads the Big Ten Conference in blocked shots, five versus three for Indiana per game. Finally, the Golden Gophers do a better job on the boards, 40 per game to 34 per game. Mbakwe ranks 19th in the nation in defensive rebounds with 95, but it will remain to be seen whether Minnesota can get to the offensive glass with enough regularity to make an impact in this one.
The Hoosiers do not give opponents many second chances on offense, but the Golden Gophers manages to turn 39.6 percent of their misses into new possessions. They have swatted 76 shots and snatched 110 balls. Minnesota has led the conference in both categories the last two seasons.
In four seasons, Minnesota has a record of 4-4 against Indiana, and 2-1 at home.
I look for strong rebounding and turnovers to favor the Gophers in this one.
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