Tuesday, December 15
Champaign, Ill.
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Illinois
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Open Big Ten Season on the Road
12/14/2020 12:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPN2 –David Flemming (Play-by-Play); Dan Dakich (Analyst)
Tip Time: 6:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 381
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 182nd Meeting (66-115)*
Series (Away): 88th Meeting (20-67)*
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Illinois: 4-5
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 770-846*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 53-85
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota opens Big Ten play Tuesday when it faces No. 13 Illinois, in Champaign, Ill. The Golden Gophers only played the Illini once last year, also in Champaign. Illinois won the contest, 59-51, on Jan. 30, 2020. Daniel Oturu led the Gophers with a game-high 20 points and Alihan Demir added eight points. Minnesota has gone 3-2 the last five games against the Illini.
• The Gophers start a juggernaut of the Big Ten season, as they will face four ranked conference opponents in their first four Big Ten games. Minnesota plays at Illinois (currently ranked No. 13), home against Iowa Dec. 25 (currently ranked No. 3), home against Michigan State, Dec. 28 (currently ranked No. 4), and on the road at Wisconsin Dec. 31 (currently ranked No. 12).
• Minnesota closed out a six-game home stretch to start the season. The last time the Golden Gophers played six-straight home games to start the season was in 2016-17. The Gophers played an exhibition against Bemidji State, followed by six regular season games at home. This year and in 2016, Minnesota went 6-0 to start the season.
• Minnesota's last action came on Dec. 10, when the Gophers won, 90-61 over Kansas City. Isaiah Ihnen added his first career start after Brandon Johnson missed the game due to an injury. Ihnen played 29 minutes and provided 11 rebounds in the win. Liam Robbins held his best point production in a Minnesota uniform when he had 27 points, including 12-14 at the charity stripe. In all, Minnesota had 13 players see action in the win, including freshmen Martice Mitchell and David Mutaf as they recorded their first collegiate points.
• Marcus Carr is averaging 23.8 points per game. That ranks 11th nationally and third within the Big Ten. Carr also averages 34.8 minutes per game, which ranks first in the league. Both Gach also ranks high in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.564) at eighth overall and fourth in free throw percentage (22-25 for .880).
SCOUTING THE ILLINI
• Illinois enters Big Ten play with a 4-2 overall record, including a loss in its last competition at Missouri Saturday, 81-78. The Illini's four wins come against NC A&T (122-60), Chicago State (97-38), Ohio (77-75) and Duke (83-68). Prior to Illinois' loss at Missouri, its other loss came at home against Baylor (82-69).
• The Illini are led by Ayo Dosunmu, who averages 24.8 points per game and 5.2 assists per game. His 24.8 ppg ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally. Dosunmu was named a preseason All-American and a unanimous Preseason All-Big Ten Team selection. Kof Cockburn also landed a spot on that preseason All-Big Ten team. He averages 8.8 rebounds per game, which currently ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Both were also named to the Wooden Award Watch List.
• Last year, Illinois went 21-10 overall and 13-7 in conference play and was ranked No. 21 in the final AP poll.
FROM THE LINE
• Minnesota made 34 free throws in 44 attempts against Kansas City last Thursday. The 34 made marked a season-best by a Big Ten team, while the 44 attempted was the second most by a Big Ten team this season.
• Minnesota has made 133 free throws already this season in 181 attempts. The 133 free throws made ties a nation's best with Texas Tech, while Minnesota's FT attempts ranks third. Overall, Minnesota ranks sixth in the Big Ten in percentage (.735).
UP NEXT
• Minnesota is back in action when it hosts Saint Louis, Sunday, Dec. 20 at Williams Arena. It marks the last nonconference scheduled game of the regular season.
• Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m., on FS1 while KTLK, 103.5 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
TV: ESPN2 –David Flemming (Play-by-Play); Dan Dakich (Analyst)
Tip Time: 6:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 381
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 182nd Meeting (66-115)*
Series (Away): 88th Meeting (20-67)*
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Illinois: 4-5
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 770-846*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 53-85
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota opens Big Ten play Tuesday when it faces No. 13 Illinois, in Champaign, Ill. The Golden Gophers only played the Illini once last year, also in Champaign. Illinois won the contest, 59-51, on Jan. 30, 2020. Daniel Oturu led the Gophers with a game-high 20 points and Alihan Demir added eight points. Minnesota has gone 3-2 the last five games against the Illini.
• The Gophers start a juggernaut of the Big Ten season, as they will face four ranked conference opponents in their first four Big Ten games. Minnesota plays at Illinois (currently ranked No. 13), home against Iowa Dec. 25 (currently ranked No. 3), home against Michigan State, Dec. 28 (currently ranked No. 4), and on the road at Wisconsin Dec. 31 (currently ranked No. 12).
• Minnesota closed out a six-game home stretch to start the season. The last time the Golden Gophers played six-straight home games to start the season was in 2016-17. The Gophers played an exhibition against Bemidji State, followed by six regular season games at home. This year and in 2016, Minnesota went 6-0 to start the season.
• Minnesota's last action came on Dec. 10, when the Gophers won, 90-61 over Kansas City. Isaiah Ihnen added his first career start after Brandon Johnson missed the game due to an injury. Ihnen played 29 minutes and provided 11 rebounds in the win. Liam Robbins held his best point production in a Minnesota uniform when he had 27 points, including 12-14 at the charity stripe. In all, Minnesota had 13 players see action in the win, including freshmen Martice Mitchell and David Mutaf as they recorded their first collegiate points.
• Marcus Carr is averaging 23.8 points per game. That ranks 11th nationally and third within the Big Ten. Carr also averages 34.8 minutes per game, which ranks first in the league. Both Gach also ranks high in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.564) at eighth overall and fourth in free throw percentage (22-25 for .880).
SCOUTING THE ILLINI
• Illinois enters Big Ten play with a 4-2 overall record, including a loss in its last competition at Missouri Saturday, 81-78. The Illini's four wins come against NC A&T (122-60), Chicago State (97-38), Ohio (77-75) and Duke (83-68). Prior to Illinois' loss at Missouri, its other loss came at home against Baylor (82-69).
• The Illini are led by Ayo Dosunmu, who averages 24.8 points per game and 5.2 assists per game. His 24.8 ppg ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally. Dosunmu was named a preseason All-American and a unanimous Preseason All-Big Ten Team selection. Kof Cockburn also landed a spot on that preseason All-Big Ten team. He averages 8.8 rebounds per game, which currently ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Both were also named to the Wooden Award Watch List.
• Last year, Illinois went 21-10 overall and 13-7 in conference play and was ranked No. 21 in the final AP poll.
FROM THE LINE
• Minnesota made 34 free throws in 44 attempts against Kansas City last Thursday. The 34 made marked a season-best by a Big Ten team, while the 44 attempted was the second most by a Big Ten team this season.
• Minnesota has made 133 free throws already this season in 181 attempts. The 133 free throws made ties a nation's best with Texas Tech, while Minnesota's FT attempts ranks third. Overall, Minnesota ranks sixth in the Big Ten in percentage (.735).
UP NEXT
• Minnesota is back in action when it hosts Saint Louis, Sunday, Dec. 20 at Williams Arena. It marks the last nonconference scheduled game of the regular season.
• Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m., on FS1 while KTLK, 103.5 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.