Game Day Essentials: Game #19 vs Minnesota

Minnesota Info

Head Coach: Richard Pitnio

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Conference: B1G 10

Nickname: Golden Gophers

Mascot: Goldy Gopher

Last time out: Beat Wisconsin

Typical Rotation Depth: 7-8 players

Line: Minnesota by 1

Fun Fact : Minnesota coach Richard Pitino Jr. is the son of current Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. He's one of the youngest coaches in Div I at the age of 31

Fun Fact : Junior Center Elliot Eliason hails from Chadron, NE

Fun Fact : This will be the first time former assistant Ben Johnson comes back to Nebraska, being one of the first hires by Pitino. Johnson is no stranger to moving around the conference as he attended college at both Northwestern and Minnesota.

Fun Fact : Guards Andre and Austin Hollins are not related.

Possible Starters

Huskers

0 Tai Webster 6-4 194 Fr

15 Ray Gallegos 6-2 182 Sr

5 Terran Petteway 6-6 209 So

31 Shavon Shields 6-7 219 So

35 Walter Pitchford 6-10 234 So

Gophers

4 Deandre Mathieu 5-9 165 Jr

20 Austin Hollins 6-4 190 Sr

10 Oto Osenieks 6-8 220 Jr

30 Malik Smith 6-2 200 Sr

55 Elliott Eliason 6-11 240 Jr

The Skinny

How do you explain beating Ohio St. and losing to Penn St. in the same week? It's tough to win on the road in the B1G and the Huskers enjoy a big advantage there with their only loss coming down to the last second. Expect the Huskers to show up for today's match and for it to be another close one.

Speaking of winning on the road, that has been something Minnesota has really struggled with over the last few years. (Last year they beat the Huskers by 19 at home and lost by 2 on the road.) It's a bit too early in the Pitino era to see if they've changed their ways.

The biggest news is that the leading scorer, Andre Hollins, turned his ankle at the start of the Wisconsin game. Andre easily leads the team in free throw attempts so it's possible we're not going to see the Huskers in a lot of foul trouble today. Hollins, along with Malik Smith and Austin Hollins are the main 3pt threats for the team.

One key to this game will be containing 5-9 PG Deandre Mathieu who constantly penetrates into the lane to set up either his shot or find a teammate. Which Husker will be up to the task? Another key is figuring out to eliminate the self-inflicted turnover bug that has plagued the Huskers the last two games. Minnesota will press and easy points for the Gophers is definitely a way you win on the road.

Look for Minnesota to struggle not getting points from Hollins at the line and for the Huskers to hang on to this one.

Prediction: Nebraska 69 - Minnesota 67 with a 76% chance of Runzas