Minnesota Info
Head Coach: Ben Johnson (3rd year)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Golden Gophers
Mascot: Goldie the Gopher
Line: Nebraska by 6.5
Shirt not to wear: Yellow, Gold
Typical Rotation Depth: 7+
KenPom rank: 63
Nota bene:
- The last time Minnesota won in Lincoln was in 2012 during Nebraska's first year in the B1G. Tubby Smith was the coach for the Gophers in a game played at the Bob Devaney Center.
- In other words, Minnesota has never won at Pinnacle Bank Arena
- Minnesota is 23-3 against the spread
- The Gophers and Cornhuskers have faced off 86 times, the most Nebraska has faced a B1G opponent
KenPom most used lineups
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Player to watch: Elijah Hawkins
Above are the win/loss splits for Elijah Hawkins which illustrate that the Gophers tend to go as he does. The B1G's leader in assists sets the tone on both ends for the Gophers.
Player to watch: Dawson Garcia
Garcia currently is leading the Gophers in scoring and rebounds. He also has the ability to pass out of the post. His outside shot hasn't been great this season, just 31.8%.
Player to watch: Pharrel Payne
The emergence of the sophomore post player has put the shot blocker in the middle and allowed Garcia to shift to the 4. Is an elite finisher and rebounder. Currently shooting FTs at a 40.6% clip, Payne is almost singlehandedly tanking the Gopher team FT%.
Player to watch: Cam Christie
The younger brother of Max Christie is a star in the making and has been a remarkable jump shooter, hitting 42.1% from 3 this season.
Others to watch
Mike Mitchell is one of the main 3pt threats on the team. Braeden Carrington has been a disappointment offensively but look for him to be all over Tominaga when he's in the game. Former D-II star Parker Fox has worked himself into the lineup as a reliable glue-guy post player. Wing Joshua Ola-Joseph killed Nebraska the first time they met but hasn't played much in February. F Isaiah Ihnen also rarely is used in Ben Johnson's currently tight rotation.
UNL Game Notes
Roster/infirmary report
Out indefinitely
5 Ahron Ulis 6-3 190 lbs Junior - Likely out for the season
15 Blaise Keita 6-11 257 lbs Junior - Ongoing ankle injury recovery
2 Ramel Lloyd Jr. 6-6 210 lbs RS Freshman
Possible starters for Nebraska
30 Keisei Tominaga 6-2 179 lbs Senior
3 Brice Williams 6-7 213 lbs Junior
53 Josiah Allick 6-8 231 lbs Senior
51 Rienk Mast 6-10 248 lbs Junior
4 Juwan Gary 6-6 221 lbs Junior
Bench
0 C.J. Wilcher 6-5 214 lbs Junior
1 Sam Hoiberg 6-0 183 lbs Sophomore
10 Jamarques Lawrence 6-3 183 lbs Sophomore
9 Jarron Coleman 6-5 213 lbs Senior
11 Eli Rice 6-8 213 lbs Freshman
21 Matar Diop 6-10 213 lbs Freshman
31 Cale Jacobsen 6-4 200 lbs RS Freshman
35 Henry Burt 6-7 216 lbs RS Freshman
24 Jeffrey Grace III 6-3 197 lbs Sophomore
The Skinny:
Ben Johnson started the season squarely on the hot seat and was staring down a 17 point deficit and a 0-2 B1G start at home vs Nebraska in December before the Gophers flipped the script. Currently at 17-9, they are a win at Nebraska and Illinois away from being a legit NCAA bubble team. Minnesota will be highly motivated to win at Nebraska today.
The Gophers are a bad matchup for the Huskers as much of their offense comes from the 3 while they take away the 3pt line. Guys like Keisei and CJ will find their looks from the perimeter rarely and rushed. The Huskers will need to keep out of foul trouble, crash the boards on defense, and keep out of foul trouble if they want to grab win #20. Nebraska should find some points off of Gopher turnovers and second chance points off of misses.
Look for Nebraska to get the benefit of calls at home and to weather at least one Minnesota run.
Prediction: Nebraska 79 - Minnesota 72
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