Game Day Essentials: Game #29 vs Minnesota

Minnesota Info

Head Coach: Ben Johnson
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Golden Gophers

Mascot: Goldie the Gopher

Line: Nebraska by 8.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+

KenPom rank: 222

A couple of Famous Alumni: Kevin McHale, Bobby Jackson

Other:  

• Blaise Keita is a game time decision after re-aggravating his high ankle sprain vs Maryland
• Minnesota has never won a game at Pinnacle Bank Arena
• Nebraska won the first meeting at the Barn in OT behind 22 from Derrick Walker, 18 from Juwan Gary, and 17 from Sam Griesel.  Jamison Battle paced the Gophers with 20 while Darson Garcia had 19.

KenPom Analysis: It's bad. However like Nebraska they tend to defend without fouling.

Player to watch: C Dawson Garcia

The offense really struggled during the 5 games Garcia was out. The 3 level scorer will dominate the shots while on the court.

Player to watch: F Jasmison Battle

Minnesota's leading returning scorer is a threat from both levels; shooting at a career low percentage from 2 and 3

KenPom most used lineup

Others to watch

• PG Ta'Lon Cooper has been an efficient scorer
• 6'9" 255# Pharrel Payne is a rim protector, can pass, and is an inside bucket; has become more of scoring threat
• Joshua Ola-Joseph is a high-energy 3 man
• Freshman Jaden Henley has worked his way into the starting lineup and brings a ton of size at the 2
• Dartmouth transfer guard Tarus Samuels has fallen out of the rotation
• Freshman shooter Braeden Carrington has struggled against high level opponents

Probable starters for Nebraska
5    Sam Griesel    G    6-7

30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2

10  Jamarques Lawrence - G  6-3

32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10

13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9

Bench

0   C.J. Wilcher    G    6-5

12  Denim Dawson - F  6-6

15   Blaise Keita C   6-11

12   Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0

33  Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0

35  Henry Burt  F  6-6

24  Jeffrey Grace III  G  6-3

Injured

3   Quaran McPherson   G   6-3 - Out for the Year

4   Juwan Gary  F  6-6 - Out for the Year

25  Emmanuel Bandoumel    G    6-4 - Out for the Year

Redshirting 

2   Ramel Lloyd Jr.  G 6-6

31  Cale Jacobsen  G  6-4

Hoiberg Presser /  Walker-Griesel-Bandoumel 

Certainly worth a watch

The Skinny: 

Minnesota is currently operating out of the basement of the B1G and hasn't won a game since beating Ohio St on Jan 12th. However, they've been more competitive since the return of Dawson Garcia and will look to play spoiler in Lincoln.

The dodgy part for the Huskers will be the size that the Gohpers will be able to throw at Nebraska which could lead to trouble on the boards; the availability of Blaise Keita could be important.  Defensively, Nebraska needs to bring the effort they've had most of the season and they should be handle runs from the Gophers. Minnesota is a team you can bury early and no doubt that is the game plan for Nebraska.

This is an important game for Nebraska to put themselves in a position for the post season

Prediction: Nebraska 74 - Minnesota 64