A common factor in both the Gophers men's basketball team's recent losses to Miami and Nebraska was the lack of bench support.

The Gophers had zero points off the bench against the Hurricanes, but Isaiah Washington was forced to start with Dupree McBrayer out with a leg infection.

McBrayer was back Tuesday against Nebraska for the second straight game. That meant Pitino had Washington to give Minnesota more punch off the bench, but it just wasn't there.

Washington had just five points on 2-for-7 shooting in 17 minutes. The Gophers basically used a six-man rotation most of the night with no other reserve playing double-digit minutes.

Backup posts Davonte Fitzgerald and Bakary Konate struggled with no points on 0-for-5 shooting, five fouls and two rebounds in 14 combined minutes against the Cornhuskers.

MARCUS FULLER