Pregame: Gophers looking for their first win at Ohio State since 2005

Gophers at Ohio State

THREE THINGS TO WATCH:

FINISHING STRONG– The Gophers have lost three Big Ten games by a combined five points this season. That's right just five. That includes two overtime losses against Michigan State (75-74) and Wisconsin (78-76). And the last time Minnesota was on the road it fell 52-50 at Penn State after a blowing a 10-point halftime lead. There's a fine line between the Gophers being 6-1 instead of 3-4 in the Big Ten. Unless they want close losses and moral victories to be the narrative for an underachieving season, the Gophers will have to make winning plays down the stretch again soon. Wednesday could be another opportunity.

FOUL SHOOTING– Minnesota outshot its opponents from the foul line 68-49 combined in three Big Ten victories. But the Gophers were outshot 50-28 on free throws in their last three losses. They went from being one of the most efficient teams in the country at getting to the line (ranked as high as third in free throws attempted in the NCAA) to not getting fouled nearly enough. Part of that comes from some missed calls, but the Gophers clearly aren't being as aggressive. They only attempted one free throw in the second half of Saturday's overtime loss against Wisconsin.

POINTS IN THE PAINT– Richard Pitino might be posting a want ad soon to find consistent frontcourt scoring. He hopes to get starting center Reggie Lynch more touches, but Lynch has to stay out of foul trouble first (fouled out five of seven Big Ten games). The Gophers lack inside scoring production without Lynch. They need starting power forward Jordan Murphy to break out of his sophomore slump, averaging just 6.4 points on 39.4 percent shooting in his last five games. If Murphy gets off to a slow start Wednesday, Pitino might look again to 6-foot-9 freshman Eric Curry to pick up the slack. Curry played most of the second half and overtime against Wisconsin. The Badgers outscored Minnesota 44-24 in points in the paint. That has to motivate Lynch and company to prove they're much better.

GAME INFO

Time: 6 P.M. CT, Wednesday. Where: Value City Arena. Line: Ohio State by 2 1/2. Series: Ohio State 84-57; Minnesota won last meeting 78-68 Jan. 8 in Minneapolis. TV: BTN. Online/Live video: BTN2go Radio: 1500ESPN.

MINNESOTA (15-5, 3-4)

Pos.-Player Ht. Yr. PPG

G-Nate Mason 6-2 Jr. 13.7

G-Amir Coffey 6-8 Fr. 12.3

G-Akeem Springs 6-4 Sr. 8.9

C-Reggie Lynch 6-10 Jr. 8.4

Key reserves– Dupree McBrayer, G, 6-5, So., 11.8 ppg; Eric Curry, F/C, 6-9, Fr., 5.9 ppg; Bakary Konate, C, 6-11, Jr., 2.1 ppg; Michael Hurt, F, 6-7, Fr., 1.0 ppg

Coach: Richard Pitino 84-70 (5th season)

Notable: The Gophers are 0-8 against the Buckeyes in Columbus since they last won there 60-56 in overtime in 2005. That 2004-05 season was also the last time Minnesota swept Ohio State in the season series, which could happen with a win Wednesday at Value City Arena. But Ohio State has won 12 of the last 14 meetings overall. ...Amir Coffey and Akeem Springs had 19 and 18 points, respectively in Minnesota's 78-68 win Jan. 8 against Ohio State.

OHIO STATE (12-8, 2-5)

G-Kam Williams 6-2 RS-Jr. 10.3

G-JaQuan Lyle 6-5 So. 12.4

F-Jae'Sean Tate 6-4 Jr. 14.1

F-Marc Loving 6-8 Sr. 11.1

C-Trevor Thompson 7-0 RS-Jr. 10.7

Coach: Thad Matta 434-147 (17th season)

Notable: Buckeyes center Trevor Thompson is tied for the most double-doubles nationally (six) among players averaging fewer than 23 minutes per game this season. Thompson, a 7-foot junior, had 15 points and 15 rebounds in the Jan. 8 loss at Minnesota.

Fuller's prediction (17-3 picks record): Ohio State 68, Gophers 64. The Gophers won their first two road games this season when a three-game win streak included victories at Purdue and Northwestern. But winning away from home in the Big Ten isn't that easy. They realized that being blown out by 18 points at Michigan State and letting a big lead slip away dropping a game at Penn State. Pitino actually won in those places before, though. It's been 12 years since Minnesota won at Ohio State, the program's longest current conference road losing streak to any opponent. As much as the Gophers want to get back on track history says they really struggle at Value City Arena (Minnesota's average margin of defeat is 15 points in the last eight meetings in Columbus). Coffey had one of the best highlights of the season (below) in the last game against Ohio State. But that was at the Barn. The Gophers likely will have to return home to snap their Big Ten slide Saturday against Maryland.