gophers gameday

8 P.M. at nebraska • btn, 1500-am

Gophers at a glance: With the table set for a strong finish, the Gophers are hoping to have an outing against Nebraska similar to the first time the teams played this season. The Gophers blew out the Huskers 84-65 in Rodney Williams' best game of the season (23 points, five rebounds). Backup center Elliott Eliason (originally from Chadron, Neb.) is heading home at a good time, coming off two strong games against Indiana and Penn State. Coach Tubby Smith said he might keep Julian Welch and Andre Ingram in the starting lineup after the seniors provided a spark in the last home game against Penn State. Trevor Mbakwe has led the way for the Gophers in the past two games, totaling 34 points and 25 rebounds in being named Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time this season.

Huskers at a glance: Wednesday is senior night in Lincoln, and the Huskers will honor their three outgoing players: Andre Almeida, Dylan Talley and Brandon Ubel — who are also three of the four players who really make the Huskers go (they combine for more than 30 points and 15 rebounds a game). Nebraska is coming off a seven-point loss to Illinois, getting 23 points from Ray Gallegos and 20 points from Talley. Considered perhaps the weakest Big Ten team coming into the year, the Huskers have played better than expected, challenging Northwestern for the No. 10 spot in the league. Nebraska ranks 11th nationally with only 10.9 turnovers a game, a feat made more impressive considering Nebraska lost its top three point guards from last year and its backup floor general to a season-ending injury.

amelia rayno