Gophers will face toughest tests thus far

Back-to-back home games vs. No. 9 Indiana and No. 11 Michigan State will present a stiff challenge to the team's progress.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: January 14, 2008 - 11:04 PM

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GOPHERS' BIG WEEK

8 p.m. Thursday vs. (9) Indiana

Williams Arena • TV: ESPN (830-AM)

3 p.m. Sunday vs. (11) Michigan State

Williams Arena • TV: Big Ten Network (830-AM)

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The Gophers have had little time to savor Saturday's come-from-behind victory at Penn State, facing their toughest week of the season at Williams Arena with games against No. 9 Indiana on Thursday and No. 11 Michigan State on Sunday.

The good news for the Gophers: Neither opponent appears as invincible as it did a few days ago. Indiana (14-1, 3-0 Big Ten) -- which leads the conference in scoring and rebounding and is sporting an 11-game winning streak behind freshman guard Eric Gordon -- barely got past visiting Illinois 62-58 on Sunday. Michigan State suffered a 43-36 loss at Iowa a day earlier.

"I think the league's going to be, top to bottom, as competitive as it ever has been," said Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, whose friendship with Gophers coach Tubby Smith goes back decades. "This is just one of those years where truly anybody can beat anybody on any given night."

That's certainly what the Gophers are hoping. Minnesota (12-3, 2-1) is only one conference victory away from matching last season's Big Ten total. The Gophers gave Michigan State a scare at East Lansing a week ago and overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat Penn State 76-73 on Saturday.

"We're coming off a good win for us at Penn State," Smith said. "We did what we had to do to win. Certainly, we know we have to play a lot better Thursday against a very good Indiana team."

Sampson praised Smith for the rebuilding job he has done in his first season at Minnesota.

"I've just been real impressed with the job that Tubby's done," Sampson said. "If you look at the Minnesota team last year, he's done a great job with those seniors [Spencer Tollackson, Lawrence McKenzie and Dan Coleman]. They've embraced him. They play for him. They play hard, too."

Michigan State (14-2, 2-1) experienced the Gophers' tenacity Jan. 5, when Minnesota erased most of a 13-point deficit at Breslin Center and nearly pulled off an upset before losing 65-59 in front of a crowd of 14,759. Spartans coach Tom Izzo said the Gophers has been successful because their veterans and young players have stepped up this season.

Blake Hoffarber has hit five three-pointers in each of the Gophers' past two games -- victories over Northwestern and Penn State -- and leads the Big Ten in three-point percentage (.494). Al Nolen leads the Big Ten in steals (2.47) and is eighth in assists (3.87), and has 13 assists and six steals in the past two games.

"I would say both freshmen [Nolen and Hoffarber] have done a great job for Tubby; they've given him a little bit of something," Izzo said. "Those three seniors that have a lot of years experience have been dynamite."

The Gophers had the time and opportunities to erase their mistakes against Penn State and escape with a victory. But against better opponents, they will have a slimmer margin of error.

Smith recognizes that and said his team will have to consistently play at a high level if it intends to walk out of Williams Arena with victories that could enhance its postseason outlook.

"Obviously, we want to continue to play well," he said. "We know it's going to be a real challenge. And yeah, it would be huge for anyone to get a win against a ranked team, but especially since we're playing one of the highly ranked teams in the country in the Hoosiers, we've got to find a way to play well, and I think if we play well, we'll have a chance."

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