U men gameday: Gophers at Indiana

Last update: March 5, 2008 - 12:04 AM

Preview: The last time the Gophers (18-10, 8-8 Big Ten) and No. 18 Indiana (24-5, 13-3) faced each other, the game wasn't decided until the final minutes, but that suspense also made the 65-60 loss in front of a sellout home crowd Jan. 17 even tougher for the Gophers. Tonight, they face an Indiana team that appeared to be drained in the midst of the controversy over departed coach Kelvin Sampson during a 29-point loss at Michigan State on Sunday. The Gophers earned their first significant victory of the season Saturday, beating Ohio State at home.

Key players: Senior D.J. White has all but locked up Big Ten Player of the Year honors. Playing his last game in front of a home crowd will be an emotional experience for him. By averaging 17 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, he's the reason that Indiana hasn't experienced a major collapse in the wake of Sampson's departure. ... Gophers guard Lawrence McKenzie has stepped up recently when his team has needed him most. Scoring 20 second-half points vs. Ohio State gave weight to Buckeyes guard Jamar Butler's claim that McKenzie is "the most underrated player" in the Big Ten. He is averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 42.2 percent from the three-point line.

Numbers: The Gophers average 14.4 turnovers per game compared to 16.0 for their opponents. They forced 26 Indiana turnovers in their first meeting. Overall, the Hoosiers have averaged 14 turnovers per game.

MYRON P. MEDCALF

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