U men gameday: Gophers at Colorado State

Last update: November 22, 2008 - 1:05 AM

Preview: Tim Miles inherited a Colorado State team last season with a lot of problems. This season, he has six new recruits, and the Rams have won their first two games. Four players stand 6-9 or taller, including Ole Miss transfer Andy Ogide, and top guard Marcus Walker also returns. The Gophers (3-0) held Division II Concordia (St. Paul), Bowling Green and Georgia State to 35 percent shooting in winning three games in the NABC Classic at Williams Arena. The Gophers might be without the services of freshman center Ralph Sampson III (strep throat).

Key players: The Gophers have struggled with aggressive perimeter players, and Walker could be a handful. He is averaging 24 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the floor, and he had 18 points and six assists in Colorado State's 91-74 loss to the Gophers last year at Williams Arena. Junior guard Lawrence Westbrook has paced the Gophers with 16 points per game, and he's also going to have to help neutralize Walker.

Numbers: Ogide is averaging a double-double: 16.5 points and 11.5 rebounds. The Gophers are shooting 32.2 percent from the new three-point line, after hitting 36.7 percent a year ago.

MYRON P. MEDCALF