COLUMBUS, Ohio – Early Big Ten basketball games can be a blessing or a curse for teams depending on where they're at identity-wise after the first month of the season.
Records can be misleading, too.
Minnesota and Ohio State both entered Sunday's conference opener at 6-1, with wins against quality opponents. The Gophers, though, didn't look ready for the toughness of the Big Ten and were completely overmatched physically in a 79-59 loss against the No. 16 Buckeyes in front of 11,668 at Value City Arena.
The Buckeyes won their 11th straight game against the Gophers in Columbus. They pulled away in the first half with a 21-2 run that saw them never let up after holding a 17-4 rebounding edge with 10 second-chance points early. Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann's team dominated in areas that Gophers coach Richard Pitino hopes will eventually be strengths for his squad — scrappiness and toughness.
"They were the way more physical team, imposing their will on us," Pitino said. "Absolutely obliterating us on the backboard at the beginning of the game, and it set the tone for their guys. We were not ready for that physicality. We have to look ourselves in the mirror — players, coaches and myself — and figure out what we need to correct and move on."
Two days after his 26-point, 14-rebound performance in a win over Oklahoma State at U.S. Bank Stadium, Jordan Murphy became the 14th player in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 career rebounds, but he managed just seven points and seven boards in 24 minutes.
The Gophers' frontcourt was outplayed by the Buckeyes' rugged interior, which included 270-pound Kaleb Wesson, who had 14 of his 15 points in the second half. Minnesota was outrebounded 42-33 and gave up 20 second-chance points in the game.
"It's just about having that physical mind-set and playing tough," Murphy said. "We have to keep this bitter taste in our mouth and just get the mindset back of being gritty and playing tough."
