11 A.M. VS. RUTGERS • WILLIAMS ARENA • TV: BTN, 1500-AM
Gophers (11-7, 0-5 Big Ten) at a glance: They are hoping this moment from Tuesday's 77-75 loss to Iowa was the deepest point of their valley: a tying layup by DeAndre Mathieu came a fraction of a second after time expired, ruining a 17-point second half comeback. Coach Richard Pitino shuffled the lineup that game, benching Mathieu, Mo Walker and Carlos Morris in favor of Nate Mason (17 points, four assists, no turnovers, three steals), Charles Buggs and Elliott Eliason. Pitino plans to keep Mason in the starting role over Mathieu on Saturday, and for the foreseeable future.
Rutgers (10-8, 2-3) at a glance: Widely considered the worst team in the league, the Scarlet Knights caused some ears to perk up after taking down then-No. 4 Wisconsin on Sunday. Rutgers then threatened No. 14 Maryland on Wednesday, leading by as many as six in the second half before losing 73-65. F Kadeem Jack (12.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and PG Myles Mack (14.1 ppg) — "Mack 'n' Jack" — have been the only highlights on offense for a team that is shooting just 39.3 percent. But Rutgers has the second-best scoring defense (59.4 points a game) in league play.
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![Vikings guard Dalton Risner, right, runs through drills with Doug Nester (72) during practice at TCO Performance Center in Eagan on Friday.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/RYZVIHV57NFAXCWPKOIV2PAWY4.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)