Gophers men's gameday
8 P.M. VS. Michigan • BTN; 1500-AM
Gophers (6-17; 0-11 Big Ten): Minnesota matched its worst start ever in Big Ten play with an 82-58 loss at Northwestern on Thursday, mirroring the 1922-23 season, when the Gophers also began the league slate with 11 losses. Guard Nate Mason, after averaging 20 points and 7.3 assists in the previous four games, managed only eight and two against the Wildcats. Minnesota shot only 33.3 percent and allowed Northwestern to hit 12 three-pointers. The Gophers have lost 12 in a row and 15 of the past 16. Wednesday's game is a "maroon out" at Williams Arena, with fans being asked to wear that color. Minnesota has gone more than a full year without a Big Ten victory at home (the last coming over Purdue on Feb. 7, 2015).
Michigan (17-7; 7-4): The Wolverines have dropped their past two games, to No. 22 Indiana and No. 10 Michigan State at home by a total of 29 points. The Wolverines are allowing 72.3 points per game in conference play, 10th in the league, and letting opponents shoot 47.1 percent from the field, second worst in the league and the highest percentage in the John Beilein era, according to MLive. Michigan also ranks first in the Big Ten in made three-pointers, averaging 9.9 a game. The Gophers lost to Michigan 74-69 in Ann Arbor on Jan. 20, falling just short after a hot second half in which they shot 46.9 percent and held Michigan to 31 percent from the field.
AMELIA RAYNO
