Gophers need aggressive 'D' against Big Ten's best starting five

Columbus, Ohio - There are a lot of reasons to worry about the outcome of Sunday's game between Minnesota and No. 20 Ohio State if you're a Gophers fan.

The Gophers haven't won at Ohio State under Tubby Smith.

And their Jan. 9 victory at Williams Arena came after Al Nolen had one of the best games of his career (11 points, seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and two turnovers). Blake Hoffarber's 27 points in that game were a career high, too.

Nolen's academically ineligible and Hoffarber's struggled on the road.

Senior co-captain Damian Johnson, who also played well in the last meeting, has not been the same player since tearing ligaments in his right hand before a Jan. 17 overtime loss at Indiana.

Plus, I think the Buckeyes have improved since that outing. That was All-America Evan Turner's second game after returning from a back injury that kept him out six games. He was still very good but struggled to get into a rhythm until the second half.

All he's done since that game is lead Ohio State to four straight conference victories, while making a good case for national player of the year honors.

The Gophers have a lot on the line.

Sweeping a nationally ranked Buckeyes team would give the Gophers' NCAA tournament resume a serious boost. A loss could send them spiraling into the NIT.

For both teams, however, the keys to the game are clear.

Turner's going to do everything in his power to take advantage of Joseph and whomever else Minnesota puts on him. Ohio State's a different team when Turner gets going early, something he didn't do in the last matchup between the two squads.

For the Gophers, the solution is simple.

The Buckeyes would have beaten the Gophers Jan. 9 without his crazy streak in the second half and their own scoring drought.

For whatever reason, Thad Matta used a zone against the nation's top three-point shooter.

Wrong answer.

On Sunday, I think David Lighty or William Buford will shadow Hoffarber, who has gone 2-for-11 from the three-point line in his last three Big Ten road games. He hasn't responded well to that kind of constant pressure in recent matchups.

In the end, I think Ohio State will outplay Minnesota, a team that's 2-6 away from Williams Arena, meaning the Gophers will enter February with even more question marks about their postseason destination.

-Johnson's really struggled with the thumb injury that has affected his entire game and the entire team.

He's not as active on the glass because I think he's in a lot of pain.

In the last three games, Johnson has averaged 6.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Still, he managed to pick up five steals and eight blocks during that stretch.

How is this guy leading the Big Ten in steals and blocks with that kind of injury?

"He hasn't been able to rebound the ball as well," Smith said. "With a tendon tear like that. He's got a protective soft cast. He has struggled, but he's a gamer. He's a guy that's made up for it. I told him 'learn to use your left hand more.'"

-Sunday's matchup is a Coaches vs. Cancer game, so Smith and his staff will wear tennis shoes on the sidelines.

-Are the Gophers facing the Minnesota Timberwolves' lottery pick? Maybe. Turner's definitely played his way into the lottery and some prognosticators think he's good enough to be a top five pick.

The T-Wolves need a lot of things and Turner can do a lot of things. It could happen.

-I've seen some pretty good halftime performances in my three years on this beat. The lady that changes into like 20 outfits in three minutes. Amazing. The super trampoline dunkers. Good stuff. The speedy dogs. I like it.

But I'm kind of excited for Sunday's halftime ceremony, which will honor Ohio State's 1960 national champions. Expected to attend: Bob Knight, former Boston Celtics great John Havlicek and NBA Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas.