GOPHERS vs. MIAMI (FLA.)
Three things to watch:
MASON VS. THE WORLD – For the second straight game, the Gophers' backcourt will face a big test against an opponent that is considered better and more talented. First it was Alabama's Collin Sexton and John Petty, who are potential NBA draft picks. On Wednesday night, Miami (Fla.) has a pair of its own top pro prospects with Bruce Brown Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV. Minnesota's senior captain Nate Mason rose to the challenge against Sexton on Saturday, outplaying with him 20 points, including 11 during a six-minute stretch in the second half. But Mason got too emotional and was ejected with two technical fouls for talking trash. Mason loves to take on all challengers with his me-against-the-world mentality. That swagger he plays with makes him arguably the best guard in the Big Ten. But he also can't put his team in a bind being thrown out of the game or taking bad shots just to prove he can play with anybody. The All-Big Ten floor leader has been great this season picking when to call his number scoring and get teammates involved. Miami's senior point guard Ja'Quan Newton will be tasked to shut down Mason, so that will be something to watch. Brown vs. Gophers sophomore Amir Coffey is another intriguing matchup.
REBOUNDING MARGIN – Not many teams have kept the Gophers from crashing the boards this year. They average 43.7 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big Ten. A lot of that comes from having the league's top rebounder in Jordan Murphy (12.3 per game). But Reggie Lynch is also a double-double threat with 8.3 rebounds per game. Coffey's size on the wing at 6-8 helps him clean up on the glass as well at 4.6. Mason is solid rebounder (4.3) at the guard spot and for his height at 6-2. The Hurricane rank sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding offense at 41.0. The 6-foot-5 Brown, who has two 11-rebound games this year, is one of the top rebounding guards in the country with a team-high 8.3 average.
MURPHY'S OWN LAW – The Gophers haven't seen much go wrong yet for Jordan Murphy, who is having an All-American type start to the season. He's leading the Big Ten with 22 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. This would be the absolute worse time for him to struggle against Minnesota's first ranked opponent at home Wednesday night against No. 10 Miami. But Murphy makes it easier on himself not trying to force the issue offensively each game. He usually gets going by pounding the boards to score off putbacks and dunks cutting to the basket. Sometimes Lynch will even get the ball thrown to him in the post first to establish an inside presence. Murphy's improved his range and ball-handling to become even harder to guard. Good luck keeping him from extending to his double-double streak, which stands at seven in a row. The last Big Ten player to start the season with seven double-doubles was former Iowa big man Reggie Evans, who played for more than a decade in the NBA. If Murphy gets a shot at the next level, it will be as an enforcer and rugged rebounder like Evans.
GAME INFO
Time: 8:15 p.m. CT, Wednesday. Where: Williams Arena. Line: Minnesota by 5 points. Series: Tied 1-1. Minnesota won last meeting 78-60 on March 19, 2012 in the second round of the NIT at Miami. TV: ESPN2. Online/Live video: ESPNapp Radio: 100.3 FM and 1130 AM
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