Opening Tipoff:

The DEETS. Minnesota plays at Iowa at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Watch on Big Ten Network or listen live on 1500-a.m.

The READING. The Hawkeyes' average height ranks fifth nationally, while Minnesota's lands 163rd. Think Iowa's size is a problem for the Gophers? The Hawkeyes aren't the only ones -- coach Richard Pitino says getting bigger in the years ahead is a priority. Preview here.

The BUZZ.

**There has been no shortage of eye-poking talk following Iowa center Adam Woodbury's third incident vs. Maryland on Sunday. The Gophers are downplaying the drama, but center Mo Walker says he's remaining vigilant just in case.

**Minnesota has now won three its four last games after the Gophers notched their first back-to-back wins vs. Nebraska and Purdue at home. The Gophers don't have any road wins in conference play and have managed just two in Pitino's tenure at Minnesota. Starting with Iowa, Minnesota plays four of next five away from Williams Arena. The Purdue game marked Minnesota's seventh in conference that finished within two possessions. Minnesota has lost six of those.

**After Saturday's 23-turnover, 17-steal win over Purdue, Minnesota has moved up to second national in steals percentage according to kenpom.com and fourth in defensive turnover percentage. The Gophers have 27 steals and have forced 43 turnovers in the last two games.

**If the Gophers win on Thursday, they will have exactly the same record through 12 non-conference games as last year: 16-9; 5-7. The biggest difference? Last season, Minnesota had victories over ranked Wisconsin and Ohio State among their victories. In a down Big Ten season, the Gophers are still hunting for their first ranked win.

**Minnesota sent Purdue -- a top-40 team nationally at getting to the line -- to the foul line just five times on Saturday, a season low for the Boilermakers. Minnesota has had such restraint just three times this season and two of them have come in the last two games. In home games vs. Nebraska and Purdue, Minnesota allowed just ten free-throw attempts.

**Ken Pom predicts that Minnesota will win three more conference games to finish 7-11, which should be more than enough to earn its third NIT bid in four years. The Gophers have made the NIT championship game in each of the last two trips.

**Iowa has scored an average of 1.23 points per possessions in its last two games, wins vs Michigan and at Maryland.

The PLAYER.

Before the Gophers' 62-58 win over Purdue, Pitino pulled power forward Joey King aside.

"I know you have a shot-fake quota you have reach," he said, full of snark. "Get it out of the way early and then bombs away ... I don't care how many threes you take -- bombs away."

It was a welcomed night of production for a player that makes the shooting motion far more than he actually shoots.

Trying to explain a now legendary shot fake that is as much a part of his game night as his jersey is -- and is used more like a nervous tick than an attempt to create space -- King said he thinks he picked it up one summer from "one of the older guys" in casual pickup games at Lifetime Fitness.

Did it ever work?

"Ehhh..." he said. "Sometimes."

In the last few games, we've seen it a little less. King, when he isn't hesitating, has a very nice touch and plenty of range. He's totaled 20 points in the last two games vs. Nebraska and Purdue/