Gophers at Illinois
THREE THINGS TO WATCH:
LAST FIVE MINUTES– The biggest factor in the Gophers' five-game losing streak is their inability to finish games. How bad has it been? They have a 3-47 record in four seasons under coach Richard Pitino when trailing with five minutes left, including 1-4 this season. The lone win this season came Dec. 3 in a 56-52 victory against Vanderbilt in Sioux Falls, S.D. Freshman Amir Coffey made two clutch shots in the last 95 seconds to help seal the comeback win, the first win after being down with five minutes left since 2015 (Minnesota went 0-21 in those situations last season).
LOST DEFENSE– Oh Where, Oh where has Minnesota's defense gone? Oh where, Oh where can it be? Remember that old kids' song about the little dog being gone. Was it ever found at the end of the song? I don't think so. But in the Gophers' case, they better uncover the defensive prowess that helped them start the season 15-2. Pitino's team still ranks 14th nationally and second in the Big Ten in defensive efficiency. But Minnesota is seventh in conference games in field goal percentage defense (43.0) and seventh in three-point field goal defense (35.0 percent). What's more concerning is that the last three opponents (Ohio State, Wisconsin and Maryland) have shot 50 percent or better from the field.
GO-TO GUY– The Gophers have three players who have taken the last shot to either win the game or force overtime this season: Akeem Springs, Nate Mason and Amir Coffey. Only one of them succeeded when Springs' three-pointer sent the game into overtime in a 78-76 loss Jan. 21 at home. Springs missed a three-pointer in overtime to win the game, but it was a botched play when Bakary Konate failed to set a proper down screen. Moving forward, the Gophers likely need to figure out if Springs, Mason or Coffey is the go-to guy and feed him the ball in crunch time. Mason has the most shots (4-for-13) in the last five minutes of the five close losses in Big Ten play. Springs and Coffey haven't shot the ball any better in that situation (3-for-14 combined).
GAME INFO
Time: 3 P.M. CT, Saturday. Where: State Farm Center. Line: Gophers-Illinois even. Series: Illinois 122-65; Illinois won last meeting 85-52 March 9, 2016 in Indianapolis. TV: BTN. Online/Live video: BTN2go Radio: 1500ESPN.
PROJECTED STARTERS