Will the Gophers show offensive changes against Arkansas State?

Arkansas State vs. Gophers

THREE THINGS TO WATCH:

COFFEY'S HEALTH– The Gophers would have more than one loss right now if not for the play of freshman Amir Coffey. Coffey combined for 49 points in wins against St. John's and Arkansas. He also two clutch baskets in the last few minutes to escape Vanderbilt. Minnesota beat LIU-Brooklyn last week with Coffey sidelined with turf toe. A strong return from injury Friday for Coffey would go a long way toward helping the talented 6-foot-8 guard feel confident going into Big Ten play next week.

NEW LOOK OFFENSE–Gophers coach Richard Pitino talked last weekend about working during the team's nine-day break on tweaking the offense a bit. His plan was to play Coffey more at point guard at times, while Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer are off the ball. Mason and McBrayer combined for 40 points and 12 assists in the win against LIU-Brooklyn. Trying to figure out a way to get the best out of them, Coffey and Akeem Springs in the backcourt is a challenge.

CONTAIN CARTER– Arkansas State's leading scorer Devin Carter is averaging 17.3 points per game was an All-Sun Belt Conference preseason first team selection. The 6-4 senior guard has five 20-point games this season, including 25 points in an upset against Georgetown on Nov. 17 and 33 points in a win against Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 14. Carter hit 10-for-19 three-pointers against UT Martin. He ranks 12th nationally with 3.58 three-pointers per game.

GAME INFO

Time: 6 p.m. CT, Friday. Where: Williams Arena. Line: Gophers by 13. Series: First meeting. TV: BTN. Online/Live video: BTN2go. Radio: 1500ESPN.

MINNESOTA (11-1)

Pos.-Player Ht. Yr. PPG

G-Nate Mason 6-2 Jr. 13.2

G-Dupree McBrayer 6-5 So. 12.1

G-Amir Coffey 6-8 Fr. 12.4

C-Reggie Lynch 6-10 Jr. 8.7

Key reserves – Eric Curry, F/C, 6-9, Fr., 6.8 ppg; Akeem Springs, G, 6-4, Sr., 8.9 ppg; Ahmad Gilbert, F, 6-6, So., 2.2 ppg; Bakary Konate, C, 6-11, Jr., 2.3 ppg

Coach: Richard Pitino 80-66 (5th season)

Notable: The Gophers have recorded 20 or more assists twice in the last three games and have 60 total assists during that span. Mason and McBrayer have 34 assists and just eight turnovers combined in the last three games. Minnesota ranks fourth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (plus-1.5) and sixth in assists per game (16.0).

ARKANSAS STATE (9-3)

G-Donte Thomas 6-4 Sr. 8.7

G-Rashad Lindsey 5-11 Sr. 9.0

G-C.J. Foster 6-2 Jr. 7.0

G-Devin Carter 6-4 Sr. 17.3

F-Nelson Nweke 6-8 Jr. 2.2

Coach: Grant McCasland 208-47 (8th season)

Notable: The Gophers are a pretty good team defending three-pointers this season holding opponents to 28.1 percent this year, which is second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. But Arkansas State is even better this season. The Red Wolves are second nationally in three-point shooting percentage defense (26.6), holding eight opponents this year to 28 percent shooting or less from beyond the arc.