University of Minnesota Athletics
MBB: Gophers End Homestand Against Purdue in Big Ten Battle
1/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Matchup
The Minnesota Golden Gophers play the final game of their eight-game homestand vs. the Purdue Boilermakers. Minnesota has won nine games in a row, the longest streak under Dan Monson and the longest streak since the 1989-90 season. The Gophers opened Big Ten play with a decisive, 83-62 victory over Penn State on Saturday. Purdue enters the contest with a 4-8 overall record, 0-2 in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers led No. 1 Illinois in the second half of their game this past Saturday, but fell 68-59 in West Lafayette. The game will mark the final game in Williams Arena for Purdue head coach Gene Keady. Keady is retiring after 25 years at Purdue, he holds a 12-11 record in his coaching career at the Barn. Minnesota head coach Dan Monson will present Keady with a gift before the game.
Scouting the Boilermakers
The Boilermakers are led by Carl Landry, a junior college transfer from Vincennes University. Landry leads the team and is second in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.9 points per game. Landry also leads the team in rebounding and ranks fourth overall in the conference at 7.4 rpg. The 6-7, 240-pound Landry is shooting .619 from the field and .698 from the free-throw line. Junior guard David Teague is the Boilers top outside threat and is second on the team in scoring at 13.2 ppg. Two other Purdue players average in double figures. Senior guard Brandon McKnight averages 12.4 ppg and junior forward Matt Kiefer is at 11.8 ppg. For the season, Purdue is shooting .422 from the field and .293 from three-point range. Their oppenents are shooting .460 and .456 from three-point land.
The Series
Purdue holds a 90-71 advantage (including vacated games) in the series. Minnesota leads 44-31 in Minneapolis. Purdue won two of three meetings last season, winning both regular season meetings. The Gophers won the last meeting at the 2004 Big Ten Tournament. Monson is 4-6 vs. Purdue.
What's Next
Minnesota takes to the road for the first time in the conference season and the first time since early December when they bus to Iowa City for a Saturday matchup with the #23/24 Hawkeyes. Game time is 1:30 p.m., and will be shown live on KSTC Ch. 45.
