University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Travel to Madison to Face the Badgers
2/27/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| Minnesota (17-12, 5-11) vs. Wisconsin (21-8, 10-6) | |
| Date | Tuesday, February 28, 2012 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Kohl Center (17,230) |
| Series Record | Minnesota leads 94-86 |
| Last Meeting | L, 68-61 OT (Feb. 9, 2012) |
| Television | BTN (Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson) |
| Radio | Learfield/1500 ESPN (Listen Online) |
| (Mike Grimm, Spencer Tollackson) | |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
| Season Statistics | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
| Social Media | Facebook | @MNGopherHoops | @CoachTubbySmith |
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 181st meeting (94-86)
Series (Away): 87th meeting (33-53)
Current Streak: L-2
Last Meeting: Feb. 9, 2012 (L, 68-61 OT)
Tubby Smith vs. Wisconsin: 9th meeting (4-4)
Minnesota vs. Current Big Ten: 707-748
Tubby Smith vs. Current Big Ten: 58-63
Game Day Tid-Bits:
• Minnesota is looking to end its five-game losing streak on Tuesday against Wisconsin at The Kohl Center.
• Wisconsin is the Gophers' eighth top-25 opponent this season and its fifth in six games.
• The Gophers & Badgers will be meeting for the 181st time on Tuesday night in Madison, making it the longest running series in Gopher history. Minnesota/Iowa is a close second at a 178 games. The Gophers are 94-86 all-time in the series.
• Gopher senior Ralph Sampson III comes into the game 4 points shy of 1,000 career points. With 1,000 points, Sampson III will become just the fifth Gopher player with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 blocks. The others are Kevin McHale, Randy Breuer, Mychal Thompson and Michael Bauer.
• Junior Julian Welch is leading the Gophers in three-point shooting in his first season on campus. He comes into the Wisconsin game sixth in the Big ten Conference in three-point shooting at .434 (36-83). His precentage is currently the third-highest single-season performance in Gopher history behind Travarus Bennett (.469: 2001-02) & Blake Hoffarber (.467: 2009-10).
• Sophomore Austin Hollins has hit seven of his last 11 three-point shots heading into the game against Wisconsin.
• Minnesota has led the Big Ten Conference in blocked shots during the last three seasons, including three of the top four season block totals in the history of the Gopher program: a program leading 201 in 2008-09, 199 in 2009-10 and 169 last season. Sampson III led the team in blocked shots last season and is currently third all-time in program history with 196 career swats. Minnesota has blocked 145 shots this season for an average of 5.0 per game, tops in Big Ten, led by Rodney Williams with 42. Williams is fourth in the conference with an average of 1.4 bpg. Sampson III is seventh at 1.2 bpg with 30 swats on the season.
Sampson III & the Gopher Record Books:
Trevor Mbakwe had been the talk of the Gophers entering the season but the other senior co-captain, Ralph Sampson III, will more than likely finish his Minnesota career as one of the best big men in program history.
Sampson III comes into the Wisconsin game four points shy of 1,000 for his career. With that he will become just the fifth player to finish his Gopher career with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 blocks (Kevin McHale, Randy Breuer, Mychal Thompson and Michael Bauer).
Sampson III Career Numbers:
• 123 career games played (111 starts) - T8th All-Time
• 996 career points (8.1 average)
• 618 career rebounds (5.0 average)
• 196 career blocks (1.6 average) - third-most in Gopher History
Smith Seeking 100th Win at Minnesota:
• With 20 wins during the 2011-12 season Golden Gopher head coach Tubby Smith could join a short list of coaches to reach the 100-win plateau at the University of Minnesota.
• Smith began the season with a Gopher record of 80-53 and currently stands at 97-65.
• Smith's 80 wins at Minnesota to start the 2011-12 season are the most by a coach in his first four seasons on the bench in Gold Country.
• Smith's winning percentage of .599 is the fourth highest in the history of the program.
Minnesota Coaches with 100 Wins
| L.J. Cooke | 250-135 (28 seasons) |
| Clem Haskins | 240-165 (13 seasons) |
| Dave McMillan | 196-156 (18 seasons) |
| Jim Dutcher | 190-113 (11 seasons) |
| O.B. Cowles | 147-93 (11 seasons) |
| Dan Monson | 118-106 (7 seasons) |
| John Kundla | 110-105 (9 seasons) |
*includes vacated games
Minnesota Coaches Winning Percentage
| Bill Musselman | .683: 69-32 (4 seasons) |
| L.J. Cooke | .649: 250-135 (28 seasons) |
| Jim Dutcher | .627: 190-113 (11 seasons) |
| Tubby Smith | .599: 97-65 (5 seasons) |
