University of Minnesota Athletics
Preview: Gophers vs. Michigan State
12/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 26, 2016
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Arena: Williams Arena (14,625)
TV: ESPN2 - Rich Hollenberg (Play-by-Play); Fran Fraschilla (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/1500 ESPN - Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 84/XM 84
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 115th Meeting (56-58)
Series (Home): 55th Meeting (33-21)
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. MSU: 1-2
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 735-803
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 18-41
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team tips off its 112th season of Big Ten Conference play on Tuesday evening, hosting the Michigan State Spartans. Tuesday's game will mark the fifth time in the last 10 seasons that the Gophers have kicked off conference play against the Spartans, including four years ago, a 76-63 win at Williams Arena.
• The Gophers have won six straight and, with 12 wins and one loss, are off to their best start in four years. This season marks the 11th time in school history that the Gophers have begun a season at 12-1 or better.
• Minnesota received eight votes in the Associated Press poll, marking their fourth consecutive appearance there. In the latest edition of the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the Gophers stand in eighth place.
• Redshirt junior Reggie Lynch sits among the nation's leaders in blocked shots. The Edina, Minn. native now has 40 blocks on the season, leading both the team and the Big Ten Conference and ranking fifth nationally with an average of 3.33 blocks per game. He is spearheading the Minnesota team blocking effort which is second in the Big Ten and ranks 12th in Division I at 6.2 blocks per game.
• The Gophers have been able to hang their hat on defense this season thus far. Minnesota is allowing opponents to connect on just 36.2 percent of their field goal attempts, leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense and ranking 10th nationally in that category. In addition to ranking in the top-10 in that category, Minnesota is also ninth in total blocks (81) in the NCAA rankings (as of Dec. 21).
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
• Michigan State comes to Minneapolis to begin Big Ten play after an 8-5 non-conference season.
• Winners of four out of their last five, the Spartans most recently topped in-state foe Oakland at home, 77-65, on Dec. 21.
• Freshman Miles Bridges is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while Cassius Winston is atop the Big Ten with 6.0 assists per game.
• MSU has recently been without the services of Bridges, as the Preseason First Team All-American has missed the last five games due to an ankle injury.
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
• The Gophers are looking to close out the final month of 2016 with a bang, as they are 6-0 thus far in December.
• A win on Tuesday night would mark the second time under head coach Richard Pitino that the Gophers finished December undefeated, as they were 5-0 in 2013, Pitino's first season.
ON B1G OPENERS
• The Gophers are opening Big Ten play at home against the Spartans.
• Minnesota has dropped its last three B1G openers against Michigan, at Purdue, and at Ohio State.
• The Gophers' last win in a Big Ten opener came at home vs. Michigan State on Dec. 31, 2012.
• The Gophers are 11-19 in Big Ten openers since the 1980-81 season (excluding vacated season).
| Minnesota (12-1, 0-0) vs. Michigan State (8-5, 0-0) | |
| Date / Time | Tuesday, Dec. 27 | 8 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| TV/Live Video | ESPN2/WatchESPN |
| Radio | 1500 ESPN |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Michigan State |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Michigan State |
| Social Media | @GopherMBB | Facebook |
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Arena: Williams Arena (14,625)
TV: ESPN2 - Rich Hollenberg (Play-by-Play); Fran Fraschilla (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/1500 ESPN - Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 84/XM 84
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 115th Meeting (56-58)
Series (Home): 55th Meeting (33-21)
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. MSU: 1-2
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 735-803
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 18-41
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team tips off its 112th season of Big Ten Conference play on Tuesday evening, hosting the Michigan State Spartans. Tuesday's game will mark the fifth time in the last 10 seasons that the Gophers have kicked off conference play against the Spartans, including four years ago, a 76-63 win at Williams Arena.
• The Gophers have won six straight and, with 12 wins and one loss, are off to their best start in four years. This season marks the 11th time in school history that the Gophers have begun a season at 12-1 or better.
• Minnesota received eight votes in the Associated Press poll, marking their fourth consecutive appearance there. In the latest edition of the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the Gophers stand in eighth place.
• Redshirt junior Reggie Lynch sits among the nation's leaders in blocked shots. The Edina, Minn. native now has 40 blocks on the season, leading both the team and the Big Ten Conference and ranking fifth nationally with an average of 3.33 blocks per game. He is spearheading the Minnesota team blocking effort which is second in the Big Ten and ranks 12th in Division I at 6.2 blocks per game.
• The Gophers have been able to hang their hat on defense this season thus far. Minnesota is allowing opponents to connect on just 36.2 percent of their field goal attempts, leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense and ranking 10th nationally in that category. In addition to ranking in the top-10 in that category, Minnesota is also ninth in total blocks (81) in the NCAA rankings (as of Dec. 21).
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
• Michigan State comes to Minneapolis to begin Big Ten play after an 8-5 non-conference season.
• Winners of four out of their last five, the Spartans most recently topped in-state foe Oakland at home, 77-65, on Dec. 21.
• Freshman Miles Bridges is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while Cassius Winston is atop the Big Ten with 6.0 assists per game.
• MSU has recently been without the services of Bridges, as the Preseason First Team All-American has missed the last five games due to an ankle injury.
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
• The Gophers are looking to close out the final month of 2016 with a bang, as they are 6-0 thus far in December.
• A win on Tuesday night would mark the second time under head coach Richard Pitino that the Gophers finished December undefeated, as they were 5-0 in 2013, Pitino's first season.
ON B1G OPENERS
• The Gophers are opening Big Ten play at home against the Spartans.
• Minnesota has dropped its last three B1G openers against Michigan, at Purdue, and at Ohio State.
• The Gophers' last win in a Big Ten opener came at home vs. Michigan State on Dec. 31, 2012.
• The Gophers are 11-19 in Big Ten openers since the 1980-81 season (excluding vacated season).
Players Mentioned
Center
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