University of Minnesota Athletics
Preview: Gophers vs. Florida Atlantic
12/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| Minnesota (10-3) vs. Florida Atlantic (6-5) | |
| Date / Time | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 2:30 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| TV | Big Ten Network |
| Watch Online | BTN2Go |
| Radio | KFAN 100.3 FM |
| Live Stats | |
| Live Updates | Click Here |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | FAU |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | FAU |
| Social Media | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, December 23, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Arena: Williams Arena (14,625)
TV/Live Video: BTN - Cory Provus (Play-by-Play); Stephen Bardo (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 135/XM 195
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Second Meeting*
Series (Home): Second Meeting*
Current Streak: n/a*
Richard Pitino vs. FAU: 1-1
Minnesota vs. C-USA: 11-5*
Richard Pitino vs. C-USA: 6-7
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team takes the court once more before the holidays, a Saturday matinee against Florida Atlantic. While this is the only the second time the two schools faced, head coach Richard Pitino went 1-1 against the Owls during his year at the helm of FIU.
• Junior Jordan Murphy will be honored prior to the game after the forward crossed the 1,000-point mark on Thursday night against Oral Roberts. Murphy became the 42nd member of the Gophers' 1,000-point club early in the second half.
• Murphy is leading the team and Big Ten Conference averaging 20.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game through the first 13 games - the latter statistic atop the national leaders as well. The three-time Big Ten Player of the Week became the first Gopher to win the award in back-to-back weeks. Murphy is also just the second Gopher to win it three times in the same season. He also leads the country in offensive rebounds (5.3) per game, as of Dec. 20.
• Reggie Lynch is third in the country and leading the Big Ten with 4.2 blocks per game. Lynch passed Joel Przybilla on the Gophers' career list and now sits alone in fifth with 168 career blocks. As a team the Gophers are third in the country with 7.5 blocks per game.
• Murphy has posted 13 double-doubles (highest in the country) thus far this season, and did so in the first 13 games of the season. His 12 to start the season was a feat that hadn't been accomplished in 10 years nationwide, when Michael Beasley did so at Kansas State in the 2007-08 season.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
• Florida Atlantic is 6-5 on the year, coming off two straight losses at home to Arkansas State and on the road at Texas Tech.
• FAU is led by Justin Massey's 14.1 points per game, with the senior guard's scoring all coming off the bench this season.
• Owls head coach Michael Curry is in his fourth season in Boca Raton after a long career in the NBA both as a player and coach. Curry played for seven teams in a pro career that spanned from 1992-2005.
GOPHERS VS. CONFERENCE USA
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 11-5 against the current membership of Conference USA, excluding vacated seasons.
• Series breakdowns are as follows: FIU (1-0), FAU (0-0)*, Louisiana Tech (1-0), Middle Tennessee (2-2)*, Rice (0-1)*, Southern Mississippi (1-0), UAB (2-2)*, UTEP (1-0), UTSA (1-0), Western Kentucky (2-0).
• Asterisks indicate vacated games that are not reflected in the series records.
• Minnesota last faced a team from Conference USA in March, falling to Middle Tennessee in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota takes a one-week break for the holidays, and will return to action next Saturday in the Gophers' final non-conference game, hosting Harvard at 1 p.m.
• Big Ten Network and KFAN 100.3 FM will carry the broadcasts of the game.
