University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, December 15
5:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Ohio State
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kristin Ostrowski
Gophers Tangle with Third-Ranked Buckeyes Sunday
12/13/2019 3:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN – Dave Revsine (Play-by-Play); Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 372
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 140th Meeting (51-88)*
Series (Home): 68th Meeting (35-32)*
Current Streak: L-3
Richard Pitino vs. Ohio State: 2-7
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 761-836*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 44-74
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team hosts its highest-ranked opponent since February 2018 as the Gophers welcome third-ranked Ohio State for the Maroon and Gold's Big Ten home opener. Minnesota is seeking its first win over a top-five team since defeating No. 5 Maryland at home on Feb. 18, 2016.
• Minnesota has been tested early and often, playing one of the nation's toughest schedules in both conference and non-conference play. Through the games of Dec. 12, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the 17th toughest in NCAA Division I based on cumulative opposition, with the Maroon and
Gold's opposition combining for a 72.6 winning percentage - a figure
which also ranks second in the Big Ten.
• Already twice this year, the Gophers have taken aim at the record books from beyond the 3-point arc. Against Central Michigan, Minnesota
drained 14 treys, which ties for the second-most in school history (last: 12/13/02 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson). Minnesota sank 13 3-pointers in the season opener vs. Cleveland State.
• Marcus Carr put up a career performance on Dec. 2 against his former conference foe Clemson, as the Pittsburgh transfer poured in a game- and career-high 24 points on 50 percent field goal shooting. Carr was one assist shy of a double-double as he powered the Gopher offense.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Dec. 13, Minnesota is 19th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 42nd in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), and 46th in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is seventh in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd) while 10th in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 16th in field goal percentage (B1G: 1st). Marcus Carr is 12th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Payton Willis leads the Big Ten and ranks 72nd in the nation in 3-pointers made per game.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
• As one of the top teams in the nation, Ohio State is off to a 9-0 start including a victory over Penn State in Columbus on Dec. 7, 106-74.
• OSU is outscoring its opponents on average by 26.2 points per game, a figure which ranks highest in the nation (as of Dec. 13). The Buckeyes are one of the nation's top defensive teams as well, holding opponents to 33.3 percent field goal shooting and 54.7 points per game, figures that rank second and fifth nationally.
• Leading a pair of double-figure scorers is center Kaleb Wesson, who averages team highs of 14.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.
WELCOME BACK, COACH
• Former Golden Gopher and current Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders will be honored this Sunday as part of Wells Fargo's Coming Home campaign.
• During the first half of Sunday's game against the Buckeyes, Saunders will be recognized on court. At halftime, he will sign autographs in the southeast corner of the Williams Arena concourse.
• Saunders was a walk on guard for the Gophers from 2004 until 2008, graduating in 2008 with a degree in sport management. After graduation, Saunders worked as a grad assistant for a year under head coach Tubby Smith before he moved onto a career in the NBA.
• In 2014, Saunders was named an assistant coach, serving under his father, former Gopher great, Flip Saunders. After serving as interim head coach for the Wolves, Saunders was officially named head coach this past May, becoming the youngest head coach in the NBA.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers return to non-conference play, traveling to Tulsa, Okla. on Saturday to face Oklahoma State in the BOK Center Basketball Showdown - a neutral site matchup just over an hour from OSU's campus in Stillwater.
• Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m., on ESPN2 while KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
TV: BTN – Dave Revsine (Play-by-Play); Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 372
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 140th Meeting (51-88)*
Series (Home): 68th Meeting (35-32)*
Current Streak: L-3
Richard Pitino vs. Ohio State: 2-7
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 761-836*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 44-74
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team hosts its highest-ranked opponent since February 2018 as the Gophers welcome third-ranked Ohio State for the Maroon and Gold's Big Ten home opener. Minnesota is seeking its first win over a top-five team since defeating No. 5 Maryland at home on Feb. 18, 2016.
• Minnesota has been tested early and often, playing one of the nation's toughest schedules in both conference and non-conference play. Through the games of Dec. 12, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the 17th toughest in NCAA Division I based on cumulative opposition, with the Maroon and
Gold's opposition combining for a 72.6 winning percentage - a figure
which also ranks second in the Big Ten.
• Already twice this year, the Gophers have taken aim at the record books from beyond the 3-point arc. Against Central Michigan, Minnesota
drained 14 treys, which ties for the second-most in school history (last: 12/13/02 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson). Minnesota sank 13 3-pointers in the season opener vs. Cleveland State.
• Marcus Carr put up a career performance on Dec. 2 against his former conference foe Clemson, as the Pittsburgh transfer poured in a game- and career-high 24 points on 50 percent field goal shooting. Carr was one assist shy of a double-double as he powered the Gopher offense.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Dec. 13, Minnesota is 19th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 42nd in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), and 46th in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is seventh in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd) while 10th in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 16th in field goal percentage (B1G: 1st). Marcus Carr is 12th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Payton Willis leads the Big Ten and ranks 72nd in the nation in 3-pointers made per game.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
• As one of the top teams in the nation, Ohio State is off to a 9-0 start including a victory over Penn State in Columbus on Dec. 7, 106-74.
• OSU is outscoring its opponents on average by 26.2 points per game, a figure which ranks highest in the nation (as of Dec. 13). The Buckeyes are one of the nation's top defensive teams as well, holding opponents to 33.3 percent field goal shooting and 54.7 points per game, figures that rank second and fifth nationally.
• Leading a pair of double-figure scorers is center Kaleb Wesson, who averages team highs of 14.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.
WELCOME BACK, COACH
• Former Golden Gopher and current Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders will be honored this Sunday as part of Wells Fargo's Coming Home campaign.
• During the first half of Sunday's game against the Buckeyes, Saunders will be recognized on court. At halftime, he will sign autographs in the southeast corner of the Williams Arena concourse.
• Saunders was a walk on guard for the Gophers from 2004 until 2008, graduating in 2008 with a degree in sport management. After graduation, Saunders worked as a grad assistant for a year under head coach Tubby Smith before he moved onto a career in the NBA.
• In 2014, Saunders was named an assistant coach, serving under his father, former Gopher great, Flip Saunders. After serving as interim head coach for the Wolves, Saunders was officially named head coach this past May, becoming the youngest head coach in the NBA.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers return to non-conference play, traveling to Tulsa, Okla. on Saturday to face Oklahoma State in the BOK Center Basketball Showdown - a neutral site matchup just over an hour from OSU's campus in Stillwater.
• Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m., on ESPN2 while KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
Highlights: Gophers 57, Purdue 85
Wednesday, December 10
Gopher Round Table: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, December 10
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Indiana
Saturday, December 06
Highlights: Gophers 73, Indiana 64
Wednesday, December 03