University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, December 21
Tulsa, OK
4:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Oklahoma State
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kristin Ostrowski
Tulsa Time: Gophers Meet OSU in BOK Center Basketball Showdown Saturday
12/20/2019 11:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPN2 – Mark Neely (Play-by-Play); Jon Crispin (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 381
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Seventh Meeting (4-3)
Series (Neutral): Third Meeting (1-1)
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. Oklahoma State: 1-1
Minnesota vs. Big XII: 40-34*
Richard Pitino vs. Big XII: 1-3
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team heads to Tulsa for the second of a two-game neutral-court series with Oklahoma State on Saturday. Last season, the Gophers defeated the Cowboys, 83-76, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This is the Gophers second-game ever in Tulsa, after defeating the University of Tulsa exactly 69 years ago Saturday, 66-63.
• The Gophers are coming off the biggest win of the Richard Pitino era, rankings-wise, knocking off then No. 3/2 Ohio State on Sunday at Williams Arena, 84-71. It was the second win over a top-five team Pitino and first since defeating Coaches Poll 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. 19, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the 18th toughest in NCAA Division I based on cumulative opposition, with the Maroon and
Gold's opposition combining for a 71.8 winning percentage - a figure
which also ranks third in the Big Ten.
• In two of the last three games, Marcus Carr has put up career performances. On Dec. 2 against his former conference foe Clemson, the Pittsburgh transfer poured in a game- and career-high 24 points on 50 percent field goal shooting. Thirteen days later, Carr fueled the Gopher upset of the Buckeyes with a career-high 35 points, a total which ranks tied for 20th-highest in program history. His 27 points in the second half is the second-most by any Gopher all-time in a half. The 35-point total is the second highest by any Big Ten player this season.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Dec. 20, Minnesota is 21st in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 55th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), and 46th in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is eighth in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd) and rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 22nd in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Marcus Carr is 11th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten's second leading scorer, trailing Iowa's Luka Garza (22.4 ppg).
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
• Oklahoma State snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday with a 61-55 win at Houston. The Cowboys opened the season with seven straight wins before suffering losses at home to Georgetown and Wichita State.
• Four OSU scorers average double figures, led by Isaac Likekele who contributes 13.7 points along with team highs of 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per contest.
• Oklahoma State has a 50-26 (.658) all-time record when playing games in Tulsa, just over an hour from its campus in Stillwater. This is their second game in the BOK Center.
• This year, the Cowboys are 4-0 in games away from home.
GOPHERS VS. THE BIG XII
• Minnesota has a 40-34 record against the current membership of the Big XII, excluding vacated games.
• Series records against Big XII schools are as follows, excluding vacated games: Iowa State (18-11), Kansas (1-1), Kansas State (9-6), Oklahoma (4-5), Oklahoma State (4-3), Texas (0-1), TCU (2-0), Texas Tech (1-5), West Virginia (1-2).
• Saturday's game is the scecond of two Big XII opponents for the Maroon and Gold, both coming on neutral courts (Oklahoma in Sioux Falls, Nov. 9).
UP NEXT
• The Gophers close out the non-conference slate at home after a week off for the holidays, hosting Florida International at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28.
• The game is the first for Gophers head coach Richard Pitino against his former team, which he coached from 2012-13.
• BTN and KFAN 100.3 FM will have the live game broadcasts from Williams Arena.
TV: ESPN2 – Mark Neely (Play-by-Play); Jon Crispin (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 381
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Seventh Meeting (4-3)
Series (Neutral): Third Meeting (1-1)
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. Oklahoma State: 1-1
Minnesota vs. Big XII: 40-34*
Richard Pitino vs. Big XII: 1-3
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team heads to Tulsa for the second of a two-game neutral-court series with Oklahoma State on Saturday. Last season, the Gophers defeated the Cowboys, 83-76, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This is the Gophers second-game ever in Tulsa, after defeating the University of Tulsa exactly 69 years ago Saturday, 66-63.
• The Gophers are coming off the biggest win of the Richard Pitino era, rankings-wise, knocking off then No. 3/2 Ohio State on Sunday at Williams Arena, 84-71. It was the second win over a top-five team Pitino and first since defeating Coaches Poll 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. 19, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the 18th toughest in NCAA Division I based on cumulative opposition, with the Maroon and
Gold's opposition combining for a 71.8 winning percentage - a figure
which also ranks third in the Big Ten.
• In two of the last three games, Marcus Carr has put up career performances. On Dec. 2 against his former conference foe Clemson, the Pittsburgh transfer poured in a game- and career-high 24 points on 50 percent field goal shooting. Thirteen days later, Carr fueled the Gopher upset of the Buckeyes with a career-high 35 points, a total which ranks tied for 20th-highest in program history. His 27 points in the second half is the second-most by any Gopher all-time in a half. The 35-point total is the second highest by any Big Ten player this season.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Dec. 20, Minnesota is 21st in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 55th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), and 46th in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is eighth in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd) and rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 22nd in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Marcus Carr is 11th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten's second leading scorer, trailing Iowa's Luka Garza (22.4 ppg).
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
• Oklahoma State snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday with a 61-55 win at Houston. The Cowboys opened the season with seven straight wins before suffering losses at home to Georgetown and Wichita State.
• Four OSU scorers average double figures, led by Isaac Likekele who contributes 13.7 points along with team highs of 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per contest.
• Oklahoma State has a 50-26 (.658) all-time record when playing games in Tulsa, just over an hour from its campus in Stillwater. This is their second game in the BOK Center.
• This year, the Cowboys are 4-0 in games away from home.
GOPHERS VS. THE BIG XII
• Minnesota has a 40-34 record against the current membership of the Big XII, excluding vacated games.
• Series records against Big XII schools are as follows, excluding vacated games: Iowa State (18-11), Kansas (1-1), Kansas State (9-6), Oklahoma (4-5), Oklahoma State (4-3), Texas (0-1), TCU (2-0), Texas Tech (1-5), West Virginia (1-2).
• Saturday's game is the scecond of two Big XII opponents for the Maroon and Gold, both coming on neutral courts (Oklahoma in Sioux Falls, Nov. 9).
UP NEXT
• The Gophers close out the non-conference slate at home after a week off for the holidays, hosting Florida International at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28.
• The game is the first for Gophers head coach Richard Pitino against his former team, which he coached from 2012-13.
• BTN and KFAN 100.3 FM will have the live game broadcasts from Williams Arena.
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