University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, January 5
6:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Return Home Sunday Hosting Northwestern
1/4/2020 12:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play); Shon Morris (Analyst);
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play);
Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 372
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 165th Meeting (96-68)*
Series (Home): 79th Meeting (56-22)*
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. Northwestern: 3-6
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 762-837*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 45-75
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team hosts its first Big Ten opponent of 2020 as the Gophers take on Northwestern for the first of two straight Sunday home games. The Gophers are seeking their first home win over the Wildcats in head coach Richard Pitino's tenure, despite Minnesota winning two of the last three meetings in Evanston.
• For the second week in a row, the Gophers have earned the Big Ten Player of the Week award, given on Monday on sophomore center Daniel Oturu. Last week, sophomore guard Gabe Kalscheur earned a share of the award, with each posting career performances in victories. Minnesota has now won player of the week in back-to-back weeks in each of the last three seasons.
• How do you follow up one of the top performances in school history? By smashing your career high in scoring as Oturu did on Thursday night in West Lafayette. The Woodbury native scored 29 points, his third straight 20-plus game and five better than his previous career high set at Butler on Nov. 12. He also added 18 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year.
• 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 Jan. 2, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the sixth toughest in NCAA Division I.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Jan. 4, Minnesota is 25th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 57th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 1st), and 38th in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is fourth in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st), 12th in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd), and 12th in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Oturu's nine double-doubles ranks seventh in the country and first in the Big Ten. Marcus Carr is 10th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten's second leading scorer, trailing Iowa's Luka Garza (21.6 ppg).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Northwestern has dropped three in a row, including its most recent action which came on Dec. 29, a 67-66 home loss to Hartford. The three losses have been by a combined total of 11 points.
• In conference play, the Wildcats fell at Purdue and at home to Michigan State in their two Big Ten contests thus far.
• Four Wildcat scorers average double figures, led by Miller Kopp's 12.6 points per game.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers travel to Michigan State for a Thursday night matchip with the Spartans.
• ESPN or ESPN2 and KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM will carry the game live from Breslin Center, which will tip at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT.
TV: BTN – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play); Shon Morris (Analyst);
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play);
Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 372
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 165th Meeting (96-68)*
Series (Home): 79th Meeting (56-22)*
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. Northwestern: 3-6
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 762-837*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 45-75
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team hosts its first Big Ten opponent of 2020 as the Gophers take on Northwestern for the first of two straight Sunday home games. The Gophers are seeking their first home win over the Wildcats in head coach Richard Pitino's tenure, despite Minnesota winning two of the last three meetings in Evanston.
• For the second week in a row, the Gophers have earned the Big Ten Player of the Week award, given on Monday on sophomore center Daniel Oturu. Last week, sophomore guard Gabe Kalscheur earned a share of the award, with each posting career performances in victories. Minnesota has now won player of the week in back-to-back weeks in each of the last three seasons.
• How do you follow up one of the top performances in school history? By smashing your career high in scoring as Oturu did on Thursday night in West Lafayette. The Woodbury native scored 29 points, his third straight 20-plus game and five better than his previous career high set at Butler on Nov. 12. He also added 18 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year.
• 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 Jan. 2, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the sixth toughest in NCAA Division I.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Jan. 4, Minnesota is 25th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 57th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 1st), and 38th in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is fourth in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st), 12th in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd), and 12th in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Oturu's nine double-doubles ranks seventh in the country and first in the Big Ten. Marcus Carr is 10th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten's second leading scorer, trailing Iowa's Luka Garza (21.6 ppg).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Northwestern has dropped three in a row, including its most recent action which came on Dec. 29, a 67-66 home loss to Hartford. The three losses have been by a combined total of 11 points.
• In conference play, the Wildcats fell at Purdue and at home to Michigan State in their two Big Ten contests thus far.
• Four Wildcat scorers average double figures, led by Miller Kopp's 12.6 points per game.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers travel to Michigan State for a Thursday night matchip with the Spartans.
• ESPN or ESPN2 and KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM will carry the game live from Breslin Center, which will tip at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT.
Highlights: Gophers 63, Wisconsin 67
Wednesday, January 28
Highlights: Gophers 57, Nebraska 76
Saturday, January 24
Highlights: Gophers 74, Ohio State 82
Tuesday, January 20
Highlights: Gophers 67, Illinois 77
Saturday, January 17