The Gophers are hosting Penn State, can they get a season sweep?
.float-left {float: left;padding: 2%;text-align: center;width: 32%;margin-bottom: 20px;}.float-left img {max-width: 100px;}.float-left h4, .float-left h3 {font-family: ‘Knockout 28 A’, ‘Knockout 28 B’;font-weight: 100;text-transform: uppercase;}.float-left h4 {font-size: 21px;color: #858282;}.float-left h3 {font-size: 30px;}.when {border-right: 1px solid #ccc;border-left: 1px solid #ccc;}.icon { height: 80px;}.location-image { text-align: center;}.location img { width: 100%;}.left {max-width: 100px;margin-top: 40px !important;width: 100%;}.left {float: left;}.clearfix {clear: both;}@media only screen and (max-width : 100px ){.left {float: none;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;}}@media only screen and (max-width : 870px) {.left {max-width: 100px;margin-top: 40px !important;width: 100%;float: left;}}@media only screen and (max-width : 600px) {.float-left {float: none;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;}.when {border: none;}
Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 14-13 (4-12)
KenPom Rank: 71
This Nittany Lion team has not won a game on the road this season.
KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN
Limit turnovers – In the first matchup Minnesota turned the ball over on 21% of their possessions. That is not a great number and is largely the reason that Penn State led for most of the game.
Own the paint – Scoring 40 points in the paint is a big number and that’s how many points the Gophers had in the first game. Penn State is not particularly good at defending inside the three-point line (or outside of it either). But not just scoring, Minnesota should be able to win the rebounding battle as well.
Find that offense quickly – Over the last couple of months, Minnesota has gone through lengthy stretches where offense is a significant challenge. Eventually, they figure out a way to score on their opponent and they climb back into the game, sometimes finding a way to win it. Find that offensive rhythm quicker, please.
PREDICTION
It is a scary situation that I want to pick Minnesota to win. This team is playing with confidence and toughness while Penn State is 2-11 in their last 13 games. They have also not won a road game.
I’ve seen this before. We actually should have beat Washington, but we didn’t. All of the things are lining up for Minnesota to win this game as well, but I would not be surprised to see them drop it.
I’m going with my optimism and I’ll call it a Gopher win. Garcia has a nice game, Lu’Cye Patterson and Mike Mitchell Jr both hit double figures. You won’t get a big game from Brennan Rigsby this time, but Frank Mitchell is a rebounding machine.
Minnesota – 72
Penn State – 70