Feb 18, 2007, 15:45 GMT
Minneapolis, MN - The nation's second-ranked team has traveled to Minneapolis, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers host the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes in Big Ten Conference action.
Ohio State owns its highest ranking since 1991, and the team has won nine straight league games, the program's longest streak since 1971. After jumping out to a huge lead early against Penn State on Wednesday, the Buckeyes fell apart and had to hold on for a 64-62 victory.
With four consecutive losses, Minnesota has fallen to 9-17 overall and 3-9 in conference. The Gophers played host to third-ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday, and that game resulted in a 75-62 setback. With that in mind, the team clearly enters tonight's clash as a decided underdog.
Ohio State owns a 71-52 advantage in the all-time series with Minnesota, and the Buckeyes won last season's meeting by a 67-54 final.
Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden has received more attention than any first-year collegiate player in recent memory, and after sitting out the early part of the season with a wrist injury, the big man has played 19 games and put up outstanding numbers. Oden is averaging 15.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 4.3 bpg despite the fact that he is still recovering from the injury. Another Buckeye freshman, Daequan Cook, is scoring 12.1 ppg, and Ron Lewis adds 11.2 ppg for the Buckeyes. The third member of the outstanding rookie trio is Mike Conley Jr., a standout guard who is posting 10.3 ppg. More impressive is the fact that Conley Jr. has dished out 163 assists against only 55 turnovers. Oden had 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the narrow win over Penn State. Lewis added 12 points for the Buckeyes, who shot just 38.5 percent from the floor in the second half.
Minnesota is averaging a lackluster 62.2 ppg this season, overshadowing the fact that the team has been able to limit its opponents to 66.2 ppg on 41.5 percent shooting from the field. The Golden Gophers have attempted 130 fewer free throws than their opponents, an obvious reason for the poor record. Also, the team is being outrebounded by nearly four boards per contest. Lawrence McKenzie paces Minnesota with 15.6 ppg, and Dan Coleman adds 14.8 ppg. The third and final double-digit scorer is Spencer Tollackson with 12.9 ppg. In the loss to Wisconsin, McKenzie scored 21 points, while Tollackson (13) and Coleman (12) reached double figures as well. The Gophers committed 16 turnovers, nine more than they forced, and they permitted the Badgers to shoot 55.6 percent from the floor in the second half after a strong defensive performance early on.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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