Minnesota will be without dominant big man Dawson Garcia, but the Golden Gophers will still present a tough task for visiting IUPUI on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
The Golden Gophers (7-3) are coming off convincing wins last week against Nebraska (76-65 on Wednesday) and Florida Gulf Coast (77-57 on Saturday).
IUPUI (3-7) has lost seven of their last eight games after starting 2-0, most recently falling 75-58 at Eastern Illinois on Thursday.
The 6-foot-11 Garcia (18.2 points, 7.4 rebounds per game) is doubtful with an ankle injury suffered against Nebraska. Minnesota coach Ben Johnson also revealed that Pharrel Payne (9.1 ppg) is limited in practice by a groin injury.
But Minnesota still has a solid rotation that also employs Cam Christie (10.8 ppg, 17-of-39 on 3-pointers), Joshua Ola-Joseph (10.2 ppg), Mike Mitchell (9.5 ppg) and Elijah Hawkins (8.2 ppg, 6.5 assists per game).
Against Florida Gulf Coast, Minnesota led by just four at halftime before pulling away.
“We got to continue to just touch on, talk about the beginnings of games,” Johnson said. “… We got to find a way to put two halves together.”
IUPUI has a solid Division I win, beating in-state foe Valparaiso 66-56 on Nov. 10, but its other wins this season have come against Division III Spalding and NAIA school Cleary.
The Jaguars have lost three straight, including a 71-55 setback Dec. 2 to Northern Kentucky that saw IUPUI lose 22 turnovers.
“We are trying to get to where they are,” IUPUI coach Matt Crenshaw said of Northern Kentucky. “They have some experience, they have some jell and they have been through the battles.”
If the statistics are a guide, Monday’s game will be another battle. IUPUI is being outscored by 76.8 to 65.3 points this season, while Minnesota is outpacing its opponents 78.5 to 67.2.
For IUPUI, Jlynn Counter sets the pace with 16.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and Bryce Monroe checks in at 10.5 ppg.
This is the first meeting between Minnesota and IUPUI.
–Field Level Media
