Sometimes a team can play so well they don't want to take any time down.. We don't know if Minnesota actually wanted to skip Christmas, but there is no doubt that a red hot Minnesota team will return to The Barn on Saturday afternoon.
The Gophers (6-5, 1-1) have won three of their last four games, and have been overwhelming in double-digit wins against Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State. They look to continue the stellar play in their last non-conference matchup before getting into the full-time Big Ten schedule.
Saturday's opponent is Florida International University. The Panters are 9-3. They have stepped into Power Five waters on two occasions. Both resulted in losses: 77-69 to Mississippi State and 86-77 to North Carolina State. Their other defeat was 66-63 to UNC-Wilmington.
All of their wins have been of the low to mid-major types. The teams have one common opponent, Cleveland State. Minnesota defeated the Vikings 85-50, and the Panthers won decisively 107-61.
The Statistics
Minnesota has been led by sizzling guard play and scoring barrages from Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur the past few games. They and the other Gophers should have the opportunity to do serious damage to the scoring column on Saturday once again.
FIU is an up-tempo offensive team who looks to outscore their opponents. They average an impressive 84.1 points per game which is good for fifth in the country. Despite those numbers they have been held down in some games. They scored 69 against Mississippi State, 63 against UNC-Wilmihgton, and they have scored in the seventies three times.
The Panthers are shooting 48% from the field which is 23rd nationally, and they will take their fair share of quick 3-pointers. 336 of their 764 shots or 44% have been via the long ball. Only twenty other teams in the country attempt more trifectas. They are converting 36.6% of those which is 53rd overall.
Their style of play also leads to a high end of risk and reward. They are fourth in the country in assists at 17,7 per game, but they are at the opposite end of the spectrum in turnovers. Only 28 teams in the country average more turnovers than the Panthers at' 16.5.
Defensively, their stat lines is unusual. They gave up 70.4 points per game which is 184th in the country and puts them roughly at the half-way mark nationally. But the opponents shooting percentage that they give up is stellar. 38.2% shooting puts them at 22nd in the country. Opponents are only shooting 25.2% from the field which puts them all the way up to fifth overall.
The script for Florida International is the pace. They score a lot of points and shooting the ball well. Defensively, they give up a lot of points, but not a high percentage of makes. No matter how either team scores off shoots on Saturday, the pace will be frenetic. FIU takes 77.5 shot attempts per game which is 20th. Minnesota on the other hand is 224th at 71 per game, but the Gophers have shown they are more than willing to get out and run.
The Roster
With this pace, Florida International will play a deep lineup. An experienced group will be shuffled in and out as they seek to make the game fast while staying fresh.
Devon Andrews - The redshirt senior will not be phased by the Big Ten setting on Saturday. He has seen it all. He started out at Kent State, went the Junor College route, and then transferred to FIU. Andrews was a do it all player for the Panthers last season. He was 12th in Conference USA in scoring last season and was second on the team in rebounding.
This season, the 6-foot-6 wing leads the Panthers in scoring at 16.1, and is second in rebounding at 5.1. He also goes for 2.3 assists per outing. On a team of 3-point shooters, his game will be getting to the bucket. He shoots 58.1% from two-point territory.
Osasumwen Osaghae - The 6-foot-9, 250 pound senior has been the team's most improved player. He is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 and leads in rebounding at 8.2. His shooting efficiency has been otherworldly. He makes 72.6% of his shots. Defensively, he is also an elite rim protector. He has 55 blocked shots or 4.6 per game, which makes him one of the national readers.
Trejon Jacob - Another senior, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard averages 12.0 points on 51.4% shooting. Just over half of his shot attempts have been 3-pointers where he has converted 36.6% of them. He also averages 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Antonio Daye Jr. - The 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard has been effective on a number of fronts. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per game, and he is far and away the top assists man with 53 or 4.5 per game. Daye is also primarily a penetrator. His shooting percentage is low at 36.4%, but he impacts the game in several ways.
Eric Lovett - The 6-foot-5 junior is in his first season at FIU after coming from the junior college ranks. Lovett averages 9.1 points per game and is noted for his long range shooting. 71 of his 92 shots have been 3-pointers. He is making 38% of those tries.
Tevin Brewer - The 5-foot-8 junior point guard has not played in the last two games, and his status is not known for Saturday. Brewer is a Swiss Army Knife type. He averages 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and is second in assists at 45 or 4.5 were game. 46 of his 62 shots have been three's. He makes 36% of those.
Cameron Corcoran - A 6-foot-1 sophomore, Corcoran 6.4 points and 2.2 assists. He is another 3-point specialist. Two out of every three shots have been from deep where he converts at a 38.2% clip.
Dimon Carrigan - The 6-foot-9 junior from Boston provides post depth for FIU. He only averages eleven minutes per game, but he is impactful when he is in to the time of 4.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
Blake Furcron- The 6-foot-4 wing will be toward the bottom of the rotation, but still should get around ten minutes. Furcron averages 2.6 points and 1.2 rebounds.
Minnesota has currently moved up to No. 45 by KenPom. FIU is rated No. 160. Pomeroy gives Minnesota a 90% chance to win and predicts them to come out on top 80-66.
Tip-off is at 3:00 P.M. CST and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
The Gophers (6-5, 1-1) have won three of their last four games, and have been overwhelming in double-digit wins against Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State. They look to continue the stellar play in their last non-conference matchup before getting into the full-time Big Ten schedule.
Saturday's opponent is Florida International University. The Panters are 9-3. They have stepped into Power Five waters on two occasions. Both resulted in losses: 77-69 to Mississippi State and 86-77 to North Carolina State. Their other defeat was 66-63 to UNC-Wilmington.
All of their wins have been of the low to mid-major types. The teams have one common opponent, Cleveland State. Minnesota defeated the Vikings 85-50, and the Panthers won decisively 107-61.
The Statistics
Minnesota has been led by sizzling guard play and scoring barrages from Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur the past few games. They and the other Gophers should have the opportunity to do serious damage to the scoring column on Saturday once again.
FIU is an up-tempo offensive team who looks to outscore their opponents. They average an impressive 84.1 points per game which is good for fifth in the country. Despite those numbers they have been held down in some games. They scored 69 against Mississippi State, 63 against UNC-Wilmihgton, and they have scored in the seventies three times.
The Panthers are shooting 48% from the field which is 23rd nationally, and they will take their fair share of quick 3-pointers. 336 of their 764 shots or 44% have been via the long ball. Only twenty other teams in the country attempt more trifectas. They are converting 36.6% of those which is 53rd overall.
Their style of play also leads to a high end of risk and reward. They are fourth in the country in assists at 17,7 per game, but they are at the opposite end of the spectrum in turnovers. Only 28 teams in the country average more turnovers than the Panthers at' 16.5.
Defensively, their stat lines is unusual. They gave up 70.4 points per game which is 184th in the country and puts them roughly at the half-way mark nationally. But the opponents shooting percentage that they give up is stellar. 38.2% shooting puts them at 22nd in the country. Opponents are only shooting 25.2% from the field which puts them all the way up to fifth overall.
The script for Florida International is the pace. They score a lot of points and shooting the ball well. Defensively, they give up a lot of points, but not a high percentage of makes. No matter how either team scores off shoots on Saturday, the pace will be frenetic. FIU takes 77.5 shot attempts per game which is 20th. Minnesota on the other hand is 224th at 71 per game, but the Gophers have shown they are more than willing to get out and run.
The Roster
With this pace, Florida International will play a deep lineup. An experienced group will be shuffled in and out as they seek to make the game fast while staying fresh.
Devon Andrews - The redshirt senior will not be phased by the Big Ten setting on Saturday. He has seen it all. He started out at Kent State, went the Junor College route, and then transferred to FIU. Andrews was a do it all player for the Panthers last season. He was 12th in Conference USA in scoring last season and was second on the team in rebounding.
This season, the 6-foot-6 wing leads the Panthers in scoring at 16.1, and is second in rebounding at 5.1. He also goes for 2.3 assists per outing. On a team of 3-point shooters, his game will be getting to the bucket. He shoots 58.1% from two-point territory.
Osasumwen Osaghae - The 6-foot-9, 250 pound senior has been the team's most improved player. He is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 and leads in rebounding at 8.2. His shooting efficiency has been otherworldly. He makes 72.6% of his shots. Defensively, he is also an elite rim protector. He has 55 blocked shots or 4.6 per game, which makes him one of the national readers.
Trejon Jacob - Another senior, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard averages 12.0 points on 51.4% shooting. Just over half of his shot attempts have been 3-pointers where he has converted 36.6% of them. He also averages 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Antonio Daye Jr. - The 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard has been effective on a number of fronts. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per game, and he is far and away the top assists man with 53 or 4.5 per game. Daye is also primarily a penetrator. His shooting percentage is low at 36.4%, but he impacts the game in several ways.
Eric Lovett - The 6-foot-5 junior is in his first season at FIU after coming from the junior college ranks. Lovett averages 9.1 points per game and is noted for his long range shooting. 71 of his 92 shots have been 3-pointers. He is making 38% of those tries.
Tevin Brewer - The 5-foot-8 junior point guard has not played in the last two games, and his status is not known for Saturday. Brewer is a Swiss Army Knife type. He averages 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and is second in assists at 45 or 4.5 were game. 46 of his 62 shots have been three's. He makes 36% of those.
Cameron Corcoran - A 6-foot-1 sophomore, Corcoran 6.4 points and 2.2 assists. He is another 3-point specialist. Two out of every three shots have been from deep where he converts at a 38.2% clip.
Dimon Carrigan - The 6-foot-9 junior from Boston provides post depth for FIU. He only averages eleven minutes per game, but he is impactful when he is in to the time of 4.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
Blake Furcron- The 6-foot-4 wing will be toward the bottom of the rotation, but still should get around ten minutes. Furcron averages 2.6 points and 1.2 rebounds.
Minnesota has currently moved up to No. 45 by KenPom. FIU is rated No. 160. Pomeroy gives Minnesota a 90% chance to win and predicts them to come out on top 80-66.
Tip-off is at 3:00 P.M. CST and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
