Minnesota will be seeking its first Big Ten win of the season when it travels to Ohio State on Thursday night. The Golden Gophers have dropped their first four conference games, including an overtime loss to Nebraska last Saturday. Ohio State is looking to bounce back from a two-game losing streak after falling to Maryland on Sunday.
Minnesota won four of its first five games this season, taking advantage of a soft schedule. The Golden Gophers proceeded to lose five consecutive games after that, with four of those setbacks coming by double digits. Their only other victories this season came against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Chicago State in mid-December. They have resumed conference play since then, losing to then-No. 14 Wisconsin and Nebraska by a combined five points. Minnesota had failed to cover the spread in four straight games, but it has covered the spread in both of its games this month. The Golden Gophers were 12.5-point underdogs in their near-upset against Wisconsin.
Buckeye state bound ?? pic.twitter.com/OrvbFah6OI
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) January 11, 2023
They have not been a good offensive team this season, ranked outside the top 200 in effective field goal percentage (49.5), turnover rate and offensive rebounding rate. Minnesota is also shooting just 59.4% from the charity stripe and 49.2% from 2-point range. The Golden Gophers have a height advantage in this matchup, but that has not paid off for them on the glass so far this season. They are facing an Ohio State defense that is No. 30 in field goal percentage. Sophomore forward Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota with 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while junior forward Jamison Battle (13.6) and junior guard Ta’Lon Cooper (10.5) are both in double figures as well.