By Albert Lea Tribune

Broadcast information

• TV: ESPN2 – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play); Dan Dakich (Analyst); Molly McGrath (Sideline)

• Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)

• Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 381

Series information

• Series: 120th Meeting (57-62)*

• Series (Away): 59th Meeting (21-37)*

• Current Streak: L-3

• Richard Pitino vs. Michigan State: 2-7

• Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 763-837*

• Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 46-75

* – excludes vacated games

Starting five

• The Minnesota men’s basketball team faces the first of three straight opponents currently ranked in the top-25, as Minnesota travels to No. 8 Michigan State on Thursday night. It is the first of two meetings between the two teams that will come in a 17-day span.

• Sophomore center Daniel Oturu continues to put up eye-popping numbers as the season rolls on.

The Woodbury native now has nine double-doubles on the season after contributing 19 points and 16 rebounds Sunday in the win over Northwestern, tying his career high as well with five blocks. One week ago at Purdue, he scored 29 points, his third straight 20-plus game and five better than his previous career high set at Butler on Nov. 12. He also added 18 rebounds.

• For the fourth time this season, redshirt sophomore Marcus Carr went the distance in the Gophers’ win over Northwestern by playing all 40 minutes. It’s the fourth time this season he has played 40+ minutes, including a career-high 48 in the double-overtime loss at Purdue. Carr leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 15 in the country in minutes played per game (36.5)

• Minnesota has been tested early and often, playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules in both conference and non-conference play. Through the games of Jan. 8, the Gophers’ schedule ranks as the ninth toughest in NCAA Division I according to the NCAA’s NET rankings.

• The Gophers rank highly among the nation’s college basketball teams in several categories. As of Jan. 8, Minnesota is 19th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 3rd), 58th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 1st), and 32nd in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is third in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st), eighth in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd), and 14th in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Oturu’s nine double-doubles ranks seventh in the country and first in the Big Ten. Marcus Carr is 10th in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten’s second leading scorer, trailing Iowa’s Luke Garza (22.1 ppg).

Scouting the Spartans

• Michigan State sits alone atop the Big Ten standings with a 4-0 record, including their most recent victory at home, 87-69, over rival Michigan on Sunday. In total, the Spartans have won seven straight games.

• Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Cassius Winston leads the MSU offense, scoring 18.9 points along with 6.3 assists per game, figures which rank third and fourth in the Big Ten, respectively.

• Michigan State leads the country in assists per game (19.7) and ranks second in rebounds per game (43.2), with the latter category led by Xavier Tillman who ranks fourth in the Big Ten.

Money from
free throw line

• The Gophers matched their school record on Sunday against Northwestern, going perfect from the free throw line in their 19 attempts.

• It marks the first perfect effort from the stripe (minimum 12 attempts) by the Maroon and Gold since Feb. 22, 1986 when they were 12-of-12 from the line.

• In their last four games, the Gophers are 75-of-81 (92.6 percent) from the free throw line.

Up next

• The Gophers host Michigan on Sunday at noon in the two teams’ only scheduled matchup this season.