Column: Scouting the Golden Gophers

Who Minnesota (12-5, 0-4)
What First home conference game since winter vacation
When 8 p.m. today
Where Assembly Hall
How Big Ten Network (Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson), IU Radio Network, live audio on IUHoosiers.com

Scouting Minnesota
Head Coach Tubby Smith, fifth season
Leading scorer Senior forward No. 32 Trevor Mbakwe*, 14.0 points per game
Leading rebounder Senior forward No. 32 Trevor Mbakwe, 9.1 rebounds per game
Best win Home against Virginia Tech, 58-55
Worst loss Against Dayton in the Old Spice Classic, 86-70
What they do well Average 15.9 assists per game, 24th-best in the nation
What needs work Rebounding average 34.4 boards a game, 213th in the country

*Mbakwe is out for the season with an injury.
Projected starters
Indiana
Jordan Hulls 12.3 points per game
Verdell Jones III 8.7
Victor Oladipo 11.4
Christian Watford 13.5
Cody Zeller 14.2

Minnesota
Julian Welch 10.2 points per game
Maverick Ahanmisi 4.6
Austin Hollins 8.0
Rodney Williams 10.4
Ralph Sampson III 8.8

My take

The Golden Gophers almost had me fooled. Sporting a 12-1 record entering Big Ten season, Minnesota seemed like it could actually be a contender.

Well, the past three weeks have not been kind to the Gophers, who did not play a ranked opponent or true road game in nonconference play. Minnesota finds itself in the Big Ten’s basement after dropping its first four conference games.

The Hoosiers should follow the same blueprint their rivals to the north used against Minnesota in a 79-66 win Sunday in The Barn. The Boilermakers shot 10-of-15 from 3-point range in the 13-point victory, and IU, which has the best 3-point shooting percentage in the nation, could and should continue to drain it from deep tonight.

In addition, Minnesota 6-foot-11 forward Ralph Sampson III has been putting up underwhelming numbers, averaging 8.8 points and just 4.9 rebounds per game.

Freshman Cody Zeller should have no problem containing the Gophers’ inside game, as well as controlling the post on offense. Zeller’s advantage inside will open up the Hoosiers’ lethal perimeter game.

At home, IU has a clear advantage in this one and could make a real statement in the Big Ten with a dominant, double-digit victory.