Rutgers basketball is riding a wave of momentum as they aim for a third consecutive victory, heading to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota's season has been a rollercoaster, beginning with a promising 3-1 record in Big Ten play, which included impressive wins over ranked teams like Iowa and Indiana.
However, since mid-January, the Gophers have struggled, posting a 2-9 record in their last 11 games. Intriguingly, one of those wins came against Michigan State, a top-15 team, while one of their losses was to Penn State, the Big Ten's current basement dweller.
The Gophers' inconsistency can be largely attributed to a slew of injuries that have plagued the team. In their recent outing against Oregon, Minnesota was missing six players but still managed to secure a victory.
Cade Tyson, the standout guard, is the Gophers' leading scorer with 19.2 points per game. Forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who contributes 13.4 points and leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game, missed the last game due to a foot injury and remains uncertain for the Rutgers matchup. In his absence, guard Isaac Asuma steps up as the secondary scoring threat, averaging 10.9 points per game, while Tyson takes on more rebounding responsibilities with 5.5 per game.
As a team, Minnesota averages 70.6 points, 32.6 rebounds, and 17.3 assists per game, shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 69.3 percent from the free-throw line, and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Rutgers matches them in scoring with 70.6 points per game but edges them in rebounding at 34.2 per game. They also shoot 41.6 percent from the field, 73.3 percent from the line, and 32 percent from three-point range.
On paper, these teams are evenly matched, but Minnesota's depleted roster and the fatigue from a recent west coast road trip could tilt the scales in Rutgers' favor. Rutgers needs to replicate the energy and defensive intensity they displayed against Penn State to capitalize on this opportunity. The availability of Minnesota's injured players could be a game-changer, and fans will be watching closely to see if any reinforcements return to the lineup.
Despite these challenges, ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Gophers an 80.8 percent chance to win. Tip-off is set for 12 pm EST at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, with live coverage on the Big Ten Network.