PREMIUM
Rogers' Sat Afternoon SWEEPER PASS
(NCAAB) Minnesota vs. Penn State,
Point Spread: -1.00 | -106.00 Penn State (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -1.00 | -106.00 Penn State (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Minnesota Golden Gophers entered the AP's top-25 poll last Monday at No.24 (1st ranking since the 2012-13 season) but were handled very easily on the road by Michigan State on Wednesday, 65-47. The 15-3 (3-2 in Big Ten) Gophers will try to re-group this afternoon in State College, when they take on the 10-7 (2-2 in Big Ten) Penn State Nittany Lions, who beat that very same Michigan State team 72-63 last Saturday at The Palestra.
Minnesota: Richard Pitino won the NIT back in 2013-14 (his first year at Minnesota) but then came an 18-15 (6-12 in the Big Ten) season and then last year's 'nightmare' of 8-23 (2-16 in the Big Ten). Despite Wednesday's loss, it's clear last year's performance is well behind this year's team. Pitino features a four-guard rotation, with Mason (14.3-3.4-5.4) as the team's leading scorer, along with Coffey (12.2), McBrayer (12.1) and Springs (8.8). The 6-6 Murphy (10.3 & 8.3) is the team's leading rebounder joined up front by 6-10 center Lynch (8.2 & 5.8) and the 6-9 Curry (6.6 & 5.8). The Gophers are the Big Ten's best rebounding team in the defensive end (29.2), lead the conference in blocked shots (118) and don't give up easy baskets, as opponents are making just 38 percent of their field goals, ranking Minnesota 1st in that category.
Penn State: Head coach Patrick Chambers is in his sixth season with the Nittany Lions and that win over the Spartans was his first over Michigan State in his tenure. Rebounding for a win against the Spartans following a disastrous loss to Michigan last week where the Nittany Lions let a 14-point lead slip away with 12:41 left, has done wonders for the team's confidence. "We're on a little bit of roller coaster but we've played three really good games so I'm hoping for that consistency as we approach this weekend," Chambers said. "I didn't give them 'I told you so' yet. But I think what I see in practice is a team that's not relaxed. A team that's not content or complacent thinking, 'oh we won a big game, we finally arrived or figured it out." Sophomore guard Josh Reaves (8.3 & 4.5) has helped inject attitude in the lineup. Along with upperclassmen, guard Shep Garner (12.8) and forward Payton Banks (12.0), Reaves was especially competitive in Monday's practice that had Chambers feeling good about his team heading into the weekend. Garner and Banks are joined in double digits by the 6-7 Stevens (12.7 & 6.0) and guard Carr (11.5 & 5.5), who are both freshman, plus the 6-10 Watkins (10.0 & 8.2).
The pick: Minnesota is greatly improved from last season but I still don't much trust them on the road. I was on Michigan State Wednesday and will back Penn State in this one. The Nittany Lions are a 10* play.
Minnesota: Richard Pitino won the NIT back in 2013-14 (his first year at Minnesota) but then came an 18-15 (6-12 in the Big Ten) season and then last year's 'nightmare' of 8-23 (2-16 in the Big Ten). Despite Wednesday's loss, it's clear last year's performance is well behind this year's team. Pitino features a four-guard rotation, with Mason (14.3-3.4-5.4) as the team's leading scorer, along with Coffey (12.2), McBrayer (12.1) and Springs (8.8). The 6-6 Murphy (10.3 & 8.3) is the team's leading rebounder joined up front by 6-10 center Lynch (8.2 & 5.8) and the 6-9 Curry (6.6 & 5.8). The Gophers are the Big Ten's best rebounding team in the defensive end (29.2), lead the conference in blocked shots (118) and don't give up easy baskets, as opponents are making just 38 percent of their field goals, ranking Minnesota 1st in that category.
Penn State: Head coach Patrick Chambers is in his sixth season with the Nittany Lions and that win over the Spartans was his first over Michigan State in his tenure. Rebounding for a win against the Spartans following a disastrous loss to Michigan last week where the Nittany Lions let a 14-point lead slip away with 12:41 left, has done wonders for the team's confidence. "We're on a little bit of roller coaster but we've played three really good games so I'm hoping for that consistency as we approach this weekend," Chambers said. "I didn't give them 'I told you so' yet. But I think what I see in practice is a team that's not relaxed. A team that's not content or complacent thinking, 'oh we won a big game, we finally arrived or figured it out." Sophomore guard Josh Reaves (8.3 & 4.5) has helped inject attitude in the lineup. Along with upperclassmen, guard Shep Garner (12.8) and forward Payton Banks (12.0), Reaves was especially competitive in Monday's practice that had Chambers feeling good about his team heading into the weekend. Garner and Banks are joined in double digits by the 6-7 Stevens (12.7 & 6.0) and guard Carr (11.5 & 5.5), who are both freshman, plus the 6-10 Watkins (10.0 & 8.2).
The pick: Minnesota is greatly improved from last season but I still don't much trust them on the road. I was on Michigan State Wednesday and will back Penn State in this one. The Nittany Lions are a 10* play.
