Minnesota @ Northwestern preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2020 ) Northwestern 68, Minnesota 77

Minnesota looks to end a three-game losing streak when it visits Northwestern in Big Ten play on Sunday. The Golden Gophers have dropped five of their last six games, including a disappointing 68-56 home loss to Indiana on Wednesday, to leave their NCAA Tournament aspirations hanging by a thread, and they hope to get back on track by notching their first road win in over a month.

“Obviously it’s a blow there’s no way around it but we have five games left,” Minnesota coach Richard Pitino told reporters. “Any time you lose at home in this league it’s a problem because it’s really hard to win on the road.” Northwestern is mired in its second 10-game losing streak in as many seasons following a 76-67 setback to No. 7 Maryland on Tuesday. The Wildcats have been held to fewer than 70 points eight times during their skid, and they hope to notch their first win since Jan. 11 while avoiding dropping 11 consecutive conference games for the first time in 20 years. “When you have a young group and you’re in a league like ours these are moments that test your mettle,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters. “We’ve been here before and we fought to a really good place so that’s what we’re going to do with these guys.”

TIME: 3 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT MINNESOTA (12-13, 6-9 Big Ten): Marcus Carr scored 12 points and dished out seven assists against Indiana to move within 13 assists of setting a single-season program record. Payton Willis added 12 points and four rebounds but the Gophers went 4-of-25 from 3-point range while Daniel Oturu finished with 11 points and 14 boards to register his 14th double-double of the season. “Clearly we are frustrated but the beauty of basketball is we can always rebound,” Pitino said. “We just got to narrow our focus and go against a Northwestern team that’s playing good.”

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (6-19, 1-14): Ryan Young scored a team-leading 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds and a pair of steals in the loss to Maryland. Boo Buie added 15 points and three assists while Miller Kopp went 3-of-4 from 3-point land en route to 13 points against the Terrapins to finish in double figures for the 14th time in his last 15 games. Pat Spencer tallied seven points and five rebounds while Pete Nance was limited to five points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Minnesota has dropped eight of its nine road games in 2019-20.

2. Kopp has knocked down three 3-pointers or more in 11 games this season.

3. Oturu has scored in double figures in 20 straight games.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 68, Minnesota 66