Minnesota @ Oklahoma State preview
BOK Center
Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2018 ) Oklahoma State 76, Minnesota 83
Minnesota looks to build on its first win over a Top 5 team since 2013 when it faces Oklahoma as part of the BOK Center Basketball Showdown in Tulsa, Okla. on Saturday. The Golden Gophers bounced back from a 72-52 setback to Iowa in their Big Ten Conference opener in a big way as they handed the Buckeyes their first loss of the season, and hope the 84-71 win on Sunday serves as a catalyst moving forward following a disappointing start to the campaign.
"We didn't start out the season how we wanted but at the end of the day me and my guys have that belief within each other," Minnesota guard Marcus Carr told reporters. "A win like this is going to jump start our season and is the kind of thing that can really get us going." Oklahoma State ended a mini two-game skid with a 61-55 road win against Houston to improve to 8-2 for the second time in three seasons under Mike Boynton. The Cowboys held the Cougars to 31.1 percent shooting from the field en route to their fourth consecutive win away from Stillwater, which is their longest streak since 2017. They hope to avenge an 83-76 setback to the Golden Gophers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis last season. "We play the schedule we play to give us the opportunity to grow," Boynton told reporters. "I'm just proud of all the guys."
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ABOUT MINNESOTA (5-5): Carr poured in a career-high 35 points to go along with a team-leading seven assists and a pair of steals in the win over Ohio State to help Richard Pitino earn the second win against a Top 5 team of his seven-year head coaching career. Gabe Kalscheur scored 15 points against the Buckeyes after he was held scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting from the floor in his previous game against Iowa. Daniel Oturu added 14 points and 13 rebounds to record his sixth double-double of the season and the 14th of his career as the Golden Gophers shot 54.4 percent from the field.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (8-2): Yor Anei produced 18 points, eight rebounds and one blocked shot in the win against Houston to stretch his streak of games with at least one block to 27. Cameron McGriff added 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Cougars to register the seventh double-double of his career while Lindy Waters scored 11 points to move within 41 of reaching 1,000. Thomas Dziagwa finished with 11 points while Isaac Likekele, who is averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds this season, missed his third straight game with an illness, and his status is unknown for Saturday.
TIP-INS
1. Oturu is ranked eighth nationally in blocks per game (3.4).
2. Anei has blocked at least one shot in 38 of his 42 career games.
3. Oturu has posted three double-doubles in his last four outings.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 81, Minnesota 76