Miami @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 19, 2012 ) Minnesota 78, Miami-Florida 60

Miami (Fla.) and Minnesota meet for the third time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, but this will be the first meeting at the Golden Gophers' home after the teams split the prior games in South Florida. Both schools are undefeated, but Minnesota jumped up three spots in the USA Today Coaches Poll to No. 12 after its unusual 89-84 victory over Alabama in the unbracketed Barclays Center Classic Saturday, while Miami dropped two spots to No. 13 following an 86-65 win over North Florida.

For fifth-year coach Richard Pitino, Minnesota's victory over Alabama was a memorable one as it was the 100th of his career - 82nd since taking over in 2013 - but the win may be best remembered for other reasons, as the Golden Gophers played the final 10 minutes with a 5-on-3 advantage due to injuries and a brawl that resulted in the ejection of the entire Crimson Tide bench. Still, Alabama put a scare into Minnesota, but forward Jordan Murphy and the Golden Gophers dug in and managed to hold off the determined Tide, with the junior posting his seventh consecutive double-double en route to being named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the third straight time. "For 27 minutes, we played really good basketball," Pitino told reporters afterward. "For 27 minutes, we were a really, really good team." Miami has been a really good team too for much of this season, led by a dominant defense that is ranked third in the nation in points against (54.0) and sixth in shooting percentage allowed (34.8) through Monday, but the Hurricanes really haven't been challenged much as this will be their first battle of the season against a ranked squad.

TV: 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT MIAMI (5-0): The Hurricanes needed a complete game against North Florida after a lackluster performance their prior time out against La Salle, and they got it. Sophomore Bruce Brown bounced back from a 2-for-9 shooting performance (seven points) against La Salle and hit 7-of-14 from the field for 14 points with seven rebounds against North Florida to lead five Hurricanes in double figures - including center Dewan Huell, who had 13 points and leads Miami with 13.4 points per game. The Hurricanes scored 21 points off a season-high 20 forced turnovers versus North Florida and Miami's struggling free-throw shooters finally came through as the team shot 91.7 percent from the line.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (7-0): With double-doubles in every game, including 19 points and 14 rebounds against Alabama, Murphy leads the Big Ten with 22.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per game through Monday, while last season's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Reggie Lynch remains a force around the rim and he's No. 1 in the nation with 31 blocks (4.4 blocks per game) entering Tuesday. Nate Mason recorded 20 points to lead Minnesota against Alabama, while Isaiah Washington scored 14 and Amir Coffey chipped in with 12. The Golden Gophers grabbed 40 rebounds in the win over Crimson Tide, with 17 offensive boards leading to 21 second-chance points.

TIP-INS

1. The Gophers are 9-9 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, while the Hurricanes are 5-5.

2. Miami has scored at least 70 points in four games this season and the Hurricanes were 17-1 overall and 8-1 in the ACC when they hit that mark in 2016-17.

3. Pitino is one of five active Division I head coaches who have reached 100 career victories in their sixth season or sooner.

PREDICTION: Miami 78, Minnesota 75