Alabama A&M @ Minnesota preview

No. 15 Minnesota continues an early-season learning experience when it welcomes winless Alabama A&M on Tuesday night. The Golden Gophers passed a big road test last week at Providence and followed that up by knocking off two opponents at home, including a 92-64 victory over Western Carolina on Sunday after battling foul trouble and struggles on the defensive end in the first half.

Junior forward Jordan Murphy (24.8 points, 12.8 rebounds), who has strung together four straight double-doubles to open the season, told reporters Minnesota took a punch and threw a couple of its own in the final 20 minutes Sunday. “I think our guys were better in the second half when it came to executing and just pressing up a little bit more and taking away the three,” Golden Gophers’ coach Richard Pitino told reporters. “So, overall, it was a win and we gotta learn from it, and obviously with one day of prep we gotta get back to playing the right way.” Minnesota has shown it can put the ball in the basket early on while averaging 94.3 points and connecting on 50.2 percent from the field with five players averaging double figures in scoring. The Bulldogs of the SWAC, who finished 2-27 last season, will have to raise their level on defense after falling 104-67 at Alabama on Friday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT ALABAMA A&M (0-3): The Bulldogs have averaged 20 turnovers and shot just 39.2 percent from the field in their first three contests as they continue a five-game road swing to open the campaign. Junior guard Arthur Johnson leads the team in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (6.3) while draining 6-of-11 from 3-point range and sophomore guard De’Ederick Petty has chipped in 13 points per game. Freshman guard Amari Goulbourne did not score in his first two collegiate games before recording 17 points and four assists in 36 minutes against Alabama.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (4-0): Murphy finished with 23 points and 11 boards against Western Carolina and he is shooting 61.4 percent from the field overall while sophomore guard Amir Coffey (14 points per game) has drained 8-of-17 from 3-point range to highlight his all-around game. “I think (Coffey) is just playing good solid basketball,” Pitino told reporters Sunday, “being aggressive, being assertive and playing good defense.” Senior guard Nate Mason (14 points, 4.5 assists) and senior center Reggie Lynch (12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.5 blocks) are also off to strong starts.

TIP-INS

1. Mason became the third player in Minnesota history to reach 400 assists Sunday and is one steal from tying Voshon Lenard (134) for 12th.

2. Johnson, F Evan Wiley and G Jalen Reeder have combined to make 14 of their 26 attempts from 3-point range for the Bulldogs.

3. Minnesota freshman PG Isaiah Washington scored in double figures for the first time in his career with 10 on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 102, Alabama A&M 64