Minnesota @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 8, 2019 ) Maryland 82, Minnesota 67

Minnesota looks to strengthen its case for an NCAA Tournament bid when it visits No. 24 Maryland in the Big Ten regular season finale for both teams. The Golden Gophers have won two straight games, including a crucial 73-69 upset victory over ninth-ranked Purdue on Tuesday, after losing six of their previous seven contests, to land on the right side of the tournament bubble, and can likely earn a spot in March Madness by avenging an 82-67 defeat to the Terrapins on Jan. 8.

"I want to agree with it but with the nature of our sport nothing is guaranteed," Minnesota forward Jordan Murphy told reporters. "I definitely hope so but nothing is ever guaranteed in life." Maryland is still in the mix for a double bye in the Big Ten tournament despite losing two consecutive games. The Terrapins suffered a disappointing 78-61 setback to Penn State before dropping a 69-62 decision to No. 7 Michigan on Sunday to fall one-half game off the pace in the race for fourth place but can still finish above No. 21 Wisconsin by taking down the Gophers while hoping the Badgers slip up against Iowa and Ohio State. "I love my team and I know I keep saying that," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters. "I know we are all disappointed but those guys are giving it everything they've got."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MINNESOTA (19-11, 9-10 Big Ten): Amir Coffey, who is the Big Ten's reigning Player of the Week after scoring 31 points against Northwestern, matched his career high with 32 points and pulled down eight rebounds against Purdue to become the first Gophers player to post back-to-back 30-point games since Vince Grier in 2005. Murphy added 13 points and 14 rebounds against the Boilermakers to register his 20th double-double of the season while moving past Sam Jacobson for sixth place on the program's all-time scoring list in his final home game. Matz Stockman recorded nine points and a career-high seven blocked shots with Eric Curry sidelined for the rest of the season with a foot injury.

ABOUT MARYLAND (21-9, 12-7): Fernando, who is projected to be a first round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, produced 12 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots against Michigan to notch his 19th double-double of the campaign. Jalen Smith added 11 points and five boards while Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell and Anthony Cowan Jr. all scored 10 points, but went a combined 4-of-15 from 3-point range. "It is definitely disappointing not just for us but for our fans as well," Fernando told reporters. "We have to stick together and bounce back in the next game."

TIP-INS

1. Maryland has won eight out of the last 10 meetings with Minnesota, including the last two by an average of 13 points.

2. Murphy has pulled down 15 or more rebounds in eight games this season.

3. Fernando leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (63.3 percent) but is 15-of-33 over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Maryland 67, Minnesota 61