Preview: Minnesota at Michigan

Both winning and losing can be contagious and the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Michigan Wolverines are both experiencing that right now. After starting out 0-6 in conference play, the Gophers have won three of their last four games, including two over Top 15 teams and all three by double digits. Meanwhile, the Wolverines moved into the Top 25 for the first time since 1998 and have since followed that up with three consecutive loses. These momentum shifts create an interesting storyline for Wednesday’s battle at Crisler Arena.

The Gophers and Wolverines met earlier this year as Michigan easily won 71-55 at Williams Arena. It was a frustrating night for Minnesota as it gave a lackluster second half performance while shooting a miserable 3/18 from three-point land. Daniel Horton led the way for Michigan with 32 points as he hit six three-pointers. But over the last few weeks the Gophers have seen the emergence of Zach Puchtel and Jamal Abu Shamala into their starting lineup, and the Wolverines have experienced a few injuries, most recently to Horton who missed most of the second half against Purdue with a deep bruise.

Coach Monson has done a better job of winning on the road in the Big Ten than the previous coaching staff did and combing that with a senior-laden team, handling the oft-mild Michigan crowd should not be the issue. But what will be difficult is handling a Wolverine team that will likely play with a great deal of urgency after suffering three straight losses as well as confidence after its double digit win over this Gopher team last month.

But if the Gophers are to win this game, here are the keys:

1. The Bash Brothers. The Gophers certainly aren’t starting the tallest front court around, but you will have to search long and hard to find big men with more energy, more intensity and more toughness. Puchtel and J’Son Stamper will need to provide that again at Michigan and the team needs to continue feeding off this.

2. Shoot better. This sounds simple, but it isn’t. A good shooting night has an amazing ability to make a coach look better and the reverse result happens on a cold shooting night, like the Gophers’ 3/18 three-point performance the first time these two teams met this season. Abu Shamala has gotten hot in the first half the last couple of games and this will be important for the Gophers to get off to a good start.

3. Bench support. The win over Penn State was inspired by the trio of sophomores off the bench. The Michigan State win was fueled by a solid night from Maurice Hargrow off the bench. This scoring punch is very important for the Gophers as it continues to define itself offensively.

Well, two weeks ago this game appeared to be destined for an easy Michigan win. But a funny thing happened for both programs ““ a change in momentum. And in college basketball the big “œmo” can be as big of a factor as anything. A little exuberance (albeit possibly a tad irrational) never hurt a college basketball fan”¦so, what the heck: My prediction: Minnesota 72 Michigan 68