Preview: Minnesota vs. Purdue

It has been a roller coaster Big Ten season for the Minnesota Gophers. After starting out 0-6, the team has responded by winning four of its last six, including three wins over ranked teams and all four of the wins by double digits. This performance has been matched by a rowdy home crowd which has complemented the programs new intensity with its patented version of the ever-important “œsixth-man.” Wednesday night the Gophers look to make it five wins in seven games as it continues to take one game at a time in hopes of finding postseason play, which a couple of weeks ago looked bleak in all its forms.

The Purdue Boilermakers bring the Big Ten’s worst conference record to The Barn (3-10; 9-15 overall) but one of those wins was a convincing 17 point runaway against the Gophers last month. This Purdue team is also playing better basketball as of late after winning two of its last four, including an impressive win over Wisconsin.

Here are the keys to the Game if the Gophers hope to keep their late season push alive:

1. Don’t look past Purdue. When you are 4-8 in Big Ten play it should go without saying that you can’t overlook any team, especially a team that beat you by 17 points earlier in the season. But that’s easier said than done. The Gophers have had three emotional home wins in a row all against highly ranked teams and one of those against a rival. Combine that scenario with the fact that Minnesota plays at its other rival this upcoming weekend, and the Boilermakers present a potential “œtrap” game if the team gets ahead of itself. But this is Big Ten basketball and you just can’t overlook anyone”¦ever.

2. Bash Brothers Unite. This key to the game has been used before and probably will be again, but the Bash Brothers (J’son Stamper and Zach Puchtel) have providing the energy, intensity and identity of the team during the past few weeks. The entire team and crowd are feeding off these two and the biggest way to ensure the Gophers aren’t overlooking Purdue is for these two to set the tone early and often.

3. Bench Play. The Gophers have had solid bench play during this run. Whether its Maurice Hargrow, Spencer Tollackson, Rico Tucker or Dan Coleman ““ all four have taken their turns off the bench to provide offensive help. This is increasingly important in the stretch run of the Big Ten season.

This game scares me a bit as I fear a mini-let down, but winning is contagious (fortunately we’ve caught the bug the last few weeks!) and this team is starting to come together. My Prediction: Minnesota 74 Purdue 62