Illinois Fighting Illini at Minnesota Golden Gophers, Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, February 10, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Minnesota -1
Current Line: Minnesota -2
Opening Total: 136
Current Total: 136
Money Line: Minnesota -135 / Illinois +125
These two teams were ranked in the top 25 as recently as 2 weeks ago, but recent struggles have dropped them both out of the polls. Illinois is 15-8 overall and 5-5 in the Big 10. The Illini are 2-5 in their last 7 games. Minnesota is 16-7 overall and 5-6 in conference. The Gophers have lost 3 games in a row. Illinois has losses to Texas, Illinois-Chicago, Missouri, Penn St, Wisconsin, Ohio St, Indiana, and Northwestern. Illinois lost at Northwestern Saturday 71-70. They have wins over Maryland, Yale, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan St, and Penn St.Minnesota has losses to Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan St, Ohio St twice, Purdue and Indiana. The Gophers lost at home to Ohio St last Sunday 82-69. The Gophers have wins over North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern, and Michigan on the season. This is a very important game for both teams, not only to break out of their slumps. Illinois is a half game in front of Minnesota for 4th place in the conference, which is important for seeding in the Big Ten tournament and to improve your resume for the selection committee. The Big Ten is one of the strongest leagues in the country so both these teams will probably both get in, but they do need to start playing a lot better or they won’t be around for long.
Illinois leads the overall series 114-62 against Minnesota, but the Gophers are 44-41 in Minneapolis. The two haven’t played since February 27 of last year, when Minnesota won at Champaign 62-60. Minnesota has won and covered 2 of the last 3 games in the series and all three have gone under the total.
Illinois has no significant injuries right now. They are led by guard Demetri McCamey, who is averaging 14.7 points to lead the team, 3.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists to lead the team, and 0.9 steals a game. He is shooting 48.5% from 3-point range. Forward Mike Davis is averaging 11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Guard D.J. Richardson averages 9.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Forward Mike Tisdale leads the team in rebounds with 6.8 a game, and blocks with 1.7 a game. He is scoring 9.7 points a game as well. Brandon Paul lead the team in steals with 1 a game. Illinois is outscoring opponents 73-65 on the season. Illinois is shooting 47.1% from the field and 41% from 3-point range. Illini opponents are shooting 39.8% from the field. Illinois shoots 72% from the free throw line. Illinois averages 35.3 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +2.5. The Illini average 16.8 assists and 12.8 turnovers a game on defense. They force 13.2 turnovers a game on defense. Illinois averages 5.6 steals and 4.8 blocks a game.
Minnesota guard Al Nolan is out for at least another 3 weeks with a broken foot. Nolan averages 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and leads the team in steals with 2.4 a game. Three Gophers average double figure scoring. Guard Devoe Joseph left the team and transferred to Oregon. He was averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds a game, but he only played in 8 games for the Gophers. Guard Blake Hoffarber averages 14.2 points to lead the team, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists to lead the team, and 1.1 steals a game to lead the team in Nolan’s absence. Forward Trevor Mbakwe is averaging 13 points, 10.3 rebounds to lead the team, 1.1 assists, 1 steal and 1.7 blocks a game. Junior forward/center Ralph Sampson III averages 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and leads the team in blocks with 2.1 a game. Minnesota is outscoring opponents 72-68 on the season. The Gophers are shooting 46.6% from the field and 33.1% from 3-point range. Minnesota is holding opponents to 39.7% shooting from the field. Minnesota makes 65.1% from the free throw line. Minnesota pulls down 38.8 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +5. The Gophers average 15.8 assists and 13.7 turnovers a game. They force 12.1 turnovers a game on defense. Minnesota averages 7.1 steals and 5.9 blocks a game on defense.
Though both these teams aren’t playing very well right now, they have the talent to turn things around. Minnesota is missing both Nolan and Joseph. They hope to have Nolan back by the Big Ten tournament, but that could be a stretch. No one knows which team will show up for either one of these squads. They are very inconsistent and it makes it difficult to bet on either one.
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