Gophers men's gameday
7:30 P.M. VS. ILLINOIS • BTN (1500-AM)
About the Gophers (6-13, 0-7 Big Ten): They are 0-7 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2003-04, when they dropped their first nine Big Ten games, after falling at Michigan 74-69 on Wednesday. The Gophers have dropped their past two games by a total of 12 points after losing the previous two by a total of 50. G Nate Mason scored a career-high 25 points Wednesday. … Gophers coach Richard Pitino has gone 1-1 in his only two games against Illinois. … Saturday's game is Alumni Day. The team will recognize former players during a halftime ceremony.
About Illinois (9-10, 1-5): Before getting routed 103-69 at Indiana on Tuesday, the Illini hadn't given up more than 100 points since 1993, when they lost 108-107 to Missouri. The Hoosiers hit 19 three-pointers. Two games before, the Illini topped Purdue by 14 at home for their best victory of the season, and their only victory in Big Ten play. Illinois has dealt with injuries all season — starting with G Tracy Abrams tearing his Achilles' tendon to miss a second consecutive year of play — and is still without F Leron Black (knee), who has been out since Dec. 9. C Mike Thorne Jr. returned vs. Indiana after sitting out since Nov. 28.
AMELIA RAYNO
