8 p.m. vs. Nebraska • Williams Arena • BTN; 100.3-FM
Hot start slowed by losses on the road
Preview: The Gophers (6-2, 0-1 Big Ten) return home to play at Williams Arena for the first time in six games Wednesday night against No. 24 Nebraska (7-1, 1-0). The U's last game at the Barn was in a 78-69 victory Nov. 12 against Utah. After a 5-0 start, Minnesota has lost two of its past three games, including a 79-59 defeat in the Big Ten opener Sunday at Ohio State. The Cornhuskers swept the Gophers last season, including in a 91-85 victory in Minneapolis on Feb. 6 behind Isaiah Roby and James Palmer Jr. scoring 19 points apiece. Palmer, who is averaging 18.3 points, scored 23 points in Nebraska's Big Ten-opening 75-60 victory Sunday against Illinois.
Players to watch: Gophers senior forward Jordan Murphy became the 14th player in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 career rebounds Sunday. Murphy, though, was held to only seven points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes against the Buckeyes. He still averages a team-best 14.6 points and a Big Ten-leading 12.0 rebounds. … Nebraska senior guard Glynn Watson Jr. torched the Gophers for a season-high 29 points last December in a 78-68 victory in Lincoln. Watson is averaging 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists this season.
Numbers: The Cornhuskers are looking for their second consecutive victory against the Gophers in Minneapolis, which hasn't happened since they won on consecutive days in 1914. The Barn opened in 1928.
MARCUS FULLER
