Ranked Big Ten Rivals Clash: Purdue at Minnesota

Purdue Boilermakers at Minnesota Golden Gophers, Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Purdue -3 1/2
Current Line: Purdue -2 1/2
Opening Total: 134 1/2
Current Total: 134
Money Line: Purdue -150 / Minnesota +130

E'twaun Moore and the Purdue Boilermakers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Big Ten action. Purdue is a 3 point road favorite.

The Purdue Boilermakers are 15-1 and ranked #8 in the country. They are 4-0 in the Big Ten and looking for their first 5-0 start in conference since the 1989-90 season. Purdue has won 10 straight games since losing in a tournament Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago to Richmond. The Boilermakers have wins over Virginia Tech, Alabama, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn St, and Iowa on the season. The schedule is back loaded for Purdue as they haven’t played any of the elite Big Ten teams yet like Ohio St, Illinois, Michigan St ot Wisconsin yet. Purdue plays at West Virginia on Saturday which will be another tough game. Tonihgt, Purdue travels to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota is still hanging on their top 25 ranking despite having lost 3 of the last 4 to open Big Ten play. The Gophers are 12-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten. The schedule has been brutal so far to open Big Ten play with road games at Wisconsin, Mchigan St, and Ohio St so far. The Gophers lost all three games, though they had to chance to win each one. The Gophers have a home win over Indiana though. Minnesota was 11-1 in non-conference play with the only loss coming at home to Virginia. Minnesota has wins over North Carolina and West Virginia in a tournament in Puerto Rico early in the season. Purdue leads the overall series between the two teams 86-74. They have won and covered 5 of the last 6 meetings with Minnesota, but the Gophers did upset the Boilermakers 69-42 in last season’s Big Ten Tournament. Three of the last four games went under the total. Purdue is 10-2 ATS this year including a 7-1 record ATS versus teams with winning records.

Though Purdue is missing all-America candidate guard Robbie Hummel, they haven’t missed a beat. They are a top 10 team and have the potential to make a deep run into March or even April. Forward/center JaJuan Johnson and guard E’Twaun Moore have picked up the slack for Hummel, and both are playing brilliantly. Johnson is averaging 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks a game. He is the leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker for the team. Moore is averaging 18.8 points, 6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. Moore leads the team in steals. Lewis Jackson leads the team in assists with 4.2 a game. Purdue is outscoring opponents 76-57 on the season. Purdue is shooting 45.7% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point range. Purdue is holding opponents to 38.8% from the field. The Boilermakers make 68.1% of their free throws. Purdue averages 38.3 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +5.4. They average 17.8 assists and 11.6 turnovers a game. They force 16.8 turnovers game on defense. They average 6.7 steals and 4.4 blocks a game.

Minnesota has no significant injuries on the year. Though Minnesota coach Tubby Smith almost suspended leading rebounder Trevor Mbakwe earlier this week after Mbakwe was arrested for violating a protective order filed by his girlfriend. Mbakwe will play, and the Gophers need him. He is one of four Gophers averaging double figure scoring. Guard Devoe Joseph has 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 leads the teams in points with 13.4 a game, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists to lead the team, and 1.3 steals a game. Mbakwe is averaging 13.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks a game. Junior forward/center Ralph Sampson III averages 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and leads the team in blocks with 1.9 a game. Guard Al Nolan averages 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and leads the team in steals with 2.5 a game. Minnesota is outscoring opponents 74-68 on the season. The Gophers are shooting 45.8% from the field and 33.0% from 3-point range. Minnesota is holding opponents to 39.3% shooting from the field. Minnesota makes 65.1% from the free throw line. Minnesota pulls down 40.4 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.1. The Gophers average 15.9 assists and 14.1 turnovers a game. They force 13.3 turnovers a game on defense. Minnesota averages 7.7 steals and 5.8 blocks a game on defense.

The Mbakwe and Joseph situations are distracting for Minnesota. Purdue really hasn’t been tested so far in conference play but Minnesota is 8-1 at home so far this season. If Purdue wins they will have a half game lead over Ohio St in the conference standings. The Buckeyes are also 4-0 in Big Ten play. Though Minnesota is tough at home I think Purdue has too much talent.