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• Where: Williams Arena in Minneapolis
• When: Noon today
• TV/Radio: CBS; Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM
• Records: MSU is 16-3 overall, 6-0 in the Big Ten; Minnesota is 12-6, 3-3.
• Series: MSU leads 58-56.
• Coaches: MSU - Tom Izzo is 352-140 in his 15th season, all with the Spartans. Minnesota - Tubby Smith is 441-176 in his 19th season overall and 54-31 in his third with the Golden Gophers.
• Projected lineups
MSU
Pos. Name PPG
F (2) Raymar Morgan (6-8) 10.9
F (10) Delvon Roe (6-8) 7.6
C (50 Derrick Nix (6-9) 2.3
G (3) Chris Allen (6-3) 9.8
G (1) Kalin Lucas (6-1) 15.5
Minnesota
Pos. Name PPG
F (34) Damian Johnson (6-7) 10.5
C (45) Colton Iverson (6-10) 4.7
G (24) Blake Hoffarber (6-4) 11.4
G (20) Lawrence Westbrook (6-0) 13.3
G (5) Devoe Joseph (6-3) 8.5
• MSU update: Look for Nix to return to the starting lineup in place of Durrell Summers, because MSU has to have a true big man in there to tangle with Iverson. Hopefully for Nix, Iverson won't pop him with an elbow as he did in the teams' first meeting, a 60-53 MSU decision on Jan. 13. Minnesota shot better than MSU and battled to a draw on the boards in that game. Westbrook scored 15 and Johnson 14. The Spartans were in serious danger of losing, but Allen had both of MSU's baskets in the final 7:46, and sixth man Draymond Green had a steal and a block on consecutive possessions to fend off the Gophers. Strangely, this is the second Big Ten series for MSU that will be completed by January. A week from today, Northwestern will become the third. That familiarity should favor the defenses on both sides.
• Minnesota update: It's only been 10 days and two games since these teams last met, but so much has changed for the Golden Gophers. The devastating news: Starting point guard Al Nolen is academically ineligible. Minnesota is appealing, but he's out for today barring a last-second reprieve. That's a big hit to this team's pressure defense, in particular. The potentially encouraging news: Freshman forward Royce White, the star of this recruiting class, practiced with the team this week. He is still suspended indefinitely thanks to legal troubles, but is it possible Smith will unveil him for this game? Not likely, but crazier things have happened. Minnesota fought hard in the loss at MSU, then dropped a crushing overtime game at Indiana. If the Gophers want a second straight NCAA bid, they need some quality wins. Today is a crucial opportunity.
• Prediction: Minnesota is a desperate, adversity-plagued team playing in one of the league's loudest arenas. MSU is still playing erratic basketball. The recipe for an upset is there.
• Make it: Minnesota 68, MSU 65
- Joe Rexrode
