Gophers looks to continue late-season surge on Saturday Showdown

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have won three of their last four games, turning what seemed like a lost season into an exciting finish. On Saturday, they will face the Penn State Nittany Lions at Williams Arena in a crucial late-season conference matchup.

Penn State, in its second season under head coach Mike Rhoades, looked like an NCAA Tournament contender earlier this year. However, injuries have derailed what was once a promising season for the Nittany Lions.

After a strong 12-2 start, which included a win over top-10 Purdue, Penn State went on to lose 11 of its next 12 games. However, they managed to secure a dominant 89-72 victory over a red-hot Nebraska team earlier this week. The Nittany Lions are currently last in the Big Ten, with a 14-13 overall record and a 4-12 conference mark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Ace Baldwin leads Penn State. One of the top point guards in the country, Baldwin is averaging 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game this season. He also earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors for 2023-24.

The Nittany Lions also feature three other starters who each average over 12 points per game: guard Nicholas Kern, forward Zach Hicks, and center Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Penn State boasts one of the nation’s best offenses, averaging 79.8 points per game (just outside the top 50 nationally) and shooting 47.8% from the field, ranking 47th in the country.

However, their defense has been a challenge, which is surprising given Rhoades’ reputation for coaching strong defenses at VCU. This season, opposing teams are averaging 73.5 points per game against Penn State, ranking 23rd in the nation. Additionally, teams have had success shooting from beyond the arc, with Penn State allowing a 35.2% shooting percentage from three.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Watch – Minnesota vs Penn State
TV: BTN
Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM or iHeart App (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Who: Penn State Nittany Lions (14-13, 4-12) vs Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-12, 6-9)
When: 2:00 p.m. CT
Where: Williams Arena – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Series History
This will be the 49th meeting between the two teams and their second matchup this season. Earlier this month, the Golden Gophers defeated a shorthanded Penn State team 69-61 in Happy Valley, with Dawson Garcia scoring 19 points and both Lu’Cye Patterson and Brennan Rigsby adding 14 points each. The Gophers lead the all-time series 33-15.