The Gophers look to get back on track with a home win this evening over Illinois. Can they avenge the OT loss they suffered in the Big Ten opener?
TV: BTN
Game Time: 7:00
| Pos | Minnesota | Pnt/Gm | | Pnt/Gm | Illinois | Pos |
| PG | Julian Welch | 4.7 | 2.7 | Tracy Abrams | G | |
| G | Joe Coleman | 9.9 | 12.7 | D.J. Richardson | G | |
| F | Austin Hollins | 8.7 | 14.0 | Brandon Paul | G/F | |
| F | Rodney Williams | 9.8 | 7.1 | Joseph Bertrand | F | |
| C | Ralph Sampson III | 8.1 | 13.3 | Meyers Leonard | C | |
| Bench | Andre Hollins | 6.1 | 5.1 | Tyler Griffey | Bench | |
| Bench | Elliott Eliason | 2.8 | 8.7 | Sam Maniscalco | Bench | |
| Bench | Chip Armelin | 6.2 | 1.1 | Nnanna Egwu | Bench |
The Illini are not a very deep team. The eight names you see above are possibly going to be the only eight guys you see on the Barn floor tonight. The problem for the Gophers is that they are all very dangerous. Paul, Richardson and Leonard are about as good a trio as you will find. Maniscalco is capable of throwing in 20 and so is Bertrand, both have hit 15 or more on three different occasions this season. So they have a few guys who are very dangerous and then a few more guys who can punch you in the gut if you aren't paying attention to them.
But after beating Ohio State on the back of Brandon Paul, the Illini have lost two in a row. So they go back on the road hoping to avoid a third one. When they played earlier in the year Minnesota was a team still searching for an identity. I think they are a different team now with more confidence in what they do well. Should be a great game.