OPEN THREAD - Gopher Basketball vs. Oklahoma State in Tulsa

Where

Tulsa

When

4:30 PM

How

ESPN2

Who

Oklahoma State

After upsetting the #3 team in the country, the Golden Gophers hit the road for another challenging non-conference game against a P5 opponent. The second toughest non-Big Ten team on the schedule and the last game before Christmas. This one is a semi-home game for Oklahoma State after meeting us in Sioux Falls last season.

Can the Gophers come away with a win over the 8-2 Cowboys?

KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN

Threes! - Oklahoma State is very good at defending the three, and really they are very good with their defensive efficiency all around. Currently 17th in the country in terms of 3-point FG% allowed. In their two losses, they allowed over 40% from three, so that is certainly going to be a big factor this afternoon. Paging Gabe Kalscheur!

Marcus Carr again? - Was Carr’s game against Ohio State a great game that he won’t repeat or will he start to find some consistency and be the team’s best perimeter player? Him dominating should loosen things up for Kalscheur.

Get to the Free Throw Line - I know this team is very different in make up and philosophy from last year but we are really not very good at getting to the free throw line. Wins over Clemson and Ohio State? We got to the free throw line at a much higher rate than most of our other games.

PREDICTION

If Minnesota plays well, this should be a fun game. We have not played well on the road (see Iowa) so I’m not going to hold out much hope. Marcus Carr is the key and then someone else needs to make threes to keep the defense from packing it in. But until I see it with some consistency, I will suggest that the Cowboys win this afternoon.

Minnesota - 66
Oklahoma State - 72