NCAA Basketball: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Purdue Boilermakers- Possible Lineups and Predictions

NCAA Basketball has had a rocky season but is putting on exciting games every other night. This time around, we have the Minnesota Golden Gophers facing the Purdue Boilermakers. The two teams clashed in late January and the Boilermakers won the game easily with a scoreline of 81-62.

Since that loss, the Gophers have split their next games. They first lost to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and then beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers. They are currently 12-7 on the season, infrequently bouncing in and out of the AP Top 25.

The Boilermakers have fought their way into the AP Poll, entering this game at #24. However, Purdue lost their last game to the Maryland Terrapins. They also had a big loss to the Michigan Wolverines before they beat the Golden Gophers. They need a win here to continue trending in the right direction after a rocky few games.

Who wins this encounter in the Big 10 Conference?

NCAA Basketball: Will the Gophers get their revenge?

While the Golden Gophers are coming off a win, they really looked shoddy against the Boilermakers. Their offense went wooden against them, and they never had the defensive talent to hold off Purdue. Both teams are great offensively, and this game will most likely be a high-scoring affair.

Purdue has one of the slower offenses in the country, but a highly effective one. They have average shooting, but possibly the best shooter in the country in Sasha Stefanovic. Purdue won the last game without Stefanovic, so having him back in the lineup will be a major offensive boost for the Boilermakers.

Minnesota will start the game with Marcus Carr, Gab Kalscheur, Tre Williams, Brandon Johnson, and Liam Robbins.The Boilermakers will start with Jaden Ivey, Brandon Newman, Sasha Stefanovic, Mason Gillis, and Tevion Williams.

Even though all signs point to a Purdue win, we are going with Minnesota. Our reason for this is simply because this is a home game for them. They have a 12-1 record in their home arena and have all the tools to win this game. With the momentum boost from the Maryland game, Minnesota may have enough to win here.