Akeem Springs (photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
SENIOR NIGHT VS NEBRASKA
Prior to the start of Thursday’s game, the Gophers will honor their senior class of managers Hayden Fehr, Jason Murray and Nick Smith along with guards Akeem Springs and Darin Haugh. Fans should plan to be in their seats by 5:40 p.m. to catch the ceremony.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Arena: Williams Arena (14,625)
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 66th Meeting (50-15)*
Series (Home): 43rd Meeting (35-7)*
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Nebraska: 1-3
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 745-809*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 28-47
* – excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Owners of one of the nation’s longest win streaks, the Minnesota men’s basketball team hosts its final home game of the season Thursday against Nebraska. Prior to the game, the Gophers’ two seniors in Akeem Springs and Darin Haugh will be recognized before they take the Williams Arena court for the final time.
• With a record of 22-7 to date, the Gophers are the NCAA’s most improved team. The Gophers have also now tallied five road wins in conference play, their most since 1982. Minnesota’s 22 regular season wins are the most since 1982 as well. The Gophers once again received votes in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls this week.
• In the latest edition of the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) as of Feb. 24, the Gophers stand in 17th place. Minnesota is the highest ranked Big Ten team in the NCAA RPI rankings.
• Redshirt junior Reggie Lynch sits among the nation’s leaders in blocked shots. The Edina, Minn. native now has 95 blocks on the season, leading both the team and the Big Ten Conference and second nationally with an average of 3.4 blocks per game. He is spearheading the Minnesota team blocking effort which leads Division I at 7.0 blocks per game. Lynch has also made his mark on the record books, becoming the new leader for single season blocks among all-time Gophers.
• The Gophers are on something of a historic streak, winning seven straight Big Ten games for the first time since 1978. Included in that is Wednesday’s victory at 24th-ranked Maryland, becoming the first time since 1981 that a Gophers team has topped two ranked teams on the road during a single season (excluding vacated seasons).
MURPHY TALKS
Gopher sophomore forward Jordan Murphy of San Antonio talked with MNN Sports Director Mike Grimm about the winning streak and staying focused:
