Preview: The Gophers (8-1) beat their first four midmajor opponents by double digits at home this season but received a scare in a 74-68 victory Tuesday against New Jersey Institute of Technology. The Gophers scheduled four Sun Belt Conference teams this year, already beating Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas-Arlington. ? The Eagles (4-4), who return five starters, were predicted to finish fourth in the Sun Belt. They nearly upset North Carolina State in an 81-79 season-opening loss on Nov. 11.
Players to watch: Gophers senior guard Akeem Springs has scored in double figures five times this year off the bench, averaging 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19.8 minutes. ? Georgia Southern sophomore guard Ike Smith leads the Sun Belt in scoring with 21.4 points per game, which includes six 20-point performances.
Numbers: The Gophers are 8-1 all-time against Sun Belt opponents. Their only loss came against Arkansas-Little Rock 67-66 at home in 2006-07.
ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (4-4): The Eagles have wins in three of their last five games, which coincides with junior guard Mike Hughes returning from a three-game suspension for violating team rules to start the season. Hughes has given coach Mark Byington more experience in the backcourt as well as last year's Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes is scoring 11.2 points and hitting more than two 3-pointers a game, helping to stretch to floor and taking some pressure off fellow sharpshooter Jake Allsmiller (21 3-pointers in eight games) to be the only outside threat.
ABOUT MINNESOTA (8-1): Defense has been the biggest reason for Minnesota's success this season, with the Golden Gophers holding opponents to 35.8 percent shooting from the field, best in the Big Ten and eighth nationally. The presence of Lynch has helped the Gophers average 6.9 blocks, also best in the conference and eighth nationally, allowing Minnesota defenders to take more chances on the perimeter. Throw in the team's average of 30.6 defensive rebounds -- 10th in the country -- and it's easy to see why the Gophers' defense is so much better this season.
Players to watch: Gophers senior guard Akeem Springs has scored in double figures five times this year off the bench, averaging 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19.8 minutes. ? Georgia Southern sophomore guard Ike Smith leads the Sun Belt in scoring with 21.4 points per game, which includes six 20-point performances.
Numbers: The Gophers are 8-1 all-time against Sun Belt opponents. Their only loss came against Arkansas-Little Rock 67-66 at home in 2006-07.
ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (4-4): The Eagles have wins in three of their last five games, which coincides with junior guard Mike Hughes returning from a three-game suspension for violating team rules to start the season. Hughes has given coach Mark Byington more experience in the backcourt as well as last year's Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes is scoring 11.2 points and hitting more than two 3-pointers a game, helping to stretch to floor and taking some pressure off fellow sharpshooter Jake Allsmiller (21 3-pointers in eight games) to be the only outside threat.
ABOUT MINNESOTA (8-1): Defense has been the biggest reason for Minnesota's success this season, with the Golden Gophers holding opponents to 35.8 percent shooting from the field, best in the Big Ten and eighth nationally. The presence of Lynch has helped the Gophers average 6.9 blocks, also best in the conference and eighth nationally, allowing Minnesota defenders to take more chances on the perimeter. Throw in the team's average of 30.6 defensive rebounds -- 10th in the country -- and it's easy to see why the Gophers' defense is so much better this season.
