? The 12th-ranked Minnesota men's basketball team opens Big Ten Conference play at home on Sunday against Rutgers. The Gophers and Scarlet Knights are meeting Sunday as part of the adjusted conference schedule this season in which two December games will be played in order to accommodate the one week earlier Big Ten Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
? For the third straight week, Jordan Murphy was named the Big Ten's Player of the Week. Murphy is leading the team and the Big Ten Conference averaging 21.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game through the first eight games. Murphy has posted double-doubles in every game thus far this season, and he became the first Gopher to win the award in back-to-back weeks. Murphy is also just the second Gopher to win it three times in the same season.
? Murphy leads the nation with eight double-doubles, one in every game this season. He is additionally second in offensive rebounding per game (5.5) and third in the nation in rebounds per game pulling down 12.5 boards per game. His 21.4 points per game ranks 33rd, as of Friday afternoon.
? Head coach Richard Pitino won his 100th career game on Nov. 25 against Alabama. Pitino is one of five active Division I head coaches who have reached the 100 career victory mark in their sixth season or sooner.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
? Rutgers comes to Minneapolis on the heels of its first loss of the season, a 78-73 home defeat at the hands of Florida State on Tuesday in the Big Ten Challenge.
? Rutgers leads the nation in offensive rebounds per game (16.6) and is second in scoring defense nationally, allowing just 51.6 points per game.
? Corey Sanders paces the RU offense, one of four double-digit scorers, as the junior contributes 13.0 points per game.
? For the third straight week, Jordan Murphy was named the Big Ten's Player of the Week. Murphy is leading the team and the Big Ten Conference averaging 21.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game through the first eight games. Murphy has posted double-doubles in every game thus far this season, and he became the first Gopher to win the award in back-to-back weeks. Murphy is also just the second Gopher to win it three times in the same season.
? Murphy leads the nation with eight double-doubles, one in every game this season. He is additionally second in offensive rebounding per game (5.5) and third in the nation in rebounds per game pulling down 12.5 boards per game. His 21.4 points per game ranks 33rd, as of Friday afternoon.
? Head coach Richard Pitino won his 100th career game on Nov. 25 against Alabama. Pitino is one of five active Division I head coaches who have reached the 100 career victory mark in their sixth season or sooner.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
? Rutgers comes to Minneapolis on the heels of its first loss of the season, a 78-73 home defeat at the hands of Florida State on Tuesday in the Big Ten Challenge.
? Rutgers leads the nation in offensive rebounds per game (16.6) and is second in scoring defense nationally, allowing just 51.6 points per game.
? Corey Sanders paces the RU offense, one of four double-digit scorers, as the junior contributes 13.0 points per game.
