Thursday, March 13th, 5:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Conseco Fieldhouse (18,435) -- Indianapolis, Indiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Northwestern 5-11, Minnesota 12-4. Away Record: Northwestern 3-10, Minnesota 4-8. Neutral Record: Northwestern 0-0, Minnesota 2-0. Conference Record: Northwestern 1-17, Minnesota 8-10. Series Record: Minnesota leads, 85-56.

GAME NOTES: In opening round Big Ten Tournament action at Conseco Fieldhouse, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Gophers take on the 11th-seeded Northwestern Wildcats for the right to advance to the quarterfinals. Minnesota has completely turned its program around with nine more wins this season than last. The current nine-game differential is tied for the fourth-best turnaround in Division I this season. Unfortunately, the Gophers have dropped three of their last four games, including their last two. To end the streak, Minnesota takes on the Northwestern Wildcats for the third postseason meeting between the two teams. While each squad has won a game apiece, it will be difficult for the Wildcats to overcome the odds and make it a 2-1 edge. Northwestern has notched just one conference victory this season, that being a 62-60 decision over Michigan a few weeks ago for the only win in its past 11 games. The 'Cats haven't had much success against the Gophers this year, losing both contests by a combined 39 points. The winner of this bout will take on third-seeded Indiana in the quarterfinals.

While putting up points hasn't been a problem for Northwestern this season, stopping opponents from scoring has. Teams are shooting an insurmountable 48.6 percent from the floor against the Wildcats for 68.4 ppg. The defense is also forcing only 11.4 turnovers per game while giving the rock up 15.4 times an outing. The lack of an interior presence has allowed opponents to swallow almost 11 more rebounds per game throughout the season. While Kevin Coble and Craig Moore are solid threats on the offensive end, they couldn't carry Northwestern this season. Coble, who missed nine games due to an injury, leads the team in scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg). No other player on the roster is grabbing even three boards a game. Moore led the Big Ten in three- pointers made (94) en route to netting 13.3 ppg. Michael Thompson proved to be the third scoring option in the bunch, recording 11.6 ppg while hitting 42.0 percent from behind the arc.

A big reason for Minnesota's turnaround has been the arrival of coach Tubby Smith. Smith's defensive scheme has caused more than 17 turnovers a game, while the Gophers' offense is shooting a solid 44.7 percent from the floor en route to logging 70.0 ppg. Lawrence McKenzie and Blake Hoffarber are the perimeter threats for Minnesota. McKenzie has sunk a team-high 71 three-pointers while averaging 12.0 ppg. Hoffarber has been a terrific change of pace player off the bench, as the sharp-shooter is hitting 44.2 percent from three-point land, including a 4-for-6 effort from behind the arc against the Illini in the last game of the season. Dan Coleman is the force on the inside, as his 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game paces the Gophers in both categories. Minnesota has had trouble on the boards at points this is season, including getting thwarted on the glass by a 45-19 margin against Illinois. As for the supporting cast, Spencer Tollackson is hovering around 10.0 ppg, and Al Nolen is recording almost a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (106:55) for the ball controlled offensive attack.

When these two met up during the season, Minnesota took over early and never looked back. Expect the same results tonight as the Gophers put a postseason stamp on their remarkable turnaround.

Predicted Outcome

Minnesota 77, Northwestern 60