No. 20 Michigan Faces Struggling Minnesota in Big Ten Showdown

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan men’s basketball team (13-3, 5-0 Big Ten) travels to Williams Arena on Thursday, Jan. 16, to face the struggling Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-9, 0-6 Big Ten). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CST, with the game airing on FS1.

Michigan enters the matchup riding a strong start to conference play, boasting a perfect 5-0 record in the Big Ten. The Wolverines lead the nation in field goal percentage at 51.9% and rank fourth nationally with a 69.2% shooting percentage. Five Michigan players are shooting above 50% from the field, with Tre Donaldson and Dug McDaniel leading the team from beyond the arc.

Head coach Dusty May emphasized the importance of maintaining focus against a Minnesota team that has yet to secure a conference win. “We have to approach this game the same way we have the first five league games,” May said. “Minnesota has had some tough breaks, but they’ve played well enough to win several games. The margin is small for all of us.”

Minnesota, led by fifth-year forward Dawson Garcia, has struggled to find consistency this season. Garcia averages 18.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, but the Gophers rank near the bottom of the nation in several key categories, including free-throw shooting (63.3%, 350th nationally) and effective field-goal percentage (50.2%, 201st nationally).

Michigan’s balanced scoring attack features five players averaging double figures, including sophomore forward Tarris Reed Jr., who has scored in double digits in 10 straight games. Reed, named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 13, leads the team with 15.4 points per game and has recorded at least one block in 14 consecutive games.

The Wolverines have been dominant on the road this season, going 3-0 in true away games against Wisconsin, USC, and UCLA. However, all three of Michigan’s losses have come on neutral courts, including narrow defeats to Wake Forest, Arkansas, and No. 14 Oklahoma by a combined five points.

May highlighted the importance of defense and rebounding in road games, areas where Michigan has excelled. The Wolverines rank 18th in defensive efficiency (94.8) and 30th in offensive rebounding percentage (35.8).

Despite Minnesota’s struggles, May warned against underestimating the Gophers, who have pushed top teams like Purdue, Maryland, and Ohio State to the brink. “If we don’t go up there with the mindset that it’s going to be 40 minutes of fight, intensity, and us having to play really, really well, then we’re going to walk out of there with a loss,” May said.

Michigan will look to secure its 100th win in the series against Minnesota, having gone 7-3 in the last 10 meetings. The Wolverines last played at Williams Arena on Dec. 8, 2022, where they hold a 2-3 record over their last five visits.