Good Hoops Morning: With Michigan looming, Ohio State can’t overlook Minnesota

Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast. Listen to the episode and subscribe: Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Ohio State Buckeyes (-8.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers| over/under 144.5 Game Date/Time: Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m. ETLocation: Columbus, OhioTV: BTNRadio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com Ohio State (12-5, 4-3) welcomes a struggling Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-8, 3-4) team to the Schottenstein Center on Tuesday night for the team’s second home game in four days. After scoring 86 points on UCLA over the weekend, the Buckeyes will look to out-run a Minnesota team that is the slowest team in the conference in adjusted tempo (351st in the nation) and is 17th in the Big Ten in points per game (72.8). Minnesota has averaged 70.3 points per game during its three-game losing streak, although those three losses have come by an average of 4.7 points. Among the Gophers’ three Big Ten wins are ranked wins over Indiana and Iowa. This game will feature two of the Big Ten’s three best scorers — Bruce Thornton (20.5 PPG) and Cade Tyson (20.8 PPG). Thornton and Tyson are also tied for the lead in minutes per game this season at 36.4 per contest. Connor’s prediction: Ohio State 78, Minnesota 68 Connect with Connor: Twitter: @lemons_connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices