Truly compelling Big Ten vs Big East Matchup at the Garden
Wed Nov 26, 2014 | 7:05 PM, EST | ESPN-U
Madison Square Garden | New York, New York
MINNESOTA GOPHERS 3-1
SAINT JOHN’S RED STORM 3-0
Projected UM Starters
5-09 | 167 Sr Deandre Mathieu
6-02 | 196 Jr Andre Hollins
6-05 | 178 Jr Carlos Morris
6-09 | 227 Jr Joey King
6-10 | 251 Sr Maurice Walker
Significant UM Contributors
6-01 | 180 Fr Nate Mason
UM Suspension
6-03 | 197 So Daquein McNeil
Projected SJU Starters
6-04 | 202 Sr D'Angelo Harrison
6-06 | 192 Sr Sir'Dominic Pointer
6-10 | 236 Jr Chris Obekpa
6-02 | 187 Sr Phil Greene
6-04 | 193 So Rysheed Jordan
Significant SJU Contributor
6-03 | 168 Sr Jamal Branch
Despite startling suspension of UM backup Daquein McNeil
(Arrest & allegations of Sexual Assault)
Gophs have altogether positive memories of MSG
On their last trip into MSG 8 months ago,
Minnesota's core group of experienced starters
After a disastrous, turnover filled 14-0 hole to begin NIT Title game
Minnesota stormed back to nudge past SMU 65-63
The Gophers are off the grid a bit these days
After their 2014-15 forgettable opening game loss in Pitino-Bowl
UL locked down Minnesota's motion offense remarkably well
UM Point guard Deandre Mathieu was frustrated all night by UL's Jones & Rozier
Deandre Mathieu had 3 Assists & 4 Turnovers vs UL in Puerto Rico
The 5-9 Senior Mathieu team Leader has bounced back to form
Mathieu is Quarterbacking Gophs at or beyond their Top-10 NCAA 20+ Ast/Gm Level
Deandre Mathieu has a 20-3 Assist to Turnover Ratio since the opener
UM may not have played truly competitive teams over the past 3 games
(Western Kentucky, Franklin Pierce & Maryland-Baltimore Co)
Yet this experienced & powerfully big Minnesota team
Looks like a sharp play here in MSG
Steve Lavin's Jonnies haven't left their Jamaica popcorn box yet this season
SJU is probably due to break out of their abysmal 4-27 vs D-I Team Deep shooting slump sometime soon
MSG is a probably not a good place to try and get this done
Even though Pitino & Lavin are blessed w/abundant experience
Both these teams play hawkish Defense
Both are amongst D-I's weaker 3-Shooting teams
Minnesota is also hitting 56.1% at the line
Even though SJU loves to push tempo
Minnesota's Pitino is reportedly very eager to get back to feeding his bigs & running deeper into shot/sets
Like the Under smallish, and the Gophs as a 'Live Dog'
2 UNIT
MINNESOTA +1 (-110 | sportsbook.ag)
SAINT JOHN'S
1 UNIT
MINNESOTA | UNDER 139 (-110 | Bookmaker)
SAINT JOHN'S (Projected Line)
1 UNIT
RICHMOND
NORTH CAROLINA STATE -3 (-110 | 5-Dimes)
1 UNIT
BUTLER +10 (-110 | Sportbet)
NORTH CAROLINA
All the best, guys