RADIO/TV: WVFN (730-AM)/ESPN2

WHERE: Williams Arena in Minneapolis

THE SERIES: MSU leads 32-19 overall, 12-11 in Minneapolis

MINNESOTA UPDATE: Minnesota is 10-1 at Williams Arena, but 0-5 on the road. Its only home loss came Dec. 13 to Iowa State.

The Gophers have lost 2-of-3, but the two losses have come by a combined three points to Illinois and Northwestern.

COMMON OPPONENTS: Outside of league play, the two teams have one common opponent, Xavier.

The Gophers lost 71-56 to the Muskateers on Nov. 28 in the Junkanoo Jam, while MSU picked up a 66-53 win Dec. 9 at Breslin Center.

KEY MATCHUP: Rebounding. Entering Thursday’s game with Purdue, the Spartans owned nearly a plus-7 rebounding differential, and have lost both games in which they were outrebounded. The Gophers have a plus-4 rebounding differential. Minnesota has five players averaging more than three rebounds per game, led by forward Ashley Ellis-Milan at 5.3. MSU has eight, paced by sophomore forward Lykendra Johnson’s 8.6.