11/16 Big Ten Preview: Missouri at Minnesota

There’s a pair of Big Ten games tonight with a doubleheader on BTN. First up is Indiana hosting Wright State, followed by Minnesota and Missouri. Let’s take a look at the upcoming action.

Game of the Night

Missouri Tigers at Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Time/TV: 9:00 PM ET BTN
• Line: Missouri -2

The late game today has Missouri traveling north to Minnesota. The Gophers are 2-0 after a pair of wins against cupcakes while Memphis is 2-1 with a pair of wins over cupcakes and a loss to Memphis.

Minnesota has shot well in their first two games, hitting around 53% of their field goals, 80% from the line and 41% from three. Dawson Garcia is leading the team with 22.5 points and 10 rebounds per game while Cam Christie had 18 points in his debut this season. Two knocks for the Gophers so far this year is they’ve been a bit turnover prone (14 per game) and their offensive success hasn’t came against talented opposition.

Missouri made it to the NCAA Tournament last year and will look to do so once again this winter. The loss to Memphis wasn’t a bad one and the Tigers have a more talented roster then Minnesota. Sean East II is averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting 60% from three in three games. With five players averaging at least 9 points per game Missouri has been relatively balanced on offense.

The Gophers have the benefit of playing at home but Missouri is the more talented squad. With Minnesota not being tested much so far this season and Missouri at least having Memphis up early, the Tigers should be ready for their Big Ten opponent. It might be a bit closer than expected, but Missouri should have enough firepower tonight.

Pick: Missouri

The Rest

Wright State Raiders at Indiana Hoosiers

• Time/TV: 7:00 PM ET BTN
• Line: Indiana -12

In the early game the Hoosiers will look to improve to 3-0 if they can knock off Wright State. Things haven’t gone smoothly so far for Indiana, barely knocking off Army and Florida Gulf Coast in their first two games. With Connecticut on deck this weekend this will be the last opportunity to get things up and running.

A lot of the issues in the first two games have been commonplace for the Hoosiers the last several years and that’s alarming. They still have a considerable talent advantage here so that should be enough to pick up the W.

Pick: Indiana