Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Minnesota – key storylines, injury report, how to watch

Indiana basketball is set to play the program’s final regular season road game of its 124th season of competition tonight at Minnesota. Hoosiers are currently riding a 2-game winning streak with wins over Wisconsin and Maryland.

Minnesota, under the guidance of third-year head coach Ben Johnson, are led by junior forward Dawson Garcia. He ranks sixth in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.4 points per night to go along with 6.4 rebounds. He has knocked down 133-of-163 (81.6%) of his free throw attempts this season.

Minnesota, under the guidance of third-year head coach Ben Johnson, are led by junior forward Dawson Garcia. He ranks sixth in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.4 points per night to go along with 6.4 rebounds. He has knocked down 133-of-163 (81.6%) of his free throw attempts this season.

Junior guard Elijah Hawkins leads the conference in assists per game at 7.5. Freshman guard Cam Christie (11.9 points per game, 62 made 3-pointers), junior guard Mike Mitchell Jr. (10.6 points, 62 made triples, and sophomore forward Pharrel Payne (10.0 points, 6.2 rebounds) all contribute double figures in the scoring column.

Tip is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET on BTN.

Below is the full preview of Indiana basketball at Minnesota.

Key Storylines

One final (true) road game

…and just like that, the Hoosiers have their final, true road game. The Hoosiers come in this game riding a two-game winning streak, a road win at Maryland on Sunday, and total of three true road wins on the year.

Both teams here have a lot to play for whether you believe it not. While Indiana basketball’s NCAA Tournament hopes are all but squashed, a win here not only continues the upward trend but gives them a high chance to avoid playing on Wednesday in the Big Ten Tournament. For Minnesota, this is almost a must-win game for the Gophers if they want any hope to get an NCAA Tournament berth while also trying to avoid slipping down the conference standings.

Indiana has already defeated Minnesota once this season so they know what to expect from the Gophers. However, it will be much different this time around being it taking place at The Barn, a hostile place to play. If Indiana basketball can do exactly what they did at Maryland, they have chance to get a second-straight road win.

Hoosiers have a chance to play spoiler for this game, and the rest of the season.

Have to stop digging yourself a big hole

While there is now some positivity with the Hoosiers coming of back-to-back wins, we need to address this before we continue…Indiana basketball has got to stop digging themselves in a big hole to climb out of.

Too many times this season, Indiana basketball has dug a major hole allowing teams to go up by a large margin and while Indiana has often fought back, most the time it is little too late. Luckily, the Hoosiers were able to climb out of the 16-point deficit at Maryland and win there.

Indiana has just lacked to play a complete 40-minute game and mental mistakes have been a big reason why.

“It’s nice to see. I don’t think anyone on our team stopped believing. we just haven’t been able to put together full 40 mintue ball games like I envisioned,” Woodson said in the Maryland win. “I thought we played a terrible first half but we never quit. I thought the second half we came out and defensively were tremendous.”

This team has shown a lot of toughness as of late, but if they can set the tone early in these next two games and always be within striking distance, it would save them a lot of troubles.

With a full deck, Indiana basketball is a lot more dangerous than you think

We have seen something these last two games that we have not seen many times this season, a full Indiana basketball roster.

With Xavier Johnson returning to the, Indiana basketball has a full deck now and depth. While the starters continue to get most of the minutes, there is more of a complete rotation now that Mike Woodson can use.

If these last two games are anything, a full deck for this roster can be a dangerous thing for any team that faces the Hoosiers. Especially with their senior backcourt of Trey Galloway and Xavier Johnson now back together

“It was as well as they played together since I’ve had them together,” Woodson said of his backcourt last game. “It was probably — probably the two best games they’ve had (together), we just haven’t been able to get to that point. It is what it is man but to see them play together tonight and lead like they did being seniors, was kinda nice.”

With only a few games left for the Hoosiers this season, being healthy should be the No. 1 priority the rest of the way through. A healthy Indiana basketball is a good thing.

Mailbag: What to make of Mike Woodson and Indiana during final stretch run amid difficult season

Series History

Indiana holds an advantage of 108-69 over Minnesota in a series that began in 1912. The Hoosiers have won nine of the last 10 matchups, including seven-straight.

Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako scored 19 points to lead the Hoosiers to a 74-62 win over Minnesota on Jan. 12, 2024, in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Sophomore center Kel’el Ware notched a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Indiana earned a 61-57 victory under the guidance of associate head coach Yasir Rosemond on Jan. 25, 2023, the last time the program visited ‘The Barn’.

Watch: Mackenzie Mgbako speaks Indiana basketball ahead of Minnesota

Injury Updates

Jakai Newton: Newton had a lower body surgical procedure done this past offseason to help fix a previous injury he sustained during high school. He is still recovering and is not expected to play for the rest of the season. The good news is there was video surfacing of Jakai Newton going almost full speed in a workout. He probably won’t play the rest of the season, but this a great sign.

Read: How ‘trusting the process’ and ‘playing within the system’ has been instrumental in Mackenzie Mgbako’s surge for Indiana basketball

Quick Hitters

Who?: Indiana (16-13) (8-10 Big Ten) at Minnesota (18-11) (9-9 Big Ten)

When?: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 • 9 p.m. ET

Where?: Williams Arena (14,625) • Minneapolis, Minn.

TV: BTN (Cory Provus, Stephen Bardo)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Betting Lines: Indiana basketball is listed as a 5-point underdog via DraftKings Sportsbook.

SEE ALSO: Multiple recruiting targets expected to visit Indiana basketball this weekend

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