MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — February has mostly been a month to forget for Minnesota under coach Tubby Smith.
The loss at Iowa on Sunday for the Gophers was their 16th defeat in 20 games in February over the past three years. This season, they’ve dropped seven of their past 10 games and face a tough trip to 18th-ranked Ohio State on Wednesday.
The Gophers (18-8, 6-7 Big Ten) have beaten the Buckeyes in Columbus only once (2005) in their past 11 games there.
Power forward Rodney Williams, who is second on the team in points, rebounds and blocks, could be held out again with a sore left shoulder. Smith said he’s concerned about the injury, which occurred 10 days ago in practice.
”It’s just the change in attitude. Changing the way we play,” point guard Andre Hollins said, recalling the way the team recalibrated after last year’s slump to reach the NIT championship game.
”We’ve got to look onto the next mission. We got past it, but we’ve got to remember what we did wrong, go to Ohio State and tough this one out.”
After rising as high as eighth in the Associated Press poll, Minnesota has fallen out of the Top 25. The Gophers still have, for now, a solid case for an NCAA tournament selection.
Continue Reading: Minnesota in another midseason slump under Smith (The Associated Press)
