Minnesota coach Richard Pitino yells instructions during the first half of his team’s NCAA college basketball game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) University of Minnesota coach Richard Pitino will watch his young basketball team tested immediately in Big Ten play in 2015-16 with an opener at Ohio State on Dec. 30, according to conference schedules released Thursday. The Gophers, who were 18-14 overall and 6-12 in the Big Ten last season, haven’t beaten the Buckeyes in Columbus since the 2004-05 season. They will follow up that game with a conference home opener Jan. 2 against Michigan State at Williams Arena. The Spartans will be looking for revenge after having their 15-game win streak against the Gophers in East Lansing, Mich., snapped last season in a 96-90 overtime loss. Four of Minnesota’s first seven Big Ten games will be on the road, including at Penn State on Jan. 5, at Nebraska on Jan. 12 and at Michigan on Jan. 20. The Gophers went 2-7 on the road in the conference in 2014-15. They lost seven straight Big Ten road games dating back to the previous season before a win at Iowa on Feb. 12. …
Continue Reading: Gophers basketball: UMN opens Big Ten season at Ohio State
