Minnesota (17-13) vs. Northwestern (17-12)

When: 1:30 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse

TV: ESPN2

Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: Eight days after the Wildcats bounced the Gophers 68-57 at Welsh-Ryan Arena, they meet again in the Big Ten tournament opener. Both teams will be shorthanded. Not only is NU starting guard JerShon Cobb doubtful with his hip/groin injury (he practiced tentatively Tuesday), senior forward Mike Capocci is out due to a concussion suffered at his apartment. He has seven staples in the back of his head. That leaves the Wildcats with just eight scholarship players. Minnesota should still be without senior point guard Al Nolen, whose broken foot hasn’t healed as rapidly as everyone hoped.

Advancement: The winner gets top-ranked Ohio State at 11 a.m. Friday (ESPN) in the first quarterfinal.

— Lindsey Willhite