Northwestern game day

Posted March 07, 2012 7:48 pm

Minnesota (18-13, 6-12) vs.

Northwestern (18-12, 8-10)

When: 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

TV/radio: BTN/WGN 720-AM

Skinny: Something has to give in this game with two clubs that split their season series. Seventh-seeded Northwestern is the better shooting team, but 10th-seeded Minnesota has the edge in rebounding and team defense. The winner advances to take on Michigan in Friday’s quarterfinal round and both teams need a strong finish in this tournament to get NCAA consideration. The Wildcats are coming off a 70-66 win at Iowa while the Gophers snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Nebraska 81-69 at home. Northwestern beat Minnesota in last year’s tourney opener, and rebounded from a bad loss in January by beating them 64-53 in Evanston on Feb. 18.

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