Minnesota Gophers await the Purdue Boilermakers

January 21, 11:20 AMSouth St. Paul ExaminerRob Shirk

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the South St. Paul Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Williams Arena aka The Barn

The Purdue Boilermakers travel to neighborly, rickety old Williams Arena on Thursday. on the raised floor of The Barn, seemingly constructed just after the dawn of time. Actually, it was 1927. It is an intimidating place to play.

The attendance levels have returned to sell-outs and noise levels are back to where they were before the Gophers headed into a basketball wilderness of NCAA sanctions and academic scandal several long years ago. The floor, raised about thigh high, clearly makes opponents think twice when diving for loose balls or scrambling, in Purdue's case, with a full head of steam.

Both teams are ranked, the Gophers (21) and the Boilermakers (18).

The Boilermakers started their Big Ten season with two losses and injuries to Chris Kramer (sprained left foot) and Robbie Hummel (back spasms) were a major factor.

We've had some tough games. Obviously, we've tried to get everybody healthy. We're trying to get better in practice without everybody practicing. It's difficult because you don't have all of your pieces - Purdue coach Matt Painter

The Boilermakers are in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten standings and are tied for second in the loss column with Minnesota. Michigan State leads The Big Ten and is is 5-0 i,  including victories against Minnesota, Northwestern and Penn State on the road.

While The Gophers were upset Sunday at Northwestern, Painter predicts  that Minnesota will be intense and physical Thursday night.
 

SUBSCRIBE to my Examiner Column by clicking the "Subscribe" link below this posting and receive timely updates on South St. Paul news.