Gophers coach Johnson previews Saturday’s game vs. Rutgers

Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson met with reporters Friday, via Zoom. The Gophers are scheduled to play Rutgers at the Barn Saturday morning at 11 a.m. The Gophers expect to have enough available bodies after having to postpone Wednesday’s game at Penn State. Covid has hit the team.

***Click the video box above to watch Johnson’s Zoom session with reporters***

The Gophers, not expected to be at full strength, are trying to end a 4-game losing streak. They were able to practice on Thursday, albeit not with their full squad. Eric Curry (ankle) is questionable. The players battling Covid haven’t been cited this week.

Rutgers is 5-2 in the Big Ten, having won 6 of their last 7 games. One of those wins was over then No. 1 Purdue.

Rutgers has really struggled on the road, going 1-5 with losses to DePaul, UMass, and Penn State. Their lone road win was at Maryland, their last road game.

Rutgers, like the Gophers, has battled Covid this season. They were shutdown for 17 days in December.

Minnesota leads the all-time series, 8-6.