Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Purdue Boilermakers Picks and Predictions January 2nd 2025

No. 20 Purdue Seeks First Road Win at Minnesota in Big Ten Clash

No. 20 Purdue heads to Minneapolis on Thursday night to face Minnesota in a critical early Big Ten matchup. The Boilermakers (9-4, 1-1 Big Ten) are looking for their first road victory of the season, while the Golden Gophers (8-5, 0-2) hope to build on a two-game winning streak.

Purdue’s Quest for Road Success

Purdue coach Matt Painter knows his team’s readiness for the physicality of Big Ten play hinges on their ability to win away from home. The Boilermakers are coming off a convincing 83-64 victory over Toledo on Sunday, a game that followed tough losses to then-No. 17 Texas A&M and No. 2 Auburn. Still, Painter isn’t fully satisfied with his team’s progression.

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“We haven’t won a road game. I like where we are if we win our next game,” Painter said.

Purdue’s struggles with physical play and rebounding remain concerns. Painter highlighted the need for his players to be more aggressive and engaged, especially on the road.

“It’s a physical league. Things aren’t called the same on the road, as we all know,” Painter added. “Those are questions we have to answer.”

Key Contributors for Purdue

The Boilermakers rely heavily on their top three scorers:

• Trey Kaufman-Renn: Leading the team with 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, Kaufman-Renn is the centerpiece of Purdue’s offense.
• Braden Smith: The team’s playmaker, averaging 14.5 points and a team-high 8.6 assists per game.
• Fletcher Loyer: Adding 13.6 points per contest, Loyer provides scoring depth.

However, Purdue’s supporting cast has struggled, with no other players averaging more than 6.5 points per game.

Minnesota’s Push for Consistency

The Golden Gophers enter the game after back-to-back home wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and Morgan State, but they’re still seeking their first Big Ten victory. Losses to Michigan State and Indiana by double digits exposed vulnerabilities Minnesota will need to address against a strong Purdue squad.

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Forward Parker Fox emphasized the team’s need for collective effort, saying, “We’re going to really rely on strength in numbers.”

Key Contributors for Minnesota

• Dawson Garcia: The standout forward leads the team with 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, anchoring the offense.
• Mike Mitchell Jr.: Averages 13.3 points, providing a reliable scoring option alongside Garcia.
• Lu’Cye Patterson and Parker Fox: Add 9.7 and 7.2 points per game, respectively, rounding out the scoring options.

Home vs. Road Advantage

Minnesota boasts a strong 8-2 home record, while Purdue has yet to win on the road this season (0-2). The Golden Gophers will look to leverage their home-court advantage to disrupt Purdue’s game plan.

Outlook

This game serves as a litmus test for both teams. Purdue needs to prove it can win in hostile environments, while Minnesota must demonstrate it can compete with top-tier Big Ten opponents. Expect a physical, high-intensity battle as both teams aim to make a statement early in conference play.