GAME NOTES: A pair of struggling Big Ten teams meet up in Ann Arbor tonight, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers tangle with the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena. After a fast start to the season, the Gophers have begun to struggle, losing three straight and five of their past seven outings. The team was last in action on Saturday, when it dropped a 76-60 decision at Ohio State. With the loss, Minnesota fell to 12-6 overall and 2-4 conference play. As for Michigan, it has had problems all season long, winning just five of its first 20 games. The team recently concluded a short two-game road swing with a 77-62 setback at nationally-ranked Michigan State on Sunday. It was the fourth consecutive loss by the Wolverines, who dropped to a dismal 1-7 against league foes. Michigan though, owns a 73-56 lead in the all-time series with Minnesota and it won all three meetings a season ago, including a 49-40 triumph in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Gophers shot a sub par 36.5 percent from the field, including a poor 6- of-22 showing from long distance, as they were defeated by Ohio State this past weekend. The team made only 8-of-14 free-throw attempts and it also committed 17 turnovers in the setback. Dan Coleman paced Minnesota in defeat with 14 points and six boards, while Lawrence McKenzie contributes 10 points and four assists. For the season, Coleman leads the Gophers in both scoring (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg) and he also has 18 steals to his credit. McKenzie is next in order at 10.9 ppg and he is handing out 3.2 apg and shooting 39.4 percent from downtown. Spencer Tollackson rounds out the double- figure scorers at 10.6 ppg and he is grabbing 4.6 rpg. Overall, the Gophers are turning in 73.6 ppg on 45.7 percent shooting from the field this season.

Poor shooting is what did in the Wolverines on Sunday, as they hit on just 35.4 percent from the floor in a loss at Michigan State. The squad also had its share of difficulties from long range (8-of-31), as well as at the foul line (8-of-15). Manny Harris and Anthony Wright scored 11 points apiece to guide Michigan in the setback. For the season, Harris ranks first on the team in scoring (16.2 ppg) and steals (29) and he is also collecting 4.6 rpg. DeShawn Sims has provided a nice complement to him and he contributes 13.3 ppg and a team-high 4.8 rpg. As a whole, Michigan in scoring just 65.1 ppg, while allowing opponents teams to net a higher 71.2 ppg.

With a big outing from the duo of Harris and Sims, the Wolverines should have enough to come away with the victory over a slumping Minnesota club tonight.