After a demoralizing loss in its most recent game, Minnesota can go in one of two directions.
The Golden Gophers can bounce back with a complete performance in front of their home fans, or they can transform a one-game blip into a troubling trend.
Minnesota (2-1) will show how it follows its first loss of the season when it hosts Yale (2-2) on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. The teams will tip off three days after the Golden Gophers lost 54-51 at home to North Texas.
“You want to be able to learn through wins, obviously,” Minnesota coach Ben Johnson said. “Even in a loss, we’ve got to be able to find a way to take a step. With new guys and new situations, it’s so key to just continue to take those steps.
“It’s huge because obviously these games are going to keep coming.”
Yale will look for a road win as it visits a Big Ten opponent for the second time in three games. The Bulldogs played tough in a 92-84 loss at No. 13 Purdue on Monday, and in their next game, they cruised to a 100-46 win at home against Emerson on Wednesday.
Yale coach James Jones said his team’s approach was simple, no matter the opponent.
“What I think is important really works — rebounding and sharing the ball,” Jones said. “Those are things we harp on every day.”
John Poulakidas leads Yale with 20.3 points per game on 46.8 percent shooting, including 41.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Bez Mbeng is second on the team with 15.0 points per game, and Nick Townsend is third with 11.5 points per contest.
Minnesota’s top scorer is Dawson Garcia, who is averaging 26.0 points to go along with a team-high 7.7 rebounds. Charlotte transfer Lu’Cye Patterson is next with 9.0 points per game in his first season with the Golden Gophers, and Trey Edmonds is averaging 8.0 points per game.
Garcia said he and his teammates will bounce back from the loss to North Texas.
“I still 100 percent believe we’re going to do the right things,” he said. “Because I know what I’ve seen (about) how we’ve come together. We’re a super connected group.”
