Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
For nearly two weeks, the state of Minnesota has been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to move on from two consecutive disappointing losses.
This Saturday, the Golden Gophers (6-5) will finally have the chance to do just that as they take on Fairleigh Dickinson (4-9) in their home court of Minneapolis.
The team is determined to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season, following a 90-72 defeat against Michigan State on December 4th and an 82-67 loss to Indiana on December 9th.
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Parker Fox, the Golden Gophers' big man, expressed his eagerness to shake off the negative feelings from their recent performances.
"These past 10 days have been challenging," Fox stated. "But we've gained valuable lessons about the difficulty of winning."
Head coach Ben Johnson is seeking a complete and consistent effort from his team.
"I believe we have moments of strong effort, but we need to sustain it for longer periods of time," Johnson explained. "We've emphasized that when we stick to our offensive and defensive strategies, we see positive results. However, when we don't, there is a significant gap between our successes and failures."
FDU is also in search of a spark, though they have had less time to dwell on their recent struggles. The Knights are coming off a 77-72 loss to La Salle on Wednesday, marking their fifth defeat in six games.
For FDU guard Terrence Brown, Saturday's game will be a homecoming as he returns to his hometown of Minneapolis. Brown, who is averaging 22.1 points per game for the Knights, was a standout player at Columbia Heights High School.
"As a team, we are determined to prove ourselves and play fearlessly," Brown stated. "It means a lot to me to represent FDU in front of my friends and family back in my home state."
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Dylan Jones is the second-highest scorer for Fairleigh Dickinson, averaging 12 points per game and shooting 43.2% from beyond the arc. Jo'el Emanuel rounds out the top three scorers with 11 points per game.
The Golden Gophers are led by Dawson Garcia, who averages 19.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Lu'Cye Patterson and Mike Mitchell Jr. also contribute double-digit scoring with 10 points each per game.