Gophers in Big Ten Tourney Today

Indianapolis, IN (Learfield) -- The University of Minnesota Men’s basketball team opens the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday against Illinois. This will be the third meeting between the two schools this seasons and Illinois captured wins in each of the first two match ups.

The Gophers enter the tournament having lost three straight including a 75-52 loss at Rutgers on Saturday. Illinois is also coming in off a loss as they fell to Penn State 86-79 in double overtime on Sunday. They’ve also lost four of their last five games.

The Gophers will have just eight players available for the tilt after senior Joey King suffered a right foot injury against Wisconsin earlier this month. Tip this afternoon is set for 3:30 p.m. from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

No Timeline On Suspended Gophers

Minneapolis, MN (Learfield) -- Minnesota coach Richard Pitino says he has not yet determined when the team's three suspended players will be reinstated. Pitino said Tuesday he will reassess after the season the status of guards Kevin Dorsey, Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer, who were punished after sex videos appeared on Dorsey's social media accounts.

Pitino will confer on the matter with his assistant coaches and interim athletic director Beth Goetz. He declined to elaborate about what the evaluation would entail. The players were benched for the final three regular-season games plus the Big Ten tournament.