They are two trains traveling in different directions. One is on its way downhill after a wild early-season ride, while the other is chugging uphill toward the top of the Big Ten mountain.

They will cross paths briefly at 8 p.m tonight in Minneapolis, one looking to change direction, the other attempting to keep its momentum going.

Penn State (10-9, 3-7 Big Ten), loser of three-consecutive games after establishing its first-ever Big Ten winning streak, is battered, bruised and missing a few wheels. To add insult to injury, the Lions' outside shooting has been anemic, leaving big caboose John Amaechi as the center of attention.

"We're not shooting the ball as well as we used to be shooting the ball," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "People are going to pay a lot of attention to John Amaechi, and that's where someone else has to step up and get the job done."

But no one has. Not consistently. In the Lions' lackluster 77-64 loss to Wisconsin last Wednesday, Penn State shot only 8-of-31 from the perimeter.

And then there are the injuries. Power forward Matt Gaudio is sidelined with a mysterious flu-like virus, and may not make the trip to Minnesota. Rahsaan Carlton is recovering from strep throat. Point guard Dan Earl is day-to-day due to spasms in his lower back.

Then again, despite all the excess baggage, the Lions may have had a shot at victory against the Badgers if not for poor transition defense. They are not that far off the track.

The Lions will need that transition defense against Minnesota, one of the quickest teams in the Big Ten. Perhaps they will need more than that.

"I'm not sure I think we can (beat Minnesota)," a somewhat somber Parkhill said. "They're playing really well and we haven't been playing that well."

Clem Haskins has a bone to pick. A wishbone, of sorts.

"I really don't get much involved with statistics or awards," the coach of No. 20 Minnesota (17-7, 7-4 Big Ten) said. "Randy Carter deserved to be (Big Ten) player of the week last week."

Nothing against Michigan guard Jalen Rose, who won the award, Haskins said. But when things are rolling, someone deserves the credit. And it is Carter, the Gophers' own version of a caboose, who has turned things around.

Minnesota has won three consecutive games in the nation's most cutthroat league -- not exactly an easy feat. And Carter is scoring 12.7 points and grabbing 7.6 rebounds per game.

The Gophers have opened up their offense, often placing four players on the perimeter. It has given Carter a chance to go one-on-one inside.

In a 78-67 loss at Penn State earlier this season, Minnesota did not hit its outside shots. Now, the Gophers, behind guards Townsend Orr and Voshon Lenard and Arriel McDonald, haven't been missing -- they've shot better than 50 percent in the last three games. They manhandled Wisconsin, 109-78, on the same floor where Penn State had been derailed three days earlier.

"If we don't attack their zone, we're going to be in trouble," Haskins said. "Some shots we missed at Penn State we made at Wisconsin. We feel good about where we stand, and we're excited about it."

Note:

The game will be televised by KBL Sports Network (TCI Channel 40).