The duo also sits in the bottom quarter of the conference in scoring margin and free throw percentage.
Basically, Minnesota can defend while Penn State can score. Combine the two teams and it could potentially be a conference contender. But, separate, they're simply two bottom-dwellers in the league.
Minnesota's skid started with an injury.
Interim head coach Jim Molinari points to the loss of center Spencer Tollackson as the beginning of the Gophers' descent to the bottom of the Big Ten. He said his team has to hold down the fort until the junior big man returns, which is not against the Lions.
In Tollackson's absence, juniors Lawrence McKenzie and Dan Coleman have tried to steady the Gophers.
McKenzie, a long-range threat, leads the team with 15 points and two assists per Big Ten contest.
Coleman, a 6-foot-9 power forward, has grabbed eight rebounds and scored 13.8 points per league outing.
Defensively, Molinari will look to stop Penn State's tenacious tandem of Jamelle Cornley and Geary Claxton. He praised both earlier this week during the Big Ten teleconference.
"Jamelle is a tremendous competitor and I admired him last year. And, I think Claxton is one of the better players in our league when you think in terms of strength, you think in terms of skill and versatility," Molinari said. "So, [Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis] has two very, very good players in those two and they're going to be formidable matchups for anyone."
While Cornley and Claxton have been performing a majority of the grunt work for the Lions this season, DeChellis has been searching for someone to come in off of the bench and contribute anything.
Although it's difficult to find solace in a loss, Wednesday's setback to Iowa did unveil one bright spot. Sophomore forward Milos Bogetic finally made his presence felt in a conference game.
His 13-point, six-rebound effort was his best showing of 2007, but he hopes he surpasses it soon.
"[The Iowa game] helped a lot with my confidence," Bogetic said. "I know it's not too late to start playing good. We have a lot of games left and I'm just going to try and keep playing like last night to help the team win some more games."
The Lions will need someone, such as Bogetic, to add offensive production tomorrow, because Minnesota limits its opponents' possessions.
The Gophers' deliberate style of play will make it even more imperative that almost every one of Penn State's scoring opportunities ends with points.
The game will be a contrast in styles with Minnesota trying to stall while the Lions attempt to run.
However the game plays out, Cornley desperately wants a win to snap Penn State's current losing streak.
"All of us individually, we got here by being able to respond to losses," Cornley said. "And we're here now, we're doing it, so we've got to find some way to get out of it."
