When it comes to Big Ten basketball this season, youth rules. That hasn't necessarily been a good thing for several teams, including Minnesota.
When the season started, Gophers coach Richard Pitino hoped youth wouldn't become an excuse for losses, but that's the reality for many Big Ten squads as conference plays opens this week.
The Gophers (6-6) open their conference slate against an even younger team on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. tipoff against Ohio State (8-5) at Value Center Arena in Columbus.
With six freshmen, four sophomores and no seniors, the Buckeyes rank last in the Big Ten and 346th out of 351 Division I teams in experience, according to stat guru Ken Pomeroy.