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Hoops Preview: Top Shot Blockers Set to Meet in Tulsa

There won’t be many easy baskets in the BOK Center.

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A pair of shot-stuffing sophomores will meet in Tulsa on Saturday evening.

Oklahoma State’s game against Minnesota in the BOK Center will feature Yor Anei and Daniel Oturu, dueling centers who rank in the Top 20 nationally in blocks per game.

Minnesota’s Oturu, who is 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, had about half the blocks Anei had in their freshmen seasons. Oturu had 46 stuffs to Anei’s 85. But through 10 games this season, Oturu leads Anei 34-27 in the stat.

A lot of that has to do with the foul trouble Anei has found himself in at times this season. Oturu has played 314 minutes this season to Anei’s 221. In terms of blocks per 40 minutes, Anei is ahead with 4.84 to Oturu’s 4.33.

In their meeting last season, an 83-76 Golden Gopher victory, neither was able to avoid foul trouble. Anei played just 15 minutes before fouling out. He had six points, four rebounds and four blocks in that time. Oturu played 14 minutes, finishing the game with four fouls, five points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Either big being able to stay on the floor could make the difference in Saturday’s game. It could be especially important in Anei’s case, as it looks as if OSU star point guard Isaac Likekele is unlikely to play in a fourth straight game with an undisclosed illness.

Viewing Info

Time: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Location: BOK Center in Tulsa
Watch: ESPN2 (Mark Neely, Jon Crispin)

Oklahoma State’s Projected Lineup
Name Class PPG RPG APG SPG BPG
Dee Mitchell Sophomore 1.8 0.5 0.3 0.3 0
Thomas Dziagwa Senior 9.2 1.6 1.1 0.8 0
Lindy Waters Senior 13.4 4.9 2.5 1.3 0
Cameron McGriff Senior 10.5 6.7 2 0.3 0.3
Yor Anei Sophomore 12.1 6.3 0.2 0.8 2.7
Minnesota’s Projected Lineup
Name Class PPG RPG APG SPG BPG
Marcus Carr Redshirt-Sophomore 15.2 5.4 6.7 0.9 0.1
Payton Willis Junior 11 3.3 2.4 1 0.2
Gabe Kalscheur Sophomore 11.2 2.2 1.7 1.1 0.1
Alihan Demir Senior 7.7 4 1.2 0.7 0.5
Daniel Oturu Sophomore 17.6 11.2 1.1 0.6 3.4
Oklahoma State’s Past Five
Opponent Result Score
vs. Syracuse W 86-72
vs. Ole Miss W 78-37
vs. Georgetown L 81-74
vs. Wichita State L 80-61
at Houston W 61-55
Minnesota’s Past Five
Opponent Result Score
vs. North Dakota W 79-56
vs. DePaul L 73-68
vs. Clemson W 78-60
at Iowa L 72-52
vs. No. 3 Ohio State W 84-71

 

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