Ben Johnson entered Sunday's Big Ten opener with his Gophers basketball team shorthanded in the absolutely worst possible position going up against Purdue's physically imposing 7-4, 290-pound center Zach Edey.
Starting 7-foot center Treyton Thompson didn't make the trip to West Lafayette, Ind., because of an illness, so that meant even fewer fouls to use against the early favorite for national player of the year.
After making it tough early, the Gophers eventually joined every Boilermakers opponent this year being dominated inside by Edey, who had 31 points and 22 rebounds in the U's 89-70 Big Ten-opening loss Sunday at Mackey Arena.
