The set-up: 4-4 Georgia Southern travels to Minnesota to take on the 8-1 Golden Gophers. The Eagles have wins in three of their last five games, which coincides with junior guard Mike Hughes returning from a three-game suspension for violating team rules to start the season. As for Minnesota, coming off an 8-23 ‘disaster' last year, the Gophers have already matched last year's win total, losing only 75-67 at Florida State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Georgia Southern: All five starters are now back for the Eagles, although last year's team was just 14-17. Getting Hughes back is a big deal, as he not only has averaged 11.2 PPG but he's the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes joins Smith (21.4), Brown (14.9-4.0-4.0) and Allsmiller (8.4) to give Ga. Southern a quality group of player on the perimeter. The 6-8 O'Connell (6.2 & 4.5) and the 6-8 Glenn (5.5 & 4.9) start up front, although the 6-6 Gladden (7.8 & 4.1) is the team's highest scoring frontcourt player, coming off the bench.

Minnesota: Richard Pitino's team suffered through a brutal season last year but this year's squad has been on a roll, as he's integrating newcomers like freshman guard and leading scorer Amir Coffey (13.8 PPG) plus Illinois St. transfer, 6-10 center Reggie Lynch (8.2 & 6.6 plus 3.8 blocks) with the core of last year's squad. Key returnees are guards Mason (12.8) and McBayer (10.7) plus forwards Murphy (9.9 & 7.7) and Curry (6.9 & 6.7).

The pick: Defense has been a key for Minnesota so far, holding opponents to just 35.8% shooting (7th-best) but now that "all hands are on deck" for Georgia Southern, expect the eagles to ‘hand around' against a Minnesota team which is just 3-3 ATS at home. Georgia Southern is an 8* play.