The Iowa Hawkeyes will try to build on a two game winning streak tonight when they visit Minnesota in Big Ten play. The Gophers are expected to regain the services of six-nine center Spencer Tollackson who has missed the last seven games after breaking two bones in his non shooting hand back in early January.

Iowa coach Steve Alford says they don’t know if Tollackson will start or how much he will play, but says they will be ready for everything. Alford says Tollackson gives the Gophers offense a lot more potency. Alford says this is a different Gopher team than the one the Hawks beat in Iowa City back on January 13th, as there have been several changes in the lineup.

The Hawkeyes are fourth in the Big Ten with a 5-4 record and Alford sees a more confident team. Alford says that is why the Michigan win was big on the road as he says a loss would have made the win at home against Indiana tough.

It has been a tough year for the Gophers who are 3-6 in the Big Ten and 9-14 overall. Jim Molinari took over in December after former coach Dan Monson resigned after seven games. Molinari says junior center Spencer Tollackson of Chaska will play tomorrow night against Iowa. Monson says Tollackson hasn’t been able to practice much, but he wants to give him a try. 

Molinari says Tollackson won’t be 100 percent just yet. He says he doesn’t know how many minutes Tollackson can play and says it will be a process to get him back to his old self.

Gopher guard Kevin Payton says it’ll be a close game at Williams Arena. Payton says they’re a team to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and says they’re a dangerous opponent. The Hawkeyes are 13-10 overall.