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to shoot the ball," said Hollins, who had a turnover-free game.
• Hollins finished 8 for 9 from the field in 23 minutes for the Gophers (9-1), who reached their highest ranking in the Associated Press poll this week in six years under Smith.
• They went 10 for 22 from 3-point range after going just 1 for 13 from behind the arc in Saturday's win over North Florida. All those extra shots in practice paid off.
• "We want to take the 3 when it's there, but we think we've got a very good inside game as well," Smith said.
• Austin Hollins had 17 points, five assists and four steals, Joe Coleman added 15 points and seven rebounds and the Gophers did most of their damage on the perimeter and the fast break to notch their largest winning margin this season.
• "We're all capable of driving. We're all capable of shooting the shots. So I think that's what makes it difficult," Coleman said.
• Jordan Dykstra scored 17 points for the Jackrabbits (6-3), who missed Wolters, their standout from nearby St. Cloud whose ankle injury prevented him from playing in his home state for the final time.
• Minnesota is 16-0 against South Dakota State since the two schools first met in 1930. The Gophers play at USC on Saturday before wrapping up their nonconference schedule at home against North Dakota State and Lafayette.
• They'll be challenged often in a conference that's as top heavy as it's been since Smith arrived from Kentucky, far more than in these December games against mid-major foes. But the Gophers will bring a deep, athletic team that's clearly growing in confidence.
• "I can't wait until Big Ten play, to see all the students and everybody fill up 'The Barn,' so it's going to be fun," said Andre Hollins, who heard his name chanted from the crowd after knocking down his sixth 3-pointer.
• Minnesota turned the ball over only 13 times, compared to 21 assists, and shot nearly 57 percent from the floor. Not to let the guards get all the attention, Trevor Mbakwe had eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
• "When they're able to make shots, it's easy for us because we don't have to worry about teams packing it in or double teaming, because they have to respect our outside shooters," Mbakwe said.
• The Gophers started the game by making 11 of their first 17 field goals and began to make this look like a dunk contest in the first half, grabbing nearly every loose ball and turning them into easy fast breaks.
• Freshman Jake Bittle, who replaced Wolters in the starting lineup, had five points, seven assists and seven turnovers.

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