Indiana aims to limit turnovers vs. Minnesota

Indiana coach Mike Woodson is happy that his team has won three straight games but concerned that it’s committing too many turnovers.Limiting miscues is at the top of his wish list for Monday night’s Big Ten Conference opener against visiting Minnesota in Bloomington, Ind.While the Hoosiers (7-2) shot 53.8 percent and dominated Miami (Ohio) 46-29 on the glass during a 76-57 win at home Friday night, they also had more turnovers (16) than assists (15). Having played for Bob Knight at Indiana, Woodson is fanatical about his team executing its offense without making mistakes.”We were taking chances on passes that weren’t there,” Woodson said. “We have to fix it. If we start Big Ten play like that, it puts you in a hole.”In between careless mistakes, the Hoosiers got a huge game out of Oumar Ballo, the Arizona transfer who had 14 points, 18 rebounds and six assists. It was his 35th career double-double but his first at Indiana.Ballo (12.7 points per game, 9.3 rebounds) is one of four players averaging double figures for the Hoosiers. They’re led by Malik Reneau, who’s hitting for 15.4 ppg on 58.9 percent shooting.While Indiana tries to fine-tune its game, the Golden Gophers (6-4, 0-1 Big Ten) aim to get to the .500 mark in conference play after absorbing a 90-72 beating Wednesday night against visiting Michigan State.