With the injury to Al Nolen, Minnesota is trying to Blake Hoffarber at point guard.

The Gophers have only eight players in their rotation following Nolen's broken foot.

Minnesota coach Tubby Smith was still mulling several possibilities for his altered five-man combinations.

"I really concentrated this summer on getting my passing game up and ball-handling and stuff like that," said Hoffarber. "I've shown it so far this year, with me moving to point guard if I have to. I think I'm confident with that, and I can handle the ball and get guys the open shots."

While Ohio State maintained the top slot in RealGM's college basketball rankings for the week of January 24th, Pittsburgh moved up to the second slot with their win over the previously undefeated Syracuse.

1. Ohio State
2. Pitt
3. Duke
4. San Diego State
5. Connecticut
6. Texas
7. Kansas
8. Brigham Young
9. Missouri
10. Villanova
11. Texas A&M
12. Syracuse
13. Purdue
14. Washington
15. Wisconsin
16. Notre Dame
17. Kentucky
18. Minnesota
19. Louisville
20. Georgetown
21. Illinois
22. Vanderbilt
23. Florida
24. Utah State
25. Michigan State

• Click here to view college rankings from the AP, Coaches and RealGM.

Minnesota point guard Al Nolen will have surgery on his broken right foot.

There is doubt as to whether he'll be able to play for the Gophers again this season.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith said Monday on a conference call with Big Ten reporters that Nolen's injury will require an operation Wednesday to place a pin in his foot.

Nolen averaged 8.4 points and 3.7 assists in 14 games this season.

Trevor Mbakwe said Friday after practice that he told Minnesota coach Tubby Smith he is comfortable coming off the bench.

Smith hasn't decided if Mbakwe will continue coming off the bench in the wake of his arrest.

"I told coach that anything I need to do to help this team I'm fine with," Mbakwe said. "If I continue to come off the bench, I don't think it will change my game at all."

Trevor Mbakwe had 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench to help lead No. 25 Minnesota to a 69-59 win over Iowa on Sunday night.

Mbakwe, who came off the bench for the second straight game following his arrest Monday, played 35 minutes.

No. 25 Minnesota defeated No. 8 Purdue 70-67 on Thursday night, handing the Boilermakers their first conference loss of the season.

Blake Hoffarber scored 26 points to lead the Gophers.

"It felt like the rim was just a little bigger than normal," Hoffarber said.

Purdue is now 4-1 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improved to 2-3.

The Minnesota Gophers are sticking with leading scorer and rebounder Trevor Mbakwe despite his arrest for allegedly violating a restraining order.

The university released a statement Tuesday from athletics director Joel Maturi and coach Tubby Smith confirming that Mbakwe is still with the team, describing the action as "a lapse in judgment" and announcing no punishments.

"I believe his actions were well intended, but misguided, and we have made the decision not to suspend him after looking into the matter further," Smith said in the statement. "We believe this is the appropriate thing for Trevor and the program at this time. We view this as an educational opportunity for all of our players."

Minnesota forward Trevor Mbakwe was arrested and jailed on Monday night for allegedly violating a harassment restraining order obtained by a former girlfriend.

Mbakwe was booked into Ramsey County Jail on misdemeanor charges after he posted a message on a St. Paul woman's Facebook page.

The woman had previously filed a restraining order against Mbakwe.

"We are aware of the charges that have been filed against Trevor," Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said in a statement issued by the school. "Until we know all of the facts surrounding the charges it would be premature for us to have any further comment."

Mbakwe leads the Golden Gophers with 13.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Devoe Joseph is expected to enroll at Oregon after transferring from Minnesota, according to a source.

Joseph, a junior guard, averaged 11.2 points in the eight games he played for Minnesota after sitting out the first six games of the season due to a violation of team rules.

Joseph is expected to become eligible for the Ducks in December.

No. 2 Ohio State defeated No. 21 Minnesota 67-64 on Sunday afternoon as a potentinal game-tying shot was deflected.

Austin Hollins attempted the three-pointer, which was deflected by William Buford.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith felt Hollins was fouled on the play.

"It was a foul. It was a foul. Any other questions?" Smith said. "I didn't make the call, so. ... That's just my opinion."

Ohio State's Thad Matta also was displeased, hinting that the game tilted on a couple of questionable foul calls.

"It was an odd twist being up 18 there in the second half and there were a couple of plays there that happened that really, really turned the momentum," he said. Asked to elaborate he smiled and said, "I don't think I can say what they were."