Amid an 0-3 start to Big Ten play, Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson has been trying to find the right balance between constructive criticism and encouraging support for his players.

On Sunday, it was a hopeful message coming out of the 81-61 loss to No. 20 Purdue on Thursday.

“Our guys have been really positive, and we’ve had a good two days, but it’s my job to continue to push and challenge,” Johnson said. “I was on them (Sunday) about, at some point, you got to have that breakthrough game, where even if it’s not pretty or stuff is not going right, you find a way to just win.”

The Gophers (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten) seek that step forward against Ohio State (9-5, 1-2) at 8 p.m. Monday at Williams Arena.

Johnson tries to look at the Purdue game as three-fourths full. With an Isaac Asuma 3-pointer, Minnesota trialed 47-43 with 11 minutes left at The Barn, but the Boilermakers’ outstanding guards Braden Smith ad Fletcher Loyer stepped on Minnesota’s throat, while the Gophers were half-stepping.

Johnson was more negative immediately after the game last week.

“We’re not mature enough to let adversity — especially in second halves and winning time — to not let us cave,” he said. “I thought (Thursday) it let us cave.”

Minnesota’s turnovers and defense allowed Purdue to shoot 54% from field and 53% from 3-point range in second half. Purdue led by one at halftime and outscored Minnesota by 19 after the break.

Johnson has been trying to remind his players the first three losses have come against a trio of teams picked to finish in the top 5 in the Big Ten this season. Ohio State, meanwhile, was picked to finish eighth but has a marquee win over No. 10 Kentucky, which topped previously undefeated No. 6 Florida on Saturday.

“At the end of the day, regardless of who we play, we need to be so hungry to get a win that it doesn’t matter,” Johnson said. “Respect all the opponents, honor them. But at some point, it’s got to be about us just finding a way to get a win and get on the board.”

A loss to the Buckeyes would match the worst start to a Big Ten schedule under Johnson; the U started 0-4 in league play in 2022-23.

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