Minnesota coach Richard Pitino's decision to play center Liam Robbins on a hobbled ankle likely will cost him his job. Now the Golden Gophers have lost seven in a row, and won't have Robbins or Gabe Kalscheur, their best defender, for Wednesday's Big Ten Tournament opener versus Northwestern. And Brandon Johnson, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the regular-season finale, an overtime loss to Rutgers, was held out of practice with an ankle injury. He'll play but might not be 100 percent. Look for Northwestern to win its fourth straight.