By Brian Peloza
Staff Writer

The Purdue men’s tennis team will have a nothing-to-lose attitude when it meets Minnesota on Saturday.

The Boilers (10-9, 6-3 in Big Ten) will be facing the Golden Gophers (18-5, 7-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday in Minneapolis.

With the team's seed in the Big Ten Tournament mostly out of its hands, Coach Tim Madden said his team can play loose this weekend.

"This is the first time in the Big Ten season that we can play with nothing to lose," said Madden.

The Boilers can finish anywhere from third to sixth in the Big Ten race. The Gophers are in second place heading into this weekend’s matches. If Michigan loses to Ohio State, the Boilers will finish at least fifth in the Big Ten, which would earn them a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. The tournament will be held in Bloomington, beginning Thursday and ending April 30.

Madden said the team has been focusing on programming its drill work in hopes of pulling an upset.

"If they take us for granted, we have a chance to knock off one of the better teams in the country and certainly in the conference," Madden said. "Hopefully, we can have the right attitude."

The trip to play in Minneapolis will be a new experience for many Boilers, including No. 1 singles player Jason Marshall.

Without knowing how the courts play or what the atmosphere will be, Marshall said he is going off a gut feeling of what it will be like.

"My mindset is that it is going to be wild," Marshall said. "These fans are going to be into it."

Recently, senior Evan Hays received an award from the John Purdue Club for achieving excellence in academics as well as athletics.

"Evan is a classic example of a guy that takes care of all the intangibles," said Madden.

Madden said Hays sets a good example by his actions.

"He is a great team captain and a good example on the court and in the classroom," Madden said.