University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Basketball Battles Western Illinois to Start Homestand
12/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
- Click Here For Golden Gopher Men's Basketball Notes
The Matchup
The Golden Gophers return home and start a five-game homestand against Western Illinois. Minnesota plays three games in the next six days before taking a week off for final exams. The Gophers are coming off a hard-fought road loss at Virginia. Western Illinois visits Williams Arena for the fourth time in its history and the first since 1987. The Leathernecks have lost all six games this year, five of those away from their home, McComb, Ill.
Scouting The Leathernecks
Western Illinois is coached by former Minnesota and Dan Monson assistant Derek Thomas. Thomas spent one season in Gold Country, the 1999-2000 campaign, before joining Lon Krueger's staff with the Atlanta Hawks. The last two seasons, he was an assistant to Charlie Spoonhour at UNLV. WIU is led in scoring by forward Doyle Coyle. Coyle is the only Leatherneck who averages in double figures at 11.8 ppg. Coming off the bench, senior guard J.D. Summers leads the team in rebounding averaging 5.2 per contest. Western is not a tall squad with only two players measuring 6-8 or taller.
The Series
*records involve games later vacated by Minnesota due to NCAA infractions.
Minnesota leads the series 3-0
1948 UM 68 WIU 46 (Williams Arena)
1972 UM 111 WIU 66 (Williams Arena)
1987 UM 84 WIU 52 (Charlottesville)
Minnesota is 40-13 in non-conference games under Dan Monson.
Minnesota is 11-0 all-time against the Mid-Con.
What's Next
Minnesota continues its homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 9 vs. Long Beach State. Game time is 7 p.m., and can be seen on Victory Sports One.
