University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Play Host to Long Island Friday
11/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game No. 2
MINNESOTA (1-0)
vs.
Long Island (1-0)
NOVEMBER 17, 2006 • 7 p.m.
WILLIAMS ARENA • Minneapolis, Minn.
Television: none
RADIO: Gopher Radio Network - Mike Grimm, PBP; Kevin Lynch, analyst
STORYLINES
• Minnesota continutes its three-game homestand vs. Long Island University. The Gophers won their eighth straight home opener under Dan Monson on Monday night.
• This will be the third meeting between the two schools. Minnesota leads the all-time series, 2-0 including vacated games.
• Minnesota is 5-0 all-time against Northeast Conference teams.
• UM and LIU met for the first time in the 1937-38 with the Gophers winning 56-41 at Madison Square Garden. The Gophers also defeated the Blackbirds in 1996, 104-84, at Williams Arena.
• The Gophers are 58-7 in home non-conference games under Monson and 69-24 in non-conference play under Monson including the postseason.
MATCHUP
Both teams enter the matchup with opening game victories this week. The Gophers played suffocating defense in their 63-49 win Monday over North Dakota State. Long Island defeated Binghamton in its season opener, 73-59. The Blackbirds never trailed as senior guard James Williams led four LIU players in double figures.
SCOUTING the Blackbirds
Long Island is a preseason contender for the Northeast Conference title. The Blackbirds had an injury plagued 2005-06 season losing their top three frontcourt players for a combined 19 games. All five starters return from last season including 5-10, senior guard James Williams. Williams was a first team all-league guard averaging 16.6 points and 3.3 assists per game. Willilams shot .418 on threes last season and is within 25 threes of setting the school record. Veteran forward Esa Maki-Tulokas, who broke his hand last season, spent the summer playing with the Finnish National Team. LIU has more international flavor with two Lithuanian players, junior forward Paska Morkeliunas and freshman center Aurimas Adomaitis.
