University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Minnesota vs. Western Kentucky
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2014
| Minnesota (0-1) vs. Western Kentucky (1-0) | |
| Date / Time | Tuesday, November 18 | 7 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| Live Video | ESPN3 |
| Radio | 1500 ESPN | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Western Kentucky |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Western Kentucky |
| Social Media | @GopherMBB | Facebook |
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Arena: Williams Arena (14,625)
TV: ESPN3 - Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play); Homer Drew (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/1500 ESPN Twin Cities - Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: 2nd meeting (1-0)
Series (Home): First Meeting
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. WKU: 1-2
Minnesota vs. C-USA: 10-7*
Richard Pitino vs. C-USA: 4-6
* - excluding vacated games
GAME DAY TID-BITS
• Minnesota begins the home portion of its schedule Tuesday night as it hosts Western Kentucky in the NIT Season Tip-Off.
• Minnesota has not played in the NIT Season Tip-Off (formerly the Preseason NIT) since the 1997-98 season, which was later vacated.
• The Hilltoppers are no stranger to Coach Pitino, as he faced WKU three times while the head coach at Florida International, when both programs were in the Sun Belt Conference.
• WKU is coming off a season-opening home win over Austin Peay on Saturday, 77-70. WKU and MInnesota share just one common opponent this year in Louisville, who the Hilltoppers will host on December 20.
• Minnesota opened its season away from home for the first time since 1994, when the Gophers faced fifth-ranked Arizona in the Great Alaska Shootout. That is also the last time the Gophers opened the season against a ranked opponent. The results from that season were later vacated.
• Senior Andre Hollins led the Gophers against Louisville with 22 points, his highest scoring output since February 13 at Wisconsin (22 points).
• Minnesota is looking to avoid its first 0-2 start to a season in more than fifty years. The Gophers' last 0-2 start came in 1960, with losses to Bradley and at Oklahoma in the first two games of the season.
• All four newcomers stepped on the court in Puerto Rico, highlighted by freshman guard Nate Mason's 10-point, five-rebound, two-assist debut against the Cardinals. Junior Carlos Morris earned a starting spot and scored nine points in his Gopher debut, while Josh Martin and Bakary Konate each saw limited time in a reserve role.
• The Gophers are coming off a school-record 25-win season and NIT championship, their second in program history.
Players Mentioned
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