University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Open Against Temple in Puerto Rico
8/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota men's basketball team now knows its first opponent in San Juan, as the 2015 Puerto Rico Tip-Off bracket was unveiled Thursday morning by ESPN.
The Gophers will square off against the Temple Owls in the first game of the tournament, which will be played on Thursday, November 19 at 12:30 p.m. Atlantic time (10:30 a.m. CT). Minnesota's opening game will be televised live on ESPNU.
Depending on the outcome of that game, the Gophers will square off against either Butler or Missouri State the following day, facing their opponent at 11:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. local time on Friday, November 20. Following an off day Saturday, Minnesota will play its third and final game of the tournament on Sunday, November 22.
Every game of the eight-team tournament will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks.
Minnesota will meet up with Temple, members of the American Athletic Conference, for the first time since 2003, a 63-58 Gophers overtime win in Philadelphia. The all-time series is tied at 2-2, not counting an NCAA Tournament second-round meeting in 1997 which was later vacated.
The Gophers are 22-18 (excluding vacated games) against current membership of the American, which will serve as the tournament's host at Coliseo Roberto Clemente.
Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the Puerto Rico Tip-Off website.
2015 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Schedule (schedule subject to change, 2014-2015 Record, Post-season berth)
Thursday, November 19
• Game 1 - 12:30 p.m. (AT, 11:30 a.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. CT) - Temple (26-11, NIT) vs. Minnesota (18-15), ESPNU
• Game 2 - 2:30 p.m. (AT, 1:30 p.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. CT ) - Butler (23-11, NCAA) vs. Missouri State (11-20), ESPNU
• Game 3 - TBD p.m. (AT, TBD p.m. ET, TBD p.m. CT) - Miami (25-13, NIT) vs. Mississippi State (13-19), Network TBD
• Game 4 - TBD p.m. (AT, TBD p.m. ET, TBD p.m. CT, TBD p.m. MT) - Utah (26-9, NCAA) vs. Texas Tech (13-19), Network TBD
Friday, November 20
• Game 5 - 11:30 a.m. (AT, 10:30 a.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. CT) - Game 1 loser (Temple/Minnesota) vs. Game 2 loser (Butler/Missouri State), ESPNU
• Game 6 - 2 p.m. (AT, 1 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. CT) - Game 1 winner (Temple/Minnesota) vs. Game 2 winner (Butler/Missouri State), ESPN2/ESPNU
• Game 7 - 6 p.m. (AT, 5 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. CT, 3 p.m. MT) - Game 3 loser (Miami/Mississippi State) vs. Game 4 loser (Utah/Texas Tech), ESPNU
• Game 8 - 8 p.m. (AT, 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. MT) - Game 4 winner (Miami/Mississippi State) vs. Game 4 winner (Utah/Texas Tech), ESPNU
Sunday, November 22
• Game 9 - 1 p.m. (AT, 12 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. CT, 10 a.m. MT) - Game 5 losers vs. Game 7 losers, ESPN3
• Game 10 - 3:30 p.m. (AT, 2:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. CT, 12:30 p.m. MT) - Game 5 winners vs. Game 7 winners, ESPNU
• Game 11 - 5:30 p.m. (AT, 4:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. CT, 2:30 p.m. MT) - Game 6 losers vs. Game 8 losers, ESPNU
• Championship Game, Game 12 - 8:30 p.m. (AT, 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT, 5:30 p.m. MT) - Game 6 winners vs. Game 8 winners, ESPN2
