Gophers Open Vancouver Showcase Against Texas A&M Sunday

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, November 18, 2018
Time: 7:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. CT
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Arena: Vancouver Convention Centre (3,200)
TV: ESPN2 – Eric Rothman (Play-by-Play); Caron Butler (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM –
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 195/957

SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Third Meeting (1-1)
Series (Neutral): Second Meeting (0-1)
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Texas A&M: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. SEC: 19-15*
Richard Pitino vs. SEC: 4-2
* - excludes vacated games

STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men's basketball team opens a six-game stretch away from historic Williams Arena as it travels north to the inaugural TCL Vancouver Showcase for three games. First up is a matchup with Texas A&M on Sunday night under the sails of the Vancouver Convention Centre.
• This is the first regular-season game in program history for the Gophers to be played in Canada, and the first international regular season game since 2012's trip to Battle for Atlantis in the Bahamas – which was the first international games for Minnesota.
• With their 104-76 win over Omaha on Nov. 6, the Gophers are now 95-23 in season openers since the program's inception in 1896. The Gophers have now won 21 of their past 22 season openers including four straight.
• Through two games, the Gophers starting five is each individually averaging double figure scoring, including 10 or more points from the entire quintet on Monday against Utah. Minnesota's last game with all five starters scoring in double figures was on Jan. 3 last year in the win over Illinois. The Gophers' leading returner from last year, Jordan Murphy, ranks fifth on the team in points per game (11.5).
• Senior forward Jordan Murphy has earned some impressive accolades leading into the start of the season. The San Antonio, Texas native was a Preseason All-Big Ten Team selection as well as named to the Naismith Trophy (top college basketball player) and Karl Malone Award watch list for the top power forward in the country.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
• Texas A&M has dropped two straight after a season opening win over Savannah State. Most recently, the Aggies fell at Gonzaga, 94-71, on Thursday night in Spokane.
• Four A&M players average double figures, led by Savion Flagg who has scored 53 points through three games (17.7 ppg). He is also averaging 8.7 rebounds per game, second on the team behind Christian Mekowulu (9.3 rpg).
• The Aggies were picked to finish 12th in the SEC preseason media poll. Sophomore TJ Starks was named a preseason second team All-SEC pick by the league's coaches after an All-Freshman Team nod last year.

GOPHERS VS. THE SEC
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 19-15 against the current membership of the Southeastern Conference.
• That total includes the following individual opponent records: Alabama (1-2), Arkansas (2-4), Florida (1-1), Georgia (4-1), Kentucky (1-3), Ole Miss (2-0), Missouri (2-0), South Carolina (0-2), Tennessee (0-1), Texas A&M (1-1), Vanderbilt (5-0). Games that were later vacated are excluded from that list.
• Head coach Richard Pitino is facing a SEC opponent for the sixth time. He is no stranger to the conference, having spent two seasons on Billy Donovan's staff at Florida.
• This is the third straight season that Minnesota has faced at least one SEC team, and the Gophers have done so in all but one of Pitino's six seasons at the helm.

UP NEXT
• Minnesota has a day off in Vancouver before returning to action on Tuesday to face Santa Clara.
• Tip time from Vancouver Convention Centre is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. PT, with Big Ten Network carrying the action.

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Murphy