Gophers Open Season Tuesday Versus Omaha

Listen to what they're saying, but decide for yourself. 〽️🏀 #Gophers pic.twitter.com/AVA5LAHbFI
— Minnesota MBB (@GopherMBB) November 6, 2018

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Arena: Williams Arena (14,625)
TV: BTN Plus
Radio: Learfield/KFAN 100.3 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 984

SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Third Meeting (2-0)
Series (Home): Third Meeting (2-0)
Current Streak: W-2
Richard Pitino vs. Omaha: 2-0
Minnesota vs. Summit League: 69-3
Richard Pitino vs. Summit League: 4-2
* - excludes vacated games

STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota tips off its 124th season of men's basketball on Tuesday night, hosting Omaha in the third meeting between the schools of the Richard Pitino era at Minnesota.
• The Gophers are looking to improve on an impressive record in season openers. Last year, Minnesota defeated USC Upstate to improve to 94-23 in lid-lifters since the program's inception in 1896. The Gophers have now won 20 of their past 21 season openers including three straight.
• 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.
• Minnesota welcomes four newcomers to the roster on the court this season in freshmen Gabe Kalscheur, Jarvis Omersa and Daniel Oturu along with graduate transfer Brock Stull. Additionally, redshirt senior Matz Stockman will make his debut in Maroon & Gold after sitting out last year following his transfer from Louisville. That group joins seven returning players, including senior co-captains Murphy and Dupree McBrayer. Transfer guards Payton Willis (Vanderbilt) and Marcus Carr (Pittsburgh) will sit out the season, per NCAA rules.
• The Gophers are playing just two home games at Williams Arena in the month of November. That's the fewest November home games since 2007, when the Gophers faced Army and Central Michigan at the Barn in the 11th month of the year.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
• Omaha is beginning its season Tuesday night as well, in its ninth game against a Big Ten opponent since moving to Division I in 2011.
• The Mavericks are led by Zach Jackson, with the senior guard just eight points shy of the 1,000-career point mark. The All-Summit second teamer is the Mavericks' leading returning scorer and rebounder as well as tops in steals and assists.
• Three different Omaha players averaged double figures last year, with Mitch Hahn (11.7) and JT Gibson (10.2) joining Jackson.

GOPHERS VS. THE SUMMIT
• Minnesota has a 69-3 record against the current membership of the Summit League, excluding vacated games.
• Minnesota is facing a Summit school for the second straight year, after defeating Oral Roberts, 77-63, on December 21 last season at Williams Arena.
• Series records against Summit League schools are as follows, excluding vacated games: Denver (1-0), North Dakota State (27-1), Omaha (2-0), Oral Roberts (4-0), South Dakota (14-1), South Dakota State (17-1), Western Illinois (4-0).

UP NEXT
• Minnesota welcomes Utah to Williams Arena on Monday night for the first of a home-and-home series against the Pac-12 foe.
• Tip-off against the Utes is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., with BTN carrying the game live.

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Players Mentioned

Marcus Carr

Gabe Kalscheur

Dupree McBrayer

Jordan Murphy

Jarvis Omersa

Daniel Oturu

Matz Stockman

Brock Stull

Payton Willis