University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, November 12
Indianapolis, IN
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Butler
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Head to Butler for Gavitt Tipoff Games
11/11/2019 11:49:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: FS1 – Vince Welch (Play-by-Play); Nick Bahe (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: XM 381/SiriusXM 971
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Fourth Meeting (3-0)
Series (Away): Second Meeting (1-0)
Current Streak: W-3
Richard Pitino vs. Butler: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. BIG EAST: 45-32*
Richard Pitino vs. BIG EAST: 2-1
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota travels to Butler Tuesday night for the Gophers' third appearance in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The Gophers are 2-0 in the event, earning a home win over St. John's in 2016 and a road win at Providence in 2017. This is Minnesota's second trip to Hinkle following a 79-68 triple-overtime win on Dec. 22, 1973.
• Minnesota is embarking on one of the toughest starts to the schedule in many years, with the next three games away from home, all against high-major conference competition. The Gophers have not faced three high-major teams in their first four games (excluding preseason tournaments) since 1969 (Notre Dame, UCLA, at Iowa State). Minnesota has not played three such opponents away from home since 1956, starting the season at Notre Dame, Marquette and Creighton twice.
• Tuesday's game is the second of six non-conference games against power conference opponents. After Saturday's loss to Oklahoma (Big XII), remaining in the slate are Butler and DePaul (BIG EAST), Clemson (ACC), Oklahoma State (Big XII) and Utah (Pac-12) – all coming before the end of the calendar year.
• Although early in the season, the Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Nov. 11, Minnesota is 32nd in 3-pointers attempted per game (B1G: 1st), 34th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), and 42nd in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Payton Willis is fifth in the country in assist/turnover radio (9.0, B1G: 1st) and 15th in 3-pointers attempted (B1G: 1st) while Daniel Oturu is 15th in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd).
• With the win a week ago over Cleveland State, the Gophers improved to 95-23 in lid-lifters since the program's inception in 1896. The Gophers have now won 22 of their past 22 season openers including five straight. Minnesota's 35-point margin of victory was its largest season-opening win since beating American 72-36 in 2012.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Butler has won both of its opening week contests and is 2-0 following victories over crosstown rival IUPUI and New Orleans, both at home.
• Five Bulldogs are averaging double-figures, led by 19.5 points per game from Sean McDermott, who scored 26 points in the season opener against the Jaguars.
• Butler senior guard Kamar Baldwin was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, and is also listed on the Wooden Trophy, Naismith Award & Jerry West Award Watch Lists.
• The Bulldogs hold the nation's second-longest active win streak in non-conference home games, having won their last 52 which trails only Duke for longevity.
• Butler is 1-1 in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, defeating Northwestern in 2016 at Hinkle Fieldhouse while falling 79-65 at Maryland in 2017.
GOPHERS VS. THE BIG EAST
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 45-32 against the current membership of the Big East Conference.
• That total includes the following individual opponent records: Butler (3-0), Creighton (7-3), DePaul (8-9), Georgetown (1-2), Marquette (18-14), Providence (3-0), St. John's (1-1), Seton Hall (0-1), Villanova (1-1), Xavier (3-1). Games that were later vacated are excluded from that list.
• Head coach Richard Pitino is facing a Big East opponent for the fourth time. He is no stranger to the conference, however, as an alumnus of Providence College and having spent time on the Louisville coaching staff when the Cardinals were in the Big East.
GOPHERS IN THE GAVITT GAMES
• This is the third appearance for the Maroon and Gold in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, which were started in the 2015-16 season to pit members of the BIG EAST and the Big Ten conferences against each other at campus sites.
• The Gophers won their first appearance, a 92-86 home win over St. John's on Nov. 18, 2016 along with their second and most recent, a 86-74 victory at Providence on Nov. 13, 2017.
• 2019 marks the fifth year of the annual series, which is contracted to continue through 2022 with eight teams from each conference appearing each year.
• After tying in each of the first three seasons, the Big Ten "won" last year's Gavitt Games with five victories, compared to three for the BIG EAST.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota wraps up their three-game road trip on Friday night, traveling to Salt Lake City to face Utah in the second game of a home-and-home series.
• Tip off from the Huntsman Center is set for 8 p.m. CT, with Pac-12 Network providing the television broadcast.
TV: FS1 – Vince Welch (Play-by-Play); Nick Bahe (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: XM 381/SiriusXM 971
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Fourth Meeting (3-0)
Series (Away): Second Meeting (1-0)
Current Streak: W-3
Richard Pitino vs. Butler: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. BIG EAST: 45-32*
Richard Pitino vs. BIG EAST: 2-1
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota travels to Butler Tuesday night for the Gophers' third appearance in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The Gophers are 2-0 in the event, earning a home win over St. John's in 2016 and a road win at Providence in 2017. This is Minnesota's second trip to Hinkle following a 79-68 triple-overtime win on Dec. 22, 1973.
• Minnesota is embarking on one of the toughest starts to the schedule in many years, with the next three games away from home, all against high-major conference competition. The Gophers have not faced three high-major teams in their first four games (excluding preseason tournaments) since 1969 (Notre Dame, UCLA, at Iowa State). Minnesota has not played three such opponents away from home since 1956, starting the season at Notre Dame, Marquette and Creighton twice.
• Tuesday's game is the second of six non-conference games against power conference opponents. After Saturday's loss to Oklahoma (Big XII), remaining in the slate are Butler and DePaul (BIG EAST), Clemson (ACC), Oklahoma State (Big XII) and Utah (Pac-12) – all coming before the end of the calendar year.
• Although early in the season, the Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Nov. 11, Minnesota is 32nd in 3-pointers attempted per game (B1G: 1st), 34th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), and 42nd in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Payton Willis is fifth in the country in assist/turnover radio (9.0, B1G: 1st) and 15th in 3-pointers attempted (B1G: 1st) while Daniel Oturu is 15th in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd).
• With the win a week ago over Cleveland State, the Gophers improved to 95-23 in lid-lifters since the program's inception in 1896. The Gophers have now won 22 of their past 22 season openers including five straight. Minnesota's 35-point margin of victory was its largest season-opening win since beating American 72-36 in 2012.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Butler has won both of its opening week contests and is 2-0 following victories over crosstown rival IUPUI and New Orleans, both at home.
• Five Bulldogs are averaging double-figures, led by 19.5 points per game from Sean McDermott, who scored 26 points in the season opener against the Jaguars.
• Butler senior guard Kamar Baldwin was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, and is also listed on the Wooden Trophy, Naismith Award & Jerry West Award Watch Lists.
• The Bulldogs hold the nation's second-longest active win streak in non-conference home games, having won their last 52 which trails only Duke for longevity.
• Butler is 1-1 in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, defeating Northwestern in 2016 at Hinkle Fieldhouse while falling 79-65 at Maryland in 2017.
GOPHERS VS. THE BIG EAST
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 45-32 against the current membership of the Big East Conference.
• That total includes the following individual opponent records: Butler (3-0), Creighton (7-3), DePaul (8-9), Georgetown (1-2), Marquette (18-14), Providence (3-0), St. John's (1-1), Seton Hall (0-1), Villanova (1-1), Xavier (3-1). Games that were later vacated are excluded from that list.
• Head coach Richard Pitino is facing a Big East opponent for the fourth time. He is no stranger to the conference, however, as an alumnus of Providence College and having spent time on the Louisville coaching staff when the Cardinals were in the Big East.
GOPHERS IN THE GAVITT GAMES
• This is the third appearance for the Maroon and Gold in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, which were started in the 2015-16 season to pit members of the BIG EAST and the Big Ten conferences against each other at campus sites.
• The Gophers won their first appearance, a 92-86 home win over St. John's on Nov. 18, 2016 along with their second and most recent, a 86-74 victory at Providence on Nov. 13, 2017.
• 2019 marks the fifth year of the annual series, which is contracted to continue through 2022 with eight teams from each conference appearing each year.
• After tying in each of the first three seasons, the Big Ten "won" last year's Gavitt Games with five victories, compared to three for the BIG EAST.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota wraps up their three-game road trip on Friday night, traveling to Salt Lake City to face Utah in the second game of a home-and-home series.
• Tip off from the Huntsman Center is set for 8 p.m. CT, with Pac-12 Network providing the television broadcast.
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