University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, November 21
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Central Michigan
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Start Homestand with Central Michigan Thursday
11/20/2019 10:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN+
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 975
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Fourth Meeting (3-0)
Series (Home): Fourth Meeting (3-0)
Current Streak: W-3
Richard Pitino vs. CMU: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. MAC: 22-2*
Richard Pitino vs. MAC: 1-0
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of historic Williams Arena to open a four-game homestand against Central Michigan on Thursday night, the fourth meeting all-time with the Chippewas and first in eight years.
• After a challenging three-game road trip against power conference opponents, Minnesota returns home for its longest homestand of the season. Following the stretch which concludes with the Big Ten/ACC Challenge game against Clemson on Dec. 2, Minnesota will have back-to-back home games just twice more during the duration of the regular season.
• Sophomore center Daniel Oturu is off to one of the best starts in the country. He has posted double-doubles in all but one game thus far (coming up just one rebound short against Oklahoma) and set new or matched career highs in eight different categories. He is the only Gopher to register double-figure scoring in every game this season.
• Although early in the season, the Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Nov. 19, Minnesota is 37th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), 41st in 3-pointers attempted per game (B1G: 1st) and blocked shots per game (B1G: 6th). Daniel Oturu is fifth in double doubles (B1G: 1st) and 10th in the country in blocks (B1G: 3rd) while 12th in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 29th in field goal percentage (B1G: 1st).
• Oturu had one of the best nights of his career last week at Hinkle Fieldhouse, setting new career-bests in scoring (24 points), field goals (9) and 3-pointers made (2) and minutes played (38) while adding 10 rebounds for his 10th career double-double in the loss to Butler. Three days later at Utah, his 18 rebounds, two 3-pointers and two steals set or matched career highs for the Woodbury native in those categories.
SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
• Central Michigan is off to a 4-0 start to its season, with two of its wins coming against non-Division I opposition including Monday's 115-58 win over NAIA foe Siena Heights.
• The Chippewas have also earned wins over Michigan-Dearborn, Mississippi Valley State and Sam Houston State. All but the 84-77 victory over the Bearkats have been by 40 or more points.
• Thursday's game is CMU's first road test of the season after four straight home games to open the season.
• Six different Central Michigan players are averaging double figure scoring, led by 19.8 points per game from Dallas Morgan.
GOPHERS VS. THE MAC
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 22-2 against the current members of the Mid-American Conference.
• That total includes the following individual opponent records: Akron (2-0), Ball State (1-1), Bowling Green (3-0), Central Michigan (3-0), Eastern Michigan (2-0), Miami (1-0), NIU (6-0), Ohio (2-0), Toledo (2-1).
• Minnesota has faced all but three of the MAC schools - the exceptions being Buffalo, Kent State and Western Michigan.
• Thursday's game is the first for Minnesota against a team from the MAC since Dec. 11, 2016 when they defeated Northern Illinois, 77-57.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers continue their homestand on Sunday evening, hosting border rival North Dakota, their first meeting since Dec. 8, 2014.
• Tip off is set for 6 p.m., on Big Ten Network while KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
TV: BTN+
Radio: Learfield/KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM – Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 975
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Fourth Meeting (3-0)
Series (Home): Fourth Meeting (3-0)
Current Streak: W-3
Richard Pitino vs. CMU: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. MAC: 22-2*
Richard Pitino vs. MAC: 1-0
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of historic Williams Arena to open a four-game homestand against Central Michigan on Thursday night, the fourth meeting all-time with the Chippewas and first in eight years.
• After a challenging three-game road trip against power conference opponents, Minnesota returns home for its longest homestand of the season. Following the stretch which concludes with the Big Ten/ACC Challenge game against Clemson on Dec. 2, Minnesota will have back-to-back home games just twice more during the duration of the regular season.
• Sophomore center Daniel Oturu is off to one of the best starts in the country. He has posted double-doubles in all but one game thus far (coming up just one rebound short against Oklahoma) and set new or matched career highs in eight different categories. He is the only Gopher to register double-figure scoring in every game this season.
• Although early in the season, the Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Nov. 19, Minnesota is 37th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), 41st in 3-pointers attempted per game (B1G: 1st) and blocked shots per game (B1G: 6th). Daniel Oturu is fifth in double doubles (B1G: 1st) and 10th in the country in blocks (B1G: 3rd) while 12th in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 29th in field goal percentage (B1G: 1st).
• Oturu had one of the best nights of his career last week at Hinkle Fieldhouse, setting new career-bests in scoring (24 points), field goals (9) and 3-pointers made (2) and minutes played (38) while adding 10 rebounds for his 10th career double-double in the loss to Butler. Three days later at Utah, his 18 rebounds, two 3-pointers and two steals set or matched career highs for the Woodbury native in those categories.
SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
• Central Michigan is off to a 4-0 start to its season, with two of its wins coming against non-Division I opposition including Monday's 115-58 win over NAIA foe Siena Heights.
• The Chippewas have also earned wins over Michigan-Dearborn, Mississippi Valley State and Sam Houston State. All but the 84-77 victory over the Bearkats have been by 40 or more points.
• Thursday's game is CMU's first road test of the season after four straight home games to open the season.
• Six different Central Michigan players are averaging double figure scoring, led by 19.8 points per game from Dallas Morgan.
GOPHERS VS. THE MAC
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 22-2 against the current members of the Mid-American Conference.
• That total includes the following individual opponent records: Akron (2-0), Ball State (1-1), Bowling Green (3-0), Central Michigan (3-0), Eastern Michigan (2-0), Miami (1-0), NIU (6-0), Ohio (2-0), Toledo (2-1).
• Minnesota has faced all but three of the MAC schools - the exceptions being Buffalo, Kent State and Western Michigan.
• Thursday's game is the first for Minnesota against a team from the MAC since Dec. 11, 2016 when they defeated Northern Illinois, 77-57.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers continue their homestand on Sunday evening, hosting border rival North Dakota, their first meeting since Dec. 8, 2014.
• Tip off is set for 6 p.m., on Big Ten Network while KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
Highlights: Gophers 89, TX Southern 53
Sunday, December 14
Highlights: Gophers 57, Purdue 85
Wednesday, December 10
Gopher Round Table: Men's Basketball
Wednesday, December 10
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Indiana
Saturday, December 06