University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, December 28
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Florida International
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's BasketballGophers Return to Action Saturday Hosting FIU
12/27/2019 11:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play); Shon Morris (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KFAN 100.3 FM – JW Cox (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 382
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Second Meeting (1-0)
Series (Home): Second Meeting (1-0)
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. FIU: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. Conference USA: 14-7*
Richard Pitino vs. Conference USA: 7-7
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Fresh off a one-week break for the holidays, the Minnesota men's basketball team takes its two-game winning streak into its nonconference finale as it hosts Florida International on Saturday. It will mark the first time that Gophers head coach Richard Pitino faces his former team, as he coached the Panthers for one season (2012-13).
• The Gophers posted the biggest win of the Richard Pitino era, rankings-wise, knocking off then No. 3/2 Ohio State on Dec. 15 at Williams Arena, 84-71. It was the second win over a top-five team Pitino and first since defeating Coaches Poll No. 5 Maryland at home on Feb. 18, 2016.
• Minnesota has been tested early and often, playing one of the nation's toughest schedules in both conference and non-conference play. Through the games of Dec. 25, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the fifth toughest in NCAA Division I, with the Maroon and Gold's opposition combining for a 71.5 winning percentage - a figure which ranks second in the Big Ten.
• Gophers sophomore guards Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur have put up back-to-back huge games. Carr fueled the Gopher upset of the Buckeyes with a career-high 35 points, a total which ranks tied for 20th-highest in program history. His 27 points in the second half is the second-most by any Gopher all-time in a half. The 35-point total is the second highest by any Big Ten player this season. Six days later, Kalscheur poured in a career-high 34 points to pace the Minnesota victory over Oklahoma State in Tulsa. For his efforts, Kalscheur was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Dec. 27, Minnesota is 26th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 56th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), and 33rd in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is sixth in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd) and 14th in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 12th in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Marcus Carr is ninth in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten's second leading scorer, trailing Iowa's Luka Garza (21.5 ppg).
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
• FIU is 9-3 on the season including a win over in-state rival Stetson last Sunday, 83-67, which marked its sixth straight victory. Of the Panthers' nine wins, three have come against non-Division I competition.
• Four Panthers average double figure scoring, led by Devon Andrews who chips in 16.7 points per game.
• As of Dec. 26, FIU is leading the nation in blocked shots per game, rejecting 7.6 opponent shots per contest. They also rank in the top-10 in steals per game (4th; 10.8), scoring offense (5th; 84.1), 3-point FG defense (6th; 25.2) and assists (7th; 17.7).
GOPHERS VS. CONFERENCE USA
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 14-7 against the current membership of Conference USA, excluding vacated seasons.
• Series breakdowns are as follows: UAB (2-2)*, FIU (1-0), FAU (1-0)*, Louisiana Tech (1-0), Middle Tennessee (2-2)*, Rice (0-1)*, Southern Mississippi (1-0), UAB (2-2)*, UTEP (1-0), UTSA (1-0), Western Kentucky (2-0).
• Asterisks indicate vacated games that are not reflected in the series records.
• Minnesota last faced a team from Conference USA two seasons ago, defeating Florida Atlantic at Williams Arena, 95-60, on Dec. 23, 2017.
KALSCHEUR EARNS BIG TEN WEEKLY HONOR
• Sophomore guard Gabe Kalscheur was selected the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week Monday.
• It is the first such award for the Edina, Minn., native, who earned top weekly freshman honors in November 2018 after his previous top career performance.
• Las Saturday in Tulsa, Okla., Kalscheur poured in 34 points, besting his previous career high by nine points in the 20-point win over Oklahoma State. Kalscheur's efforts came on 11-of-14 field goal shooting (78.6 percent) including a scorching 7-of-9 performance from beyond the arc (77.8 percent).
• The seven treys matched his career high and tied for the third most by any Gopher in a single-game. Kalscheur also added three rebounds, one assist and a steal in 33 minutes of action at the BOK Center.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers ring in the new year with Big Ten road play, traveling to West Lafayette to face Purdue on Thursday.
• BTN and KFAN 100.3 FM will have the live game broadcasts from Mackey Arena, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT tip-off.
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play); Shon Morris (Analyst)
Radio: Learfield/KFAN 100.3 FM – JW Cox (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 382
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Second Meeting (1-0)
Series (Home): Second Meeting (1-0)
Current Streak: W-1
Richard Pitino vs. FIU: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. Conference USA: 14-7*
Richard Pitino vs. Conference USA: 7-7
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Fresh off a one-week break for the holidays, the Minnesota men's basketball team takes its two-game winning streak into its nonconference finale as it hosts Florida International on Saturday. It will mark the first time that Gophers head coach Richard Pitino faces his former team, as he coached the Panthers for one season (2012-13).
• The Gophers posted the biggest win of the Richard Pitino era, rankings-wise, knocking off then No. 3/2 Ohio State on Dec. 15 at Williams Arena, 84-71. It was the second win over a top-five team Pitino and first since defeating Coaches Poll No. 5 Maryland at home on Feb. 18, 2016.
• Minnesota has been tested early and often, playing one of the nation's toughest schedules in both conference and non-conference play. Through the games of Dec. 25, the Gophers' schedule ranks as the fifth toughest in NCAA Division I, with the Maroon and Gold's opposition combining for a 71.5 winning percentage - a figure which ranks second in the Big Ten.
• Gophers sophomore guards Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur have put up back-to-back huge games. Carr fueled the Gopher upset of the Buckeyes with a career-high 35 points, a total which ranks tied for 20th-highest in program history. His 27 points in the second half is the second-most by any Gopher all-time in a half. The 35-point total is the second highest by any Big Ten player this season. Six days later, Kalscheur poured in a career-high 34 points to pace the Minnesota victory over Oklahoma State in Tulsa. For his efforts, Kalscheur was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week.
• The Gophers already rank highly among the nation's college basketball teams in several categories. As of Dec. 27, Minnesota is 26th in blocked shots per game (B1G: 2nd), 56th in 3-pointers made per game (B1G: 2nd), and 33rd in assists per game (B1G: 3rd). Daniel Oturu is sixth in the country in blocks (B1G: 2nd) and 14th in rebounds per game (B1G: 1st) and 12th in field goal percentage (B1G: 2nd). Marcus Carr is ninth in the country in assists per game (B1G: 2nd). Oturu is also the Big Ten's second leading scorer, trailing Iowa's Luka Garza (21.5 ppg).
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
• FIU is 9-3 on the season including a win over in-state rival Stetson last Sunday, 83-67, which marked its sixth straight victory. Of the Panthers' nine wins, three have come against non-Division I competition.
• Four Panthers average double figure scoring, led by Devon Andrews who chips in 16.7 points per game.
• As of Dec. 26, FIU is leading the nation in blocked shots per game, rejecting 7.6 opponent shots per contest. They also rank in the top-10 in steals per game (4th; 10.8), scoring offense (5th; 84.1), 3-point FG defense (6th; 25.2) and assists (7th; 17.7).
GOPHERS VS. CONFERENCE USA
• Minnesota has amassed a record of 14-7 against the current membership of Conference USA, excluding vacated seasons.
• Series breakdowns are as follows: UAB (2-2)*, FIU (1-0), FAU (1-0)*, Louisiana Tech (1-0), Middle Tennessee (2-2)*, Rice (0-1)*, Southern Mississippi (1-0), UAB (2-2)*, UTEP (1-0), UTSA (1-0), Western Kentucky (2-0).
• Asterisks indicate vacated games that are not reflected in the series records.
• Minnesota last faced a team from Conference USA two seasons ago, defeating Florida Atlantic at Williams Arena, 95-60, on Dec. 23, 2017.
KALSCHEUR EARNS BIG TEN WEEKLY HONOR
• Sophomore guard Gabe Kalscheur was selected the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week Monday.
• It is the first such award for the Edina, Minn., native, who earned top weekly freshman honors in November 2018 after his previous top career performance.
• Las Saturday in Tulsa, Okla., Kalscheur poured in 34 points, besting his previous career high by nine points in the 20-point win over Oklahoma State. Kalscheur's efforts came on 11-of-14 field goal shooting (78.6 percent) including a scorching 7-of-9 performance from beyond the arc (77.8 percent).
• The seven treys matched his career high and tied for the third most by any Gopher in a single-game. Kalscheur also added three rebounds, one assist and a steal in 33 minutes of action at the BOK Center.
UP NEXT
• The Gophers ring in the new year with Big Ten road play, traveling to West Lafayette to face Purdue on Thursday.
• BTN and KFAN 100.3 FM will have the live game broadcasts from Mackey Arena, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT tip-off.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win Exhibition Finale
Wednesday, October 29
Highlights: Gophers 82, North Dakota 62
Saturday, October 25
Cinematic Recap: Exhibition Opener
Monday, October 20
Highlights: Gophers 80, NDSU 54
Thursday, October 16