University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Q & A With Both Gach
1/13/2021 8:37:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Both Gach, a 6-6 guard, is in his first year with the Golden Gopher men's basketball team after he spent his first two years at Utah. The Austin, Minn., native has started in all 14 games this year and is in the midst of the Big Ten schedule. Check out this question/answer session that was originally posted in the Michigan State game program.
Gophersports: What has the transition from the University of Utah to the University of Minnesota been like, both on and off the court?
Both Gach: It has gone well, and I expected it to as a kid from Minnesota. I have people around me that I am close to. I have been learning a lot and trying to fit in, but I do feel like I have fit in here at Minnesota. Off the court, I have so many great teammates around me too. I am happy to be here.
GS: How much has it helped to be back home in this difficult time we are all in?
BG: It has been a help to be able to go back on the weekends before the season started and help or do something with my family. I do not have to hop on a plane to just go home for the weekend. Being able to make that short drive down the road to get back home and see my family has been a blessing for me.
GS: Tell us a little bit about your family background.
BG: I have two brothers and four sisters, and they all played basketball. My older brother played at West Texas A&M and my twin brother played at a community college, North Dakota State College of Science. My older sisters played ball as well. We come from a family of pretty much all basketball players, so it is something we all enjoy doing and we all got started at a young age. For us it is all about being competitive and connected. It has been good.
GS: How proud are you of the legacy you have helped craft in Austin, Minn., not just from basketball but also from a community standpoint? BG: It is something I am very proud of. There are a lot of kids back in Austin that look up to me, always asking questions and advice. Even before I was in high school, our coach started to build the program to where it was respectable in southern Minnesota, so it was a huge thing for myself and my teammates to play.
GS: What is some good advice you have gotten from your family or your high school coaches that has helped you in your career?
BG: They used to always tell me to just work hard, do not get distracted and keep a laser focus to try to get to your dreams.
GS: What has been the most memorable basketball moment in your career so far?
BG: It would probably be during my time at Utah when we beat UCLA at the buzzer. We were down by a big margin at halftime and came back to win at the end. That is probably the best moment I have ever had on the court.
GS: Who is your favorite professional athlete?
BG: LeBron James.
GS: It seems every time a Gopher player is asked that question, they answer with LeBron James. Do all of your teammates like LeBron?
BG: Yeah, we have a lot of guys on the team that love LeBron James. It is about the way that he goes about himself, even now in his eighteenth year. The amount of work that he has put in and what he has done for the game is amazing.
GS: What is your favorite food?
BG: My favorite food would probably be pasta or pizza.
GS: What is your favorite TV show?
BG: I would probably keep it with SpongeBob. I love watching that.
GS: Do you have a favorite movie?
BG: Black Panther.
GS: What is one thing that people would be surprised about you?
BG: Whenever I tell people that I have a twin they usually seem surprised about it.
Gophersports: What has the transition from the University of Utah to the University of Minnesota been like, both on and off the court?
Both Gach: It has gone well, and I expected it to as a kid from Minnesota. I have people around me that I am close to. I have been learning a lot and trying to fit in, but I do feel like I have fit in here at Minnesota. Off the court, I have so many great teammates around me too. I am happy to be here.
GS: How much has it helped to be back home in this difficult time we are all in?
BG: It has been a help to be able to go back on the weekends before the season started and help or do something with my family. I do not have to hop on a plane to just go home for the weekend. Being able to make that short drive down the road to get back home and see my family has been a blessing for me.
GS: Tell us a little bit about your family background.
BG: I have two brothers and four sisters, and they all played basketball. My older brother played at West Texas A&M and my twin brother played at a community college, North Dakota State College of Science. My older sisters played ball as well. We come from a family of pretty much all basketball players, so it is something we all enjoy doing and we all got started at a young age. For us it is all about being competitive and connected. It has been good.
GS: How proud are you of the legacy you have helped craft in Austin, Minn., not just from basketball but also from a community standpoint? BG: It is something I am very proud of. There are a lot of kids back in Austin that look up to me, always asking questions and advice. Even before I was in high school, our coach started to build the program to where it was respectable in southern Minnesota, so it was a huge thing for myself and my teammates to play.
GS: What is some good advice you have gotten from your family or your high school coaches that has helped you in your career?
BG: They used to always tell me to just work hard, do not get distracted and keep a laser focus to try to get to your dreams.
GS: What has been the most memorable basketball moment in your career so far?
BG: It would probably be during my time at Utah when we beat UCLA at the buzzer. We were down by a big margin at halftime and came back to win at the end. That is probably the best moment I have ever had on the court.
GS: Who is your favorite professional athlete?
BG: LeBron James.
GS: It seems every time a Gopher player is asked that question, they answer with LeBron James. Do all of your teammates like LeBron?
BG: Yeah, we have a lot of guys on the team that love LeBron James. It is about the way that he goes about himself, even now in his eighteenth year. The amount of work that he has put in and what he has done for the game is amazing.
GS: What is your favorite food?
BG: My favorite food would probably be pasta or pizza.
GS: What is your favorite TV show?
BG: I would probably keep it with SpongeBob. I love watching that.
GS: Do you have a favorite movie?
BG: Black Panther.
GS: What is one thing that people would be surprised about you?
BG: Whenever I tell people that I have a twin they usually seem surprised about it.
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