University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, January 16
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Set to Face Seventh-Straight Ranked Opponent Saturday
1/15/2021 8:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPN2 – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play); Dan Dakich (Analyst)
Tip Time: 1:05 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 84
SERIES INFORMATION
153rd Meeting (61-92 all-time record)*
At Home Against Michigan: 40-32*
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Michigan: 2-11
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 777-857*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 56-89
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota is playing the Michigan Wolverines for the second time in 10 days, this time in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers fell to Michigan on Jan. 6 in Ann Arbor, Mich., 82-57. Marcus Carr scored 14 points to lead the Gophers in scoring.
• Minnesota is in a historic stretch as it faces a ranked opponent for the seventh-straight game. The Gophers' previous record of consecutive ranked teams was four (which happened in 2014, 1996 and 1987).
• The last time any Division I school faced that many ranked teams in a row dates back to 2011 when St. John's faced eight-straight in 2011. Overall, Minnesota has faced a ranked or receiving votes team in 10-straight games, dating back to Dec. 15 against Illinois. Saint Louis, who is currently ranked, was receiving votes at the time of the Minnesota contest, Dec. 20. In fact, Minnesota has faced eight-straight ranked conference opponents, a feat that even St. John's did not have in 2011.
• Minnesota's last contest came on Jan. 10 when the Golden Gophers fell to No. 5 Iowa, 86-71, in Iowa City, Iowa. Both Gach and Marcus Carr scored 13 points apiece for the Gophers. Brandon Johnson had 12. Liam Robbins added 10.
• Marcus Carr was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List last week Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2020-21 season thus far, the list comprises 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor. Carr is one of 12 guards on the list and is one of six student-athletes from the Big Ten to be recognized. Carr has scored in double figures in all 14 games this year and he has three 30-point games and six 20-point games this season. He averages 20.9 ppg which ranks third in the league and 27th nationally. In the Big Ten, Carr ranks first in assists per game (5.5) and minutes per game (35.6).
• Liam Robbins is averaging 2.6 blocked shots per game. That average tops the Big Ten and ranks 17th nationally. He also is sixth nationally in total blocks at 37. Robbins' game high this season has been five, done three times, while his career-high is seven when he played at Drake.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
• No. 7/5 Michigan enters the Minnesota game with a perfect 11-0 overall record and 6-0 mark against Big Ten teams. After a home win against the Gophers Jan. 6, Michigan also won by 23 (77-54) over Wisconsin, Jan, 12, also in Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Michigan remains the only undefeated team left in the Big Ten in either conference or nonconference action.
• Hunter Dickinson leads the team in points per game (17.5), rebounds per game (7.9) and blocks per game (1.5). He is shooting 70.9 percent from the field, which leads the Big Ten and is sixth nationally. Following him in scoring is Isaiah Livers (13.8) and Franz Wagner (12.5).
• As a team, the Wolverines are averaging 82.6 points per game, shooting 52 percent from the field (which ranks seventh nationally), averaging 7.7 three-pointers per game and 40.1 rebounds per game.
GOPHERS RANKED NO. 23/19 in POLLs
• Minnesota is currently No. 23 in the Associated Press poll and No. 19 in USA Today poll, both released Monday. It marks the third-straight week the Gophers have been ranked. The first poll on Dec 28, 2020, marked the first time since Dec. 10, 2017 that the Golden Gophers have been ranked.
• The Big Ten boasts six teams in the Associated Press Top-25 poll and five teams in the USA TODAY coaches poll. Three Big Ten teams appear in the top 10 of both polls: No. 5/No. 8 Iowa, No. 7/No. 5 Michigan and No. 9/No. 9 Wisconsin. In total, the Big Ten boasts four teams in the top 15 of the AP Poll. In addition to the six teams appearing in the polls, four other teams -- Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern and Rutgers -- received votes in either one or both polls.
• Overall, Minnesota is 10-8 under head coach Richard Pitino when ranked and 3-6 in Big Ten play.
GOPHERS IN THE CLASSROOM
• The Gopher basketball team held a 3.18 term grade point average this last semester. In fact, it also held a 3.05 cumulative GPA with a majority of the players posting a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• It marked the third-straight semester where the Gophers posted a term and cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• The Gophers also held its highest multiyear APR (Academic Progress Report) this past year at 990.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota is scheduled to be back on the road Wednesday, Jan. 20, to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Neb. It would be Nebraska's first action in over a week as the Huskers postponed both games this week due to a COVID-19 pause.
• Tip off is set for 6 p.m., on BTN while KTLK 1130 AM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
TV: ESPN2 – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play); Dan Dakich (Analyst)
Tip Time: 1:05 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 84
SERIES INFORMATION
153rd Meeting (61-92 all-time record)*
At Home Against Michigan: 40-32*
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Michigan: 2-11
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 777-857*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 56-89
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota is playing the Michigan Wolverines for the second time in 10 days, this time in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers fell to Michigan on Jan. 6 in Ann Arbor, Mich., 82-57. Marcus Carr scored 14 points to lead the Gophers in scoring.
• Minnesota is in a historic stretch as it faces a ranked opponent for the seventh-straight game. The Gophers' previous record of consecutive ranked teams was four (which happened in 2014, 1996 and 1987).
• The last time any Division I school faced that many ranked teams in a row dates back to 2011 when St. John's faced eight-straight in 2011. Overall, Minnesota has faced a ranked or receiving votes team in 10-straight games, dating back to Dec. 15 against Illinois. Saint Louis, who is currently ranked, was receiving votes at the time of the Minnesota contest, Dec. 20. In fact, Minnesota has faced eight-straight ranked conference opponents, a feat that even St. John's did not have in 2011.
• Minnesota's last contest came on Jan. 10 when the Golden Gophers fell to No. 5 Iowa, 86-71, in Iowa City, Iowa. Both Gach and Marcus Carr scored 13 points apiece for the Gophers. Brandon Johnson had 12. Liam Robbins added 10.
• Marcus Carr was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List last week Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2020-21 season thus far, the list comprises 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor. Carr is one of 12 guards on the list and is one of six student-athletes from the Big Ten to be recognized. Carr has scored in double figures in all 14 games this year and he has three 30-point games and six 20-point games this season. He averages 20.9 ppg which ranks third in the league and 27th nationally. In the Big Ten, Carr ranks first in assists per game (5.5) and minutes per game (35.6).
• Liam Robbins is averaging 2.6 blocked shots per game. That average tops the Big Ten and ranks 17th nationally. He also is sixth nationally in total blocks at 37. Robbins' game high this season has been five, done three times, while his career-high is seven when he played at Drake.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
• No. 7/5 Michigan enters the Minnesota game with a perfect 11-0 overall record and 6-0 mark against Big Ten teams. After a home win against the Gophers Jan. 6, Michigan also won by 23 (77-54) over Wisconsin, Jan, 12, also in Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Michigan remains the only undefeated team left in the Big Ten in either conference or nonconference action.
• Hunter Dickinson leads the team in points per game (17.5), rebounds per game (7.9) and blocks per game (1.5). He is shooting 70.9 percent from the field, which leads the Big Ten and is sixth nationally. Following him in scoring is Isaiah Livers (13.8) and Franz Wagner (12.5).
• As a team, the Wolverines are averaging 82.6 points per game, shooting 52 percent from the field (which ranks seventh nationally), averaging 7.7 three-pointers per game and 40.1 rebounds per game.
GOPHERS RANKED NO. 23/19 in POLLs
• Minnesota is currently No. 23 in the Associated Press poll and No. 19 in USA Today poll, both released Monday. It marks the third-straight week the Gophers have been ranked. The first poll on Dec 28, 2020, marked the first time since Dec. 10, 2017 that the Golden Gophers have been ranked.
• The Big Ten boasts six teams in the Associated Press Top-25 poll and five teams in the USA TODAY coaches poll. Three Big Ten teams appear in the top 10 of both polls: No. 5/No. 8 Iowa, No. 7/No. 5 Michigan and No. 9/No. 9 Wisconsin. In total, the Big Ten boasts four teams in the top 15 of the AP Poll. In addition to the six teams appearing in the polls, four other teams -- Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern and Rutgers -- received votes in either one or both polls.
• Overall, Minnesota is 10-8 under head coach Richard Pitino when ranked and 3-6 in Big Ten play.
GOPHERS IN THE CLASSROOM
• The Gopher basketball team held a 3.18 term grade point average this last semester. In fact, it also held a 3.05 cumulative GPA with a majority of the players posting a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• It marked the third-straight semester where the Gophers posted a term and cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• The Gophers also held its highest multiyear APR (Academic Progress Report) this past year at 990.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota is scheduled to be back on the road Wednesday, Jan. 20, to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Neb. It would be Nebraska's first action in over a week as the Huskers postponed both games this week due to a COVID-19 pause.
• Tip off is set for 6 p.m., on BTN while KTLK 1130 AM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities.
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