University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, November 9
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Kansas City
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Ready to Open Season Against Kansas City
11/8/2021 3:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: BTN +
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 994
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Third Meeting (3-0)
Series (Home): Third Meeting (3-0)
Current Streak: W-3
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team opens the 2021-22 season against Kansas City, Tuesday night at Williams Arena. The Golden Gophers and Roos are set to tip at 7 p.m., and is streamed on BTN +. Minnesota earned an 80-67 win over Concordia-St. Paul last Monday in an exhibition game. Jamison Battle had a team-best 24 points, followed by Payton Willis with 23 and Eylijah Stephens with 10.
• Tuesday night begins a new era in Golden Gopher men's basketball as Ben Johnson begins his collegiate head coaching career. Johnson, a Minnesota alum and former Gopher assistant coach, was named the 18th head coach in Gopher men's basketball history, March 22, 2021. Johnson was a two-time team captain for the Maroon and Gold and served as an assistant coach from 2013-18. Prior to his head coaching debut, Johnson was an assistant coach at Xavier for three seasons.
• The Golden Gophers have eight seniors on the team, including returner Eric Curry. Last season, Curry played in 29 games for Minnesota and has seen action in 77 games during his collegiate career. The Gophers also welcome back Payton Willis, who played for the Gophers in 2019-20. Willis played at College of Charleston last year before a return to Minneapolis this season.
• The 2021-22 season marks the second-straight year Kansas City has visited Williams Arena. The Gophers and Roos played in one of seven nonconference games last year before beginning the conference season during the shortened COVID-19 year. Minnesota won the game, 90-61.
• The 2021-22 season marks the 127th year of Golden Gopher men's basketball, dating back to 1895-96 season. Minnesota has one the past six season openers, with the last season-opening loss coming in 2014. The last time Minnesota opened a season against Kansas City dates back to the 2015-16 season, where Minnesota won, 76-58 on Nov. 13, 2015. Joey King established a career-high 22 points.
SCOUTING THE ROOS
• Kansas City finished the 2020-21 season with an 11-13 record in head coach Billy Donlon's second year at the helm.
• The Roos, now in their second season within the Summit League, was selected to finish sixth in the Preseason league poll.
• Josiah Allick was selected Summit League First Team Preseason after he averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and posting five double-doubles last year. Also returning from last year is Marvin Nesbitt Jr., who averaged 27.3 minutes played and shot 58 percent from the field.
GOPHERS VS. THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
• Minnesota has a 93-5 record against the current membership of the Summit League, excluding vacated games.
• Series records against Summit League schools are as follows, excluding vacated games: Denver (1-0), North Dakota, (20-2), North Dakota State (27-1), Omaha (3-0), Oral Roberts (4-0), South Dakota (14-1), South Dakota State (17-1), Western Illinois (4-0).
• On July 1, 2020, the Roos became the ninth member of The Summit League, a place in which the Roos held membership from 1994-2013. Kansas City departed the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after seven years of affiliation. All-time, Minnesota is 3-0 against the Roos.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
• Minnesota announced its two captains for 2021-22 is redshirt senior Eric Curry and senior Payton Willis. The trio was chosen based on player voting.
• It marks the second time for Curry, after he was named a captain last season. It also marks the second straight time Willis has served as a captain, at College of Charleston last year.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota hits the road next weekend when it travels to Asheville, N.C., to compete in the Asheville Championship, Nov. 12 & 14. Minnesota will take on Western Kentucky on Nov. 12. Dependant on the first game, the Gophers will then play either South Carolina or Princeton in the second game, Nov. 14.
• Friday tip time is slated for a 5:30 p.m., start on ESPNU. Sunday's game time and broadcast information will be announced following Friday's contest. Both games will also be available through the Gopher Radio Network. Tanner Hoops (pbp) and Spencer Tollackson (color) will broadcast Friday's game on KFAN.
Stream: BTN +
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 994
SERIES INFORMATION
Series: Third Meeting (3-0)
Series (Home): Third Meeting (3-0)
Current Streak: W-3
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team opens the 2021-22 season against Kansas City, Tuesday night at Williams Arena. The Golden Gophers and Roos are set to tip at 7 p.m., and is streamed on BTN +. Minnesota earned an 80-67 win over Concordia-St. Paul last Monday in an exhibition game. Jamison Battle had a team-best 24 points, followed by Payton Willis with 23 and Eylijah Stephens with 10.
• Tuesday night begins a new era in Golden Gopher men's basketball as Ben Johnson begins his collegiate head coaching career. Johnson, a Minnesota alum and former Gopher assistant coach, was named the 18th head coach in Gopher men's basketball history, March 22, 2021. Johnson was a two-time team captain for the Maroon and Gold and served as an assistant coach from 2013-18. Prior to his head coaching debut, Johnson was an assistant coach at Xavier for three seasons.
• The Golden Gophers have eight seniors on the team, including returner Eric Curry. Last season, Curry played in 29 games for Minnesota and has seen action in 77 games during his collegiate career. The Gophers also welcome back Payton Willis, who played for the Gophers in 2019-20. Willis played at College of Charleston last year before a return to Minneapolis this season.
• The 2021-22 season marks the second-straight year Kansas City has visited Williams Arena. The Gophers and Roos played in one of seven nonconference games last year before beginning the conference season during the shortened COVID-19 year. Minnesota won the game, 90-61.
• The 2021-22 season marks the 127th year of Golden Gopher men's basketball, dating back to 1895-96 season. Minnesota has one the past six season openers, with the last season-opening loss coming in 2014. The last time Minnesota opened a season against Kansas City dates back to the 2015-16 season, where Minnesota won, 76-58 on Nov. 13, 2015. Joey King established a career-high 22 points.
SCOUTING THE ROOS
• Kansas City finished the 2020-21 season with an 11-13 record in head coach Billy Donlon's second year at the helm.
• The Roos, now in their second season within the Summit League, was selected to finish sixth in the Preseason league poll.
• Josiah Allick was selected Summit League First Team Preseason after he averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and posting five double-doubles last year. Also returning from last year is Marvin Nesbitt Jr., who averaged 27.3 minutes played and shot 58 percent from the field.
GOPHERS VS. THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
• Minnesota has a 93-5 record against the current membership of the Summit League, excluding vacated games.
• Series records against Summit League schools are as follows, excluding vacated games: Denver (1-0), North Dakota, (20-2), North Dakota State (27-1), Omaha (3-0), Oral Roberts (4-0), South Dakota (14-1), South Dakota State (17-1), Western Illinois (4-0).
• On July 1, 2020, the Roos became the ninth member of The Summit League, a place in which the Roos held membership from 1994-2013. Kansas City departed the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after seven years of affiliation. All-time, Minnesota is 3-0 against the Roos.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
• Minnesota announced its two captains for 2021-22 is redshirt senior Eric Curry and senior Payton Willis. The trio was chosen based on player voting.
• It marks the second time for Curry, after he was named a captain last season. It also marks the second straight time Willis has served as a captain, at College of Charleston last year.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota hits the road next weekend when it travels to Asheville, N.C., to compete in the Asheville Championship, Nov. 12 & 14. Minnesota will take on Western Kentucky on Nov. 12. Dependant on the first game, the Gophers will then play either South Carolina or Princeton in the second game, Nov. 14.
• Friday tip time is slated for a 5:30 p.m., start on ESPNU. Sunday's game time and broadcast information will be announced following Friday's contest. Both games will also be available through the Gopher Radio Network. Tanner Hoops (pbp) and Spencer Tollackson (color) will broadcast Friday's game on KFAN.
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