University of Minnesota Athletics
Monday, November 7
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
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Western Michigan
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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Gophers Open 2022-23 Season Monday vs. Western Michigan
11/6/2022 10:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BIG +Â
Tip Time: 8:01 p.m.
Radio: Learfield IMG: KTLK 1130 AM (Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
SERIES INFORMATION
1st Meeting in Program History
Gophers All-Time vs. Mid-American Conference: 23-2
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The 2022-23 season marks the 128th year of Golden Gopher men's basketball, dating back to 1895-96 season. Minnesota has won the past seven season openers, with the last loss coming in 2014. The Gophers opened the Ben Johnson era with a win over Kansas City last year (Nov 9, 71-56).Â
• On the opening night of college basketball, Minnesota will hold a true doubleheader with Gopher men's and women's basketball. The women's team hosts Western Illinois at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m. Men's basketball season ticket holders can arrive early and sit in general admission for the women's game at no additional cost.Â
• Four Gophers scored in double figures, led by Joshua Ola-Joseph with 14 points, as the short-handed Gophers posted a 71-55 exhibition win over St. Olaf Wednesday night at Williams Arena. Ola-Joseph was 6-of-9 from the field, and added six rebounds and three assists, while Ta'Lon Cooper had 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists and Jaden Henley finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Pharrel Payne also reached double-digits, making 5-of-8 field goals to finish with 10 points and four boards. Treyton Thompson paced Minnesota with nine rebounds and added seven points. The Gophers were without Jamison Battle (foot), Braeden Carrington (ankle) and Dawson Garcia (muscle strain) for the game.Â
• The meeting between Minnesota and Western Michigan marks the first in school history. However, there is a Big Ten connection between the coaching staffs. WMU head coach Dwayne Stephens is in his first year as head coach after spending 19 seasons at Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo. A former Spartan, Stephens graduated from MSU in 1993.Â
• Coach Johnson named his captains for the 2022-23 season: Jamison Battle, Ta'Lon Cooper, Dawson Garcia and Taurus Samuels. The honor marks the first of their collegiate careers for Battle and Garcia and the second for Cooper and Samuels as they were named captains at Morehead State and Dartmouth.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
• Western Michigan opened the Dwayne Stephens Wednesday night with an 82-59 win over Kalamazoo College.
• WMU opens the 2022-23 season with six games in 14 days.Â
• Senior guard Lamar Norman Jr., was Preseason All-MAC First Team. Norman was the leading scorer in the Mid-American Conference last season at 19.8 points per game, and 20.8 points per contest in league play. The Broncos also return their second-leading scorer and top rebounder last year in Markeese Hastings, who averaged 9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.Â
• Western Michigan averaged 65.4 points per game last season, 33.1 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game.Â
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota hosts St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.Â
• The game will be streamed on B1G +, while Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson will provide the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.
Â
TV: BIG +Â
Tip Time: 8:01 p.m.
Radio: Learfield IMG: KTLK 1130 AM (Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
SERIES INFORMATION
1st Meeting in Program History
Gophers All-Time vs. Mid-American Conference: 23-2
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The 2022-23 season marks the 128th year of Golden Gopher men's basketball, dating back to 1895-96 season. Minnesota has won the past seven season openers, with the last loss coming in 2014. The Gophers opened the Ben Johnson era with a win over Kansas City last year (Nov 9, 71-56).Â
• On the opening night of college basketball, Minnesota will hold a true doubleheader with Gopher men's and women's basketball. The women's team hosts Western Illinois at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m. Men's basketball season ticket holders can arrive early and sit in general admission for the women's game at no additional cost.Â
• Four Gophers scored in double figures, led by Joshua Ola-Joseph with 14 points, as the short-handed Gophers posted a 71-55 exhibition win over St. Olaf Wednesday night at Williams Arena. Ola-Joseph was 6-of-9 from the field, and added six rebounds and three assists, while Ta'Lon Cooper had 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists and Jaden Henley finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Pharrel Payne also reached double-digits, making 5-of-8 field goals to finish with 10 points and four boards. Treyton Thompson paced Minnesota with nine rebounds and added seven points. The Gophers were without Jamison Battle (foot), Braeden Carrington (ankle) and Dawson Garcia (muscle strain) for the game.Â
• The meeting between Minnesota and Western Michigan marks the first in school history. However, there is a Big Ten connection between the coaching staffs. WMU head coach Dwayne Stephens is in his first year as head coach after spending 19 seasons at Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo. A former Spartan, Stephens graduated from MSU in 1993.Â
• Coach Johnson named his captains for the 2022-23 season: Jamison Battle, Ta'Lon Cooper, Dawson Garcia and Taurus Samuels. The honor marks the first of their collegiate careers for Battle and Garcia and the second for Cooper and Samuels as they were named captains at Morehead State and Dartmouth.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
• Western Michigan opened the Dwayne Stephens Wednesday night with an 82-59 win over Kalamazoo College.
• WMU opens the 2022-23 season with six games in 14 days.Â
• Senior guard Lamar Norman Jr., was Preseason All-MAC First Team. Norman was the leading scorer in the Mid-American Conference last season at 19.8 points per game, and 20.8 points per contest in league play. The Broncos also return their second-leading scorer and top rebounder last year in Markeese Hastings, who averaged 9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.Â
• Western Michigan averaged 65.4 points per game last season, 33.1 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game.Â
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota hosts St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.Â
• The game will be streamed on B1G +, while Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson will provide the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.
Â
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