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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Return to Nonconference Action for Saturday Morning Tilt
12/8/2023 10:58:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Broadcast: BTN (Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Dane Fife (color)
Tip Time: 11:01 a.m. CT
Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Sirius: SiriusXM 384
SERIES INFORMATION*
First Ever Meeting Between Programs
Minnesota vs. ASUN: 9-1
Last ASUN Team vs. Gophers: Nov. 24, 2021 vs. Jacksonville (MN W, 55-44)
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota continues its home stand and returns to nonconference action Saturday when it takes on Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network. It marks the first meeting between the two teams in school history and the second time head coach Ben Johnson will coach against an ASUN team in his three-year coaching career. Historically, the Gophers are 9-1 against current ASUN teams. The last time the Gophers faced an ASUN team dates back to November 24, 2021, when Minnesota defeated Jacksonville, 55-44, at Williams Arena.
• On Wednesday, the Gophers combined for 10 steals vs. Nebraska, the first time since Jan. 4, 2022 the Gophers had double-digit steal numbers in a game. Mike Mitchell Jr., alone had a career-high five in the game, the first time since 2019 a Gopher had accomplished that feat. Along with the five from Mitchell Jr., Braeden Carrington also contributed three. On the season, Minnesota has just 57 steals, 10 of which came in Wednesday's win.
• Minnesota continues to show its depth with five players scoring in double figures Wednesday and winning the bench-point advantage in eight of nine games this year. Minnesota's highest bench-point production came in a 62-20 advantage during Minnesota's last nonconference game against New Orleans. The only game where the opponent scored more bench points was against Missouri in a 26-20 Tiger advantage. Minnesota ranks first in the Big Ten in this category and 29th in the nation.
• Minnesota ranks high nationally and in the Big Ten in a couple categories in addition to bench points. Minnesota also ranks second in the Big Ten in assists per game and 15th nationally averaging 18.1. The Gophers rank fourth in the league in rebounds per game (39.1) and 78th nationally. Minnesota also averages 5.1 blocks per game, which ranks second in the B1G and 39th nationally. Pharrel Payne has 13 this season, while Dawson Garcia follows with 11. The past three games, Minnesota has made 91-of-175 FG attempts (52.0 percent) and rank sixth in the Big Ten in FG percentage on the season at 47.9.
LAST GAME RECAP
• Minnesota is coming off a comeback win over Nebraska Wednesday night to improve to 6-3 this season and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Despite being down 15 at the half and leading scorer Dawson Garcia going out with an injury, Minnesota came all the way back and won, 76-65. Five Gophers scored double-digit points in the win, including Joshua Ola-Joseph with 15 and Elijah Hawkins with a double-double 12 points, 11 assists.
• It marked Minnesota's first come-from-behind win since the Gophers' 75-74 win over Rutgers on March 2, 2023. Prior to that, the Gophers went 0-19 before the Rutgers win when trailing. Nebraska led by as many as 17 points in the first half and had a 39-24 halftime lead, but the Gophers opened the second half with intensity on defense, going on an 18-3 run over the first six-plus minutes to erase the 15-point halftime deficit and tie the score on a layup from Mitchell Jr. at the 13:14 mark.
• Braeden Carrington not only produced 13 points, but shut down Nebraska's leading scorer Keisei Tominaga, who had just four points off free throws and went 0-of-5 in field goals.
ABOUT FGCU
• Florida Gulf Coast is 3-7 this season after an 87-54 win over New College (Fla) Tuesday. The Eagles are facing their second Big Ten team in the nonconference season when they opened the year at Indiana on a 69-63 loss in Bloomington, Ind. FGCU is led by former Penn State head coach Pat Chambers, who is in his second year at the helm of the program. In his two years there, he holds a 20-22 record. The Eagles went 17-15 his first year there in 2022-23.
• FGCU has three in double-digit scoring, led by Isaiah Thompson. He averages 14.0 points in seven games played, however has not seen action since Nov. 29. Keeshawn Kellman follows averaging 12.5 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds and 11 blocks. Zach Anderson rounds out the top three with 11.4 ppg.
• As a team, FGCU averages 70.1 ppg and allows 74.6. The Eagles are shooting 43.5 percent, including 31.8 from the beyond the arc. FGCU also averages 35.2 rebounds.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota has a quick turnaround and will host IUPUI Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G +.
• Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio broadcast on Gopher Radio Network, KFAN 100.3 FM.
Broadcast: BTN (Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Dane Fife (color)
Tip Time: 11:01 a.m. CT
Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Sirius: SiriusXM 384
SERIES INFORMATION*
First Ever Meeting Between Programs
Minnesota vs. ASUN: 9-1
Last ASUN Team vs. Gophers: Nov. 24, 2021 vs. Jacksonville (MN W, 55-44)
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota continues its home stand and returns to nonconference action Saturday when it takes on Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network. It marks the first meeting between the two teams in school history and the second time head coach Ben Johnson will coach against an ASUN team in his three-year coaching career. Historically, the Gophers are 9-1 against current ASUN teams. The last time the Gophers faced an ASUN team dates back to November 24, 2021, when Minnesota defeated Jacksonville, 55-44, at Williams Arena.
• On Wednesday, the Gophers combined for 10 steals vs. Nebraska, the first time since Jan. 4, 2022 the Gophers had double-digit steal numbers in a game. Mike Mitchell Jr., alone had a career-high five in the game, the first time since 2019 a Gopher had accomplished that feat. Along with the five from Mitchell Jr., Braeden Carrington also contributed three. On the season, Minnesota has just 57 steals, 10 of which came in Wednesday's win.
• Minnesota continues to show its depth with five players scoring in double figures Wednesday and winning the bench-point advantage in eight of nine games this year. Minnesota's highest bench-point production came in a 62-20 advantage during Minnesota's last nonconference game against New Orleans. The only game where the opponent scored more bench points was against Missouri in a 26-20 Tiger advantage. Minnesota ranks first in the Big Ten in this category and 29th in the nation.
• Minnesota ranks high nationally and in the Big Ten in a couple categories in addition to bench points. Minnesota also ranks second in the Big Ten in assists per game and 15th nationally averaging 18.1. The Gophers rank fourth in the league in rebounds per game (39.1) and 78th nationally. Minnesota also averages 5.1 blocks per game, which ranks second in the B1G and 39th nationally. Pharrel Payne has 13 this season, while Dawson Garcia follows with 11. The past three games, Minnesota has made 91-of-175 FG attempts (52.0 percent) and rank sixth in the Big Ten in FG percentage on the season at 47.9.
LAST GAME RECAP
• Minnesota is coming off a comeback win over Nebraska Wednesday night to improve to 6-3 this season and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Despite being down 15 at the half and leading scorer Dawson Garcia going out with an injury, Minnesota came all the way back and won, 76-65. Five Gophers scored double-digit points in the win, including Joshua Ola-Joseph with 15 and Elijah Hawkins with a double-double 12 points, 11 assists.
• It marked Minnesota's first come-from-behind win since the Gophers' 75-74 win over Rutgers on March 2, 2023. Prior to that, the Gophers went 0-19 before the Rutgers win when trailing. Nebraska led by as many as 17 points in the first half and had a 39-24 halftime lead, but the Gophers opened the second half with intensity on defense, going on an 18-3 run over the first six-plus minutes to erase the 15-point halftime deficit and tie the score on a layup from Mitchell Jr. at the 13:14 mark.
• Braeden Carrington not only produced 13 points, but shut down Nebraska's leading scorer Keisei Tominaga, who had just four points off free throws and went 0-of-5 in field goals.
ABOUT FGCU
• Florida Gulf Coast is 3-7 this season after an 87-54 win over New College (Fla) Tuesday. The Eagles are facing their second Big Ten team in the nonconference season when they opened the year at Indiana on a 69-63 loss in Bloomington, Ind. FGCU is led by former Penn State head coach Pat Chambers, who is in his second year at the helm of the program. In his two years there, he holds a 20-22 record. The Eagles went 17-15 his first year there in 2022-23.
• FGCU has three in double-digit scoring, led by Isaiah Thompson. He averages 14.0 points in seven games played, however has not seen action since Nov. 29. Keeshawn Kellman follows averaging 12.5 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds and 11 blocks. Zach Anderson rounds out the top three with 11.4 ppg.
• As a team, FGCU averages 70.1 ppg and allows 74.6. The Eagles are shooting 43.5 percent, including 31.8 from the beyond the arc. FGCU also averages 35.2 rebounds.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota has a quick turnaround and will host IUPUI Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G +.
• Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio broadcast on Gopher Radio Network, KFAN 100.3 FM.
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