University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 19
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Bemidji State
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Open 2024-25 Campaign With Bemidji State Exhibition
10/17/2024 1:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STARTING FIVE
• For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the University of Minnesota men's basketball team will have two exhibitions to prepare for the upcoming campaign. The Golden Gophers welcome Bemidji State to Williams Arena on Saturday, Oct. 19. It marks the first time since the 2016-17 season when the Gophers also opened the season against the Beavers. Minnesota won that game, 83-59 on Nov. 3, 2016 at Williams Arena.
• Following the Bemidji State Oct. 19 game will be the Oct. 29 game against Hamline at 7 p.m. It marks the third-straight year the Gophers have invited a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) team to Williams Arena for an exhibition game. The first year was in 2022-23 with St. Olaf, while in 2023-24 it was Macalster. Caleb Williams, current Gopher, played for that Scots in that contest.
• Ben Johnson enters his fourth year at the helm of Golden Gopher men's basketball. In Johnson's third year, the Gophers held a 19-15 overall record in 2023-24. The Golden Gophers finished as the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, a five-seed improvement from the 2022-23 season. Minnesota improved from 2-17 in Big Ten play and 9-22 in 2022-23, to 9-11 in league action and 19-15 overall in 2023-24. That win improvement marked the best in the Big Ten and one of the best nationally among power conference teams. The Gophers also produced their first winning season in five years during the 2023-24 campaign.
• Minnesota returns two of its top three scorers in Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell as well as sixth-man Parker Fox, Kadyn Betts and walk-on Erick Reader. Garcia, a second and third-team 2024 All-Big Ten selection and 2025 Preseason All-Big Ten honoree, returns for his final year after averaging 17.6 points and is the top returning Big Ten scorer from a year ago. Of the returning Big Ten athletes, Garcia ranks first in scoring and only one of six returners who received All-Big Ten honors in the 2023-24 season. Mitchell Jr. is also a returning starter for the Gophers. He ranked third on the team in scoring when he averaged just over 10.2 ppg. He and Fox saw action in all 34 games in 2023-24, the only two Gophers to do so.
• The Golden Gophers add seven seniors (Tyler Cochran, Trey Edmonds, Femi Odukale, Lu'Cye Patterson, Brennan Rigsby, Caleb Williams as well as walk-on Lincoln Meister, a junior (Frank Mitchell) and two freshmen (Isaac Asuma and Grayson Grove). Max Sheridan is also an addition as a sophomore walk on.
GARCIA LEADING THE CHARGE
• Dawson Garcia enters the season with 1,438 career points, including 943 points as a Golden Gopher. Garcia amassed 398 points in the 2022-23 season and another 545 in the 2023-24 campaign.
• Garcia was the first player since Jordan Murphy in 2017-18 to lead the Gophers in both points (17.6) and rebounds (6.7) last season. The Savage, Minn., product also averaged 15.3 ppg and 6.7 rebounds per game in 2022-23, marking the first Gopher to lead the team in both points and rebounds in back-to-back seasons since Dusty Rychart in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The last time the Gophers had a player lead them in scoring back-to-back years was Nate Mason in 2015-16/2016-17. Garcia's 17.6 point production jumped from 15.3. to 17.6, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten.
VETERAN CREW
• Minnesota has 10 seniors on its team this year, which is tied for the most in the Big Ten with Southern California. The Gophers hold an average team age of 22.3. The breakdown of the season is 10 seniors, one junior, three sophomores and two freshmen.
• Dawson Garcia has played in 100 career games, while Parker Fox has played in 120 and Mike Mitchell Jr. in 97. They are joined by veteran athletes, three of which have seen action in over 100 Division I collegiate games (Lu'Cye Patterson, Femi Odukale, Tyler Cochran), while two have played at power 5 conferences (Odukale, Brennan Rigsby).
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS
• Bemidji State was tabbed to finish fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, while senior forward John Sutherland was tabbed with BSU's Preseason Player to Watch honor. Sutherland, a former All-NSIC member, led BSU with 559 points and averaged 20 per game with a league-best .573 field goal percentage.
• BSU went 13-16 in the 2023-24 campaign and also 9-13 in the NSIC. Also making a return to the squad is Brayden Williams and Tate Olson with 218 and 190 points respectively. Sutherland had 222 rebounds, while Olson added 165 and Williams at 94.
• The Beavers are coached by Mike Boschee, who is in his 13th season at the helm.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota plays Hamline on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G+.
• For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the University of Minnesota men's basketball team will have two exhibitions to prepare for the upcoming campaign. The Golden Gophers welcome Bemidji State to Williams Arena on Saturday, Oct. 19. It marks the first time since the 2016-17 season when the Gophers also opened the season against the Beavers. Minnesota won that game, 83-59 on Nov. 3, 2016 at Williams Arena.
• Following the Bemidji State Oct. 19 game will be the Oct. 29 game against Hamline at 7 p.m. It marks the third-straight year the Gophers have invited a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) team to Williams Arena for an exhibition game. The first year was in 2022-23 with St. Olaf, while in 2023-24 it was Macalster. Caleb Williams, current Gopher, played for that Scots in that contest.
• Ben Johnson enters his fourth year at the helm of Golden Gopher men's basketball. In Johnson's third year, the Gophers held a 19-15 overall record in 2023-24. The Golden Gophers finished as the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, a five-seed improvement from the 2022-23 season. Minnesota improved from 2-17 in Big Ten play and 9-22 in 2022-23, to 9-11 in league action and 19-15 overall in 2023-24. That win improvement marked the best in the Big Ten and one of the best nationally among power conference teams. The Gophers also produced their first winning season in five years during the 2023-24 campaign.
• Minnesota returns two of its top three scorers in Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell as well as sixth-man Parker Fox, Kadyn Betts and walk-on Erick Reader. Garcia, a second and third-team 2024 All-Big Ten selection and 2025 Preseason All-Big Ten honoree, returns for his final year after averaging 17.6 points and is the top returning Big Ten scorer from a year ago. Of the returning Big Ten athletes, Garcia ranks first in scoring and only one of six returners who received All-Big Ten honors in the 2023-24 season. Mitchell Jr. is also a returning starter for the Gophers. He ranked third on the team in scoring when he averaged just over 10.2 ppg. He and Fox saw action in all 34 games in 2023-24, the only two Gophers to do so.
• The Golden Gophers add seven seniors (Tyler Cochran, Trey Edmonds, Femi Odukale, Lu'Cye Patterson, Brennan Rigsby, Caleb Williams as well as walk-on Lincoln Meister, a junior (Frank Mitchell) and two freshmen (Isaac Asuma and Grayson Grove). Max Sheridan is also an addition as a sophomore walk on.
GARCIA LEADING THE CHARGE
• Dawson Garcia enters the season with 1,438 career points, including 943 points as a Golden Gopher. Garcia amassed 398 points in the 2022-23 season and another 545 in the 2023-24 campaign.
• Garcia was the first player since Jordan Murphy in 2017-18 to lead the Gophers in both points (17.6) and rebounds (6.7) last season. The Savage, Minn., product also averaged 15.3 ppg and 6.7 rebounds per game in 2022-23, marking the first Gopher to lead the team in both points and rebounds in back-to-back seasons since Dusty Rychart in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The last time the Gophers had a player lead them in scoring back-to-back years was Nate Mason in 2015-16/2016-17. Garcia's 17.6 point production jumped from 15.3. to 17.6, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten.
VETERAN CREW
• Minnesota has 10 seniors on its team this year, which is tied for the most in the Big Ten with Southern California. The Gophers hold an average team age of 22.3. The breakdown of the season is 10 seniors, one junior, three sophomores and two freshmen.
• Dawson Garcia has played in 100 career games, while Parker Fox has played in 120 and Mike Mitchell Jr. in 97. They are joined by veteran athletes, three of which have seen action in over 100 Division I collegiate games (Lu'Cye Patterson, Femi Odukale, Tyler Cochran), while two have played at power 5 conferences (Odukale, Brennan Rigsby).
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS
• Bemidji State was tabbed to finish fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, while senior forward John Sutherland was tabbed with BSU's Preseason Player to Watch honor. Sutherland, a former All-NSIC member, led BSU with 559 points and averaged 20 per game with a league-best .573 field goal percentage.
• BSU went 13-16 in the 2023-24 campaign and also 9-13 in the NSIC. Also making a return to the squad is Brayden Williams and Tate Olson with 218 and 190 points respectively. Sutherland had 222 rebounds, while Olson added 165 and Williams at 94.
• The Beavers are coached by Mike Boschee, who is in his 13th season at the helm.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota plays Hamline on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G+.
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