University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, November 28
Orlando, FL
11:00 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
Wichita State
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Gophers Hit the Road For Thanksgiving Tournament
11/27/2024 9:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPN2 (Kevin Fitzgerald, pbp, Daymeon Fishback analyst)
Time: 11 A.M. CT/12 P.M. ET
Radio: KTLK (1130 AM/103.5 FM) (Tanner Hoops, Al Nolen)
Sirius: Sirius XM 392
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota trails all-time series at 1-3
Last Meeting*: Jan. 2, 1988 (WSU W, 78-68)
* Minnesota played Wichita State on Nov. 25, 1995. However, the game was later vacated from Minnesota school records
Last American AAC Team Played: 2024 vs. North Texas
(Nov. 13, UNT W, 54-51)
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Gophers hit the road for the first time this early season when it travels to Orlando, Fla., to take part in the 2024 ESPN Events Invitational, Nov. 28-29, at State Farm Field House (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex) in Kissimmee, Fla. The ESPN Events Invitational field includes Minnesota vs. Wichita State and Florida vs. Wake Forest.
• The 2024 tournament will mark Minnesota's third time the Gophers will play in an Orlando nonconference tournament and the first since 2011. Now known as the ESPN Events Invitational, the Gophers played in the previously-named Old Spice Classic in 2011 and 2006.
• Minnesota is playing four games within six days and five within nine. The Gophers defeated Central Michigan, 68-65, to end a six-game homestand Monday. Following the two-game trip to Orlando, the Gophers then host Bethune-Cookman on Sunday, Dec. 1. The Gophers open the Big Ten season on Wednesday, Dec. 4 vs. Michigan State.
• Minnesota is looking for its fourth-straight win after it defeated Central Michigan Monday, 68-65. Dawson Garcia recorded his first double double of the year when he had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Lu'Cye Patterson had the best scoring game of his Gopher career with 19 points. Minnesota hit 10 threes in the game, including four from Patterson and three from Garcia. Femi Odukale recorded his 500th career rebound in the win. Isaac Asuma contributed 32 minutes off the bench and had six points, six rebounds, and six assists.
• Garcia has scored 22 or more points in five of six games this season. He has had multiple three-pointers in four of his six games this year and has started the season 11-of-20 (.550) from beyond the arc.
WHERE THEY RANK
• Early in this 2024-25 campaign, Minnesota's scoring defense ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally. Minnesota has allowed 57.2 points per game (343 total) in its six games into the season, which trails only UCLA. The 65 points allowed against Central Michigan was the most this season. Of Minnesota's six opponents this season, five were held to its lowest point total of the season. Minnesota also ranks fifth in the league in blocks (31) and 53rd nationally.
• Dawson Garcia is tied for second in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 22.8 points per game and third in total points (115). He ranks ninth nationally in ppg. Garcia also ranks 11th in rebounding among Big Ten players.
• Lu'Cye Patterson ranks third in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio, while Femi Odukale ranks 11th and eighth in steals (11) and steals per game (2.20). He also averages 1.40 blocks per game, which puts him 13th in the league.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
• Wichita State is 5-0 entering the ESPN Events Invitational and are playing in its first game since Nov. 22. The Shockers opened the season with a win at Western Kentucky (91-84), defeated three-straight at home and defeated Saint Louis in their last game, 88-63.
• Slated to finish fourth in the AAC preseason poll, the Shockers return seven letterwinners and welcomed seven newcomers this year, including the team's top two scorers. Georgia transfer Justin Hill leads the team in scoring with 17.4 points and 24 assists. Saint Peter's transfer Corey Washington leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game, while Harlond Beverly and Xavier Bell also average double-digit points in 10.2 and 10.0, respectively.
• As a team, Wichita State averages 83.4 points per game and allows 71.0. The Shockers are shooting 45.9 from the field and 29.7 from beyond the arc and 76.1 from the charity stripe. WSU averages 40.2 rebounds per game and rank 29th nationally in defensive rebounds averaging 30.40. They have 46 turnovers this season and have 45 steals.
ON THE DOCKET
• Friday's opponent is contingent on Thursday's outcome. If Minnesota wins, it plays the winner of the Florida/Wake Forest game and play in the championship at 2:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN. Should the Shockers win, the Gophers play for third place at noon Central on ESPN2.
• Tanner Hoops and Al Nolen will provide the broadcast on Gopher Radio Network.
TV: ESPN2 (Kevin Fitzgerald, pbp, Daymeon Fishback analyst)
Time: 11 A.M. CT/12 P.M. ET
Radio: KTLK (1130 AM/103.5 FM) (Tanner Hoops, Al Nolen)
Sirius: Sirius XM 392
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota trails all-time series at 1-3
Last Meeting*: Jan. 2, 1988 (WSU W, 78-68)
* Minnesota played Wichita State on Nov. 25, 1995. However, the game was later vacated from Minnesota school records
Last American AAC Team Played: 2024 vs. North Texas
(Nov. 13, UNT W, 54-51)
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Gophers hit the road for the first time this early season when it travels to Orlando, Fla., to take part in the 2024 ESPN Events Invitational, Nov. 28-29, at State Farm Field House (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex) in Kissimmee, Fla. The ESPN Events Invitational field includes Minnesota vs. Wichita State and Florida vs. Wake Forest.
• The 2024 tournament will mark Minnesota's third time the Gophers will play in an Orlando nonconference tournament and the first since 2011. Now known as the ESPN Events Invitational, the Gophers played in the previously-named Old Spice Classic in 2011 and 2006.
• Minnesota is playing four games within six days and five within nine. The Gophers defeated Central Michigan, 68-65, to end a six-game homestand Monday. Following the two-game trip to Orlando, the Gophers then host Bethune-Cookman on Sunday, Dec. 1. The Gophers open the Big Ten season on Wednesday, Dec. 4 vs. Michigan State.
• Minnesota is looking for its fourth-straight win after it defeated Central Michigan Monday, 68-65. Dawson Garcia recorded his first double double of the year when he had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Lu'Cye Patterson had the best scoring game of his Gopher career with 19 points. Minnesota hit 10 threes in the game, including four from Patterson and three from Garcia. Femi Odukale recorded his 500th career rebound in the win. Isaac Asuma contributed 32 minutes off the bench and had six points, six rebounds, and six assists.
• Garcia has scored 22 or more points in five of six games this season. He has had multiple three-pointers in four of his six games this year and has started the season 11-of-20 (.550) from beyond the arc.
WHERE THEY RANK
• Early in this 2024-25 campaign, Minnesota's scoring defense ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally. Minnesota has allowed 57.2 points per game (343 total) in its six games into the season, which trails only UCLA. The 65 points allowed against Central Michigan was the most this season. Of Minnesota's six opponents this season, five were held to its lowest point total of the season. Minnesota also ranks fifth in the league in blocks (31) and 53rd nationally.
• Dawson Garcia is tied for second in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 22.8 points per game and third in total points (115). He ranks ninth nationally in ppg. Garcia also ranks 11th in rebounding among Big Ten players.
• Lu'Cye Patterson ranks third in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio, while Femi Odukale ranks 11th and eighth in steals (11) and steals per game (2.20). He also averages 1.40 blocks per game, which puts him 13th in the league.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
• Wichita State is 5-0 entering the ESPN Events Invitational and are playing in its first game since Nov. 22. The Shockers opened the season with a win at Western Kentucky (91-84), defeated three-straight at home and defeated Saint Louis in their last game, 88-63.
• Slated to finish fourth in the AAC preseason poll, the Shockers return seven letterwinners and welcomed seven newcomers this year, including the team's top two scorers. Georgia transfer Justin Hill leads the team in scoring with 17.4 points and 24 assists. Saint Peter's transfer Corey Washington leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game, while Harlond Beverly and Xavier Bell also average double-digit points in 10.2 and 10.0, respectively.
• As a team, Wichita State averages 83.4 points per game and allows 71.0. The Shockers are shooting 45.9 from the field and 29.7 from beyond the arc and 76.1 from the charity stripe. WSU averages 40.2 rebounds per game and rank 29th nationally in defensive rebounds averaging 30.40. They have 46 turnovers this season and have 45 steals.
ON THE DOCKET
• Friday's opponent is contingent on Thursday's outcome. If Minnesota wins, it plays the winner of the Florida/Wake Forest game and play in the championship at 2:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN. Should the Shockers win, the Gophers play for third place at noon Central on ESPN2.
• Tanner Hoops and Al Nolen will provide the broadcast on Gopher Radio Network.
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