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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Gophers Year in Review
3/27/2024 2:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SEASON RECAP
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 overall record and went 9-11 in Big Ten play. The Golden Gophers finished as the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, a five-seed improvement from the 2022-23 season.
• Minnesota also competed in the National Invitation Tournament, the Golden Gophers' first postseason action since 2019 when Minnesota was selected to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Second Round. The 2023-24 season marked the first time since 2014 the Gophers competed in the NIT. The 2024 bid marked the 14th NIT appearance in program history, not including 1996 and 1998 appearances that were later vacated. The Gophers have amassed a 28-13 record in NIT games (.700), excluding vacated seasons.
• Minnesota went 2-17 in Big Ten play and 9-22 overall in 2022-23. The Gophers finished the Big Ten 9-11 and 19-15 overall. That win improvement marks the best in the Big Ten and one of the best nationally among Power 6 teams. South Carolina went from 11 wins to 26 this year, while Cal went from 3-29 (2-18 in PAC-12) to 13-19 and 9-11 in conference play. Ole Miss was 12-21 and 3-15 last year in the SEC and finished 20-12 and 7-11 in league action. Colorado also went 18-17 in 2022-23 and improved to 26-11 overall and went from eight Pac 12 wins to 13.
• Minnesota averaged 75.0 points this season, marking it the best scoring production since the 2017-18 season and highest under head coach Ben Johnson. Minnesota averaged 75.2 in 2017-18 and 2016-17. It was just the fourth time this century the Gophers have averaged 75 points per game this century, achieving it in 2001-02, 2016-17, 2017-18 and now in 2023-24. Minnesota just missed tying the previous marks at 75.2.
• It also marked the most overall points the Gophers scored since the 2016-17 season. Minnesota scored 2,550 total points, while in 2016-17, the Gophers scored 2,556. The Gophers 2,550 points ranks fifth in school history. Minnesota scored 268 three-pointers in 2023-24, which ranks second in school history, just shy of the school record of 272 set in 2013-14. Minnesota's 754 attempts ranks third in school history.
• Minnesota set a school record 588 assists, bettering the previous best of 583 set in 2009-10. Elijah Hawkins set the school record this season in assists in a game (17), assists in a single season (247) and assists in a postseason game (15- which includes Big Ten, NIT and NCAA action). He also broke the school record in assists per game (7.5), which ranks second nationally.
• Dawson Garcia is the first player since Jordan Murphy to lead the Gophers in both points (17.6) and rebounds (6.7). He 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.
GARCIA, HAWKINS, CHRISTIE, FOX RECEIVE B1G HONORS
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team had four individuals receive postseason All-Big Ten recognition, announced Tuesday by the league office. Dawson Garcia was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the media and Third Team by the coaches, while Elijah Hawkins was Big Ten Honorable Mention in both categories. Cam Christie was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, while Parker Fox received Minnesota's Sportsmanship Award.
• It marks the second-straight year Garcia has garnered All-B1G awards after being an honorable mention in 2022-23. It marks Hawkins' and Christie's and Fox's first honors. The last time the Gophers had a Big Ten All-Freshman honoree dates back to Amir Coffey in 2017.
GARCIA LEADING THE CHARGE
• Garcia leads the Golden Gophers in points (545), points per game (17.6), rebounds (207), rebounds per game (6.7), free throws attempted (177) and free throws made (142). He ranked second on the team in minutes played, averaging 32, has started in all 31 games he's participated in, and is also shooting 48.6 percent from the field.
• Garcia ranks sixth in the Big Ten in points, 13th in rebounding and one of the league's best players in fouls drawn. Of his 31 games, Garcia led or tied the team in scoring 18 times. The Savage, Minn., product has scored double-digit points in 28 games this past year, missing three games, one of which was due to injury. Garcia, an All-Big Ten Preseason selection and the season's first Big Ten Player of the Week, also recorded four-point/rebound double-doubles this season.
HAWKINS SETTING IT UP
• Elijah Hawkins ranks second nationally in assists per game (7.5) and third in total assists at 247. In addition, Hawkins also leads the team in minutes played (33.3) and steals (54).
• Since joining the Gophers, the floor general's assist number went from 185 as a sophomore at Howard to 247 this year. Additionally, his turnovers went from 125 last year to 90 this season. Hawkins broke school records in single-game assists (17 vs. IUPUI), single-season assists (246) and assists in a postseason game (15 vs. Butler). He ranks second in NCAA active leaders in assists per game at 6.39 and first among Division I players. Against Michigan State earlier this year, Hawkins also established his 500th career assist and now sits 22nd in NCAA active leaders with 588.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
• As a freshman guard, Cam Christie ranks second in scoring in his first year of collegiate basketball. Christie averages 11.3 points this season and 30.1 minutes played. Christie is shot 40.3 percent from the field and 39.1 from beyond the arc this season. He ranked second on the team in three-pointers attempted (179) and second on the team in three-pointers made (70), just one short of the team lead. The rookie also established 119 rebounds, 74 assists, 11 blocks, 21 steals, and 373 points.
• Playing in 33 games, Christie started in 26 and scored in double digits 201 times this past year, including a six-game Big Ten streak. Christie was also a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Christie is the first Gopher freshman to land a spot on the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team since Amir Coffey in 2017.
BALANCED SCORING
• Minnesota has had good point production when moving the ball. The Gophers had five individuals in double-figure scoring against UTSA, New Orleans, Nebraska, Ball State, Maine, at Michigan, at Penn State, Northwestern, at Iowa, Rutgers, at Illinois, vs. Michigan State (Big Ten Tourney) and at Butler. Minnesota has also had four individuals in double-digit scoring this year (vs. UAPB, FGCU, IUPUI, Maryland, Penn State and Indiana State). When the Gophers have four or more players score double-digits, they are 17-4.
P FOX OFF THE BENCH
• Parker Fox came to the University of Minnesota after three years at Northern State in 2021-22. However, back-to-back season-ending knee injuries sidelined him for both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In 2023-24, Fox became Minnesota's sixth man and played in all 34 games, just one of two to accomplish that feat this season. He averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds and has 27 blocks and 18 steals in 14 minutes played. Fox has scored double-digit points in seven games this year and earned a start against Penn State (3/2/24) on senior night.
DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
• The Golden Gophers gained experience from the 2022-23 season to 2023-24. The average age for the Gophers this past season was 21.09, compared to last year's 20.38.
• Minnesota had four returning players that saw over 20 minutes per game, and added Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr., who each averaged over 29 minutes per game. Both were starters for their respective teams at Howard and Pepperdine.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Minnesota's Kris Keinys was the first Gopher player since Paul J. Sutton in 1944 to ever wear the No. 8. Since the 1958-59 season, the NCAA banned basketball athletes from wearing numbers 6-9 for officials to regulate foul calls to the scorers table. New this year, the NCAA now allows any athlete to wear numbers ranging from 0-99.
• Cam Christie is one of the youngest players in Division I men's basketball. In July, Christie turned 18, marking him the seventh youngest in the sport.
GOPHERS IN THE CLASSROOM
• Minnesota continues to improve in the classroom as well. Just this past fall, Minnesota recorded a program-best 3.37 a team cumulative grade point average and a fall semester 3.29 GPA. This bettered a previous program record of 3.36 set in the spring of 2023. In the fall of 2022, Minnesota held a 3.23 GPA.
• Minnesota also had a program-best eight individuals named to the 2024 Academic All-Big Ten team: Braeden Carrington, Dawson Garcia, Isaiah Ihnen, Parker Fox, Pharrel Payne, Joshua Ola-Joseph, Jackson Purcell and Will Ramberg.
• In a two-year total under head coach Ben Johnson, Minnesota has had 12 individuals earn either a master's or bachelor's degree.
HEAD COACH TIDBITS
• Head coach Ben Johnson is not only a graduate of Minnesota, he is also coaching in his hometown. Growing up in Minneapolis, Coach Johnson was also a standout at DeLaSalle High School here in Minneapolis.
• Johnson, 43, is now the second-youngest head coach in the Big Ten. Ohio State's Jake Diebler is 37, while Kevin Willard at Maryland is the third-youngest at 48.
• Johnson is the first Gopher alum to coach the program since George Hanson in 1970-71.
• Johnson is one of over 50 Division I head coaches at the helm of his alma mater.
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 overall record and went 9-11 in Big Ten play. The Golden Gophers finished as the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, a five-seed improvement from the 2022-23 season.
• Minnesota also competed in the National Invitation Tournament, the Golden Gophers' first postseason action since 2019 when Minnesota was selected to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Second Round. The 2023-24 season marked the first time since 2014 the Gophers competed in the NIT. The 2024 bid marked the 14th NIT appearance in program history, not including 1996 and 1998 appearances that were later vacated. The Gophers have amassed a 28-13 record in NIT games (.700), excluding vacated seasons.
• Minnesota went 2-17 in Big Ten play and 9-22 overall in 2022-23. The Gophers finished the Big Ten 9-11 and 19-15 overall. That win improvement marks the best in the Big Ten and one of the best nationally among Power 6 teams. South Carolina went from 11 wins to 26 this year, while Cal went from 3-29 (2-18 in PAC-12) to 13-19 and 9-11 in conference play. Ole Miss was 12-21 and 3-15 last year in the SEC and finished 20-12 and 7-11 in league action. Colorado also went 18-17 in 2022-23 and improved to 26-11 overall and went from eight Pac 12 wins to 13.
• Minnesota averaged 75.0 points this season, marking it the best scoring production since the 2017-18 season and highest under head coach Ben Johnson. Minnesota averaged 75.2 in 2017-18 and 2016-17. It was just the fourth time this century the Gophers have averaged 75 points per game this century, achieving it in 2001-02, 2016-17, 2017-18 and now in 2023-24. Minnesota just missed tying the previous marks at 75.2.
• It also marked the most overall points the Gophers scored since the 2016-17 season. Minnesota scored 2,550 total points, while in 2016-17, the Gophers scored 2,556. The Gophers 2,550 points ranks fifth in school history. Minnesota scored 268 three-pointers in 2023-24, which ranks second in school history, just shy of the school record of 272 set in 2013-14. Minnesota's 754 attempts ranks third in school history.
• Minnesota set a school record 588 assists, bettering the previous best of 583 set in 2009-10. Elijah Hawkins set the school record this season in assists in a game (17), assists in a single season (247) and assists in a postseason game (15- which includes Big Ten, NIT and NCAA action). He also broke the school record in assists per game (7.5), which ranks second nationally.
• Dawson Garcia is the first player since Jordan Murphy to lead the Gophers in both points (17.6) and rebounds (6.7). He 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.
GARCIA, HAWKINS, CHRISTIE, FOX RECEIVE B1G HONORS
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team had four individuals receive postseason All-Big Ten recognition, announced Tuesday by the league office. Dawson Garcia was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the media and Third Team by the coaches, while Elijah Hawkins was Big Ten Honorable Mention in both categories. Cam Christie was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, while Parker Fox received Minnesota's Sportsmanship Award.
• It marks the second-straight year Garcia has garnered All-B1G awards after being an honorable mention in 2022-23. It marks Hawkins' and Christie's and Fox's first honors. The last time the Gophers had a Big Ten All-Freshman honoree dates back to Amir Coffey in 2017.
GARCIA LEADING THE CHARGE
• Garcia leads the Golden Gophers in points (545), points per game (17.6), rebounds (207), rebounds per game (6.7), free throws attempted (177) and free throws made (142). He ranked second on the team in minutes played, averaging 32, has started in all 31 games he's participated in, and is also shooting 48.6 percent from the field.
• Garcia ranks sixth in the Big Ten in points, 13th in rebounding and one of the league's best players in fouls drawn. Of his 31 games, Garcia led or tied the team in scoring 18 times. The Savage, Minn., product has scored double-digit points in 28 games this past year, missing three games, one of which was due to injury. Garcia, an All-Big Ten Preseason selection and the season's first Big Ten Player of the Week, also recorded four-point/rebound double-doubles this season.
HAWKINS SETTING IT UP
• Elijah Hawkins ranks second nationally in assists per game (7.5) and third in total assists at 247. In addition, Hawkins also leads the team in minutes played (33.3) and steals (54).
• Since joining the Gophers, the floor general's assist number went from 185 as a sophomore at Howard to 247 this year. Additionally, his turnovers went from 125 last year to 90 this season. Hawkins broke school records in single-game assists (17 vs. IUPUI), single-season assists (246) and assists in a postseason game (15 vs. Butler). He ranks second in NCAA active leaders in assists per game at 6.39 and first among Division I players. Against Michigan State earlier this year, Hawkins also established his 500th career assist and now sits 22nd in NCAA active leaders with 588.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
• As a freshman guard, Cam Christie ranks second in scoring in his first year of collegiate basketball. Christie averages 11.3 points this season and 30.1 minutes played. Christie is shot 40.3 percent from the field and 39.1 from beyond the arc this season. He ranked second on the team in three-pointers attempted (179) and second on the team in three-pointers made (70), just one short of the team lead. The rookie also established 119 rebounds, 74 assists, 11 blocks, 21 steals, and 373 points.
• Playing in 33 games, Christie started in 26 and scored in double digits 201 times this past year, including a six-game Big Ten streak. Christie was also a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Christie is the first Gopher freshman to land a spot on the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team since Amir Coffey in 2017.
BALANCED SCORING
• Minnesota has had good point production when moving the ball. The Gophers had five individuals in double-figure scoring against UTSA, New Orleans, Nebraska, Ball State, Maine, at Michigan, at Penn State, Northwestern, at Iowa, Rutgers, at Illinois, vs. Michigan State (Big Ten Tourney) and at Butler. Minnesota has also had four individuals in double-digit scoring this year (vs. UAPB, FGCU, IUPUI, Maryland, Penn State and Indiana State). When the Gophers have four or more players score double-digits, they are 17-4.
P FOX OFF THE BENCH
• Parker Fox came to the University of Minnesota after three years at Northern State in 2021-22. However, back-to-back season-ending knee injuries sidelined him for both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In 2023-24, Fox became Minnesota's sixth man and played in all 34 games, just one of two to accomplish that feat this season. He averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds and has 27 blocks and 18 steals in 14 minutes played. Fox has scored double-digit points in seven games this year and earned a start against Penn State (3/2/24) on senior night.
DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
• The Golden Gophers gained experience from the 2022-23 season to 2023-24. The average age for the Gophers this past season was 21.09, compared to last year's 20.38.
• Minnesota had four returning players that saw over 20 minutes per game, and added Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr., who each averaged over 29 minutes per game. Both were starters for their respective teams at Howard and Pepperdine.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Minnesota's Kris Keinys was the first Gopher player since Paul J. Sutton in 1944 to ever wear the No. 8. Since the 1958-59 season, the NCAA banned basketball athletes from wearing numbers 6-9 for officials to regulate foul calls to the scorers table. New this year, the NCAA now allows any athlete to wear numbers ranging from 0-99.
• Cam Christie is one of the youngest players in Division I men's basketball. In July, Christie turned 18, marking him the seventh youngest in the sport.
GOPHERS IN THE CLASSROOM
• Minnesota continues to improve in the classroom as well. Just this past fall, Minnesota recorded a program-best 3.37 a team cumulative grade point average and a fall semester 3.29 GPA. This bettered a previous program record of 3.36 set in the spring of 2023. In the fall of 2022, Minnesota held a 3.23 GPA.
• Minnesota also had a program-best eight individuals named to the 2024 Academic All-Big Ten team: Braeden Carrington, Dawson Garcia, Isaiah Ihnen, Parker Fox, Pharrel Payne, Joshua Ola-Joseph, Jackson Purcell and Will Ramberg.
• In a two-year total under head coach Ben Johnson, Minnesota has had 12 individuals earn either a master's or bachelor's degree.
HEAD COACH TIDBITS
• Head coach Ben Johnson is not only a graduate of Minnesota, he is also coaching in his hometown. Growing up in Minneapolis, Coach Johnson was also a standout at DeLaSalle High School here in Minneapolis.
• Johnson, 43, is now the second-youngest head coach in the Big Ten. Ohio State's Jake Diebler is 37, while Kevin Willard at Maryland is the third-youngest at 48.
• Johnson is the first Gopher alum to coach the program since George Hanson in 1970-71.
• Johnson is one of over 50 Division I head coaches at the helm of his alma mater.
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