University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 8
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Illinois
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Host No. 23 Illinois Saturday Afternoon
2/6/2025 3:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN (Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Shon Morris (analyst)
Tip Time: 5:07 p.m.
Radio: KTLK (1130 AM/103.5 FM) or iHeart App (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
SERIES INFORMATION*
188th Meeting (66-121 all time, 45-47 at home)
Last Game: Feb. 28, 2024 (ILL W, 105-97)
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball program is back at Williams Arena on Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest against No. 23/25 Illinois. The Golden Gophers are looking to snap an Illini seven-game win streak and first win against them since 2019. The Golden Gophers are 66-121 all-time against Illinois, dating back to 1906.
• In a high-scoring affair, Illinois won the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 28, 2024, when the Illini won 105-97. It was the most points in an Illini win against the Gophers, and the most point the Gophers scored in an Illini loss. Dawson Garcia and former Gopher Cam Christie led the Gophers in points that game when they established 29 and 23 points, respectively.
• The Gophers snapped a two-game losing skid in a 69-61 win at Penn State Tuesday night. Dawson Garcia had game-high totals of 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Lu'Cye Patterson and Brennan Rigsby each scored 14 points as Minnesota rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit for the 69-61 win. After a slow start in the first half, Minnesota was 16-of-23 (.696) field goals, including 4-of-7 (.571) three-pointers, and finished 26-of-49 (.531) from the field. Penn State was held to the season's second-lowest scoring output (52 vs Illinois).
• Garcia entered the Penn State game with a streak of seven straight 20-point games, and he narrowly missed extending it to eight. He recorded his sixth double-double by grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds. Rigsby, who had his first points since Jan. 10, came off the bench to go 5-of-5, including 2-of-2 from long-range and 2-of-2 at the line. Rigsby becomes the third Gopher since 2011-12 to have a line of at least 5-of-5 on field goals, 2-of-2 on threes, and 2-of-2 on free throws in the game.
• Minnesota had 10 players see time in the Penn State win, seven of which recorded points. While Garcia, Patterson, and Rigsby led the Gophers, also adding points were Mike Mitchell Jr. (9), Parker Fox (6), Isaac Asuma (5), and Femi Odukale (2).
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
• No. 23 Illinois played at Rutgers Wednesday night and fell 82-73 to drop to 15-8 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten. Before their loss at Rutgers, Illinois defeated Ohio State (87-79) and lost an overtime game at Nebraska (80-74).
• Illinois has four averaging double digits, led by freshman Kasparas Jakucionis. He averages 15.2 points, has a team-best 111 assists and 22 steals. Tomislav Ivisic ranks second on the team, averaging 12.8 points and a team-best 8.5 rebounds despite missing three games due to mono. Kylan Boswell averages 11.9 points and a team-best 30 steals, while Will Riley averages 11.3 points.
• As a team, Illinois averages 84.7 points and allows 70.9. The Illini are shooting 44.3 from the field and 30.7 from beyond the arc, including a Big Ten most of 710 3-point attempts. Illinois is the nation's best rebounding team, averaging 45.3 per game. The Illini have 336 assists, 99 blocks, and 108 steals. They have committed 278 turnovers.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota travels to California for its west coast swing. First up is Southern California on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. CT and televised on Big Ten Network.
• Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM as well as on the iHeart Media app.
TV: BTN (Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Shon Morris (analyst)
Tip Time: 5:07 p.m.
Radio: KTLK (1130 AM/103.5 FM) or iHeart App (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
SERIES INFORMATION*
188th Meeting (66-121 all time, 45-47 at home)
Last Game: Feb. 28, 2024 (ILL W, 105-97)
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball program is back at Williams Arena on Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest against No. 23/25 Illinois. The Golden Gophers are looking to snap an Illini seven-game win streak and first win against them since 2019. The Golden Gophers are 66-121 all-time against Illinois, dating back to 1906.
• In a high-scoring affair, Illinois won the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 28, 2024, when the Illini won 105-97. It was the most points in an Illini win against the Gophers, and the most point the Gophers scored in an Illini loss. Dawson Garcia and former Gopher Cam Christie led the Gophers in points that game when they established 29 and 23 points, respectively.
• The Gophers snapped a two-game losing skid in a 69-61 win at Penn State Tuesday night. Dawson Garcia had game-high totals of 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Lu'Cye Patterson and Brennan Rigsby each scored 14 points as Minnesota rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit for the 69-61 win. After a slow start in the first half, Minnesota was 16-of-23 (.696) field goals, including 4-of-7 (.571) three-pointers, and finished 26-of-49 (.531) from the field. Penn State was held to the season's second-lowest scoring output (52 vs Illinois).
• Garcia entered the Penn State game with a streak of seven straight 20-point games, and he narrowly missed extending it to eight. He recorded his sixth double-double by grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds. Rigsby, who had his first points since Jan. 10, came off the bench to go 5-of-5, including 2-of-2 from long-range and 2-of-2 at the line. Rigsby becomes the third Gopher since 2011-12 to have a line of at least 5-of-5 on field goals, 2-of-2 on threes, and 2-of-2 on free throws in the game.
• Minnesota had 10 players see time in the Penn State win, seven of which recorded points. While Garcia, Patterson, and Rigsby led the Gophers, also adding points were Mike Mitchell Jr. (9), Parker Fox (6), Isaac Asuma (5), and Femi Odukale (2).
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
• No. 23 Illinois played at Rutgers Wednesday night and fell 82-73 to drop to 15-8 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten. Before their loss at Rutgers, Illinois defeated Ohio State (87-79) and lost an overtime game at Nebraska (80-74).
• Illinois has four averaging double digits, led by freshman Kasparas Jakucionis. He averages 15.2 points, has a team-best 111 assists and 22 steals. Tomislav Ivisic ranks second on the team, averaging 12.8 points and a team-best 8.5 rebounds despite missing three games due to mono. Kylan Boswell averages 11.9 points and a team-best 30 steals, while Will Riley averages 11.3 points.
• As a team, Illinois averages 84.7 points and allows 70.9. The Illini are shooting 44.3 from the field and 30.7 from beyond the arc, including a Big Ten most of 710 3-point attempts. Illinois is the nation's best rebounding team, averaging 45.3 per game. The Illini have 336 assists, 99 blocks, and 108 steals. They have committed 278 turnovers.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota travels to California for its west coast swing. First up is Southern California on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. CT and televised on Big Ten Network.
• Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM as well as on the iHeart Media app.
Highlights: Gophers 74, Ohio State 82
Tuesday, January 20
Highlights: Gophers 67, Illinois 77
Saturday, January 17
Fan Sinks Half Court Shot
Friday, January 16
Highlights: Gophers 75, Wisconsin 78
Tuesday, January 13