MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS NEWS

Elijah Hawkins - Flirts with triple-double in rout Hawkins amassed eight points (1-6 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists, one block and two steals across 29 minutes during Friday's 102-76 win over UTSA.

Impact Hawkins totaled eight points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a dominant victory over UTSA. The 5-foot-11 junior, who joined the program this offseason after spending the last two seasons with Howard, has slotted in almost seamlessly into his new role with the Golden Gophers. Hawkins has recorded seven turnovers across Minnesota's two games this season, and he will look to reign in the mistakes against Missouri on Thursday.

NOVEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Isaiah Ihnen - Nearly perfect in win Ihnen ended Friday's 102-76 win over UTSA with 20 points (7-7 FG, 5-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and six rebounds across 19 minutes.

Impact Ihnen was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, finishing with 20 points and six rebounds across just 19 minutes of action Friday. The 6-foot-9 junior, who has been eased into the fold after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2022, has been stellar in his limited opportunities. It remains to be seen how involved Ihnen will be with the likes of Pharrel Payne and Dawson Garcia in the Golden Gophers' frontcourt.

NOVEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pharrel Payne - Unavailable Friday Payne (undisclosed) is not dressed ahead of Friday's matchup with UTSA, Marcus Fuller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Payne, who was designated as questionable on Minnesota's availability report, will not appear Friday. The 6-foot-9 sophomore played just 16 minutes in the Golden Gophers' season opener, posting five points in the contest, but he is expected to lead Minnesota's frontcourt this season. In his absence, Dawson Garcia and Jack Wilson are likely to see additional opportunities.

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pharrel Payne - Iffy against UTSA Payne is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus UTSA.

Impact Payne started and played 16 minutes in Minnesota's opener but could miss Friday's contest due to an undisclosed reason. If Payne is ruled out, Dawson Garcia and Jack Wilson are candidates to receive extended minutes.

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cam Christie - Good to go Friday Christie (illness) will be available for Friday's game against Texas-San Antonio, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact The freshman guard sat out for Monday's season opener due to an illness, but Christie will be available to make his collegiate debut Friday.

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Minnesota hosts UTSA following Garcia's 23-point game

Minnesota hosts the UTSA Roadrunners after Dawson Garcia scored 23 points in Minnesota's 80-60 victory against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats

NOVEMBER 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gophers men's basketball slated to sign Minnesota's Isaac Asuma, Grayson Grove Cherry, Minn., guard Isaac Asuma and Alexandria forward Grayson Grove will officially join the Gophers men's basketball 2024 recruiting clas...

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Pharrel Payne - Plays 16 minutes during start Payne logged five points (2-3 FG, 1-4 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one block across his 16 minutes during the Gophers' win Monday against Bethune-Cookman.

Impact As expected, Payne participated in the 2023-24 Gophers' first game. Now, the question is how they will continue to use him. Josh Ola-Joseph and Dawson Garcia shifted down a starting position to make room for Payne in their frontcourt. The team needs a replacement for Jamison Battle, possibly settling their needed solution with a bigger player.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dawson Garcia - Unstoppable in opener Garcia chipped in 23 points (4-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 14-16 FT), 14 rebounds, six assists and one block in 35 minutes during Monday's 80-60 win over Bethune-Cookman.

Impact Garcia was a one-man army during Monday's win over Bethune-Cookman, finishing with 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Although the 6-foot-11 junior saw most of his scoring output come at the charity stripe Monday, he has the ability to score at will regardless of range, notching 15.3 points on 45.7/34.5/71.4 shooting splits in 2022. The Golden Gophers retained one of the best centers in the conference through the offseason and he produced a statement performance in a dominating win.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dawson Garcia goes for 23 and 14, Minnesota toasts Bethune-Cookman Nov 6, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) drives around Bethune-Cookman Wildcats guard Da...

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Dawson Garcia's big double-double leads fast-starting Minnesota's 80-60 win over Bethune-Cookman

Dawson Garcia had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Minnesota rode a 46-point first half to a season-opening 80-60 victory over Bethune-Cookman

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Can a retooled Gophers men's basketball backcourt speed up the pace in season opener? Health issues are among three things to watch for the Gophers entering the season opener vs. Bethune-Cookman on Monday at Williams Arena.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Cam Christie - Out vs. Bethune-Cookman Christie (illness) is out for Minnesota's game Monday against Bethune-Cookman, according to

Impact Christie's availability status was downgraded from questionable to out. After hosting Bethune-Cookman, the Gophers will play against UTSA on Friday.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pharrel Payne - Expected to go in opener Payne (undisclosed) is expected to play in Monday's game against Bethune-Cookman, Marcus Fuller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Payne did not play in the exhibition game last week due to an undisclosed issue. It appear he will be there for the Gophers regular season opener, however. Payne is coming off a season that saw him average 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cam Christie - Questionable going into Monday Christie (illness) is questionable for Minnesota's game Monday against Bethune-Cookman.

Impact Currently, Minnesota's team is still unsure if Christie will be available Monday. With the Bethune-Cookman matchup inching closer, he is expected to be a game-time decision now or at least sooner than later.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Elijah Hawkins - Stellar in exhibition Hawkins finished with 17 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine assists and five rebounds during Thursday's 97-73 win over Macalester College.

Impact Hawkins introduced himself to the Minnesota home crowd in a big way, nearing a double-double in his first appearance at Williams Arena. The 5-foot-11 junior started in 29 games with Howard in 2022, averaging 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, six assists and 1.7 steals on 29.6 minutes per game. Hawkins will form a newly acquired backcourt duo with Mike Mitchell (Pepperdine) this season.

NOVEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gophers' potential standouts Pharrel Payne and Cam Christie out for Thursday's exhibition game Gophers' Pharrel Payne and Cam Christie are sidelined for first game in front of fans in Thursday's exhibition vs. Macalester.

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Macalester's basketball rebuild under Abe Woldeslassie gets historic with Gophers exhibition Macalester basketball coach Abe Woldeslassie, a former Division I assistant, enters Thursday’s exhibition with the Gophers with MIAC title a...

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

More problems with Bally Sports North; Dick Bremer departure and Gophers basketball After praising the Wolves for beating Denver, host Michael Rand notes he and others couldn't watch because of Bally Sports Plus app problems...

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Gophers basketball starting lineup still in question for Ben Johnson entering exhibition Gophers coach Ben Johnson said he's unsure who will start entering the season, using Thursday's exhibition vs. Macalester as a barometer.

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

College basketball: Minnesota is in good health with a full roster The first two years for Ben Johnson as head coach at his alma mater Minnesota were a struggle in many ways, with myriad injuries that made p...

OCTOBER 31, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Five things to know about Minnesota hoops legend Jim Petersen Jim Petersen, affectionately known as "Jim Pete," has lived a full basketball life from St. Louis Park to the Gophers to the NBA and WNBA.

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Germany to Gophers: Isaiah Ihnen grows with basketball program through two injuries Gophers basketball forward Isaiah Ihnen is the longest tenured player on the roster. The German native has gone through two knee injuries an...

OCTOBER 18, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Gophers see big things coming for duo of Dawson Garcia, Pharrel Payne Dawson Garcia and Pharrel Payne are two reasons the Gophers men’s basketball team thinks it can defy expectations this season.

OCTOBER 10, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Transfer portal, NIL money reshape Gophers men's basketball allegiances Jamison Battle's transfer from the Gophers to Ohio State led to a telling image Tuesday, when Battle returned to Minneapolis as a Buckeye fo...

OCTOBER 10, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM