Gopher Coaches Show: Gophers resume Big Ten play against Purdue
Gopher Coaches Show: Dec. 31 with Ben Johnson
We start the 2024-25 edition of the FOX 9 Gopher Coaches Show with University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Ben Johnson. He joins Ahmad Hicks to talk about the team's 8-5 start and getting ready to host Purdue Thursday night. Senior Parker Fox also joins the show.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The holidays are over, and the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team officially starts the grind of the Big Ten schedule on Thursday.
The Gophers (8-5, 0-2) host Purdue at Williams Arena. On Tuesday, Ben Johnson joined FOX 9’s Ahmad Hicks for the Gopher Coaches Show to talk about the season so far. Minnesota had its ups and downs in the early schedule, and opened early Big Ten play with losses to Michigan State and at Indiana.
The non-conference
What we know: The Gophers went 8-3 in non-conference play. They lost to North Texas at home, and Wichita State and Wake Forest at the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando back in November. Brennan Rigsby had what would’ve been a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer rim out in a 68-66 overtime loss to Wichita State
Mike Mitchell is healthy
Why it matters: Point guard Mike Mitchell Jr. is back and looks to be fully healthy after suffering a high ankle sprain during the non-conference that forced him to miss seven games. Mitchell is Minnesota’s second-leading scorer at 13.3 points per game, and had 22 in the first half in their most recent win over Morgan State.
Dawson Garcia is the standard
Why it matters: The Gophers will go as far as Dawson Garcia can take them. He’s the standard on a team with eight new faces, and leads the Gophers with 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Tyler Cochran won’t play against Purdue
What we know: Johnson spoke with reporters on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s game, and didn’t have much of an updated on Tyler Cochran. The Toledo transfer who as the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last season has yet to play a game after having foot surgery before the start of the season. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game last season at Toledo. Johnson said he’s doing individual drills at practice, but has not yet been cleared for contact or 5-on-5 play. He will not play against Purdue.