Minnesota

IU Basketball game day essentials: Indiana hosts Minnesota

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2024

Press Room

Game Day Essentials:

Minnesota (12-3, 3-1) vs. Indiana (11-5, 3-2)

Tip Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern, Friday
Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222), Bloomington, Ind.
Television: FS1 (Lisa Byington and Stephen Bardo)
Stream: Fox Sports
IU Radio Network: IU Radio Network
Point Spread: Indiana is a 3.5 point favorite
KenPom Projected Score: No. 93 Indiana 74 – No. 78 Minnesota 72
Series: Indiana leads, 107-69.

Minnesota’s Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is in his third year as head coach of Minnesota’s men’s basketball. Johnson was officially named the program’s 18th head coach in school history on March 22nd, 2021.

Johnson’s current stint at Minnesota is his first head coaching job in his career. Since joining the Golden Gophers, Johnson as accumulated a record of 34-41 (9-33). Johnson is nearing his career-best for wins in a season, needing just one more to tie his win total of his first season in 2021-22.

As an assistant, Johnson was known for his work in the recruitment process. As an assistant under Richard Pitino from 2013 to 2018, Johnson was involved in the recruiting of Amir Coffey, Daniel Oturu, and Jordan Murphy. The following three years at Xavier, Johnson would be involved in the recruitment of current standout Zach Freemantle.

Johnson is no stranger to Minnesota or the Big Ten due to his playing days. Johnson spent two seasons at Northwestern before deciding to transfer back to Minnesota to finish out his career. Johnson also had a very impressive high school career, as he was a two-time all-state selection at DeLaSalle High School and a two-time state champion.

Minnesota’s results and roster

DATE	OPPONENT	LOCATION	TIME/RESULT
11/6/2023	Bethune-Cookman	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 80-60
11/10/2023	UTSA	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 102-76
11/16/2023	Missouri	Minneapolis, Minn.	L 68-70
11/18/2023	South Carolina – Upstate	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 67-53
11/21/2023	Arkansas – Pine Bluff	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 86-67
11/26/2023	at San Francisco	San Francisco, CA.	L 58-76
11/30/2023	New Orleans	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 97-64
12/3/2023	at Ohio State	Columbus, OH	L 74-84
12/6/2023	Nebraska	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 76-65
12/9/2023	FGCU	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 77-57
12/12/2023	IUPUI	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 101-65
12/21/2023	Ball State	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 80-63
12/29/2023	Maine	Minneapolis, Minn.	W 80-62
1/4/2024	at Michigan	Ann Arbor, Mich.	W 73-71
1/7/2024	Maryland	Iowa City, IA	W 75-72

Minnesota’s game notes (via Minnesota Athletics)

GARCIA NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN

Dawson Garcia was selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. It is Garcia’s first preseason honor of his career.

Last season with the Golden Gophers, Garcia led Minnesota in both scoring and rebounding when he averaged 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. His 15.3 ppg ranked 10th in league scoring, while his 6.7 rbp was 13th overall.

Garcia started in all 26 games he played, as he missed five due to a bone bruise injury from Jan. 22-Feb. 18. In those 26 games played, Garcia was Minnesota’s top scorer and rebounder in 10 contests. Garcia scored double-digit scoring in 22 of 26 games last year, including a career-high 28 points at Ohio State on Jan. 12, 2023. He also established a career-high in rebounds this season when he collected 15 against Nebraska on Jan. 7, 2023.

GARCIA NAMED KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR CENTER OF THE YEAR PRESEASON FINALIST

In addition to Preseason All-Big Ten, Dawson Garcia was named to the Preseason Top 20 Finalists for Basketball Hall of Fame’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Garcia is one of four that hail from the Big Ten. Among that list is Purdue’s Zach Edey, Rutgers’ Clifford Omoruyi and Indiana’s Kel’el Ware.

CARRINGTON BACK WITH PROGRAM

The Michigan game marked the return of sophomore guard Braeden Carrington to the Gopher squad. Carrington took a leave of absence to focus on his mental health and missed three games with the team (IUPUI, Ball State and Maine). Carrington rejoined the team on Dec. 27 and returned to the court at Michigan for the first time since Dec. 11.

GOPHER RETURNERS

Minnesota returns seven individuals from last year’s team, including four who saw significant time during the 2022-23 season. Braeden Carrington, Dawson Garcia, Joshua Ola-Joseph and Pharrel Payne all saw over 20 minutes per game. The Gophers also return Will Ramberg and Jackson Purcell from the bench this season. In total, Minnesota returns 45.1 percent of minutes played and 53 percent of returning scoring from last year’s team. This ranks ninth in the Big Ten in returning minutes played and eighth in returning scoring from a year ago.

In addition, Minnesota returns Parker Fox and Isaiah Ihnen from back-to-back season ending knee injuries. It is Fox’s first appearance in a Gopher uniform and Ihnen’s first appearance since the 2020-21 season.

GOPHER NEWCOMERS

Minnesota welcomes three of its four backcourt in this newcomer class with the transfer additions of Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr., as well as freshman Cam Christie. Hawkins and Mitchell Jr. were starters at Howard and Pepperdine, while Christie was one of the top prospects out of Illinois last season.

Kadyn Betts skipped his senior year of high school (2022) and reclassified last season to be a redshirt freshman with the Gophers. Being in the Gopher gym for the season, allowed the 18-year-old to develop in the college game.

The Gophers also added Washington State transfer Jack Wilson. Standing at 6-11, 285 pounds, Wilson played football at WSU last season before joining the basketball program as a walk on. Prior to his collegiate football career, Wilson played college basketball at both Idaho and Oregon State.

Also joining the Gophers are freshmen Kris Keinys and Erick Reader. Keinys, from Klaiedia, Lithuania, joined the Gophers in August after signing this summer.

Minnesota’s KenPom notable numbers:

(out of 362 teams)

Tempo – No. 214 (Offense No. 231 / Defense No. 120)

Offensive Efficiency – No. 77

Minnesota holds an effective field goal percentage of 56 percent (No. 21). They shoot the ball fairly well at 36.1 percent from three (No. 67), but they’re even better from two at 57.3 percent (No. 14).
The Gophers share the ball very well, as they’re assist rate is one of the best in the country at 69.1 percent (No. 2).
Minnesota struggles with converting from the stripe. They shoot 68.8 percent as a team (No. 269) and free throws only account for 16.7 percent of their point totals (No. 275).
The Gophers are also fairly solid on the offensive glass, grabbing 34.4 percent of their misses (No. 45).

Defensive Efficiency – No. 91

The Golden Gophers are holding teams to a 46.2 effective field goal percentage (No. 42). Opponents are shooting 33 percent from three (No. 157) and 44.9 percent from inside (No. 33).
Minnesota’s defense tries to force opponents to go inside. Teams are shooting threes at a 29.4 percent rate (3pA/FGA) against their defense (No. 15). And when they go inside, teams are greeted with a 12 percent block rate (No. 53).
Minnesota does a good job of keeping teams off the free throw line, with opposing FTA/FGA at just 26.6 percent (No. 47)

Extras

Minnesota has played one of the easier schedules to play in D1 college basketball (No. 347).
KenPom projects Minnesota to finish 18-13, with a 9-11 record in conference.
Minnesota’s Elijah Hawkins has a 40.5 assist rate, which ranks 6th of all D1 players.

For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.

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Minnesota

Minnesota’s oldest operating theater is in danger of closing it’s doors

Published

10 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota’s oldest operating theater is in danger of closing it’s doors

One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.

If you’re heading south on Highway 15, Fairmont, Minnesota, is your last gasp before you hit Iowa. It officially became a city in the late 1800s — and not long after, the Opera House was born.

“We are the oldest, operating, continuously operating theater in the state of Minnesota,” said Jane Reiman, a lifelong resident of Fairmont.

When the doors opened in 1901, operas, musicals, plays, and concerts—drew people from across southern Minnesota, and even from Iowa and South Dakota.

“We have done a lot of entertainment over the years.”

The rock band America once performed at the opera house, as did folk legend Arlo Guthrie. In the 1990’s, the opera house even got a visit from Paul McCartney. His family bought seats.

“They came here and sat in the chairs, and now we have plaques on the chairs to memorialize them.”

In 3rd grade Blake Potthoff went to his first performance at the theater, and later, he acted on stage.

“You’ve grown up with this opera house?” asked WCCO’s John Lauritsen.

“Yeah. Absolutely, it’s a part of me even before I became executive director,” said Potthoff.

But like everything else, the theater has aged over time, to the point that it’s going to cost more than $4 million just to keep it running. If they can’t raise the money, the Opera House may have already seen its final curtain call.

“The building is on life support, and we are doing everything we can to make sure we get back to surviving and thriving,” said Potthoff.

Scaffolding is there, just to reinforce the roof; that’s the biggest expense. But the Fairmont community is starting to respond. Grants and donations have raised $1.5 million so far—still short, but a start.

When renovations are complete, they’d also like to maintain the old character of this theater. That includes this hand-cast plaster, which is also 125-years-old.

The chandeliers were installed a decade before the Titanic sank, and they’re hoping to keep those too. For Blake and others, the show has to go on. For the people in the seats, the actors on stage, and for the livelihood of a small town.

“There’s reason to save this building. That $4 million isn’t impossible. Only improbable. And I truly believe it too. I have a history of performing here. And I have two young kids. I want them to perform on stage like I had the opportunity,” said Potthoff.

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Minnesota

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

Published

22 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) called on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to resign during the House Oversight Committee’s hearing on the widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Higgins began his line of questioning by referring to Ellison’s open statement.

“Under Minnesota law, my Office has limited jurisdiction over criminal matters. The only kind of criminal case we can prosecute on our own is Medicaid fraud; any other criminal case must be specifically referred to us by county attorneys or the Governor,” Ellison said in his opening statement.

Higgins stated Ellison said that his office only had the authority to investigate Medicaid fraud, to which Ellison nodded his head in response.

But, Higgins pointed out that was incorrect.

“Under your own law, you have authority if the county district attorney asks you to get involved, or if the governor asks you to get involved, then your office can take the lead on any criminal investigation,” Ellison said.

Ellison remained speechless after Higgins asked him if that his statement was correct.

“So you have the authority to lead your state’s effort to respond to this massive fraud at the state level, from within the health care realm, where government money has been stolen at very, very high levels, unprecedented levels, in your state,” Higgins said.

“Are you leading that effort for the state of Minnesota?”

Ellison replied but his response was not picked up by the microphone.

“You’re addressing it,” Higgins asked. “Are you leading it?”

Ellison responded, “we are leading the effort to prosecute Medicaid fraud.”

“I’m not talking about Medicaid fraud,” Higgins yelled.

“Don’t hide behind that. You have the authority to prosecute anything criminally that the governor asked you to. And this thing is big.”

“I’m giving you an opportunity, sir. Are you leading the criminal investigative effort into this massive fraud across the board in the healthcare spectrum, in the state of Minnesota or not,” Higgins continued.

Ellison replied, saying his office was “following the law,” prompting Higgins to interject.

“You are not leading,” Higgins responded. “You’re not leading. I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the Attorney General of Minnesota should resign.”

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Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Maddy Kimbrel joined an illustrious group of players as Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey winner. The award is annually given to the best high school women’s hockey player in the state of Minnesota.

The Holy Family forward scored 37 goals and 57 points this season in only 26 games for her school.

She was also an assistant captain for Team USA at the 2026 U-18 World Championships winning gold. It was her second time representing USA at the event.

Kimbrel spent four seasons playing for Orono High before moving to Holy Family this season.

The 17-year-old Mound, Minnesota product is headed to the University of Wisconsin next season.

The other four finalists for the award were Alaina Gentz (Centennial/SLP), Jasmine Hovda (Roseau), Lorelai Nelson (Edina), and Mia Miller (Northfield).

Past winners of the award include current PWHL players such as Taylor Heise (2018), Peyton Hemp (2021), Olivia Mobley (2020), Grace Zumwinkle (2017), and Hannah Brandt (2012), and 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Krissy Wendell-Pohl.

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