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

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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