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

New LeBron James Rumors Reveal Wolves Free-Agent Pitch to NBA Icon Amid ‘Ramped Up’ Contract Pursuit

Published

10 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

New LeBron James Rumors Reveal Wolves Free-Agent Pitch to NBA Icon Amid ‘Ramped Up’ Contract Pursuit

The Minnesota Timberwolves have “ramped up” their pursuit of LeBron James in free agency, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

“The Minnesota Timberwolves have ramped up their push for LeBron James, with full belief that they are very much in the hunt to land one of the greatest players in NBA history, league sources told The Athletic.

“The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations, said the Timberwolves have been in contact with James’ representatives with a bold pitch: team up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to go after the kind of championship that could end any discussion about who is the greatest player of all time.”

Minnesota is in the mix based on comments that James’ agent, Klutch Sports Founder and CEO Rich Paul, made on his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman.

Paul discussed potential landing spots for James with Kellerman via a white board. For what it’s worth, five teams were featured in the middle and more prominently than the rest: the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Denver Nuggets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Timberwolves.

Minnesota is a unique team for James to consider. On paper, Minnesota is probably in the second tier of the Western Conference right now behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. James could elevate the Wolves, who have stars on offense (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball) and defense (Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels). He would be a great fit in that lineup.

The Timberwolves’ problem is that they have a lot of competition for James’ services. Paul told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he has spoken with 27 teams about James. But Minnesota is firmly in the mix.

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Hope lost: Minnesota AG closes unit that freed wrongfully convicted prisoners

Published

20 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

Hope lost: Minnesota AG closes unit that freed wrongfully convicted prisoners

Unit that freed wrongfully convicted prisoners shutdown

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minnesota’s top public law office is shutting down a key unit that investigated wrongful convictions, and those who depend on it say the loss is a major blow for justice.

Minnesota Attorney General’s Office ends wrongful conviction reviews

What we know:

The Attorney General’s Office is closing its Conviction Review Unit (CRU), which has been responsible for investigating claims of wrongful conviction.

The move comes after a loss of federal funding that state officials blame on the Trump administration pulling a half-million-dollar grant.

“Current budget constraints do not allow the program’s costs to be absorbed without compromising other core responsibilities,” Attorney General Keith Ellison wrote in a statement to the FOX 9 Investigators. “It is disappointing that our federal government has decided to deprioritize identifying and correcting wrongful convictions.”

Advocates including Marvina Haynes, who fought for her brother Marvin’s release after he spent nearly 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, says the news is devastating.

“That really breaks my heart because people really depend on the CRU,” said Haynes. “This work is very important. Families depend on this lifeline, right? It gave people hope.”

The unit screened more than 1,000 cases while fully investigating and issuing findings in four previously closed convictions, including the 2009 case of Edgar Barrientos-Quintana.

Barrientos-Quintana was freed in 2024 after the CRU’s review uncovered a flawed case and a viable alibi.

Hennepin Co. has its own conviction review team

Local perspective:

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who runs her own conviction integrity unit, said the Attorney General’s team has been a valuable partner.

“Mistakes happen, injustices happen, and we need to be humble enough to accept the fact that they do happen and make things right,” explained Moriarty. “They (the CRU) made a report in Barientos-Quintana that we accepted, and he was exonerated. So yes, they have been good partners to us.”

Moriarty said her office will continue to review cases but worries about the broader impact.

“When we have looked at cases, we have obviously had some exonerations, but we have also had cases that we have not recommended relief,” Moriarty said. “And so that should be assurance to the community that when somebody has asked us to take a look at their conviction, we have taken a deep dive into it and we haven’t found anything that would question the integrity of that conviction.”

Innocence Project also lost grant

Dig deeper:

Moriarty and others are concerned that the loss of both the Attorney General’s unit and a separate $600,000 federal grant to the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) will make it much harder to uncover and correct mistakes in the state’s criminal justice system.

“The idea that people are perhaps in prison, wrongfully convicted, and that they would remain there without anybody reviewing their cases does take away hope, as you said. And that is an injustice,” said Moriarty.

Advocates say the closure leaves a gap for people seeking justice. “Yes, justice will not prevail because now who will be able to actually dive into the case? Even if they weren’t actively working on cases, that unit by itself gave people hope,” lamented Haynes.

Meantime, GNIP officials continue to reach out to donors to help bridge the organization’s ongoing funding gap.

“Conviction review units serve a vital role in ensuring that credible claims of innocence receive careful, independent review and that wrongful convictions are not allowed to stand because of procedural barriers,” GNIP’s Legal Director James Mayer wrote in a statement to the FOX 9 Investigators. “We remain committed to working with prosecutors across Minnesota to identify and correct wrongful convictions, and we hope to see more jurisdictions establish conviction review units in the years ahead.”

Attorney General’s Office budget cuts

What’s next:

Ellison has said he is open to resuming conviction reviews in his office if the necessary funding can be secured. Just last week, however, the office had to cut 17 staff members, including three attorneys, due in part to rising costs.

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Where to watch Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty on July 3: TV channel, start time and streaming

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

The WNBA has returned with a brand new collective bargaining agreement and a league full of loaded rosters as the 2026 season tips off.

A rookie class headlined by Dallas Wings top pick Azzi Fudd, Minnesota’s Olivia Miles and Washington’s Lauren Betts is ready to make a mark in the pros while the defending champion Las Vegas Aces look to keep their dynasty alive with a fourth title in five years.

As the the season gets going under a new media rights deal, it can be tough to figure out which channel each team is playing on every night. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in when the New York Liberty host the Minnesota Lynx on Friday.