Gophers men’s basketball vs. Oral Roberts: Broadcast info, injury report, key players

The Gophers are opening their fourth season under coach Ben Johnson, and the first test is an Oral Roberts team that fell back last season after going 18-0 in the Summit League in 2022-23.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
November 5, 2024 at 9:10PM
Gophers forward Dawson Garcia, middle, battled against Bemidji State during an exhibition game Oct. 19 at Williams Arena. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Oral Roberts at Gophers

7 p.m. Wednesday at Williams Arena

TV; radio: Streamed on BTN+; 100.3 FM

Opening bell: The Gophers return starters Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell Jr. from a 19-15 team that finished tied for ninth in the Big Ten and advanced to the second round of the NIT last season. Garcia (17.6 points per game) is the Big Ten’s leading scorer returning and led the team in rebounding (6.7). ... Oral Roberts experienced a drop-off from its 18-0 Summit League championship team from 2022-23. The Golden Eagles finished 12-19 last season, but they return Summit preseason player of the year Isaac McBride, who averaged 19.8 points and 3.1 assists and shot 39.6% from three-point range. ... The Gophers are 4-0 in the all-time series against Oral Roberts, including a 77-63 victory at Williams Arena in the last meeting in 2017.

Injuries: Gophers senior guard Tyler Cochran is not expected to return until December while recovering from foot surgery. Potential starting center Frank Mitchell will also miss the opener, recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in an exhibition game last week against Hamline.

Forecast: This will be a home-heavy early schedule this season with 10 of the 12 nonconference games at the Barn, including six straight to open the regular season. The Gophers’ only non-league games away from home will be Nov. 28-29 in the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Fla., over Thanksgiving.

about the writer

about the writer

Marcus Fuller

Reporter

Marcus Fuller covers Gophers men's basketball and college basketball for the Star Tribune. He has 13 years of experience covering Twin Cities college and professional sports. 

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Projected Gophers starting center Frank Mitchell will miss Wednesday night's opener against Oral Roberts because of a shoulder injury and will be reevaluated next week.

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