The Gophers men's basketball team's frontcourt has been in flux — and that won't change with leading scorer and rebounder Dawson Garcia out for the third straight game Wednesday night at Rutgers.
Gophers men's basketball frontcourt without standout Dawson Garcia again Wednesday at Rutgers
Garcia's out for the third straight game with a foot injury. The Gophers have used different players in the frontcourt rotation in his absence.
February 1, 2023 at 11:45PM
Two different starters have replaced Garcia since he was sidelined with a bone bruise injury late in the Jan. 22 loss at Michigan. The 6-11 North Carolina transfer averaged 14.9 points and 6.3 rebounds while starting the first 18 games before sitting out for the first time in the Jan. 25 loss against Indiana. His team was down to seven scholarship players in the 61-57 loss.
Garcia has been able to participate in practice this week, but he's still not fully comfortable moving around on his injured right foot. "It's close, but I'm not fully sold on it," Gophers coach Ben Johnson said about Garcia returning to play.
Sophomore 7-footer Treyton Thompson started in place of Garcia against the Hoosiers and finished with eight points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 37 minutes. Freshman Pharrel Payne, who returned from concussion protocol, picked up his first career start in Saturday's 81-61 loss at Northwestern, but he finished with just three points, three rebounds and four turnovers in 17 minutes.
"I don't care who it is, guys have to be ready to go," Johnson said. "I don't think guys on our team get really caught up in who is starting and who is not starting. We don't make a big deal of that to be honest. Guys know, whether you start or check in [off the bench] there are the same expectations. You've got to be ready to roll."
Thompson will wear a protective mask Wednesday after suffering a broken nose against Northwestern, but he will be available. Junior forward Jamison Battle, who scored 20 points against the Wildcats, injured his back earlier last month, but he finally appears healthy.
In the first seven games this season, Thompson started with Garcia, but that was before freshman Joshua Ola-Joseph emerged as a smaller but stronger and more athletic option. Former walk-on Will Ramberg also started four games when Battle was out to start the season after foot surgery.
The Gophers struggled against some of the Big Ten's top big men even at full strength during their five-game losing streak. The Scarlet Knights have their own frontcourt standout that could be a formidable force with 6-11 junior Clifford Omoruyi, who leads the team with 13.4 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game.
GAME INFO
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT, Wednesday. Where: Jersey Mike's Arena. Line: Gophers 15-point underdogs. Series: Gophers leads 9-6, including 68-65 win at Williams Arena on Jan. 22, 2022. TV: Big Ten Network. Online/Live video: BTN-Plus. Radio: 100.3-FM
PROJECTED STARTERS
MINNESOTA GOPHERS (7-13, 1-9 BIG TEN)
Pos.-Player Ht. Yr. PPG
G – Ta'Lon Cooper 6-4 195 Jr. 10.
G – Taurus Samuels 6-1 195 Sr. 3.0
F – Jamison Battle 6-7 220 Jr. 13.1
F – Joshua Ola-Joseph 6-7 215 Fr. 6.9
F – Pharrel Payne 6-9 255 Fr. 7.0
Key reserves – Treyton Thompson, C, 7-0, So., 2.1 ppg; Jaden Henley, G, 6-7, Fr., 3.9 ppg; Will Ramberg, F, 6-5, Jr., 2.2 ppg.
Coach: Ben Johnson 20-30 (2nd season)
Notable: Jamison Battle, who missed the first four games this season after foot surgery, played a few games last month with a lingering back injury suffered in Jan. 16 loss vs. Illinois. Battle, who averages nearly 13 points per game, seems to be back to his old self with consecutive 20-point performances for the first time this season in losses to Indiana and Northwestern … The Gophers announced earlier this season that 6-8 freshman forward Kadyn Betts will redshirt the 2022-23 season after reclassifying and joining the team early this year. Betts will be part of a highly touted 2023 class that was signed Nov. 9, including five-star center Dennis Evans III and four-star guard Cameron Christie. Christie and Evans were named McDonald's All-American nominees last week. … The Gophers have lost four of the last five games vs. Rutgers. They also haven't won against the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, N.J. since a 72-63 victory on Feb. 11, 2017.
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (14-7, 6-4)
Pos.-Player Ht. Yr. PPG
G – Paul Mulcahy 6-7 213 Sr. 9.1
G – Caleb McConnell 6-7 200 Sr. 9.6
G – Cam Spencer 6-4 Jr. 207 12.9
F – Mawot Mag 6-8 217 Jr. 7.8
F – Clifford Omoruyi 6-11 240 Jr. 13.4
Reserves – Aundre Hyatt, F, 6-11, Sr., 9.7 ppg; Derek Simpson, G, 6-3, Fr., 6.0 ppg; Antwone Woolfolk, F, 6-9, Fr., 3.0 ppg.
Coach: Steve Pikiell 309-272 (18th season)
Notable: The Scarlet Knights reached the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1975-76 last year, but they're not slowing down anytime soon. Nobody in the country so far has a win on their resume like Rutgers' upset against No. 1 Purdue. Steve Pikiell's program is also on pace for its best conference finish since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The Scarlet Knights, who finished fourth in the Big Ten in 2020-21, are currently tied for third in the standings with Northwestern.
Fuller's score prediction: Rutgers 66, Gophers 51.
Big Ten football picks: No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana to play one for playoff position
Unless it’s a blowout, Cinderella (aka the Hoosiers) stands a chance to make the College Football Playoff field even with a loss.
