It's a light week ahead for the Minnesota Golden Gophers as they continue their start to the 2011-12 college basketball season. The Gophers have a pair of home games this week at The barn, starting Monday night with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
South Dakota State comes in as a mid-tier program in the Summit League, and they are still trying to find their place after moving up to Division I. tonight's game starts at 7pm and will be carried online by Gopher Sports All-Access.
Later on this week Minnesota hosts another tune-up game against the Fairfield Stags. That game, on Thursday night at 7pm local time, will be the Big Ten Network debut for the Golden Gophers. Minensota should have an easier time this week than int heir season opener against Bucknell. The Bison were an NCAA Tournament team in 2011, but South Dakota State has never made the NCAAs and Fairfield is on a long drought.