SB Nation Minnesota - Minnesota Beats Fairfield 67-57, Goes 3-0 To Starthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-11-17T20:21:13-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23265472011-11-17T20:21:13-06:002011-11-17T20:21:13-06:00Minnesota Vs. Fairfield Final Score: Golden Gophers Go 3-0, Win 67-57
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> opened as signficant favorites over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/fairfield-stags">Fairfield Stags</a> for Thursday night's college basketball matchup, and they would go on to prevail. Minnesota won 67-57 on the back of a strong second half performance and strong play from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26076/trevor-mbakwe">Trevor Mbakwe</a>. He had 20 points with 10 rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block on the night. He did only go 2-for-7, but was given a whopping 18 free throw attempts - he sunk 16 of them.</p>
<p>At the end of the first half, the score was 29-24 favoring Minnesota, and they'd go on to outscore Fairfield 38-33 in the second half. It was a close game, but not one that Minnesota was ever in danger of losing, for the most part. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52725/desmond-wade">Desmond Wade</a> led the way for the Stags, with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. He went 6-of-8, and missed his only three-point attempt. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52954/ryan-olander">Ryan Olander</a> went 8-for-11 on his free throws.</p>
<p>With the win, the Golden Gophers move to a perfect 3-0 on the season and Fairfield drops to 1-2. The Golden Gophers will next take on Mount St. Mary's next Monday before two tougher games against DePaul and Virginia Tech, which will both be broadcast on ESPN 2. </p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/11/17/2570156/minnesota-vs-fairfield-final-score-golden-gophers-win-67-57James Brady2011-11-17T16:51:21-06:002011-11-17T16:51:21-06:00Minnesota Golden Gophers Vs. Fairfield: Men's Basketball Team Looks To Start 3-0
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> certainly aren't facing the most difficult competition, at least on paper, during the early non-conference schedule. They played Bucknell and South Dakota State to open the season and will now look to begin the season with three straight victories as they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/fairfield-stags">Fairfield Stags</a> on Thursday night.</p>
<p>Fairfield, a team from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, won its season-opener against Quinnipiac before falling to Providence College by eight points on Monday night. Fairfield has just three players on its roster taller than 6-foot-5, meaning they might struggle to match-up against the taller Gophers.</p>
<p>The Gophers have been led by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52352/ralph-sampson-iii">Ralph Sampson III</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26076/trevor-mbakwe">Trevor Mbakwe</a> this season. The two inside players scored 17 and 10 points in Minnesota's victory over the Jackrabbits, using length to their advantage as they combined for 13 rebounds and five blocks. They should be able to do something similar against the shorter Stags as well.</p>
<p>The only player over 6-foot-5 to play meaningful minutes thus far this season for Fairfield is 7-footer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52954/ryan-olander">Ryan Olander</a>. The senior is averaging 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds through two games. The Stags are led by their backcourt players, however, as wings <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25509/rakim-sanders">Rakim Sanders</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123516/maurice-barrow">Maurice Barrow</a> are averaging nearly 38 points per game through the first two games of the season.</p>
<p>Following their game against Fairfield, the Gophers have scheduled one more tune-up game before a pair of match-ups scheduled to be played on national television. Minnesota will play Mount St. Mary's next Monday before games against DePaul and Virginia Tech, both of which will be broadcast on ESPN 2.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/11/17/2569710/minnesota-gophers-vs-fairfield-mens-basketball-2011Scott Schroeder2011-11-14T22:34:05-06:002011-11-14T22:34:05-06:00Minnesota Vs. South Dakota State: Golden Gophers Win 71-55
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> faced a legitimate challenge on Monday night but <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaab/boxscore?gid=201111140363">prevailed 71-55</a> against the visiting South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The win moved coach Tubby Smith and Minnesota to 2-0 on the season.</p>
<p>The game was a bit closer than the final score line would indicate however, as the Golden Gophers trailed 44-39 in the second half. But Minnesota went on an 18-1 second half run to pull away.</p>
<p>Senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26076/trevor-mbakwe">Trevor Mbakwe</a> paced Minnesota with 17 points on 6-7 shooting along with 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52352/ralph-sampson-iii">Ralph Sampson III</a> pitched in with 10 points on 5-7 shooting.</p>
<p>Junior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101126/nate-wolters">Nate Wolters</a> led San Diego State with 20 points and six assists.</p>
<p>Minnesota next plays on Thursday, Nov. 17 against Fairfield and then on Monday, Nov. 21 versus Mount St. Mary’s before taking to the road for the first time this season at DePaul on Thanksgiving Day.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/11/14/2562933/minnesota-vs-south-dakota-state-trevor-mbakwe-tubby-smithAlex Boeder2011-11-14T19:13:03-06:002011-11-14T19:13:03-06:00Minnesota Vs. South Dakota State: Time, Preview And More
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> got off to a good start to the season when they were able to defeat Bucknell last week. Their challenge looks to be quite a bit different on Monday night, however, as they play host to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/south-dakota-st-jackrabbits">South Dakota St. Jackrabbits</a> in a match-up of the Big Ten versus the Summit League at 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Tubby Smith's team will likely rely on the inside tandem of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52352/ralph-sampson-iii">Ralph Sampson III</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26076/trevor-mbakwe">Trevor Mbakwe</a>, but that should come as no surprise as it's been the gameplan since last season. Mbakwe led the team with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the opening-night victory while Sampson contributed all over the box score with eight points, nine rebounds and six assists.</p>
<p>The Jackrabbits are also 1-0 entering Monday night's game. It seems the <a href="http://www.thedailygopher.com/2011/11/14/2552298/gophers-vs-jackrabbits-rodent-vs-small-mammal-open-thread" target="_blank">Daily Gopher has done a thorough scouting report on them</a>, though, so we will defer to the experts on what to watch for out of South Dakota State:</p>
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<p>SDSU is led by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101126/nate-wolters">Nate Wolters</a> who is a preseason 1st team all-Summit League guy and he is supported by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124328/jordan-dykstra">Jordan Dykstra</a> who was a mid-major freshman All-American team selection a year ago. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101128/tony-fiegen">Tony Fiegen</a> is their tallest starter who contributed 16 points in their first game of the year, but he averaged just 5 points a year ago. The Jackrabbits are <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thesummitleague.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=21767&SPID=1768&DB_OEM_ID=3900&ATCLID=205314393">in the hunt to win the Summit League this season</a> garnering one first place vote in the preseason poll and finishing 3rd.</p>
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<p>For more on this game and all of Golden Gopher athletics, be sure to stay tuned to <a href="http://www.thedailygopher.com/" target="_blank">The Daily Gopher</a>.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/11/14/2562512/minnesota-basketball-south-dakota-state-2011Scott Schroeder2011-11-14T08:26:10-06:002011-11-14T08:26:10-06:00NCAA Basketball Schedule, TV Times And More: Minnesota Has Light Week
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<p>For more on the Golden Gophers, visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.thedailygopher.com">The Daily Gopher.</a></p> <p>It's a light week ahead for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Later on this week Minnesota hosts another tune-up game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/fairfield-stags">Fairfield Stags</a>. 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.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/11/14/2560696/college-basketball-schedule-tv-times-previewTravis Miller