Minnesota football scored off each of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns’ two interceptions in the second half, rebounding from a three-point deficit at halftime to win 35-24. The Gophers’ record now sits at 3-2 before they resume Big Ten play.

Three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week running back Darius Taylor was ruled out of Saturday’s homecoming game due to an injury, his first absence since taking a commanding role in the offense. Minnesota elected to operate their backfield by committee with running backs Bryce Williams, Sean Tyler and Zach Evans. Williams and Evans stepped in and shared a team-high 15 carries.

“[Darius Taylor] is already one of the best tailbacks in the country statistically,” said head coach P.J. Fleck during the post-game press conference. “This is where other people have opportunities … When everyone is pretty good, it comes down to who does it just a little bit better and more consistently.”

Minnesota won the opening coin toss and chose to defer to the second half, a choice that would prove to be beneficial later on.

The rushing prowess of Louisiana quarterback Zeon Chriss caused trouble early on for the Gophers’ defense. Entering Saturday, Chriss had averaged 13.4 yards per carry and four rushing TDs on the season. Through designed rushes and improvised scrambles, Chriss quickly led Louisiana down the field. He found receiver Peter LeBlanc in the corner of the endzone for the first touchdown of the day, to give Louisiana a 7-0 lead.

Louisiana kicked it back to Minnesota and returner Quentin Redding could not slow his momentum toward the ball, taking him and the ball out of bounds at the four-yard line. The Gophers contested the opposing defensive front for breathing room, but failed to reach the first down marker at the 14-yard line.

The Gophers started at their 14-yard line in their next offensive possession. Evans received his first carry of the season and took it six yards. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis made a more aggressive push down the field with throws to his receivers Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer. 

The drive ended in a receiving touchdown by Jackson to tie the game 7-7. The touchdown was Jackson’s third of the year and his fourth would come in the final quarter to seal the Gophers’ win.

Gophers defensive lineman Logan Richter set the Ragin Cajuns up with a nice field position early into the following drive. His penalty for illegal helmet contact added 15 yards to running back Dre’lyn Washington’s 17-yard run, moving Louisiana into Minnesota territory. However, the Ragin Cajuns could not get any further movement once inside the red zone and settled for a field goal for a lead of 10-7. 

Wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington was injured on Minnesota’s first offensive drive of the second quarter and was carted off the field. Kaliakmanis found much-needed support from his running backs to get to the two-yard line where they then tush pushed Kaliakmanis across the goal line for a Gophers lead 14-10. 

“Just the Eagles, Jalen Hurts play … It’s a great play, ain’t it,” Kaliakmanis said when asked about the name of the quarterback sneak play with an extra boost from behind.

Chriss and the Ragin Cajuns responded with a touchdown of their own to reclaim the lead 17-14.

Kaliakmanis, with less than a minute left in the first half, attempted a deep pass to Corey Crooms Jr. The pass was a bit lofty and overthrown into the hands of Louisiana safety Tyrone Lewis.

Minnesota received the second-half kick with another opportunity to score and looked to capitalize. Sean Tyler and Evans had their sights on the end zone. The duo combined for 52 yards on seven carries on the drive that was capped with an 18-yard touchdown rush by Evans for a Gophers lead of 21-17.

Defenders began to adjust to Chriss and his devastating out-of-pocket antics, closing in on QB draws and containing play-action rollouts. Defensive end Anthony Smith prevented Chriss from making a break toward the first down marker, forcing Louisiana to punt.

Smith was a late contributor to the game but made sure he and the rest of the defensive line’s presence was felt. After giving up 67 rushing yards on seven attempts in the first half, the Gophers defense held Chriss to just seven rushing yards throughout the second half.

“The guy is a great playmaker on his feet … We knew coming into the game that this would be a big challenge,” said safety Jack Henderson.

Limiting Chriss’ ability to operate outside of the pocket was emphasized by restricting his movement and containing him to a single area. This extended opportunities for the defensive backs to make plays. Henderson was one of two players to secure an interception in the second half.

The first was safety Tyler Nubin whose 11th career interception came from reading the eyes of Chriss and jumping Louisiana tight end Neal Johnson’s route. Henderson had help from linebacker Maverick Baranowski who caused enough pressure on Chriss for him to make an ill-advised throw straight into Henderson’s arms.

Minnesota’s offense scored off both turnovers and moved the score to 35-17.

Down 18 with five minutes left the game was out of reach for Louisiana, but they continued to play hard. On the final scoring play of the game, running back Jacob Kibodi broke free from the grasp of Minnesota’s linebacking core and saw nothing but green ahead, taking it 52 yards to the end zone to make it 35-24 and the final score of the game.

For their next game, Minnesota is scheduled to host No. 2 ranked Michigan on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The two programs have faced each other for the Little Brown Jug 104 times, with 1977 being the last year Minnesota won at home.

Although the football season is still about five months away, Gophers fans caught their first glimpse of next year’s team during the annual Spring Game on Saturday. The high-scoring game with low stakes included big plays, players playing outside of their usual positions and an intense two-minute drill.

On April 17, the University announced it would be moving the game indoors and barring the public from attending. Head coach P.J. Fleck cited an unusable scoreboard and a “threat of inclement weather” as the reasons behind the decision. In-person invites were limited to family and media, who filled the team’s indoor football facility endzone-to-endzone.

Right tackle Aireontae Ersery of the Maroon Team was the first player to get the ball as he was lined up in the backfield and took a handoff up the middle for a gain of a few yards. Maroon’s offense finished on a three-and-out and the Gold Team pulled out a trick play of their own during next possession.

On his first snap, quarterback Cole Kramer connected with temporary wide receiver Tyler Nubin down the sideline on a “hide the man” play for a touchdown. On their next drive, Kramer hit actual wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington for a significant chunk of yards and brought Gold to the 2-yard-line. Redshirt freshman Zach Evans then punched it in the following play, putting Gold ahead of Maroon by two scores in the first quarter.

“Evans had a heck of a day, and it’s good to have him back healthy,” Fleck said during the post-game press conference.

Evans, who came off of surgery last season and played in one game, was one of the three recipients of an MVP award, along with Nubin and Brockington. While Evans and Nubin scored in the first quarter, Brockington’s touchdown did not come until the fourth quarter from another deep pass by Kramer.

“[The quarterbacks] have been great this whole spring ball. They’ve been working together as a group,” Brockington said after the game. “We became connected with him as a receiving group, meeting together, building that bond and building that trust in each other.”

The game was tied 31-31 in the fourth quarter and Maroon had to go a considerable distance to reach the endzone. Their attempt was unsuccessful and Fleck called for an end to the regulation period and a transition directly into a field goal competition.

Kickers on both Maroon and Gold made their attempts and Fleck switched gears again, this time switching to an overtime simulation.

Maroon had the first shot at a 2-point conversion, but Gold’s defensive line clogged the designated gap and stuffed Maroon’s back at the one yard-line. The Gold offense marched out afterward and ran an outside run to Evans, icing the game 36-34.

Sideline view of RB Zach Evans on Team Gold punching it in for six and the win pic.twitter.com/bnM03cSN48

— Theo (@TheoJFranz) April 22, 2023

The Spring Game is typically Minnesota’s first taste of live-action football. With notable long-time starters on both sides of the ball graduating or leaving for the NFL, this was the coaches’ first time witnessing how the relatively young yet deep roster could perform in game-time conditions.

“We’ve got to keep transitioning over to a player-led team,” Fleck said. “I told the guys beginning in January, with the inexperience, we are probably a little more coach-led. And now we’re in between coach and player — they took a good step.”

The Gophers don’t open up the season until Aug. 31, when they host Nebraska. Their inexperience must turn to experience by that time if they want to compete in the Big Ten West. But until then, Fleck remains positive about the development of his student-athletes.

“This team has grown up over the last four months. Are we there yet? No, but I’m really proud of the progress we’re making,” Fleck said.

Minnesota’s hammer throw group was ranked first in the nation on Monday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Leading the group was junior Kostas Zaltos, a 23-year-old Greek superstar with aspirations bigger than the village where he grew up.

Last week at the Clyde Hart Classic, Zaltos launched the hammer for a personal best 73.36 meters (240 feet, 8 inches), a measurement that would have placed second in last year’s NCAA championships.

His talent was visible well before committing to Minnesota. He competed in U20 world competitions across Europe and was wildly successful in Greece’s national competitions. Since his arrival, his performance in the hammer throw has only improved, garnering the attention of NCAA coaches toward the University of Minnesota’s men’s track and field program.

Despite the acclamations and accolades, which he said he appreciates, Zaltos is not finished. In fact, there might not be a ceiling for the two-time Big Ten champion.

“I’m No. 12 in the world. I don’t feel like this,” Zaltos said. “I’m feeling uncomfortable right now with my position. And if I want to improve my position, I have to work even harder.”

But if anyone has proved they can excel in uncomfortable situations, it’s Zaltos.

Growing up in Greece

Zaltos was raised in Pedino, a Greek village in the Kilkis region with a population that fluctuates around 800. During his childhood, Zaltos was most interested in playing basketball and did so until he was 14. That was when Giannis Christoglou, his soon-to-be high school coach, introduced him to the hammer throw.

Christoglou was passionate about youth sports and advocated for increased funding for programs around Kilkis. His efforts fell short and financial aid never transpired, so he took matters into his own hands, literally.

“My coach at home built everything by himself,” Zaltos said. “Basically, he’s been spending his own money to build these facilities for the last 30 years.”

Zaltos began to train under Christoglou and, after his first win, decided to pursue throwing events. He continued to practice in the cages forged by Christoglou’s imagination.

Christoglou’s will to let nothing stop him from chasing his dream inspired Zaltos. Pairing this with his newfound potential, Zaltos dropped his life in Greece for a chance to compete in the United States.

Minnesota throwing coach Peter Miller traveled to Sweden for the 2019 European Athletics U20 Championships on his first-ever recruiting assignment. Zaltos heard about Miller’s plan to travel and contacted him over Facebook, asking to speak with him in person. Miller obliged.

To this day, Zaltos said he still remembers the conversation and how Miller’s genuine kindness made him feel. Perhaps the translator used verbiage favorable to Miller, or Zaltos was caught up in the excitement of it all. Either way, Zaltos decided to make Minneapolis home.

Three months and a pandemic

Zaltos toured the campus with his teammates soon after his arrival. He walked with his jaw dragging across the sidewalk in awe of the towering buildings. Once his crew reached Minnesota’s brand-new Fieldhouse, his awe turned to disbelief.

“The facilities are really beautiful and [were] the first thing that stood out to me [on] day one,” Zaltos said. “I saw everything, and I fell in love with it.”

For the next three months, Zaltos used University resources to help him adapt to life in the US.

Whether throwing hammers into nets, tossing the much dreaded 35-pound weight or hitting the books to improve his English, he found a way to practice every day. His persistent determination to succeed while overseas was sourced from a quote his grandfather back in Greece told him.

“I remember him telling me the secret of success. You need three things: practice, practice and practice,” Zaltos said. “Basically, stay consistent and follow your dreams till the end if you want to make them come true.”

However, Zaltos’ dream came to a halt when pandemic lockdowns began.

Miller assured it would be okay for Zaltos to fly back to his family in Greece and “wait for when things open up again.” Due to Greece’s strict travel policies, it would be another 10 months until Zaltos stepped foot into the Fieldhouse again.

Back in Pedino, restrictions hit Zaltos hard. For months, he sat inside, locked in, unable to access Christoglou’s handmade facilities. He took his classes online, but the eight-hour time difference led to many long nights, putting a strain on his mental health and his motivation to continue studying abroad.

At one point, he texted Miller he no longer wanted to come back and wished to stay home. Miller tried to convince Zaltos to come back, saying, “You have a chance to do a lot of things.”

Ironically, Miller said the University’s decision to cut indoor tack incentivized Zaltos to return.

“[Zaltos] talked to me and said ‘I don’t have to throw weight anymore?’” Miller said. “I was like, ‘Well, we’ll still compete in it a little bit, but we won’t train.’”

Zaltos overheard Miller telling the story and paused his warm-down exercise to celebrate. Miller laughed and said the extra reps during weight throw competitions have helped improve Zaltos’ numbers this year.

Motivation from the Mediterranean

Surely, Zaltos saw the omission of weight throw from his typical routine as addition by subtraction. But, according to him, this wasn’t the crucial moment that changed his mindset and later defined the trajectory of his future.

The moment that “flipped the switch,” from being lost without direction to a world-class athlete, occurred months before the University cut indoor track and field.

“It switched when my grandfather died during COVID,” Zaltos said.

He then pulled his sleeve up to show a tattoo embedded on his bicep. He moved his finger across his arm, underlining a series of numbers commemorating the day his grandfather died.

“He was the greatest man I’d ever met in my entire life,” Zaltos said. “After [his death], I said to myself, ‘Alright, it’s time to be like him.’”

When Zaltos returned to Minnesota, Miller said he was surprised to see how much his body had changed since the pandemic.

“He came back in January of 2021 about 50 pounds heavier than he is right now. Maybe not that much, but quite a bit heavier,” Miller said. “And so we spent a lot of time that year re-getting in shape, getting connected, losing some weight, re-figuring out English and then had a good year.”

Zaltos added, “Missing my grandfather was a big factor for me and changed my whole mindset, my course, my physique — it changed everything, it changed my whole life.”

That year, Zaltos won the first of his two Big Ten titles in the hammer throw, finished third in the NCAA Championships and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He then took his heroics back to his hometown in Greece during summer break and helped orchestrate a relief effort for the people affected by the wildfires in Evia.

Or, in his words, “doing what I was supposed to do.”

As Zaltos walked from camera to camera talking to several news stations about track and field’s recent success, he carried a smile that beaconed across the Fieldhouse. A smile that affirmed he is living out the dream he once dropped everything for.

But with Zaltos, there’s always a way to be better than the year before. A way to build off his dream.

He gives himself one big goal every season.

However, he won’t share yet and plans not to until the end of the season.

“Right now, the season is still going. I can’t tell my big goal. I can’t tell my dreams,” Zaltos said. “But I can tell you that we are in a good spot to do GREAT things. Great with capital letters.”

The University of Minnesota’s Athletics Director Mark Coyle announced Dawn Plitzuweit as the new head coach of the women’s basketball program on Saturday. The two parties agreed to a six-year deal pending the Board of Regents’ approval.

If the deal is approved, Plitzuweit will become the 13th head coach in the program’s history. The announcement comes after Lindsay Whalen announced she would be stepping down as head coach after five seasons on March 2.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named head coach at Minnesota,” Plitzuweit said in the University’s statement. “Minnesota is a program that I am very familiar with from my previous time in the surrounding area and in the Big Ten. I am looking forward to getting back to the area and meeting the team, alumni and fans. I am also looking forward to reconnecting with local high school and club coaches. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Plitzuweit has coached collegiate basketball for 28 years, 16 of them as a head coach. In those 16 seasons, 15 have ended with winning records. She finished her most recent season at West Virginia with 19 wins and 12 losses.

Previously, she led programs at Grand Valley State (2002-2007), Northern Kentucky (2012-2016) and South Dakota (2016-2022), accumulating a career coaching record of 356-141 (.721).

Plitzuweit won the 2006 NCAA DII championship at Grand Valley State and, in her last four seasons, carried South Dakota and West Virginia to the NCAA tournament. Her deepest run in the tournament was last year with South Dakota, when she took them into the Sweet 16.

“Dawn is a process-driven coach and has coached winning teams at every step of her career,” Coyle said in the statement. “She has recruited Minnesota and has consistently produced teams that compete for championships … I know she is excited to get back to the area and build her program.”

University of Minnesota football opened its practice facility’s doors for its annual Pro Day on Wednesday. Scouts, coaches and media watched as a select group of veteran Gophers showcased their athleticism ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Ten Gophers were present at this year’s event. Chuck Filiaga, Axel Ruschmeyer, John Michael Schmitz, Mohamed Ibrahim and Tanner Morgan represented Minnesota’s offense, while Jordan Howden, Thomas Rush, Terell Smith and Mariano Sori-Marin represented the defense. Matthew Trickett was the team’s lone special teamer to participate.

The day began with conversations between scouts and players on the main floor echoing throughout the training room. At 9 a.m. sharp, conversations came to a halt as a Minnesota staff member called for the players to weigh in.

One of the bigger questions heading into today was on Schmitz’s weight. Throughout last season, his playing weight was listed at 320 pounds; at the NFL Combine, that number dropped to 301. Schmitz was one of the first to step on the scale and, according to the Minnesota staff member’s reading, appeared to have gained a few pounds since then.

After the weigh-ins concluded, spectators headed toward the vertical challenger to witness the next physical test. Vertical measurements are valued in scouting evaluations of wide receivers and defensive backs, and no one helped improve their evaluation more than defensive back Howden. On his final attempt, he jumped a staggering 39.5 inches off the floor, six more inches than his previous final attempt at the NFL Combine.

Rush was another prospect who had an eye-opening performance start at the vertical challenger. His jump launched him 35.5 inches into the air, an admirable feat for a defensive end.

Unlike Howden, Rush did not receive an invite to the Combine, so his opportunity to display his athletic ability in front of professional teams was confined to this singular event and he made it worthwhile for everyone. The former linebacker-turned-edge rusher bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times, ran an unofficial 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and jumped 10’3” in the broad jump.

Meanwhile, on the practice field, Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck talked with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings sent a variety of representatives to attend and despite all 32 NFL teams present, held the largest presence. Their group ranged from the team’s general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, to their designated area scouts.

Historically, the pipeline between the two football programs has been weak. In the last 22 years, only two Gophers have been drafted by the Minnesota Vikings: Esezi Otomewo (2022) and Nate Triplett (2010).

The Pro Day concluded with Trickett taking the field to participate in a kicking drill. In it, he revealed why he finished last season with just 3 missed field goals and zero missed extra points.

He finished the day on a high note after making 8 out of 9 of his field goals from 41 yards out. His only miss came from an attempt 61 yards away, but he quickly redeemed himself by nailing another attempt from 62 yards out.

This year’s Minnesota-Penn State trilogy contained a multitude of notable moments for the Gophers, but its last episode concluded on a somber note. The Nittany Lions routed the Gophers on Wednesday, winning the Big Ten tournament’s first game 72-67 and putting Minnesota’s season to rest.

The Gophers’ performance fluctuated between extremes throughout the game. Their abundance of turnovers early on placed them in a perpetual state of strife while they attempted to claim the lead.

Players for Minnesota struggled against Penn State’s staunch defense, led by Big Ten All-Defensive guard Leilani Kapinus. They launched cross-court passes to avoid the pressures of a Nittany Lion double team, only for the ball to be intercepted. When they were able to get the ball across halfcourt, a subtle hesitation on a dribble resulted in a defender swiping the ball away.

“I thought that when we kept our spacing and we played against the press with some pace, we were able to break it,” Minnesota Head Coach Lindsay Whalen said after the game. “The times when we did turn it over, [we were a] little bit back on our heels, and we didn’t provide outlets for each other.”

Soon enough, Penn State was up 21-3 with two and a half minutes left in the first quarter. Gopher freshmen Mara Braun and Amaya Battle would help trim the 18-point deficit down to 12 by the end of the quarter. Senior Isabelle Gradwell hit a 3-pointer a minute into the second quarter and moved it within single digits.

The scoring stint was brief, however, as Minnesota forward Alanna Micheaux, an essential piece in their previous contest against Penn State, picked up her third foul. Down by 12, Whalen decided to bench the Gophers’ top rebounder and preserve her for the second half.

Penn State and Minnesota traded layup-for-layup and 3-pointer for 3-pointer up until halftime. The Gophers barely won the exchange by a margin of 2 points but closed out the half down 35-25 and with a baker’s dozen of turnovers.

“We’re a bunch of fighters,” Braun said after the game. “No matter how young we are, how inexperienced, we’re going to give a fight no matter what.”

The Wayzata native finished as the game’s highest scorer with 25 points. Throughout the contest, she made one-third of her 3s (4-12) and 43.5% of her shots overall (10-23).

It took Braun until the second half to start warming her shots up. But once Battle passed the ball back to her for a catch-and-shoot behind the arc, Minnesota found themselves back within single digits, and it began to feel like a new game.

Shortly after, the Gophers altered back to making their typical mistakes.

Minnesota gave the ball away to Penn State eight times following Braun’s bucket and let up 17 points. By the end of the third quarter, the Gophers’ 7-point deficit doubled. It wasn’t until Gradwell’s 3-pointer with four minutes and thirty seconds left in the fourth and final quarter that Minnesota’s hopes of redemption became a possibility.

A minute later, Battle was face-to-face with Kapinus and gave her a taste of her own medicine, snatching the ball away and going coast-to-coast. She was fouled on her successful lay-in and sunk her free throw. Battle returned to the charity stripe on the following possession and made both free throws, bringing Minnesota within 7.

The game went scoreless for the next minute-and-a-half but consisted of two jump balls, four missed shots and plenty of scrapping in the paint. Gradwell and Micheaux broke the temporary chain of turmoil by each knocking down a jumper, tying the game at 66 a piece.

Penn State responded with a timeout and drew up a play for guard Makenna Marisa to drive to the basket. She scored, but the refs called a foul on Gophers sophomore Maggie Czinano on the shooting attempt, bringing Marisa to the line.

The Gophers’ production see-sawed till the very end, and when the game’s allotted time was up, their score was just below Penn State’s.

Minnesota finished the season with an overall record of 11-19, second-to-last in the Big Ten. Braun led the Gophers in points this year with 407 (15.7 per game), Micheaux led in rebounds with 221 (8.2pg) and Battle led in assists with 114 (4.2pg).

After the game, Gradwell, with puffed-up cheeks and holding back tears, reminisced on her final year as a college athlete.

“Despite our record, this was like one of my favorite years as a collegiate player,” she said. “Just from my teammates, the coaches, just believing in me as a player, as a person, and really caring about me.”

Gradwell received a few pats on the back for comfort from Braun as she continued to speak.

“Coming in, I had reached out to the coaches, wanting to get closer to home, and Coach said, ‘I don’t know if you’re going to play a lot. We’d love to have your experience,’” she said. “She gave me a shot, and that was all I asked for. Man, I’m grateful I got this opportunity.”

Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball lost twice within 48 hours, once on Monday against Illinois and the other on Wednesday against Maryland. The two losses added to an 11-game losing streak, which is tied for the third longest among NCAA Division I programs. Their overall record fell to 7-19 and 1-15 in Big Ten contests.

The Gophers will enter a three-game stretch starting Saturday. The homestretch consists of their last away game of the season at Nebraska and a rivalry game at home against Wisconsin.

Feb. 20 vs. Illinois

Three days after their loss to Penn State, the Gophers hit the road and played against Illinois. The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 7, but after Minnesota players tested positive for COVID-19, the game was pushed nearly two weeks.

Illinois forward Matthew Mayer kicked off the first quarter with a pair of free throws. Illinois began to quickly outscore Minnesota and by the first media timeout, they were up 7 points.

Minnesota sophomore Dawson Garcia was responsible for a majority of the scoring in the first half, taking 10 shots from the field and cashing in 12 points. Tailing him was Jamison Battle with 9 points and an additional 3 assists.

The Gophers went on a brief scoring run that crept up on Illinois’ lead just before halftime. They closed the period trailing 35-29.

Noticeably, Minnesota’s backcourt was absent in the scoring department. The first half concluded with the position group not contributing any points. They eventually ended the half with 9 points but shot 20% from the field.

Battle erupted with a frenzy of shots from all across the court in the second half. He tacked on 22 points on top of his performance in the previous period, reaching a personal season-high, single-game total of 31.

Throughout the remainder of the game, Illinois held a double-digit lead for all but two minutes and three seconds of the 20-minute half. By the end, all of Illinois’ starters reached 10 or more points. Their visible improvement in the later half allowed Illinois’ to maintain control over the Gophers and finish out the game.

Minnesota fell to Illinois 78-69.

Feb. 22 vs. Maryland

The Gophers could not keep up with the efficiency of Maryland’s shot-taking ability, losing 88-70. Minnesota shot 48% from the field on 54 shots across the entirety of the match. In comparison, Maryland shot 20 percentage points higher on seven fewer shots.

Minnesota won the jump ball and after a pair of Jaden Henley layups, was up 6-2 in just over a minute of play. This stint would not last for long, as Maryland forward Julian Reese shifted the game’s momentum by successfully attacking the paint in three of Maryland’s four following possessions.

Reese shot a perfect 4-4 in the first half but came second in points. He was behind point guard Hakim Hart and forward Donta Scott, who were tied with 14. As for the Gophers, Garcia and Henley led their team in points with 15 and 14 respectively.

A majority of the offensive facilitation was through Minnesota guard Ta’Lon Cooper. He dished out 5 assists in the first half, but his performance didn’t create enough movement to keep up with Maryland’s relentless scoring.

Maryland went on a run of 15 unanswered points, a safe distance from an upset. With less than two minutes to go in the second half, Scott layed it in following Battle’s missed 3-pointer to give Maryland a 21-point lead. Henley later answered with a 3, setting the score at halftime at 47-30.

Minnesota’s struggles against Maryland’s potent offense continued well into the next half.

Battle threw up the ball from behind the arc for the first points in the second half and his first points on the day. He followed up his season-high performance with 8 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist.

One of the few bright spots of the night was Minnesota freshman Pharrel Payne. Payne fouled out after playing a total of 16 minutes but finished with a team-high of 17 points, 13 of which occurred during the second period.

Minnesota’s deficit against Maryland topped out at 28 points with four and a half minutes left in the game. For the remaining time, the Gophers outscored the Terrapins 11-1. It curbed the severity of the loss and closed the game out at a final score of 88-70.

Former Gophers starting quarterback Tanner Morgan was drafted in the second round of the USFL Draft on Tuesday by the Michigan Panthers. Morgan was the ninth player to be taken off the board in this year’s draft and was the Panthers’ second selection of the day.

The 23-year-old passer orchestrated a prolific collegiate career at Minnesota, accumulating numerous school records including, but not limited to, most single-season passing yards (3,253), highest career completion percentage (62.2) and most games won as a starting quarterback (33).

With the 8th pick of the 2023 USFL College Draft, the Panthers select QB Tanner Morgan #LetsHunt pic.twitter.com/I2SBEeO8Hb

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) February 21, 2023

Morgan will team up with NFL coaching journeyman Mike Nolan as the Panthers’ head coach along with Indiana wide receiver Whop Philyor, Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher and several other players from the Big Ten.

The Panthers will play their first home games at Ford Field in Detroit after being stationed in Birmingham, Alabama, throughout the league’s inaugural season. In that season, they finished with a 2-8 record and defeated the Pittsburgh Maulers in their last game to earn the right to pick first for the 2023 draft.

The Panthers are scheduled to open the season with a nationally broadcasted matchup against the Houston Gamblers on April 16.

Gophers men’s basketball had difficulty getting shots in Sunday’s matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Still without their top scorer, Dawson Garcia, the Gophers failed to match Iowa’s offensive pace.

The first minute of the game started with Iowa guard Tony Perkins knocking down two buckets, putting the Gophers down early. Iowa’s proceeding scoring efforts swiftly grew their lead, and before the game was two minutes in, Iowa was winning 9-2.

Recognizing the unfavorable situation, Minnesota freshman Pharrel Payne began to bump his body around. His physical style of play, often deployed in an attempt to flip the game’s momentum, became sporadic.

He picked up two fouls and was pulled from the game to avoid fouling out. Minnesota Head Coach Ben Johnson subbed freshman Joshua Ola-Joseph back in minutes later. The exchange lit a much-needed spark on offense.

Ola-Joseph scored 6 points on four shots in the first half and defended the perimeter efficiently. He would finish as the team’s highest scorer with 11 points.

Other key factors alongside Ola-Joseph were freshman Jaden Henley, who scored 7 points, and junior Ta’Lon Cooper, who dished out three assists. Together the three Gophers helped shorten the deficit to just three points at halftime.

The break did not stiffen scoring from either team as they replied to each score with a bucket of their own. The exchanging continued until Iowa forward Kris Murray broke the pattern by nailing a 3-pointer off a Gopher turnover.

For the next 10 minutes, it was the Gophers against Iowa’s Filip Rebraca and Murray. The two forwards combined for 19 points and moved their lead over Minnesota to 7 points.

In that same time frame, Payne made a confident return and reclaimed his dominant off-ball presence. His second-half production totaled six rebounds, one assist and three blocks.

Minnesota’s defense gave the team a fighting chance through the majority of the second half. It kept their deficit floating between 5 and 9 points, offering a glimmer of hope.

But as the game ticked down to the final minutes, Iowa adjusted its defense to a full-court press. The press showed promise in the first half and was a catalyst in forcing 10 Gopher turnovers. And just as the first half entailed, the adjustment worked.

Minnesota’s offense began to suffocate under pressure and went scoreless for three minutes. Iowa took advantage and increased its lead to 14 points.

By then, it was too late. The Gophers played catch-up by fouling the Hawkeyes, putting them on the free-throw line and hoping they would miss. The lead Iowa amassed was too much to overcome and the Gophers lost 68-56.

Minnesota’s next matchup was scheduled to be on Wednesday in East Lansing against the Michigan State Spartans. Michigan announced Monday night that all activities would be postponed for the next 48 hours, including the basketball game, following the an on-campus shooting.

The Gophers tacked on two losses, bringing their record to 9-13 after losing to the University of Michigan on Sunday and Indiana on Wednesday. They now sit at twelfth place in the Big Ten standings.

Minnesota’s offensive performances were riddled with turnovers and poor shooting efforts. When combining the totals from the previously mentioned games, they turned the ball over 50 times and shot 32.2% from the field.

Their next chance to offset the slump will be in Champaign, Illinois, on Sunday against the Fighting Illini.

Jan. 29 vs. Michigan:

The Gophers settled back in their burrow, better known as Williams Arena, after a crushing loss to Purdue. The Michigan Wolverines visited Minnesota’s humble abode Sunday for their following matchup.

The two dirt-digging-mammal-nicknamed schools duked it out, but it was the Wolverines who did the burying. They beat the home-team Gophers 77-41. Minnesota’s final total marked its lowest in a game during Lindsay Whalen’s tenure as head coach.

On Minnesota’s first possession, Maggie Czinano kicked the ball to Alanna Micheaux, who then laid it in for the game’s first points. Minutes later, Michigan forward Cameron Williams and guard Leigha Brown scored their team’s first points, giving them the lead.

From there on out, the climb back into the lead became increasingly difficult for the Gophers.

Michigan’s stout defense on Minnesota’s guards helped support their lead until halftime. They bullied the guards into shooting 21.7% from the field and collected six steals.

Coming out of halftime, the game’s score was 34-23. The 11-point deficit did not seem too daunting for Minnesota. That is until Michigan went on a 17-0 scoring run that stretched across half of the third quarter.

Outside of this span, the Gophers made three field goals off of 10 shots.

The game continued through the fourth quarter at a much slower pace. Michigan pulled its starters from the court with three and a half minutes to go and peacefully ended the contest.

Micheaux finished as Minnesota’s highest and most efficient scorer with 15 points and made 50% of her shots. Three Gophers had a plus-minus of negative 30 or less: Mara Braun, Mallory Heyer and Czinano.

Feb. 1 vs. Indiana:

Early into Wednesday’s game against the Hoosiers, Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes caused Minnesota problems. She attacked the paint on both ends of the court, scoring 10 of her first-quarter points off of lay-ins and hook shots. On defense, she denied shot attempts by Amaya Battle and Micheaux. Holmes finished the game with 28 points (12 from the field) and four blocks.

Indiana attacked Minnesota’s weak interior presence on defense and quickly ran up the score. In the last five minutes of the first quarter, the Hoosiers outscored the Gophers 14-2 and forced seven turnovers.

Their hot hand continued into the second quarter, starting with back-to-back 3-pointers from Indiana guard Sydney Parrish that put the Gophers down by 20. Parrish’s 14 total points helped hold Indiana’s significant lead through the end of the quarter.

Meanwhile, things could not have gone worse for Minnesota. If it weren’t for Mara Braun’s 3-pointer (the team’s first of the night) in the last minute before halftime, the Gophers would have finished the first half with more turnovers (18) than points (17 before Braun’s shot).

Turnovers have been a persistent issue for Minnesota this season, and Wednesday night was no exception. The team finished with a season-high of 29. While Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren admitted after the game that her squad’s 17 turnovers were less than ideal, she was mindful that Minnesota’s “hiccups” stem from their inexperience.

“We have got to be better,” Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen said during the post-game press conference. “In the second half it was even, but obviously 29 is too many.”

Regardless of the turnover ratio, the Gophers’ offense saw improvement post-halftime. They held control of the ball and played confidently, tripling their assist total from the first half (2) in the third quarter (6). Freshmen Katie Borowicz and Battle led the team in assists with five and four, respectively.

Unfortunately for Minnesota, the game was too far out of reach. Their scoring run in the third that cut Indiana’s lead to 14 points proved futile in averting their seemingly inevitable downfall, the final score 77-54.