Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi is producing another top-ranked defense in college football. Many elements go into repeating as a dominant defense, but out of all potential factors contributing to their production, none are as credited by Rossi as his change in mentality while coaching.

“When I was a young coach, I didn’t always appreciate playing to the guys’ strengths,” Rossi said. “And as you get older, you get a little wiser because you make mistakes. Then you say, hey, maybe we should do the things the guys are good at.”

Rossi’s time in the league has taught him to drop the coaching ego in favor of incorporating players’ strengths into his schemes. And because of it, the Gophers are in the upper echelon of college football defenses.

One of the more apparent strengths exhibited by the defense this year has been their speed both physically and mentally. Whether it is shutting down a deep pass or recognizing a read option, defensive players have played at an elite level and at a faster pace.

Rossi was tasked to handle New Mexico State (NMSU) and Western Illinois’ (WIU) dual-QB offenses in the season’s first two games.

Offenses would typically roll with a single starting quarterback and then depend on a backup for emergencies, poor performances or blow-outs. A dual-QB system is different because the QBs rotate with each other depending on the team’s situation on the field.

The offense acts as a visual processing test for defensive players. It presents them with the challenge of constantly identifying the quarterback and the strategies needed to counter their habits.

Before, Rossi might’ve schemed the defense only according to his research. But after having time to mature and develop his mindset as a coach, he talks about teaching players pattern recognition skills that let them focus more on winning with their strengths.

“It depends on, number one, what type of quarterback you’re facing. Is it a guy who’s a scrambler or is it a pocket guy?” Rossi rhetorically asked when talking about preparing his pass rushers against different QB styles. “If it’s a pocket guy, you’re more reckless because that guy doesn’t really want to run. If it’s a guy that’s going to scramble, [we] talk about where does he scramble? At what depth is he scrambling?”

In the game against NMSU, the Gophers slowed down the Aggies’ offense by forcing the QBs to hold onto the ball for a longer amount of time. Both of their QBs are good scramblers, so by preventing them from getting off quick plays, the defense closed off the edges to keep the ball in the QBs’ hands.

Cornerbacks played in tight coverage, putting NMSU’s QBs into a panic. This well-schemed, player-friendly defense forced the QBs into four total turnover-worthy throws, according to PFF advanced statistics.

The game plan against rushing WIU’s quarterbacks was different, especially in regard to quarterback Nick Davenport. Davenport’s go-to, last resort decision is throwing the ball deep to a receiver in hopes of a big play. To eliminate the possible big plays from Davenport, the Gophers had to give him less time to get in throwing motion.

The defense did not blitz Davenport on any of his dropbacks, drew in seven pressures and dropped his average time to throw by 10%. Rossi trusted the players to utilize their strengths and prevailed.

In Week Three, the Gophers played Colorado, a run-heavy team with a one-quarterback system. Knowing that getting off to a fast start would force Colorado to play into their weaknesses, he needed to ensure all players were prepared enough to play at full speed.

“Guys play their best when they’re playing fast,” Rossi said. “If they can play fast and play with a clear mind, they’re going to play at their highest level.”

Rossi’s mindset of playing to the strengths of the player rather than to his typical scheme has helped the Gophers get off to a fast start. In part by adopting this mindset, the defense has showcased their speed through winning games by creating three-and-outs, tracing quarterbacks on reading options and forcing quick turnovers.

His utilitarian mindset on defense has opened unique strategies for players to maximize their impact while involuntarily processing the proper offensive counters. And ultimately, his mentality has helped Gophers football get off to one of their best starts in recent years.

Minnesota’s head football coach PJ Fleck announced Monday that Chris Autman-Bell suffered a lower leg injury on Saturday that will require surgery, ending his 2022 season.

“delayed, not denied. been through hell & back already, i’m ready for everything that comes with this. – 7,” Autman-Bell said on Twitter Monday.

The injury occurred during the first half of Saturday’s game against Colorado. Autman-Bell was running his route with no one near him when he awkwardly planted his right leg into the ground. Trainers attended to his knee and helped him off the field and into the medical tent for the rest of the game.

“He’s a big member of this football team,” Fleck said after the game. “I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t one of the most integral parts of what we do and how we do it.”

For the past two seasons, Autman-Bell has been quarterback Tanner Morgan’s favorite target. Last year, he finished with the team high in receiving yards and receptions. He was on track to repeat as the Gophers lead receiver this season with an average of 71.3 yards and 3.7 receptions per game.

In December 2021, Autman-Bell announced he would forgo the 2022 NFL Draft and use his last year of NCAA eligibility to return to the Gophers. The team is reportedly willing to seek a seventh year of eligibility if that is what Autman-Bell and his family want.

If he decides to leave college football behind, the star receiver would finish his collegiate career within the University’s top 15 receivers with 1,970 receiving yards, 125 receptions and 13 touchdowns.

The season-ending injury leaves wide receivers Dylan Wright, Michael Brown-Stephens and Daniel Jackson to incorporate Autman-Bell’s voluminous production into their workload.

For the past four years, Gophers football excited their fan base with new uniforms annually. However, this year’s uniforms have created a divide between fans online.

The Gophers first hinted at their new black and white uniforms in a tweet on Aug. 22. The video shows players cheering and giving standing ovations after Head Coach P.J. Fleck’s theatrical reveal.

They continued to promote the uniforms up until the game when they displayed a black-and-white-themed pregame hype video on the big screen.

While the team maintained their initial positive reaction, the same cannot be said about the fans.

Negative tweets went up in unison with the Gophers exiting the tunnel. Complaints ranged from the absence of gold to the design of the helmet.

“Uniforms on sale? Supply chain issues? The Gophers have uniforms that are the wrong color,” one Twitter user said.

Uniforms on sale? Supply chain issues? The Gophers have uniforms that are the wrong color.

— Don Hoversten (@donhoversten) September 10, 2022

For a team nicknamed “Golden Gophers,” it seemed wrong seeing the other team wear more yellow during Saturday’s game. The last time the Gophers went gold-less was in 2021 for their season opener against Ohio State.

Traditional school colors were more prominent in those uniforms as the maroon was the foundational color on their helmet rather than a single stripe down the middle.

“Who hates (uniforms that look like) Iowa??,” another Twitter user wrote.

Who hates (uniforms that look like) Iowa??
#gophers

— Ryan Malmin (@RyanMalmin) September 10, 2022

When fans saw a resemblance to the black and white jerseys worn by Minnesota’s rival to the south, jokes began to fly.

With the growing number of new uniforms being released, the odds of imitating another team are high. But sometimes it’s the act of constantly debuting uniforms that can spark comparisons.

“Golden Gophers are Oregon Jr. with all these uniforms,” @TBoyer55 said on Twitter, comparing Minensota to Oregon, a football program that has an intensive track record of having a closet full of uniform options.

Golden Gophers are Oregon Jr. with all these uniforms

— Tony (@TBoyer55) September 10, 2022

Although the fans’ distaste for Minnesota’s uniforms was a popular topic on game day, saying that all fans do not like the uniforms would be objectively false. Some fans are true traditionalists, while others welcomed the change.

“These black uniforms for the #gophers is very business like. Go take care of business,” one fan said.

These black uniforms for the #gophers is very business like.

Go take care of business.

— Horns ‘N’ Hoops (@Mavcop) September 10, 2022

The black and white scheme follows the current trend to simplify or modernize particular aesthetics. But what is modern today may not be modern tomorrow.

In the mid-1990s, the Gophers wore what is considered one of the worst uniforms in college football. The jerseys had two classic Minnesota M’s on both shoulders with a maroon line across the chest conjoining them. They encapsulated the eccentric ‘90s style but have failed to age appropriately.

Other jerseys, like the classic jerseys worn during the John Gutekunst-era, are simple enough to be considered timeless by all generations.

As it stands, most fans aren’t the biggest supporters of ditching the gold for a clean black-and-white look. Not many uniforms that follow stylistic trends can stand the test of time, but the black and white combination has been prevalent for years, whether it aligns with a current trend or not.

Pro Am tournaments are one of the few events where basketball fans can watch NBA rookies share the court with former Division II players. The games may not end well for the latter, but the diverse competition makes for a carefree environment. If mixed with Minnesota’s booming basketball culture, fans would be left with a spectacle unlike any other.

The Twin Cities Pro Am is that spectacle.

The annual summer basketball tournament is located at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. Team rosters are compiled with different levels of talent, with most players having connections to the Minneapolis community.

This year, the five-week-long event, running from July 9 to Aug. 11, is headlined by six teams sponsored by local companies and organizations: 4 The Love, EC Playaz, Fredrikson x MN Detailing, Lamb Chops, Strictly BBall and Team Tyus.

In an interview with The Minnesota Daily, Joe Doerrer, the co-owner of popular TikTok account @strictlybball, talked about his experience coaching his namesake team at the Twin Cities Pro Am.

“I would say it’s pretty high energy.” Doerrer said. “There’s a DJ at every game along with a guy on the mic announcing the game. The crowd is pretty into it.”

Over the years that crowd has continued to grow.

Word has been spreading fast across Minnesota with more people interested in the event than ever. Doerrer said he’s been to the tournament for the past couple of years but noticed “there’s just a little more buzz this year.”

“One of the guys who is running [the Pro Am] said, ‘this is what we usually get for playoff games,’” Doerrer mentioned while talking about average attendance for pool play games.

With the increasing number of fans at Pro Am tournaments, Doerrer believes it will create opportunities for more NBA players to participate. This year’s Twin Cities Pro Am is a perfect example of this motion coming into fruition, with professional players from across the country coming to play in the tournament.

Team Tyus, led by Memphis Grizzlies point guard Tyus Jones, has been the tournament leader in recruiting NBA players. He’s responsible for the return of home-grown talent, now-turned professionals such as Theo John, Tre Jones and former Gophers basketball player Daniel Oturu.

Another team that has helped supply NBA-level action is team Fredrikson x MN Detailing.For one game against the Lamb Chops, the team acquired Minnesota Timberwolves rookies Wendell Moore and Josh Minott.

And while they are not from Minnesota, their appearance in the tournament has surely added an extra spark to an already electric ambiance.

Spontaneous visits from young basketball professionals are always welcome at Minnehaha Academy. The anticipation of seeing who will be the next player to walk through those gym doors and display their flashy feats of athleticism is one of the many qualities that makes the Twin Cities Pro Am so special.

The tournament’s surprise appearances aren’t limited to just players, either. Within the past two weeks, Minnesota Vikings Irv Smith Jr. and Christian Darrisaw and Minnesota Twins Nick Gordon have stopped by to watch a game alongside the Minneapolis community, Doerrer said.

“You never know who’s going to show up.” Doerrer said. “It’s always a surprise. That combined with the energy, I’d say it’s the best free sporting event that you could get in the Twin Cities.”

The Twin Cities Pro Am is a marquee event that immerses fans into Minnesota’s basketball culture. Attendees are able to witness first hand Minnesotans’ passion for basketball working symbiotically with players on the court, creating a positive environment rich with competition.

Its atmosphere is symbolic of the state’s ever-growing love for its hometown athletes; athletes who are more than willing to put on a show for the fans and community that have supported them throughout their careers.

The tournament’s playoffs begin on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m.., as the two seeded EC Playaz take on the fifth seed Fredrickson x MN Detailing. The Twin Cities Pro Am will conclude with its championship game on Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

After finishing second in the Big Ten West, Gophers football has built their team with sights on the Big Ten Championship. The team brought in recruits and welcomed a few familiar names back in hopes of redemption. But to avoid a repeat of last season, Minnesota will need the help of recruits from previous years.

Three of the Gophers players listed below are candidates to have a breakout season. They are younger talents who have been developing their skills under the system for two or more years and will see more opportunities to prove themselves this fall.

WR Daniel Jackson:

Jackson was a four-star prospect out of high school and was ranked as the No. 52 receiver nationally among his graduating class. He enrolled at Minnesota in 2020, becoming Head Coach P.J. Fleck’s highest-rated wide receiver recruit.

During Jackson’s freshman year, Big Ten teams reduced their season schedules in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. He played in five of the possible seven games, notching 167 receiving yards on 12 receptions, good for third on the team in both categories. The shortened season tampered with Jackson’s potential volume and production, but it was enough to assess his role for the following year.

At the start of the 2021 season, Jackson took on a bigger role after his teammate, Chris Autman-Bell suffered a lower leg injury. Through the first four games, he was quarterback Tanner Morgan’s favorite target, leading the team in targets and receptions. His hot streak would halt due to an undisclosed issue announced before heading into week 6. The undisclosed issue caused him to miss games against Nebraska and Maryland. He struggled to regain ground when he returned, failing to reach 30 receiving yards in most games for the rest of the year. He finished his sophomore season with 267 receiving yards, 25 receptions and one touchdown.

Jackson now heads into his third season with evidence of positive growth in his production. Although parts of that growth can be attributed to the early absence of Autman-Bell, he has proved to be a reliable asset when unexpectedly promoted to be the team’s WR2. If offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca re-establishes his pass-heavy strategy displayed in his previous tenure with the Gophers, Jackson’s opportunities would naturally increase and lose its dependency on other receivers, regardless of his place on the depth chart.

DL Deven Eastern:

Eastern is a 6 foot 6 inch, 290-pound defensive lineman from Shakopee, Minn. He was a part of the 2021 recruitment class and was the No. 45 ranked defensive lineman in the nation. The four-star prospect received offers from six different colleges but decided to stay close to home and play for Minnesota.

During the offseason, Minnesota experienced a substantial roster overturn on the defensive line. The team saw seven of their defensive linemen leave the program, creating over 2,000 vacated snaps for the remaining players to inherit. With the competition within the position leveled, it is expected that Eastern will be a big beneficiary for the leftover snaps this season.

Eastern’s frame and explosiveness should guarantee a spot in the defensive line rotation. He offers the ability to compete anywhere on the line while making an occasional play in the backfield. His innate flexibility on the field will be an advantage for him to earn more playing time, a factor that could push him toward breakout-level production.

LB Cody Lindenberg:

Lindenberg was a top ten in-state football prospect the size of a stereotypical Big Ten linebacker. In 2020, He chose to remain in Minnesota and committed to play for the Gophers and defensive coordinator Joe Rossi.

Lindenberg started as a true freshman in the Gophers’ season opener against Michigan because of linebacker Braelen Oliver’s injury. He recorded three total tackles in that game, two against Illinois the following week and four against Maryland in week 3. After the game against Maryland, he failed to register another tackle as his playing time was decreasing.

The 2021 season was competitive at the linebacker position. Jack Gibbens had recently transferred to Minnesota from Abilene Christian and immediately earned the starting role as the Mike linebacker. Oliver returned from his injury to compete for the starting Will linebacker spot, and Mariano Sori-Marin had started to earn his spot in-season through quality production. Lindenberg would struggle to earn snaps until his season-ending foot injury.

With Gibbens leaving for the NFL, Lindenberg will look to bounce back and keep the linebacking trio intact this season. Currently, there are no official reports on how his foot is doing after the surgery, but he was listed on the Maroon team roster for the Gopher’s annual Spring Game in April. If his foot is completely healed, he should be set to resume competition for the Will spot and occasionally fill in as the Mike behind Sori-Marin.

Second chances don’t come too often for players off a season-ending injury, but Lindenberg has a rare chance to start in multiple games this season. And with three more years of eligibility, he is still considered to have a big future with Gophers football.

University of Minnesota women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Whalen announced Tuesday that freshman Niamya Holloway will miss the 2022-23 season after suffering a season-ending left knee injury last week.

“Unfortunately Niamya suffered a knee injury last week, and we are saddened to learn this week that it is season ending,” Whalen said. “We are here to support Niamya every step of the way as she moves forward in this recovery process.”

The Holloway’s family Twitter account, @HollowayStrong, responded to the news by tweeting, “Not how we saw her 1st yr. But all we can do is focus on what we can control. We appreciate the positive vibes & love! During this time we just ask you respect her privacy as she’s now focused on making one HECK of a comeback! Now go pack the Barn! Cuz that’s where she’ll be!”

The Eden Prairie native was Prep Girl Hoops’ No. 45 nationally ranked recruit in 2022 and was named their AAU defensive player of the year. She was recruited by Whalen to play as a stretch forward and is a part of the coach’s highly ranked recruiting class.

Holloway is a multi-sport athlete who has dominated in both basketball and track. In her senior year at Eden Prairie high school, she earned a spot on the All-State team in basketball after averaging 16.9 points per game, 1.6 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.2 blocks.

Editor’s Note: Holloway suffered a season-ending knee injury last week, Lindsay Whalen announced Tuesday.

Nia Holloway is primed to lead the Gophers next generation of female athletes. She was a multi-sport athlete in high school, ranking No. 45 in the nation in basketball, according to Prep Girls Hoops, and winning the state high jump event twice in track.

As Holloway’s accolades and recognition grew, the Star Tribune took notice and featured her, along with seven other accomplished women athletes, in a piece under their “Title IX Turns 50” series. In this piece, they labeled Holloway as “The Rising Star.”

“I honestly think it’s amazing,” Holloway said. “Little Nia would probably be like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re doing so well now.’ It’s so cool to see my work paying off in that way.”

‘Little Nia’ spent her childhood in Eden Prairie with her parents and four siblings. During this time, her family taught her the values of being goal-oriented and competitive, but also to remain tightly-knit and supportive of one another. She continued to practice these values in areas including, but not limited to, the classroom, on the track and on the court.

“I know that my family has my back, so why wouldn’t my team family have my back the same? And why wouldn’t I have their back,” Holloway said on the topic of family values.

Transitioning from being a multi-sport athlete in high school to focusing on a single sport may sound like a lighter load, but incoming freshmen, such as Holloway, are quick to find out otherwise.

“It’s more busy than you think it is,” Holloway said. “At first a lot of people, even me, thought I’m going to have so much free time, but [now] I have all this stuff, classes, workouts, individuals, meetings.”

So in true basketball player fashion, the freshman looked to the veterans for help.

“My parents [told] me make sure you value the time you have for yourself,” Holloway said. “If you have time to take an hour nap, take that time.”

Holloway said she learned that creating healthy habits can often translate to better production on the court. In fact, she’s made a career out of it. She has improved her speed and endurance through a recognition of patterns between the sports’ stretches and drills, helping her become a complete player. And now that she’s at the collegiate level, Holloway continues to build healthy habits with her teammates.

Summer practices started June 13. It was a small group, but still enough to get a feel for the team’s progress on chemistry and what it can become later in the year.

“Our chemistry is so good this year. I’m so excited to see what we can do,” Holloway said.

After finishing 10th in the Big Ten, the Gophers experienced a heavy overturn on its roster. The overturn was made up of seven transfers (most in the Big Ten), including key contributors Sara Scalia and Kadi Sissoko.

“Honestly, especially because I wasn’t here last year, I can’t speak on why people left. I’m sure everybody has a different reason, probably valid reasons,” Holloway said. “But I think it’s more important that we keep pushing forward. It’s not something that you can just sit around because the season gets going. I’m glad that we’re going to have the opportunity to keep building on what we have left instead of focusing on what’s in the past.”

In an effort to rebuild the future of the program, head coach Lindsay Whalen brought in five transfers and a top-10 recruiting class in the nation (Holloway, Mara Braun, Amaya Battle and Mallory Heyer). Earlier this year, it was announced that Whalen’s contract had been extended into 2025, giving her a total of three years to develop this year’s recruits and revamp the program.

“[Whalen] had such an influential part in my decision,” Holloway said when asked about her recruitment process. “I think it’s so cool that she’s been to all the places that I hope to be at when I’m older, playing professionally, in the Olympics, all that kind of stuff.”

With a historic amount of outgoing transfers, the new faces will be called on to do more than improve the team’s record; they will be called on to be the new leaders of Gophers women’s basketball.

The leadership position in women’s basketball is demanding. Not only does it require a player to be an on-court coach, it requires a player to be an off-court activist.

In high school, Holloway demonstrated that she is capable of being an activist off the court. She co-founded the Black Student Union at Eden Prairie, worked to promote youth leadership at Central Middle School and promoted racial equity as a senior officer for the Dare 2 Be Real organization.

“Being an athlete gives me such a big platform that others might not have,” Holloway said. “And I’ve always thought that if I have a platform that big, I should be using it.”
Holloway has taken no time off in using her platform as an athlete. In the previously stated Star Tribune article, she spoke on giving Black women coaches more respect.
When asked about the specifics behind this quote, Holloway mentioned the story of Texas A&M Head Coach Sydney Carter wearing her pink pants during a game against Kentucky and how others called it “unprofessional.” She said she wanted to be clear that the people criticizing Carter should be “holding everybody to the same standard” and checking their biases.
Holloway’s answer showed how engrossed she has been in women’s basketball culture. Even during the interview, she was donning the signature orange WNBA sweatshirt.
Although a possible career in the WNBA is a ways away, she said she dreams of continuing her passion for basketball after her time as a player as an assistant to Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx or Mike Thibault of the Washington Mystics.
But as of right now, Holloway is focused on one goal: bringing Minnesota back to its glory days.
“It’d be really cool to go back to the tournament, or maybe even the Final Four … sometime in these [next] four years, I think we can really do it,” she said. “We have a really special thing going.”

Former Gophers guard Payton Willis signed with the Golden State Warriors Summer League team. He is scheduled to have his first experience in NBA-level action July 2-3 in the California Classic.

The California Classic is a basketball showcase featuring the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat and Warriors. Teams play in a four game exhibition series, giving players a chance to compete for a spot on an NBA roster.

“I feel great, obviously,” Willis said during his introductory press conference Wednesday. “Being able to play for a world class staff and organization like the Warriors is a blessing.”

After the Classic, Willis will continue to play for the Warriors from July 7-17 in the NBA2k23 Summer League.

The 24-year-old sharpshooter went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. But after signing with the Warriors, he is lined up to share the court this summer with NBA champions Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman.

“I’m just going to take all the information I can from them, whether it’s watching them in practice, during games or the advice they have for me,” Willis said at the press conference.

In his final season at Minnesota, Willis posted a career high in points, assists, rebounds and steals. He earned Big 10 Player of the Week twice and was named an All-Big 10 honorable mention.

After playing two of his six collegiate years at Minnesota, Willis holds school records in 3-point field goal percentage in a season (42.8%) and 3-point field goals made in a game (8).

Other notable Gophers that have participated in the NBA Summer League include Daniel Oturu (2021), Amir Coffey (2019) and Austin Hollins (2015).