Minnesota-Tennessee Tech BB Preview

Minnesota has outscored their Division II instate competition 212-96 in easy victories over Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State Moorhead. The Gophers open the regular season at home Friday against Tennessee Tech. Tubby Smith will see a familiar face on the Golden Eagles’ sideline in head coach Mike Sutton, who was an assistant at five different stops.    Full Story

The Minnesota Gopher basketball team put their off-the-court concerns behind them as they rolled to a 114-47 win over Minnesota-Duluth. The Gophers led 50-13 at halftime as they scored the final 21 points of the first half and expanded the margin to 75-28. All 11 Gophers scored as they overwhelmed the Division II opponent.   Full Story

Freshman Royce White and senior Devron Bostick have been suspended indefinitely and will miss the Gophers' exhibition opener versus Minnesota-Duluth Thursday, according to Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. The two have been suspended for "violation of team rules and conduct."   Full Story

University of Minnesota director of athletics Joel Maturi announced Monday that junior forward Trevor Mbakwe will not play for the Golden Gopher basketball team until his pending legal matter has been resolved in a satisfactory manner. Minnesota is ranked #18 in the ESPN/USA Today and 25th in the AP preseason basketball poll and returns their top nine scorers from last season.   Full Story

Minnesota is ranked #18 in the ESPN/USA Today and 25th in the AP preseason basketball poll. The Gophers are the fifth Big Ten team ranked in the ESPN/USA Today poll, following #2 Michigan State, #7 Purdue, #15 Michigan and #17 Ohio State. The Gophers return their top nine scorers and 88.5% of their scoring, 88.3% of their rebounding and 91.45 of their assists from last year's team.   Full Story

Joe Coleman, a 6-foot-3 wing from Hopkins, is one of the top juniors in the state. Coleman came off the bench last year for the 31-0 Royals, who won the Class AAAA state title. Hopkins lost all five starters to graduation and Coleman will be counted on to carry more of the scoring load this season. Coleman attended Tubby's Tip-Off and GoldenSports.Net caught up with him to learn the latest.   Full Story

Blake Hoffarber, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior guard, saw his usually reliable outside shot fail him at times last year as he shot 34.1% from three-point range and he started Big Ten conference play making just seven of 37 three-pointers. However, Hoffarber had a strong summer in the Howard Pulley League and is poised for a big 2009-10 season. GoldenSportsa.Net recently caught up with Hoffarber.   Full Story

Trevor Mbakwe, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward who is expected to add a physical presence to the Minnesota Gopher frontcourt, shined this summer in the Howard Pulley Summer League and many observers felt that he was the Gophers' best player Friday night in an opening scrimmage. GoldenSports.Net caught up with Mbakwe during Friday's media day to learn about his expectations for the upcoming season.   Full Story

The Errol Carlstrom Playaz won their four straight playoff game, including three contests this week to advance to the championship game with a 125-97 win over B-2-X. They will face the El-Amin Fish House Thursday night and if they win, will force another game Friday night.   Full Story

Trevor Mbakwe, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward who is expected to add a physical presence to the Minnesota Gopher frontcourt, is facing a felony battery charge stemming from an April incident in Miami-Dade County, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Mbakwe has been playing for the Errol Carlstrom Playaz, leading them to a win over Sabes/TRP Group Tuesday. They will face B-2-X Wednesday.   Full Story

Royce White, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward from Hopkins, was the highest rated player in Minnesota's four-man recruiting class that was ranked among the top in the Big Ten. White helped lead the Royals to the Class AAAA state title and is playing for Troy Hudson Enterprises in the Pro City League. GoldenSports.Net caught up with White to talk about his sumer and expectations for the upcoming year.   Full Story

The Howard Pulley Pro City playoffs continue Monday with two elimination games scheduled. The winners will play Tuesday with the loser being eliminated. The two undefeated team; B-2-X and El-Amin’s Fish House will square off Tuesday. The championship game will be held Thursday and Friday, if necessary.   Full Story

Paul Carter, a 6-foot-8, 195-pound junior forward, has had a strong summer playing for the El-Amin Fish House, which remains undefeated in Howard Pulley Pro City League play. Carter also played for a team overseas this summer, which he led in scoring. GoldenSports.Net recently caught up with Carter to learn more about his work on improving his game and expectations for the upcoming season.   Full Story

B-2-X (3-5) knocked off Troy Hudson Enterprises (4-4) 110-103 in the Howard Pulley Pro City playoff action. B-2-X will meet second seed A&A Millworks   Full Story

A&A Millworks got a tougher than expected 91-84 win over Howard Pulley in their opening round playoff game. Howard Pulley, who was just 1-6 in regular season play, led 46-44 at halftime. A&A Millworks will face B-2-X Thursday night.   Full Story

El-Amin Fish House continued its unbeaten ways with a 122-93 win over the Pat Madison Magic in the first round of playoff action at the Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League. El-Amin Fish House will face Sabes/TRP Group Wednesday, while Pat Madison Magic will meet Errol Carlstrom Playaz with the loser being eliminated.   Full Story

Rodney Williams Jr., a 6-foot-6, 185-pound forward, received word that he has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse and will be eligible as a freshman. Williams did not take class this summer as he got his eligibility issues resolved. Williams played for the Minnesota Grassroots AAU team Monday in the Best Buy Summer Classic. However, he didn't play in Tuesday's games.   Full Story

Devoe Joseph, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, had a excellent freshman campaign for the Gophers. Joseph had a season-best 31 points for Errol Carlstrom Playaz as they improved to 3-1 as they defeated B-2-X 119-115 Wednesday night. GoldenSports. Net caught up with Joseph to learn about his expectations for the upcoming season and the possibility to playing with his younger brother, Cory, next year.   Full Story

Errol Carlstrom Playaz edged B-2-X 119-115 to improve to 3-1 in Pulley Pro City Summer League action. B-2-X fell to 2-2.   Full Story

Rodney Williams Jr., a 6-foot-6, 185-pound forward, has wowed fans at the Howard Pulley Pro City League with his highlight reel dunks. Williams is one of four incoming player who will provide the Gophers with a deep and athletic team. GoldenSports.Net caught up with Williams to learn the latest on trying to get through the NCAA Clearinghouse and what he thinks about during his dunking exhibitions.   Full Story

Trevor Mbakwe, a 6-foot-8 forward who is expected to add a physical presence to the Minnesota Gopher frontcourt this season, showed off his aggressive play as he scored 29 points to pace Errol Carlstrom Playaz to a 119-109 win over B-2-X at the Pulley Pro City Summer League. GoldenSports.Net caught up with Mbakwe after the game to talk about rumors about his playing status and his role this year.   Full Story

El-Amin Fish House improved to 4-0 with a 115-105 win over previously unbeaten A&A Millworks Tuesday night in Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League   Full Story

The Howard Pulley Pro City League features many current, future and former Minnesota players continue play at the Salvation Army Center in St. Paul. Tuesday will show off the two undefeated teams El-Amin Fish House and A&A Millworks. The following is the latest look at the ever-changing rosters.    Full Story

A&A Millworks rallied from an 81-68 deficit going into the fourth quarter as they edged Errol Carlstrom Playaz 96-95 in a matchup previously undefeated teams. Al Nolen hit a three-pointer with a 11.3 seconds left to put A&A Millworks up 96-92. Fellow Gopher backcourt mate Devoe Joseph sank a the with 4.4 seconds left to cut the margin to one. Luke Anderson's 35-footer at the buzzer hit the rim.   Full Story

El-Amin Fish House rallied from a 74-70 deficit after the third quarter to remain undefeated with a 93-91 victory over TRP Group.   Full Story