Gophers men’s basketball to play Colorado State in closed scrimmage Saturday

The Gophers men’s basketball team had limited opportunities to truly assess themselves during the summer and fall as they only competed against each other in practices.

But now, they are ready to face a different opponent.

On Saturday, the Gophers will participate in a closed scrimmage against Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado. Closed scrimmages, which are not open to the public or media, usually keep the game results under wraps.

Gophers coach Ben Johnson appreciates the competitive nature of scrimmages, as they provide an opportunity to challenge his team with a certain style of play.

Johnson’s team retains four players from last season, including scoring and rebounding leader Dawson Garcia and sophomore big man Pharrel Payne, both of whom showed improvement towards the end of the previous season.

However, the Gophers are also excited to unveil their new players, particularly guards Cam Christie, Mike Mitchell Jr., and Elijah Hawkins, who will have their first taste of competition against an opponent.

Veteran forwards Isaiah Ihnen and Parker Fox have received clearance for full contact this fall after enduring back-to-back season-ending knee injuries.

Last season, the Gophers engaged in a closed scrimmage with Colorado State at Williams Arena, where Payne impressed with his physicality. The final score was not recorded.

Colorado State, led by Minnesota native Niko Medved, finished with a 15-18 record last season. Medved, a former Gophers student manager under Clem Haskins, guided Colorado State to the NCAA tournament with the help of standout David Roddy, a Breck alum. Gophers assistant Dave Thorson previously served on Medved’s staff before joining the Gophers.

During Johnson’s debut season in 2021, the Gophers scrimmaged against Oklahoma. Closed scrimmages were eliminated in the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 concerns, which hindered teams’ preparation for their opening games. In recent years, the Gophers engaged in scrimmages against Iowa State, Creighton, and DePaul.

Johnson eagerly anticipates facing a high-quality opponent like Colorado State and views the scrimmage as an additional game to prepare his team for the upcoming season.

The Gophers’ first game in front of fans will be an exhibition against Division III Macalester at Williams Arena on November 2. Their official season opener will take place on November 6 at home against Bethune-Cookman.