Recent content from Marcus Fuller
Gophers men's basketball shocks Iowa 72-67 to pick up second Big Ten win
Dawson Garcia's 20 points and Femi Odukale's 18 points led Minnesota to its first victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 2015.
Cretin-Derham Hall grad Jones takes different path to stardom for Iowa State
Basketball Across Minnesota: Curtis Jones went from junior college to Buffalo to Ames, Iowa, where he's been a force, even off the bench.
Making of a legend: Follow Dawson Garcia from youth hoops phenomenon to Gophers history-maker
A buzzer-beater against Michigan cemented a legacy years in the making for a homegrown men's basketball star.
Timberwolves fade against Cavaliers in second game of back-to-back
Minnesota put up a double-digits lead in the first quarter but fell behind by 20 in the fourth.
Dawson Garcia's buzzer-beater vs. Michigan had shades of Blake Hoffarber's miracle shot
Gophers senior's game-winning buzzer beater Thursday was the program's first against a ranked opponent since Hoffarber's memorable shot vs. Indiana in 2008.
Garcia's long three to end overtime gives Gophers first Big Ten victory of season
Dawson Garcia, who finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, helped the Gophers beat No. 20 Michigan for their first victory over a ranked team in nearly four years.
Highly recruited guard goes from shooter to scorer for East Ridge boys basketball team
Cedric Tomes, a 6-1 junior with a scholarship offer from the Gophers, is averaging over 30 points per game.
Michigan's Twin Towers ready to make things difficult for Gophers
The Wolverines are 5-0 in the Big Ten, led by 7-footers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin.
Four things learned at Maryland for Gophers men's basketball
Dawson Garcia works to settle frontcourt issues, but fouls catch up to him. Turnovers sink Gophers, too.
Top Minnesota basketball players flock to see the 'Nigerian Footwork Master'
Basketball Across Minnesota: Peter Arigu has trained top players on one of the finer points of the game, their footwork.
What if struggling Gophers men's basketball hadn't lost key players because of NIL?
Minnesota, 0-5 in the Big Ten, goes into Monday's game at Maryland still trying to replace those gone because of better "name, image and likeness" opportunities elsewhere.
Gophers air frustration in players-led meeting after men's basketball loss at Wisconsin
After his team lost by 21 points in Madison, coach Ben Johnson let the athletes address the issues from their 0-5 Big Ten start.
Gophers are blown out by Badgers, fall to 0-5 in Big Ten men's basketball
Minnesota was overrun in the second half and lost to Wisconsin for the eighth straight time.
Gophers aim to flip the script against Minnesota-born Badgers
The Gophers need Minnesota natives Parker Fox, Lu'Cye Patterson and Isaac Asuma to thrive at Wisconsin like they did vs. Ohio State.
Abysmal foul shooting, bad fouls among reasons Gophers collapsed vs. Ohio State
Four things learned: There are multiple reasons it was one of the worst losses in Ben Johnson's head coaching tenure.
Hopkins' backcourt tandem of Moore and Smith fuels undefeated start
Basketball Across Minnesota: Jayden Moore and Anthony Smith III form the best backcourt in the state.
Gophers men's basketball loses to Ohio State 89-88 in double overtime
The Gophers missed opportunities to end the game with their first conference win, leaving them still the only winless team in Big Ten play.
Ben Johnson hopes his Gophers ignore criticism following 0-3 Big Ten start
The Gophers are the last Big Ten men's basketball team without a conference victory entering Monday vs. Ohio State.
Four things learned from the Gophers men's basketball loss to Purdue
The Gophers' defensive collapse and overmatched backcourt were among the issues as Minnesota fell to 0-3 in Big Ten men's basketball play.
Can Gophers get first win over ranked team under Johnson? Purdue stands in the way.
Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson is 0-15 vs. ranked opponents in his fourth season, but he has a chance to end the drought Thursday vs. No. 20 Purdue.
Tommies men and Gophers women reach their highest ever NET basketball rankings
Basketball Across Minnesota: How the hottest two D-I hoops teams in Minnesota climbed to new heights in the NET rankings.
Ben Johnson's Gophers search for offensive growth before Big Ten play resumes
Minnesota is one of the Big Ten's worst shooting teams, but it could get an offensive boost Sunday vs. Morgan State.
Gophers make a Big Ten women's basketball statement with 90-54 rout of Nittany Lions
Minnesota, led by freshman Tori McKinney's 25 points, avenged a 56-point loss to Penn State last season.
Former Minnetonka star Crump thriving for nation's No. 1 high school girls team
Basketball Across Minnesota: Aaliyah Crump, who committed to Texas, is spending her senior year at Montverde Academy in Florida on a team filled with Division I recruits.
Gophers open with defense, then overwhelm Fairleigh Dickinson with offense
The Knights' Terrence Brown arrived as one of the nation's top 10 scorers but made only four shots. Meanwhile, Minnesota scored 54 points in the second half, its best period of the season.
Gophers starting big man Frank Mitchell out for Fairleigh Dickinson game
Gophers starting senior forward is sidelined for Saturday's game with concussion symptoms.
Minnesota native Brown goes from no Division I offers to a top-10 scorer in the country
Former Columbia Heights star Terrence Brown returns home to play the Gophers on Saturday for Fairleigh Dickinson.
Boys Basketball: These undecided seniors, rising juniors and sophomores are picking up interest from D-I schools
Meet the top 15 uncommitted recruits in Minnesota, including Baboucarr Ann, a Maple Grove sophomore who recently received an offer from the Gophers and coach Ben Johnson.
Gophers men's basketball players strive for change after coach demanded better leadership
Ben Johnson singled out his seniors after a loss to Indiana, and they responded in practice.
In Year Two under Cook, Gophers volleyball set foundation for brighter future
The Gophers will lose senior setter Melani Shaffmaster, but they don't expect players to leave via the transfer portal.
Inside the Gophers men's basketball team's heated loss at Indiana
The Gophers had a tense postgame meeting after Monday's loss at Indiana, and there are several factors that need to improve.
Gophers coach Johnson voices his frustration to team after 82-67 loss at Indiana
Minnesota coach Ben Johnson challenged his players to compete after Indiana dominated inside in its victory Monday night. Dawson Garcia had 22 points for the Gophers.
Mitchell's return gives Gophers a three-point shooting boost, but the backcourt's still building
The Gophers senior shot lights-out upon returning from an ankle injury. Next for the guard corps: Deal with the adjusted playing time and a changing rotation.
Minnesota's top football recruits: who they are and where they're headed
Some are seniors awaiting an opportunity, many are juniors considering options, and a few are sophomores already identified as prospects.
Gophers fall to Kentucky in second round of NCAA volleyball tournament
The Gophers showed improvement in coach Keegan Cook's second year with the program, but they were eliminated in the NCAA second round again.
Gophers volleyball survives upset scare from Western Kentucky in NCAA tournament
Minnesota won the first two sets against the Hilltoppers but dropped the third set and had to come back to win the fourth.
Loss to Michigan State exposes Gophers' defensive flaws
Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson believes defense is his team's identity, but Michigan State still put up 90 points in their Big Ten opener.
Gophers get a taste of physical Big Ten basketball in loss to Michigan State
The Spartans dominated and the Gophers' scoring struggles showed in a 90-72 loss at Williams Arena.
Gophers recruiting prize Karmo says Michigan and others 'definitely came at me'
Emmanuel Karmo, the top-ranked recruit in Minnesota for the class of 2025, said the key was how the Gophers established a relationship with his family.
Gophers volleyball takes a step under Cook — with assist from McCutcheon
Former Gophers volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon passed along tidbits to current coach Keegan Cook, whose Gophers are 20-10 entering Thursday's NCAA tournament opener.
Best player in the Big Ten? Garcia's not afraid to back up that talk for Gophers
Dawson Garcia, the Gophers' leading scorer, set goals of being the Big Ten Player of the Year and more — and he's ready to back it up as conference play begins Wednesday vs. Michigan State.
Gophers will start NCAA volleyball tournament with trip to Kentucky
Minnesota had hoped to be among the 16 teams playing at home for the first two rounds but instead will play Western Kentucky on Thursday in Lexington.
Gophers get a familiar boost from Garcia, pound Bethune-Cookman
Minnesota scoring leader Dawson Garcia emerged from a short but deep slump, producing 23 points, and he wasn't alone in improving his shooting.
Hoping for home matches, Gophers await NCAA volleyball tournament reveal
Ranked 15th, they will make the field, but the numbers say they are a bubble team to host the first two rounds at Maturi Pavilion.
Asuma shows his worth in tight men's basketball losses in Orlando
The freshman guard was in the middle of matters against Wichita State and Wake Forest. "He's getting thrown into the fire. … And he's proven that he's capable of helping," coach Ben Johnson said.
Ankle injury slows Gophers guard Rigsby in loss to Wake Forest
Brennan Rigsby, a transfer from Oregon, tweaked his ankle during the first half Friday, and coach Ben Johnson took caution, relying instead on backcourt mates Lu'Cye Patterson and Femi Odukale.
Gophers fall to Demon Deacons after defense again keeps them in the game
Minnesota led at halftime but was unable to overcome the offensive dry spells that have been in play all season.
Gophers lose overtime heartbreaker to Wichita State in Orlando tournament
Dawson Garcia fouled out with four points, and the Shockers hit a game-tying three pointer with one second remaining in regulation.
Gophers roommates Patterson, Odukale combine for 27 points vs. Wichita State
With leading scorer Dawson Garcia held to just four points, the Gophers needed two newcomers to deliver more, and they did.
Journey delivers Shaffmaster to her final Big Ten volleyball match
After committing to the Gophers in the eighth grade, she stayed through a coaching change. Fans will remember her as a strong setter. She hopes they remember her loyalty, too.
Gophers' soft strength of schedule ratchets up Florida trip's importance
Minnesota's only chances to get quality nonconference wins away from Williams Arena come Thursday vs. Wichita State and Friday vs. either Florida or Wake Forest.
Gophers tell Patterson to keep shooting, and he shakes a slump just in time
Four things learned from the Gophers' latest game, including an injury update on Mike Mitchell Jr.
Gophers piece together a tight men's basketball victory over Central Michigan
Lu'Cye Patterson's late three-pointer set up Minnesota to win another close game, and he and Dawson Garcia made certain it did.
Johnson's latest Gophers recruiting class could bring more impact freshmen
Gopher basketball coach Ben Johnson signed three recruits who have similarities with the program's last two impact freshmen, Isaac Asuma and Cam Christie.
Sizing up the Gophers' chances of becoming NCAA volleyball tournament hosts
Gophers coach Keegan Cook and standout Julia Hanson understand the team must be consistent now if it wants to become an NCAA tournament host for the first time since 2022.
Four-star men's basketball target chooses Gophers over USC
Parker Jefferson, a 6-10 senior center from California, revealed his decision Wednesday night. He visited the Trojans last week and the Gophers in late October.
Gophers men's basketball team slips away from Cleveland State
Parker Fox gave the Gophers a big boost off the bench, scoring 18 points and helping turn a two-point halftime lead into double figures.
With Gophers banged up, Rigsby's sheer athletic ability gives them hope
Brennan Rigsby, a transfer from Oregon, has a 40-inch vertical and can shoot from long range. The Gophers are counting on him now with Mike Mitchell Jr., injured.
Gophers regain footing with volleyball victory over Michigan
After three consecutive losses, No. 16 Minnesota benefited from Julia Hanson's biggest output of her career.
Four things learned: Stepped-up guard play shows in Gophers' bounce-back win vs. Yale
A boost in the backcourt, clutch play from Dawson Garcia, a shortened rotation and continuing trouble on long shots stood out.
Gophers men's basketball team rallies past Yale
The Gophers trailed by 10 at halftime and had scored only 19 points, but they pushed back with a 20-9 second-half run.
Gophers men's basketball game preview: Yale up next after ugly loss
The players say they are staying optimistic, but injury issues have affected an already talent-thin lineup.
Hurting Gophers sink to a harsh low in men's basketball loss to North Texas
Center Dawson Garcia played despite a groin injury, and starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr. and four others were absent for the Gophers. Among the results: a 14-point first half.
10 stars ready to sign: these prep standouts will commit this week
Seniors are set to sign with colleges starting Wednesday across Minnesota, and here are 10 notable commitments to know.
Already missing Mitchell, Gophers could be without Garcia on Wednesday, too
Dawson Garcia is a game-time decision with a groin injury, and Mike Mitchell Jr., is out possibly for two weeks recovering from an ankle injury.
Minnehaha Academy standout Mack commits to Maryland women's basketball
Addi Mack was considering several Big Ten offers and announced Tuesday that the Terrapins were the winner.
Analysis: Gophers can credit timely plays by various players for win over Nebraska Omaha
Lu'Cye Patterson, Trey Edmonds and Isaac Asuma contributed down the stretch Saturday, and their ability to sway the game was among four things learned in the victory.
NIL on their minds: How Minnesota recruits weigh endorsement opportunities
With early signing day approaching, student-athletes weigh in on how much NIL factors in their recruiting. There's big money out there, but that doesn't appear to carry huge influence locally.
Gophers escape with a home victory over Nebraska Omaha; guard Mitchell is injured
Four free throws inside the last minute settled it. Dawson Garcia, despite foul trouble, scored 24 points.
Mitchell could be Gophers' answer at point guard; other guards adjusting around him
Gophers coach Ben Johnson is working on backcourt combinations entering Saturday's game against Nebraska Omaha.
Analysis: Garcia's big night and three other things learned from Gophers opener
Dawson Garcia scored the most points to open a Gophers men's basketball season since 2020, and the whole team looked sharp with its passing and defense.
Gophers open men's basketball season with a victory over Oral Roberts and a loud effort from Garcia
A constant on a team beset by change, Dawson Garcia scored 30 points, going six shots into the season before he even missed.
Next up for red-hot Gophers volleyball: A reunion for the coach
Keegan Cook coached Washington for eight seasons, including a 2020 Final Four trip. The Huskies insist there are no hard feelings heading into Thursday's game at Maturi Pavilion.
How NIL distracted the Gophers men's basketball team last year and what lessons were learned
Seven players transferred from a 19-win team, some for more NIL money. But the Gophers who stayed — Parker Fox, Mike Mitchell Jr. and Dawson Garcia — want to finish what they started.
Gophers men to tip off new season Wednesday vs. Oral Roberts
The Gophers men's basketball team opens its fourth season under coach Ben Johnson, and the first test is an Oral Roberts team that fell back last season after going 18-0 in the Summit League in 2022-23.
