Recent content from Marcus Fuller
Turnaround has Gophers aiming higher than just making the Big Ten tournament
Minnesota is tied for 11th in the 18-team conference entering Saturday's game vs. Penn State. The top 15 teams make it, and the top nine get a first-round bye.
Powered by Garcia, Gophers men's basketball team pulls off huge comeback at UCLA
Minnesota trailed by 17 points in the first half before their star led a rally with a 27-point second half.
What's it like to score 60 points in one high school game? Two more Minnesotans can explain.
Basketball Across Minnesota: Champlin Park's Tyler Wagner and Jackson County Central's Rylie Cother each had a 60-point game one week apart.
Gophers senior Patterson emerges as a go-to player after making a leap to the Big Ten
Minneapolis native Lu'Cye Patterson has helped lead the Gophers after starting his college career at Missouri State and Charlotte.
U men's basketball recruits excited watching comeback victory over USC
After an 0-6 start to Big Ten play this season, the Gophers have won five of their past eight games and recruits are noticing.
Gophers push back in L.A. for victory over USC in men's basketball
Minnesota trailed nearly the entire game, at times by double digits, before scoring the last eight points in the final 1:13.
Gophers reunion: USC's Musselman faces his dad's former program for the first time
Bill Musselman coached the Gophers to the 1972 Big Ten men's basketball title, and now his son, Eric, takes on Minnesota for USC.
Basketball Across Minnesota: Minnesota State Mankato isn't the only local Division II women's basketball power
Concordia (St. Paul) and Southwest Minnesota State are challenging the Mavericks.
Gophers men's basketball team crashes hard at home against No. 23 Illinois
Minnesota held a lead for the first six minutes, but the Illini controlled matters after that and won 95-74.
Gophers prove Williams Arena can still be electrifying for big, underdog moments
Coach Ben Johnson has seen crowds at the Barn turn into difference makers, and the Gophers could use that again Saturday vs. No. 23 Illinois.
Olivia Olson and Liv McGill are latest former Minnesota prep basketball stars making waves nationally
Basketball Across Minnesota: Michigan's Olivia Olson and Florida's Liv McGill are the latest to emerge from this national basketball hot spot.
Four things learned from the Gophers' comeback win at Penn State
Gophers reserve Brennan Rigsby's best Big Ten scoring game and lockdown team defense made the difference.
Gophers overcome slow start behind Garcia, Rigsby to rally past Penn State
Dawson Garcia had 19 points and a season-high 14 rebounds and Brennan Rigsby contributed 14 points off the bench to the 69-61 comeback victory.
Coach searches for better backcourt play for Gophers men's basketball team
Gophers coach Ben Johnson needs Femi Odukale and Isaac Asuma in attack mode Tuesday at Penn State to help end the shooting woes for Mike Mitchell Jr., and Lu'Cye Patterson.
Four things learned from Gophers men's basketball team's frustrating home loss to Washington
Dawson Garcia scored 28 points, but Washington outplayed the Gophers backcourt and exploited a re-emerging rebounding issue.
Gophers let one get away against Big Ten's last-place men's basketball team
Minnesota made it close after trailing by 10 at halftime, but Washington still ended its six-game losing streak.
Gophers vs. Washington game will reunite ex-teammates Garcia and Ihenacho
The former Prior Lake standouts will meet when the Gophers host struggling Washington on Saturday at Williams Arena.
Too much Holloman and three other things learned from the Gophers' loss at Michigan State
Turnovers and transition buckets were among the factors that ended the Gophers' three-game win streak.
Land of 10,000 big men continues to produce impressive frontcourt talent
Basketball Across Minnesota: Tommy Ahneman, Jack Thelen and Mustafa Mohamed among several top big men to watch.
Gophers men's basketball falls to No. 7 Michigan State 73-51
Dawson Garcia scored 21 points, but former Cretin-Derham Hall star Tre Holloman helped Michigan State end Minnesota's three-game winning streak.
Gophers head to Michigan State as different team from one Spartans routed Dec. 4
The Gophers men's basketball team is on a three-game win streak but faces a Michigan State squad that's won 12 in a row.
Dawson Garcia is on best Gophers men's basketball scoring streak in six years
The Gophers won a third straight game on Garcia's 31 points vs. Oregon. He's the first U player with five straight 20-point games since Amir Coffey in 2019.
Gophers enhance their uptick by overcoming No. 15 Oregon in men's basketball
Dawson Garcia scored 31 points for Minnesota, which won its third in a row despite giving up a big early lead.
Key reason Gophers men's basketball has started winning? Transfer production.
Transfers Femi Odukale, Frank Mitchell and Lu'Cye Patterson have spearheaded two straight Big Ten wins.
The best recruiting class in Minnesota? These elite sophomores have college-level potential
Ten high school boys basketball players in Minnesota have formed arguably the deepest recruiting class in the state, with some boasting offers from the Gophers, Iowa and Arizona State.
Gophers recruit Parker Jefferson has big MLK Day, with first career triple-double
Parker Jefferson, a 6-10 senior, had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the win for Inglewood (Calif.).
Four things learned from the Gophers' victory at Iowa, including Mitchell's big performance
Free-throw shooting had been a major issue for the Gophers, but several players came up with some big ones Tuesday in Iowa City.
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 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.
