The Gophers began basketball practice over the weekend and gave fans a glimpse of the team during a scrimmage at “Tubby’s Tipoff” on Friday night. Minnesota will have exhibition games at Williams Arena against Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State University Moorhead on November 5 and 9, followed by home nonconference games against Tennessee Tech, Stephen F. Austin and Utah Valley (honest) on November 13, 16 and 19.
After all those warm-up games, the Gophers will then have a test and an opportunity to make evaluations about themselves. Coach Tubby Smith’s team plays Butler on November 26 in Anaheim as part of the 76 Classic. The Bulldogs are a preseason top 15 team at No. 11 while the Gophers aren’t far behind at 16, according to https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/12316643.
A visitor in Smith’s office last week found the conversation turning to the Butler game. Smith seemed cautious about facing a team of Butler’s reputation and ability so early in the season (all five starters return). “They could be a final four team,” he said.
Butler, located in Indianapolis, has long maintained a respectable basketball reputation but the program has never made it to the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs were 26-6 last season.
Smith, starting his third season as Gophers head coach, is familiar with such success. As head coach at Kentucky he won a national championship and was accustomed to NCAA tournament teams including three clubs that made the elite eight.
Last season the Gophers were 22-11 and in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. The Gophers have nine returning players including their most important contributors from last season’s team.
Smith acknowledged he will be disappointed if the 2009-10 Gophers aren’t his best team. He told Sports Headliners no player has locked up a starting position.
Smith said on GopherSports.com that athleticism will be a team strength. “I think we got more athletic through recruiting, and that was one of the things we were trying to do,” Smith said. “Our strength and condition program, we’ve done a good job there, in the offseason and in the summer. And it looks like everybody’s stronger. We do a good job within our strength program and certainly guys put in a lot of valuable, hard work there.” More at https://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38661&SPID=3302&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204815023.