Drayage Brokersin Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota prepares for a season-opening tipoff against visiting Bethune-Cookman on Monday in Minneapolis, and this time the Golden Gophers are looking for better results.

That said, it would be hard to envision worse results. The Golden Gophers are coming off a difficult season in which they went 9-22, including 2-17 in the Big Ten Conference to finish in last place.

A healthier roster, combined with a year of experience for some of the team’s key players, has Minnesota coach Ben Johnson feeling optimistic heading into his third season.

“Taking this over, I understood that Minnesota has never been a quick fix if you want to sustain it,” Johnson said.

The season marks a new opportunity for Golden Gophers forwards Parker Fox and Isaiah Ihnen, both of whom sustained torn ACLs in each of the past two seasons. A trio of sophomores, including Pharrel Payne, Braeden Carrington and Joshua Ola-Joseph, also return.

“They have no idea how it’s going to benefit them as sophomores with what they went through,” Johnson said. “It’s not going to get any harder ever again than it was.”

Minnesota’s most highly touted freshman is Cam Christie, a four-star recruit from the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows, Ill. Christie is the younger brother of Max Christie, who played at Michigan State and now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Meanwhile, big man Dawson Garcia returns to the Golden Gophers after averaging a team-high 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds last season.

Bethune-Cookman comes off a 12-20 season, including an 8-10 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Wildcats are led by former NBA All-Star Reggie Theus, who serves as the program’s athletic director and head basketball coach.

The season opener will mark the expected debut of Zion Harmon, who Bethune-Cookman says is the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to the program. Harmon was ranked in the top 100 nationally by a number of publications and drew interest from Kansas, Kentucky and Louisville.

“I look at our depth,” Theus said. “I look at our size. And I think that we’re going to have enough size and depth to really deal with just about anything. The one thing we lack is a little experience.”

Newcomers have defined third-year coach Ben Johnson's tenure so far with Gophers men's basketball. They've carried a big load.

After losing 10 players to the transfer portal once he was hired to replace Richard Pitino in 2021, Johnson had the largest group of newcomers in the Big Ten. And entering last season, the Gophers were near the top again with a high number of new faces.

The quantity of incoming players has finally shrunk a bit for the U — but not the quality.

For the first time, Johnson has a core of players back who have played meaningful roles. Four returners are led by All-Big Ten preseason forward Dawson Garcia, last year's scoring and rebounding leader.

But these five newcomers add much-needed depth in the backcourt and in the middle for the Gophers entering the new season. They'll face Division III Macalester in an exhibition game Thursday ahead of Monday's season opener against Bethune-Cookman at the Barn.

• MIKE MITCHELL JR.

GUARD • #2 • JUNIOR

Mitchell's father was one of the all-time football rushing leaders at Stanford. After playing his first two years at Pepperdine, the younger Mitchell now has a chance to play at the Power Five level like his pops. He was a four-star recruit coming out of the Bay Area.

The 6-2 San Jose, Calif., native was one of the top point guards available in the transfer portal with opportunities to play in several major conferences after shooting 42% from three and averaging 5.0 assists, second in the West Coast Conference.

"Mike brings a strong leadership presence to our backcourt," Johnson said. "Mike was really a productive player in the [WCC] the past two years. I love his ability to play in ball screens and his perimeter shooting capability."

• ELIJAH HAWKINS

GUARD • #0 • JUNIOR

The only player on the Gophers' roster with experience playing in the NCAA tournament, he's just 5-11 and 165 pounds. But Hawkins was huge last season for Howard as it earned the program's first March Madness berth in 31 years.

Hawkins was a first-team all-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection after ranking 11th in the nation in assists per game (6.0) and 21st in three-point percentage (46.6).

There's a sense of urgency for Hawkins to get back to the postseason after his 12-point, eight-assist performance in an NCAA tournament first-round loss to Kansas.

"Elijah is a mature young man, who has always been a winner," Johnson said. "He's a tough, gritty competitor that plays with an edge. Elijah has an alpha mentality and really loves to work on his craft."

University of Minnesota photo

• CAM CHRISTIE

GUARD • #24 • FRESHMAN

Growing up, Christie played mostly in his older brother's shadow. Max Christie turned into a McDonald's All-America and NBA draft pick after his freshman year at Michigan State. Cam's been motivated his whole life to be better than his big brother — and his potential seems just as high.

The 6-6, 190-pound freshman arrived as the top recruit in Johnson's 2023 class after earning all-state honors at Rolling Meadows in Arlington Heights, Ill. Christie expects to make an immediate impact as a deadeye shooter and athletic scorer in the U backcourt.

"No fear. Extreme confidence," Ben Johnson said. "Great maturity for an 18-year-old. He has high expectations for himself, which is what I love. I want all of our guys to have that game-changer mentality."

• JACK WILSON

CENTER • #33 • GRADUATE

No player in the Big Ten outside of Purdue's man mountain Zach Edey can match the size of the Gophers' new center, who once was the largest football player ever in the Pac-12 as a 6-11, 335-pound offensive lineman.

Wilson, a former four-star basketball recruit from San Mateo, Calif., played at Oregon State to start his career before transferring to Idaho and eventually Washington State.

The Gophers were desperate to find a big man in the portal to back up talented sophomore Pharrel Payne and challenge him physically in practice. They found their guy.

"It's undeniable this is a great opportunity," Wilson said. "It's extremely high-level basketball and it fits my style of play. I can have an impact in the Big Ten against other teams who have big, more traditional centers."

• KRISTUPAS KEINYS

FORWARD • #8 • FRESHMAN

Keinys joined the Gophers at the end of the summer after spending most of the offseason working out back home in Klaipeda, Lithuania. But the 6-8, 215-pound wing fit right in with his energy and athleticism once practice opened this fall.

Keinys won't back down to Big Ten opponents after already playing tough competition internationally, including the U18 European Championships in 2022.

The Gophers' deepest position is the wing/power forward spot with Keinys, Joshua Ola-Joseph, Isaiah Ihnen and Kadyn Betts.

"He's going to be another exciting young player for us to develop," Johnson said. "He's a really good athlete. He's skilled and can shoot it. Playing in Lithuania in the pro league, he's not going to be fazed. He's hungry to push guys."

Braeden Carrington forced a steal; Elijah Hawkins quickly started a fast break; and Mike Mitchell Jr. finished it with a layup.

It was an early glimpse Thursday into the type of pace the Gophers men’s basketball team will look to play with this season. The play also helped Minnesota separate from Macalester after the Division III opponent led for nearly 10 first-half minutes of an exhibition game at Williams Arena.

The underdogs from St. Paul grabbed four offensive rebounds on one early possession and made a handful of early 3-pointers en route to a 17-9 lead. But the Gophers finally started to act like the bigger and more-talented neighbors, using that fast break and other facets as part of a 20-5 run in a 97-73 win.

“I’ve done these (exhibitions) a long time, those first 10 minutes to even first half, it’s going to be close,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “I told our guys, ‘We are not blowing these guys out in the first 20 minutes. It’s more of, again, showing our maturity. It’s like boxing: you just keep wanting to go body blow, body blow and hopefully wear them out.”

Johnson was particularly impressed by the team’s 32 total assists and only five turnovers. Hawkins, a transfer from Howard, and Mitchell Jr., a transfer from Pepperdine, each had nine assists.

Josh Ola-Joseph, who is switching from power forward to small forward, led Minnesota with 21 points, while Dawson Garcia added 19. Hawkins, Mitchell and Parker Fox also reached double digits.

Macalester guard Caleb Williams of Wild Rose, Wis., led the Scots with a huge performance: 41 points on 14 of 31 shooting. He hit a number of head-turning fadeaway shots.

The Gophers played without starting center Pharrel Payne and true freshman guard Cam Christie, while Macalester didn’t have big man Ba Badou, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Johnson said Christie and Payne are not dealing with serious issues and might be able to return for the season opener against Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Barn.

Without Payne to run the starting lineup, the Gophers went with Garcia, Hawkins, Carrington, Ola-Joseph and Isaiah Ihnen.

Macalester is considered one of the favorites in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season after finishing fourth in the league in 2022-23. Johnson credited how sixth-year coach Abe Woldeslassie has the Scotts program on the upswing.

The Gophers last played Macalester in 1922, losing to the Scots 12-11. The U beat fellow MIAC team St. Olaf 71-55 in an exhibition game to start last season.

Ten other schools in the Big Ten will have played exhibitions against teams from Division II or lower levels this fall.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team hosts Division III Macalester from the MIAC in an exhibition Thursday night at Williams Arena.

The game in itself means nothing and doesn’t count, but don’t tell that to Parker Fox and Isaiah Ihnen. It’s their unofficial return to the court after sitting out the last two seasons with knee injuries. For Fox, it’ll be tough to hold back his emotions. He transferred to the Gophers after the Mahtomedi native was a Division II All-American at Northern State. He finally gets a chance to play for his hometown team at Williams Arena.

It'll be his first game in 960 days.

"Visible chills already. I think the moment I get to go on that court and get to sub in is going to be one of the most special moments of my life," Fox said. "There’s days where you never thought it would happen. Now I feel great, feel awesome. It’s a huge process and a huge journey, but it all works out and pays off for itself."

It all became real for Fox when he stepped on the court for a scrimmage against Colorado State. In his first live action, his first basket was a dunk. He remembers getting a text message from his parents before, telling him how proud they were of his fight to return.

"I can’t believe I got back here, that I was able to do this. I subbed into the game and got a bucket right away. We’re back, let’s go," Fox said.

There were times when he thought he might never play again. He tore his first ACL right around the time he committed to Ben Johnson and Minnesota. He entered the transfer portal and the 6-8 athletic forward talked with more than 100 schools.

"The first day in the portal I talked on the phone for nine hours straight," Fox said.

He cut his list to eight, including the Gophers. A talk with Johnson sold him.

"The biggest thing was when Coach Johnson told me, he said ‘Imagine going somewhere else and thinking about what it would be like at Minnesota?’ That did it, he got me for sure," Fox said.

Both he and Ihnen then had to focus on rehab together, and become cheerleaders on the bench as Johnson and the Gophers went through a 13-17 season, winning just four games in the Big Ten. The team would go through practices for hours, they would be in the training room.

"I spent more time with that dude than you guys even know, I love him to death," Fox said of Ihnen. "I know everything about him, he knows everything about me. He’s not clean in the kitchen, I’ll tell you that much."

Set to return last season, it happened again to both of them. Ihnen injured the same knee during summer workouts. Fox was running a transition drill in a practice, passed to Jamison Battle and planted his foot. His other knee popped.

"It’s ridiculous, honestly, to have those type of injuries back to back. I would not wish that on anyone. At the same time, it was a blessing having him there with me," Ihnen said.

"I passed it to Jamison for a three, took a step and it just gave out. I looked at coach, and I’m like I tore it. I knew it right away," Fox said.

After going through his first knee injury, the process was on Fox never wanted to go through again. That’s until the basketball junkie had to do it again. He has five TVs in his home, has a subscription to NBA League Pass and basketball is constantly on.

His mindset changed after the second injury. He was determined to play for the Gophers and put on the Minnesota jersey one day. That day is now.

"I told myself I gotta do it again. There’s no way I can’t do it again because I love it too much. I have to give myself that chance," Fox said.

Fox talked with fellow Gophers Chris Autman-Bell and Eric Curry about their injuries. He followed Klay Thompson’s return from an ACL and torn Achilles. He read books, and picked up journaling to help his emotions on the dark days.

He also started his own podcast, an outlet he needed and relied on.

Thursday night, Fox and Ihnen will play in their first exhibition in two years. Next Monday, it’s for real against Bethune-Cookman. It’s impossible to know what their role will be with the Gophers this season. Their focus is being back healthy.

"The game is really my life, I’m just blessed I get to be able to practice," Fox said. "This is the last hurrah, so I’ve got to give it everything I got. I can’t second guess, I can’t hold back."

MINNEAPOLIS — Kandiyohi County native Adam Duininck has been selected as the next president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District , according to a news release issued Oct. 25.

Duininck was selected for the position after the retirement of former president and CEO Steve Cramer.

Duininck has had a history in urban planning, transportation and community engagement, including work as chair of the Metropolitan Council and as the director of government affairs for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters.

According to the release, Duininck, son of Garry and Cherris Duininck, grew up between Blomkest and Svea, just south of Willmar.

“I am thrilled to become the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council-Downtown Improvement District at such a pivotal time for downtown Minneapolis and the region,” Duininck said in a statement. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation that has been achieved through Steve Cramer’s leadership.”

The Minneapolis Downtown Council is one of the longest standing central business associations in the United States. It is a membership-based organization which works towards the betterment of Downtown Minneapolis, according to its news release.

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The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District is a nonprofit funded by local businesses whose goal is to improve life downtown by making it safer and cleaner.

"(Duininck's) vision for a vibrant downtown Minneapolis aligns perfectly with our 2035 Planning Process, and his proven track record in leadership and community development makes him an ideal fit for the role," said Karin Lucas, board chair, in a statement.

Duininck believes that economic prosperity in Minneapolis can help grow and develop the communities around it.

“The economic vitality of downtown Minneapolis relates to Willmar because a strong downtown Minneapolis is an economic driver for a strong region and a safe, thriving state,” Duininck said.

The Duininck family has been in the Willmar and Prinsburg area for generations. The original business was a road construction company begun in 1926 by three brothers. What is now Duininck Companies represents a portfolio of multi-generational and family-owned businesses. Duininck Companies has remained a part of the Willmar area community and the Duininck family since.