The Gophers men's basketball team joined a trend that has swept across college basketball, announcing Tuesday it will play an exhibition game to raise money for hurricane relief efforts.
Minnesota will play Wisconsin-Green Bay at noon Nov. 5 at the Sports Pavilion on campus, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
"In my four years here we have played in Puerto Rico twice and have had an unbelievable experience both times," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said in a statement. "Hopefully our fans' generosity and caring spirit will show on November 5. I am really looking forward to this day — we need to pack the Pav."
All tickets will be sold for $10 general admission for the exhibition game.
The NCAA has given college basketball programs a waiver if they want to play an extra exhibition game for disaster relief. More than 20 teams have taken advantage of that opportunity to raise money, including a Kansas vs. Missouri game Saturday in Kansas City that reportedly raised $1.75 million ($724,000 also from pay-per-view subscribers).
Minnesota is one of six Big Ten teams playing hurricane relief exhibition games for victims of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. Others are Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Penn State and Nebraska.
The Huskers won at Mississippi State last weekend. Michigan State hosts Georgia on Sunday, which is the only other Big Ten hurricane relief game vs. a high-major opponent.
