Recent content from Marcus Fuller
Curry returns from calf injury, but Washington sits out Gophers' win
The Gophers were down one player to injury for Saturday's 84-63 win vs. Indiana, but they gained another back into the rotation.
In search of a solution: Gophers desperate to end losing streak
The Gophers enter Saturday's home game against Indiana hoping to climb back up and stop a four-game losing streak. They are 0-for-February and have fallen from sixth to eighth place in the Big Ten since the slump began.
Angry Pitino laments 'absolutely unfortunate' final moments in loss to Nebraska
James Palmer Jr.'s two free throws with 1.1 seconds left following a controversial foul call sealed Nebraska's 62-61 victory. "We deserved to win the game," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said.
Injuries, losing streak complicate Nebraska's season
The Cornhuskers' seven-game losing streak — one that ended by edging the Gophers 62-61 on Wednesday — put the program in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive year.
'We have to pull through': Gophers in search of answers away from home
Poor shooting, undisciplined defense and an absence of mental and physical toughness to finish games have all contributed to a 1-6 road record filled with lopsided losses.
Gophers' Curry sits out Saturday's game because of calf injury
"We need Eric back," coach Richard Pitino said. "We're clearly a better team, just a more complete team with him back."
Frozen solid: Misses from deep range adding up in a bad way for Gophers
The Gophers are among the nation's worst teams at shooting three-pointers, and are on pace to set a program record for lowest three-point percentage.
Lakeville North's Reuvers gets to play at Williams Arena — as a Badger
Nate Reuvers attended Gophers games as a standout at Lakeville North, but he always wondered what it would be like to play on the Barn's raised floor. Wednesday he got his chance.
Gophers believe remaining schedule sets up well for NCAA berth
Minnesota's remaining schedule, beginning with tonight's game vs. Wisconsin, is ideal for a team needing more quality victories to feel comfortable on Selection Sunday in March.
Gophers men lose 13-point lead in second half, fall to Purdue
Purdue put together a 21-2 run midway through the second half to end Minnesota's upset bid. "We went cold at the wrong time," Richard Pitino said.
Now as a reserve, Oturu still providing boost for Gophers
The 6-10 Cretin-Derham Hall product carried his team in the first half Sunday, scoring 13 of his 19 points in a 73-63 loss at No. 17 Purdue.
Gophers' Coffey leads in college while developing NBA skills
Junior guard Amir Coffey is having a banner season, averaging a career-high 18.9 points (third in the Big Ten), 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in conference play.
Gophers freshman center Daniel Oturu back playing after shoulder injury
He had 11 points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes, going 7-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Stain removal: Gophers hope to erase memory of rout at Illinois
The Illinois team that dominated the Gophers 95-68 on Jan. 16 will be on the other bench again Wednesday night at Williams Arena as Minnesota looks to take another step in its recovery process.
Hot-shooting, slick-passing Gophers knock off No. 19 Iowa
Playing without starter Daniel Oturu, Minnesota shot 57 percent from the field and dished out 25 assists on 32 field goals. "When we get the ball moving, good things can happen," coach Richard Pitino said.
Back-up big men step up, play big roles in beating Iowa
The Gophers knew Daniel Oturu's absence Sunday would be difficult to overcome, but Eric Curry and Matz Stockman rose to the challenge.
Buzzer beaten: No. 5 Michigan survives Gophers final-minutes rally
"We thought we were going into overtime," said Gophers center Eric Curry, who blocked the shot that was tipped to Michigan's Charles Matthews for the game-winner.
He takes and takes: Gophers' Murphy has 'special' talent for rebounding
Every missed shot is another rebound-in-waiting for Gophers' senior Jordan Murphy, whose 12 boards per game leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally.
McBrayer's late free throw helps the Gophers survive Penn State
For the second game in a row, the Gophers faced a winless Big Ten team, but Dupree McBrayer's free throw with 2.7 seconds left helped them escape with a 65-64 victory over Penn State.
Gophers-Penn State game recap
The Gophers needed some last-second help to avoid being the first conference victory for a second consecutive Big Ten foe.
Saunders returns to Williams Arena, shares experiences from time at U
Earlier in the season, Ryan Saunders made a commitment to talk to the Gophers booster club before Saturday night's game against Penn State. That was before he got a pretty big job change. But he stuck to it.
Tre Jones proving his value at Duke; injury won't keep him out long
College basketball insider: What recruiting analysts and Minnesota basketball fans suspected long ago was that Tyus Jones' little brother also could lead Duke to the No. 1 ranking.
Marcus Fuller's Final Four prediction: Will fast-starting powers stay strong?
College basketball reporter Marcus Fuller will get about a dozen weeks this winter to predict the four teams coming to Minneapolis in April. Here's his second shot.
Bad start, worse finish: Illinois crushes Gophers by 27 for first Big Ten win
Illinois hadn't won a game since beating East Tennessee State more than a month ago and had dropped its first five Big Ten games. Gophers coach Richard Pitino said, "We didn't compete like a Big Ten team physically."
Mom's encouragement helped Gophers' Curry heal
Missing last season and games into this season was the most adversity Eric Curry had experienced in his career, but his mother helped him get through it from afar.
'She would want me to keep fighting': McBrayer plays inspired
As much as he's gone through in the past month, Dupree McBrayer has still been the most consistent all-around player for the Gophers, who will lean on his leadership tonight at Illinois.
Jordan Murphy, Gophers teammates improve from free-throw line
The Gophers made 20 of 25 attempts from the foul line against the Scarlet Knights.
Top college basketball players back on campus, and boosting Big Ten
College basketball insider: The Big Ten greatly benefited from a majority of the league's top non-seniors deciding to stick around for one more season.
Gophers fall short on both ends of court as Maryland rallies to win
Maryland's Anthony Cowan and Jalen Smith combined for 48 points and the Gophers shot just 9-for-23 from the free-throw line to end Minnesota's six-game winning streak.
Terrapins' recruiting keeps pace with Big Ten's elite basketball teams
Maryland was rated No. 1 in the Big Ten and top-10 nationally last year with a six-player 2018 class that included McDonald's All-America Jalen Smith
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Backcourt overhaul could mean more work for transfer Stull
It's been no secret Richard Pitino has been frustrated with the inconsistency of Isaiah Washington, who didn't play in Minnesota's victory at Wisconsin.
This time, Gophers close the door on Badgers in Madison to end losing streak
Minnesota grabbed a 15-point lead through the first 20 minutes, then used tough defense in the final minutes to stave off a big Badgers rally and win the Border Battle on the road for the first time since 2009.
Westbrook's memories of Gophers' 2009 victory at Wisconsin remain fresh
Lawrence Westbrook's 29 points led the Gophers to a 78-74 overtime victory at Wisconsin on Jan. 15, 2009. Before Thursday, that was the Gophers' only victory in Madison since the Kohl Center opened in 1998.
Gophers-Wisconsin men's basketball preview
The Gophers are 0-8 in the Border Battle since last beating the Badgers at home in Pitino's first season in 2013-14.
Gophers end nonconference schedule with a win in Curry's return
Dupree McBrayer led the way with 15 points against Mount St. Mary's, but Eric Curry's 18 minutes of action were a sign of things to come.
'Jelly' is jelling on the basketball court for Gophers
Isaiah Washington has always been a crowd-pleaser with his "jelly roll" layups, but he will go several games without even attempting one now. But he's gaining confidence with assists.
Inside tandem of Jordan Murphy, Daniel Oturu power Gophers past North Carolina A&T
A strong interior presence gave Richard Pitino his 100th victory with the Gophers.
Gophers' Eric Curry is showing signs of his old self
Sophomore needs chance to shake the rust off.
Gophers struggle, escape to edge North Florida
Jordan Murphy had 20 points and 18 rebounds, while Isaiah Washington had a double-double of his own with 14 points and a career-high 13 assists.
McBrayer to miss Tuesday's game, presenting opportunities for others
With Dupree McBrayer out of town to be at his mother's wake, Richard Pitino likely will look to Brock Stull to fill one of the backcourt spots alongside Amir Coffey and Gabe Kalscheur.
Oturu's double-double powers Gophers past Arkansas State
Daniel Oturu had a career-best 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in Saturday's 72-56 victory over Arkansas State.
Gophers like more aggressive style from Coffey
Amir Coffey showed what he can do with a big game against Nebraska. Now, the Gophers want to see more: drive hard, push the ball up court or take open jumpers.
Coffey's career night leads Gophers to comeback victory over Nebraska
Amir Coffey's 32 points vs. Nebraska guided the Gophers' inspired play for senior guard Dupree McBrayer, who lost his mother to a battle with cancer on Monday.
'More than basketball' Tributes pour in for grieving McBrayer
Players from both teams honored Dupree McBrayer's mother on the court and tributes showed up all across social media to Tayra McFarlane, 58, who died Monday.
Gophers' McBrayer plays through toughest loss — his mother's death
Tayra McFarlane, who died at age 58 on Monday in New York after a battle with cancer, taught her three sons to be tough, work hard and stay out of trouble while raising them as a single mom in Queens.
No. 16 Ohio State's physical play too much for U in Big Ten opener
The Gophers didn't look ready for the toughness of the Big Ten and were completely overmatched physically in a 79-59 loss against the No. 16 Buckeyes on Sunday.
Gophers-No. 16 Ohio State men's basketball game recap
Highlights from the Gophers' 79-59 loss at No. 16 Ohio State on Sunday.
Where does Gophers men's basketball fit in a much-improved Big Ten?
Seven Big Ten teams were ranked in the latest poll, the most since 1999. And 10 teams received Associated Press Top 25 votes, including the Gophers.
Big bounce-back, big backdrop: Gophers hold off Oklahoma State at U.S. Bank Stadium
Jordan Murphy's 24 points and 16 rebounds helped the Gophers, who led by 18 at one point, fend off the Cowboys and erase some memories of a loss at Boston College.
Gophers head to U.S. Bank Stadium looking to overcome shooting woes
A stretch of 18 days and five games away from their home court continues Friday night for the Gophers, when they take on Oklahoma State at U.S. Bank Stadium, site of the Final Four in April.
Gophers basketball freshman Kalscheur brings veteran moxie
Five games into his Gophers career, Gabe Kalscheur already has established himself as a steady shot with good defensive instincts.
Kalscheur's 'insane' 3-pointer caps Gophers comeback over Washington
The Gophers shot just 26 percent from the field in the first half, but erased a nine-point deficit and finished the game off in style in the final seconds.
Setting career rebounding mark is just the start for Gophers' Murphy
Now that Jordan Murphy is the Gophers' career leading rebounder, he has his sights set on other big goals.
Kalscheur's long-range skills push Gophers past Santa Clara
The freshman made seven three-pointers to lead all scorers with a career-high 25 points.
Curry, nursing injured knee, aiming to return to Gophers lineup by Big Ten play
The 6-9 redshirt sophomore is out at least another two weeks after having surgery on his previously injured left knee before the season.
Gophers basketball team finding they have more in reserve this year
The bench provided a lift in their Vancouver Showcase opener.
Gophers shake off turnovers, win opener at Vancouver Showcase
The Gophers looked sloppy at times handling the ball, but relied on defense to salt away a five-point win over Texas A&M.
Gophers basketball embarks on test of high-major waters
The Gophers' nonconference schedule has lost some luster thanks to unexpected losses, but any high-major foe will do. First up: Texas A&M on Sunday in Vancouver.
Pitino would go 0-for-Minnesota again if Hurt doesn't stay home
When it comes to in-state talent, Richard Pitino is at zero so far for 2019, and Rochester John Marshall's five-star forward, Matthew Hurt, has every major program after him and won't sign until the spring period.
Zone-buster Kalscheur's three-point barrage boosts Gophers past Utah
Freshman Gabe Kalscheur scored 12 of his team-best 19 points in the first half and hit five three-pointers as the U defeated last season's NIT runner-up.
Richard Pitino scheduled Utah with Gophers fans in mind
While not being able to convince any top-tier teams to come to the Barn, Gophers coach Richard Pitino felt like he delivered by scheduling tougher opponents such as the Utes.
Homegrown: Twin Cities freshmen make instant impact for U basketball
Daniel Oturu, Gabe Kalscheur and Jarvis Omersa have the chance to make the biggest impact of any crop of freshmen in recent program history.
NCAA rules Carr ineligible for this season; Gophers appeal decision
Marcus Carr transferred from Pittsburgh in the offseason and had hoped to play this year, instead of sitting out, per NCAA rules.But his waiver request to play this season was denied
Under-the-radar Gophers open season putting 104 points on Omaha
Minnesota started 2018-19 with little fanfare from national media. But Tuesday's 104-76 victory over Omaha showcased what's possible from a team coming off a sub-.500 season notable for its run of injuries.
Gophers guard Carr still waiting on NCAA waiver decision
Toronto native Marcus Carr averaged 10 points and started 27 games for Pittsburgh in 2017-18. The NCAA still hasn't made a decision on his waiver request to play for the Gophers this season.
Gophers basketball opens season with a 104-76 romp over Omaha
Gophers quietly open season and display depth by dismantling Omaha
Still recovering: Ex-Gophers guard Mason feels stung by 'bad advice'
Nate Mason wishes he would have had surgery before last season and was now getting ready to be a redshirt senior. He thinks delaying surgery caused him to miss his chance at pro basketball.
Gophers' first goal: Getting, keeping everyone healthy and playing
Amir Coffey's shoulder. Dupree McBrayer's leg. Nate Mason's hip and ankle. Eric Curry's knee. Injuries defined a 2017-18 that collapsed into a losing record.
Five questions at the start of Gophers men's basketball season
A look at five issues facing the Gophers as the season tips off.
Gophers in a romp over UMD in lone men's basketball exhibition
They hit their first 11 shots from the floor on their way to a 56-point victory.
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Gophers get Murphy some reinforcements
Jordan Murphy was the team's only dependable inside presence at the end of last season. But he should get some help from freshman Daniel Oturu and, when healthy, sophomore Eric Curry.
Gophers' Curry out four to six weeks following knee surgery
After he tore multiple ligaments and his meniscus in August 2017, Eric Curry was fully cleared on Oct. 20 and played in the private scrimmage at Creighton the same day.
Gophers basketball offense appears more diverse in scrimmage
Gophers basketball fans getting a first glimpse of the 2018-19 team came away with a pretty clear theme from Sunday's Maroon and Gold scrimmage:
No shame, no gain: Pitino goads players into more effort in practice
Gophers coach Richard Pitino admits he has fun “shaming” players on his basketball team that don’t go hard enough in practice, so he came…
Izzo denies Michigan State badly handled sexual assault allegations
For the first time, Tom Izzo on Thursday vehemently defended himself and his program against criticism he faced last season after reports surfaced that Michigan State poorly handled sexual assault allegations.
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