Recent content from Marcus Fuller

Player of the year award isn't one-man race with Suggs, others in mix
Iowa center Luka Garza, Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu and at least two more are making a strong case for top honors in college basketball.

Younger Mashburn learning lessons during difficult Gophers season
Under less than ideal circumstances, freshman guard Jamal Mashburn Jr. has built on his family's bond with Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino.

With Robbins hobbled, frontcourt depth again becomes issue for U
7-foot Liam Robbins was the center transfer that Minnesota needed, but the team has struggled with him injured or in foul trouble.

Barnyard mess: No. 5 Illinois runs away from Gophers in 94-63 blowout
On Saturday vs. the Illini, the Gophers were as overmatched as they've been all season. They gave up 48 points in the paint, 31 fast-break points and committed a season-high 18 turnovers.

Jamal Mashburn Jr.'s promise shows again, in front of his NBA dad
With his father in attendance Saturday, the freshman scored 16 points to lead the Gophers offense again.

U defense will be put to the test today against Illinois stars
Injuries will make it tough for the Gophers to defend Illinois' inside-outside tandem of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn on Saturday.

Who's counting? Gophers' winless road record not seen as tourney deal-breaker
In a season of anomalies, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Gophers in next month's NCAA men's basketball tournament field despite a big blemish.

Pitino: Kalscheur needs surgery on finger, Robbins has severely sprained ankle
Gabe Kalscheur, who started all 88 games of his career until this week, suffered the hand injury in practice a day before Wednesday's 82-72 loss at Indiana.

For prep basketball stars, G League enticing but college game holds thrills
Former five-star prep prospects Jalen Suggs and Jalen Green are candidates to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. They have taken very different routes to that status.

Another injury setback for Gophers clouds 82-72 loss at Indiana
With Gabe Kalscheur out of the lineup because of a broken finger and Liam Robbins struggling on a sprained ankle, the Gophers faded in the second half.

Gophers' guard Kalscheur out 'a while' with broken finger on shooting hand
Gabe Kalscheur, a junior guard, had played every game of his college career - 88 in a row - before Wednesday.

Injury issues plague Gophers basketball, going for first road win tonight
The Gophers men's basketball team is dealing with several injuries going for its first road victory Wednesday at Indiana.

Injured ankle could keep Robbins out of Wednesday's game at Indiana
Backup center Eric Curry, and forwards Brandon Johnson and Isaiah Ihnen will be relied upon more if Liam Robbins is on the bench for the Gophers.

More excellence: Suggs, Bueckers lead teams to No. 1 in latest polls
No. 1 + No. 1 equals a big deal for two former Minnesota prep basketball superstars. An updated look at the play of UConn's Paige Bueckers and Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs.

Slow start, poor shooting dooms Gophers in another loss to Maryland
Coming off back-to-back victories, the Gophers resembled the same team that made scoring seem like a painful process earlier this season in a home loss to the Terrapins.

Frontcourt foul trouble could be a factor for Gophers vs. Maryland
The Gophers men's basketball team likely needs 7-footer Liam Robbins to stay in the game to have a chance at a first road victory Sunday against the Terrapins.

Gophers basketball season tests Kalscheur's mettle
Gabe Kalscheur's importance to the Gophers lineup isn't questioned despite a prolonged shooting slump. Long-range shots might not be falling but he's added to other parts of his game.

Shot in the arm: Carr's clutch shooting sends Gophers over Purdue
Marcus Carr scored eight of his 18 points in the final minute, including two three-pointers that lifted the Gophers to a big win over the No. 25 Boilermakers.

What if all Big Ten teams kept their best players at home?
Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs in maroon-and gold? Purdue's Trevion Williams in Michigan's maize and blue? Top prep players hitting the road is more than a Minnesota thing.

Gophers got critical defensive help on Purdue big man Williams
Brandon Johnson helped Liam Robbins with a double team that forced a late miss.

Gophers guard Marcus Carr on rematch vs. Purdue: "We definitely have some unfinished business."
Gophers standout guard Marcus Carr enters Thursday's game vs. Purdue on a mission recently to make up for some struggles he had during a losing streak.

Gophers need to find third option to go with Carr and Robbins
Having a formidable 1-2 punch like Marcus Carr and Liam Robbins will only get the Gophers so far during the rest of the Big Ten basketball season.

Gophers break out of slump, thump Nebraska to end three-game losing streak
The Gophers got contributions from up and down their roster with two of their standouts in foul trouble.

Transfers rule when U basketball team plays host to Nebraska
Two Big Ten men's basketball teams that rely the most on transfers meet Monday night when the Gophers and Nebraska face off at Williams Arena

Licking their wounds, Gophers will try to get going once again
The term "must-win" isn't in Richard Pitino's vocabulary. Still, there's a lot at stake if his Gophers men's basketball team can't break out of its slump against Nebraska.

Final play goes awry, Gophers remain winless on road with loss to Rutgers
In a game with 22 lead changes, the Gophers went ahead five times in the last four minutes. But they couldn't get a big basket when it was needed at the end.

The college basketball world misses John Chaney and John Thompson Jr.
Those two icons remind us of a time when Black college basketball coaches were flourishing.

Gophers' backcourt needs a boost Thursday at Rutgers
Gophers coach Richard Pitino is hoping his new backcourt rotation can help lead the team to its first road victory this season Thursday at Rutgers.

Gophers not alone in having forced schedule breaks crush momentum
Entering Thursday's game at Rutgers, the Gophers are still trying to regain the winning form that vanished following an unscheduled interruption in their schedule.

Four things Pitino's Gophers must address during second half of Big Ten season
Quality wins at home and winless away from Williams Arena. Here are issues that need addressing for Minnesota to finish the men's basketball season successfully.

Loss to Purdue knocks Gophers out of Top 25 men's basketball poll
A second straight loss by double-digits moved Minnesota out of the Associated Press poll after five straight weeks of being ranked.

Purdue keeps the road rough, grinds down Gophers for 19-point win
The Boilermakers rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to keep the Gophers winless away from home this season, now 0-5.

Will Pitino make changes for more offensive firepower at Purdue?
The Gophers men's basketball team struggled offensively in its last game shooting 30 percent in a 14-point loss vs. Maryland at home.

Gophers vs. Purdue pits Pitino's vets against Painter's fab four
Purdue has four freshmen who've been named Big Ten Players of the Week heading into Saturday's home game against Minnesota.

Mid-majors hold their ground in college basketball
Gonzaga is better than ever as the nation's top-ranked team.

Gophers' Carr seeking balance on offense
Junior guard Marcus Carr, the Gophers' top scorer, also needs to create more opportunities for his teammates.

Momentum dashed: No. 17 Gophers fall to Maryland at home, 63-49
The Gophers have beaten four ranked opponents at Williams Arena this season, but couldn't avoid the letdown after beating Michigan.

Gophers look to Kalscheur to be the 'best perimeter defender in the Big Ten.'
A game against Maryland this afternoon is another test for the nation's No. 17 team.

Cooking at home: Gophers lament being undefeated in empty Barn
Minnesota is among heavyweights like Gonzaga, Kansas and Iowa that have won four games vs. ranked opponents. Not having fans at the games casts a chill on the thrill.

What's wrong? Why are Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina all unranked?
The three traditional men's basketball powers have a combined .500 record this season and are all unranked at the same time for the first time in 60 years.

Oturu watches Gophers with excitement while embracing NBA rookie's life
After becoming an All-America as a sophomore last season, the Cretin-Derham Hall product was the first Gophers player drafted into the NBA in 16 years.

Gophers made huge strides defensively in upsetting Michigan
The improved defensive effort that Minnesota displayed against previously undefeated Michigan should be something to build on for the rest of the season.

U center Robbins earns national, Big Ten honors for second time
7-foot Liam Robbins sparked Minnesota's upset against No. 7 Michigan by leading the team with 22 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Next Gophers game called off as Nebraska roster gets hit by virus
Coach Fred Hoiberg and seven Cornhuskers players have tested positive for COVID-19, putting the program on pause.

Gophers' Robbins stands out while facing gantlet of Big Ten big men
The 7-footer scored 22 points and outplayed Michigan's Hunter Dickinson.
![Minnesota guard Marcus Carr (5) took the ball down the court as Michigan forward Isaiah Livers (2) defended in the first half. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • a](https://chorus.stimg.co/22240574/ows_d9eeb90d_f8ee_4e52_bbdf_86d362f4d502.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Payback: Gophers hand No. 7 Michigan first loss in 75-57 rout
"We were embarrassed about what happened in Ann Arbor," Liam Robbins said, referring to the Gophers' 25-point loss to Michigan on Jan. 6. "We were going to make sure that didn't happen on our home court." And Saturday, it didn't.

Two of the Big Ten's top centers battle for second time as Gophers host Wolverines
Gophers' 7-footer Liam Robbins and Michigan's 7-1 Hunter Dickinson meet for the second time this season Saturday at the Barn. Dickinson and Robbins are two of the top centers in the Big Ten, arguably the top league in college basketball for the position.

Gophers ending toughest-ever stretch of games with No. 7 Michigan
This will be Minnesota's eighth game in a row vs. a ranked opponents and the team will be putting its perfect home record at risk.

Transfer market buoys Gophers, several other Top 25 squads
Michigan, Texas Tech, Louisville and Oregon are among the other teams benefiting. Good luck finding a contending team without a transfer making an impact.

Gophers men preparing for undefeated, red-hot Wolverines
Michigan has gotten even more hype since blowing out the Gophers earlier this month, some of it coming from Tuesday's lopsided win over Wisconsin.

Are Gophers hurting themselves by shooting too many three-pointers?
The Gophers men's basketball team ranks last in the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage, but it still attempts the fourth most in the league.

U suffers another double-digit road loss after close first half in Iowa
Hustle and effort plays weren't enough when the shots didn't fall consistently enough for the Gophers to keep up with Iowa in the second half.

Gophers, Hawkeyes players take knee before national anthem
"I told them if you want to talk about it, what I saw on that TV was absolutely disgusting, absolutely ridiculous," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. "We have been constantly reminded since this spring that our country is far from perfect and has a long, long way to go."

Toughness factor will be key for Gophers basketball on the road Sunday at Iowa
The Gophers men's basketball team is winless on the road this season, but lacking toughness and struggling against physicality have been major issues. Can the Gophers play more aggressive on offense and tougher defensively Sunday in the rematch vs. Iowa?

Gophers haven't looked remotely ready in Big Ten road games
The No. 16-ranked Gophers travel to play Sunday at No. 5 Iowa, still missing looking for a win on the road. They haven't yet come close.

Gophers center Liam Robbins healthy to play Sunday in rematch against Iowa's Luka Garza
Gophers starting center Liam Robbins was limited with an injury in his last game, but he's expected to play Sunday against Iowa and All-American Luka Garza. The 7-foot Robbins leads the Big Ten in blocks this season.

Minnesotans Suggs, Garcia among 10 most impactful college basketball freshmen
The former Minnehaha Academy point guard is starring for top-ranked Gonzaga; Dawson Garcia, who played at Prior Lake, has quickly established himself at Marquette.

Second-half meltdown by Gophers leads to blowout at Michigan
While the Gophers are on track to be an NCAA tournament team, three road losses by an average of 21 points — at Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan — have formed a disturbing trend.

Can Carr, Gophers end their road struggles tonight at Michigan?
The Gophers men's basketball team is undefeated at home, but it suffered both losses this season on the road when star guard Marcus Carr struggled. Carr and company can end their road woes Wednesday at No. 10 Michigan, but the program hasn't won there since 2011.

Gophers newcomer Robbins standing tall in Big Ten
Drake transfer Liam Robbins learned quickly in a conference stacked with standout bigs.

Gophers climb to No. 16 in AP poll but only 43rd in NET ranking
Victories over Michigan State and Ohio State moved Minnesota up from No. 21 in last week's AP poll.

Gophers' Robbins earns Big Ten basketball player of the week honors
The junior center from Davenport, Iowa, averaged 19 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks in three games last week.

Gophers go inside for points, win big over Ohio State
The Gophers on Sunday bounced back from an ugly offensive showing in Thursday's loss at Wisconsin by going through the post vs. the Buckeyes.

David Mutaf leaves Gophers men's basketball team
The freshman guard has played little and intends to transfer.

Can Gophers basketball get back to a winning defense against Ohio State?
The Gophers men's basketball team held Michigan State to under 30 percent shooting in its last home game. But Wisconsin shot over 50 percent Thursday in the Gophers' loss in Madison.

Gophers hoping to lighten Carr's scoring load vs. Ohio State
The No. 21 Gophers learned the hard way in both of their losses this season that when opposing defenses slow down their best player, things can go haywire.

Gophers basketball stopped cold in 71-59 loss at Wisconsin
Following a pair of Big Ten wins over ranked opponents, the Gophers on Thursday afternoon shot just 31.3% in Madison while the Badgers used a strong inside game to set the tone.

Gophers' Kalscheur starts to snap out of shooting slump
Junior guard Gabe Kalscheur was aggressive on offense and scored a team-high 15 points Thursday in Madison.

Gophers vs. Badgers basketball border battle has strong Minnesota flavor
When the No. 21-ranked Gophers men's basketball team plays Thursday at No. 6 Wisconsin, there will be more Minnesotans than players from Wisconsin on both rosters with nine combined.

Gophers basketball has established a solid identity during recent rise
Scoring in transition matters to Minnesota's offense, which averaged 16 fast-break points the past three games - all wins. But Wisconsin will try to slow things down.

Four things that changed for Gophers hoops after Illinois blowout
The 27-point loss to Illinois on Dec. 15 stung, but the Gophers have only improved since.

No. 21 Gophers blow out No. 17 Michigan State for second consecutive Big Ten victory
The Gophers matched their biggest victory ever against the floundering Spartans.

Gophers' Carr earns Big Ten player of the week honors
The junior guard became the first Gophers player since Amir Coffey in 2018-19 to post back-to-back 30-point games.

Can the Gophers keep up their hot shooting from three-point range?
The Gophers men's basketball team hit 27 three-pointers in the last two games, but can it keep that hot shooting up Monday night against Michigan State?

Gophers' Johnson recovering well, and his shooting shows it
Brandon Johnson's three-point stroke was clicking against No. 4 Iowa as the senior forward distances himself from injuries.