DAVE CAMPBELL
FILE - Drake's Liam Robbins, left, heads to the basket as Illinois State's Matt Chastain defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference men's tournament in St. Louis. As coach Richard Pitino starts a pivotal eighth year at Minnesota, the Gophers will again try to bounce back from a bad season after finishing in 12th place in the Big Ten in 2019-20. Liam Robbins, one of three transfers and six newcomers on the roster, will attempt to replace departed star center Daniel Oturu. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Pitino, Gophers again have new look with trio of transfers

By Dave Campbell Nov. 10, 2020 06:15 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Richard Pitino has returned for a pivotal eighth year at

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, left, talks to athletic director Barry Alvarez before an NCAA college football game against BYU in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin announced Saturday, May 9, 2020, it is asking 25 of its highest-earning employees to volunteer for a 15% pay cut over the next six months. That group includes athletic director Barry Alvarez, football coach Paul Chryst and men's basketball coach Greg Gard. There won't be any reduction of work hours. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
Colleges thrown for big losses in sports budget crunch

By Dave Campbell May. 08, 2020 08:51 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With the end of this virus-disrupted school year drawing

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2020, file photo, Maryland head coach Brenda Frese, right, talks with guard Diamond Miller during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in College Park, Md. For all the wealth, privilege and rewards elite sports can provide its participants, few vocations require more time away from loved ones. “I appreciate the gift of time and being able to spend it with my family,” said Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese, whose fourth-ranked Terrapins might well have been in New Orleans last week for the Final Four. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
On-the-go sports stars embrace family time during shutdown

By Dave Campbell Apr. 10, 2020 02:37 AM EDT
Blake Wheeler and the Winnipeg Jets would have been on the road last week,

Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Indianapolis. Minnesota won 74-57. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AP Source: Pitino will return for 8th season with Minnesota

By Dave Campbell Mar. 13, 2020 04:03 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach Richard Pitino will return for his eighth

Minnesota's Daniel Oturu (25) goes up for a dunk against Indiana's Devonte Green (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana defeated Minnesota 72-67. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Big Ten tourney challenge gives Pitino, Gophers last chance

By Dave Campbell Mar. 10, 2020 06:24 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — All those late-game lapses over the past month pushed

Maryland's Darryl Morsell celebrates his go-ahead 3-point basket against Minnesota late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Minneapolis. Maryland won 74-73. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
Terps close in on 1st Big Ten title, with Spartans next

By Dave Campbell Feb. 28, 2020 02:12 AM EST
What to watch this week in Big Ten basketball: GAME OF THE

Maryland players on the bench celebrate the go-ahead 3-pointer by Darryl Morsell, not seen, against Minnesota during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Minneapolis. Maryland won 74-73. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
Morsell's late 3 lifts No. 9 Maryland past Minnesota 74-73

By Dave Campbell Feb. 26, 2020 11:44 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Down by double digits for most of the game and trailing by

Indiana's Jerome Hunter knocks the ball away from Minnesota's Daniel Oturu during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Jackson-Davis career game leads Indiana past Minnesota 68-56

By Dave Campbell Feb. 19, 2020 11:26 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Overdue for a tough-minded performance on the road, Indiana

Minnesota's Payton Willis (0) gets the ball after Wisconsin's D'Mitrik Trice and Minnesota's Gabe Kalscheur (22) fell to the court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
Gophers, Willis hope guard keeps going after breakout game

By Dave Campbell Feb. 07, 2020 06:14 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The perimeter production Minnesota has been counting on from

Wisconsin's Brad Davison (34) dribbles next to Minnesota's Gabe Kalscheur (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
Willis, sharpshooting Minnesota romp past Wisconsin 70-52

By Dave Campbell Feb. 05, 2020 11:26 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota's outside shooting was overdue for a resurgence,

Former Minnesota great Willis Burton speaks after his No. 34 jersey was retired at Williams Arena during an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
No. 11 Michigan State sweeps Minnesota with 70-52 win

By Dave Campbell Jan. 26, 2020 05:24 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Cassius Winston had 18 points and eight assists to help 11th

Minnesota's Daniel Oturu shoots the ball over Northwestern's Jared Jones during an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota pushes sophomore Daniel Oturu as NBA prospect

By Dave Campbell Jan. 08, 2020 06:53 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Of all the evidence from the past two decades that Minnesota

Northwestern's Pat Spencer tries to shoot the ball against Minnesota's Jarvis Omersa during an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Oturu, Minnesota overpower Northwestern 77-68

By Dave Campbell Jan. 05, 2020 09:49 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Daniel Oturu had 19 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks in

Minnesota guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) shoots over Ohio State guard D.J. Carton in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota knocks off No. 3 Ohio State 84-71

By Dave Campbell Dec. 15, 2019 08:55 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With an eight-day break between games, Ohio State coach

Minnesota center Daniel Orturu (25) celebrates as score with guard Marcus Carr (5) while Clemson forward Paul Grinde (32) runs downcourt in the second half during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota beats Clemson 78-60 in ACC-Big Ten Challenge

By Dave Campbell Dec. 02, 2019 11:29 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Marcus Carr has made an immediate impact as Minnesota’s new

Transfers Carr, Willis lead Minnesota past CSU 85-50

By Dave Campbell Nov. 05, 2019 10:10 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With a tougher-than-usual nonconference schedule looming for

In this Oct. 18, 2019 photo, Minnesota guard Marcus Carr poses for a photo shoot during Minnesota's NCAA college basketball media day in Minneapolis. Carr, who played last season for Pittsburgh, is one of three transfers to Minnesota eligible to play this season as Minnesota must replace its two best players in Jordan Murphy and Amir Coffey. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Set-to-debut Carr made best of season on Gophers scout team

By Dave Campbell Nov. 04, 2019 03:21 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The waiting for Marcus Carr is over. Minnesota's new point

In this Oct. 28, 2019 photo, former Vanderbilt guard Payton Willis talks with reporters during Minnesota's NCAA college basketball media day in Minneapolis. Willis is one of three transfers to Minnesota eligible to play this season as Minnesota must replace its two best players in Jordan Murphy and Amir Coffey. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Rebuilding Gophers to lean on transfers Carr, Willis

By Dave Campbell Oct. 23, 2019 06:57 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Seven of Minnesota's top 10 players from 2018-19 will be missing

Minnesota power forward Eric Curry, who missed the 2017-18 college basketball season with a torn ACL in his left knee, visits with reporters during NCAA college basketball media day Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Minneapolis. This time he has a torn ACL in his right knee and is out for the season. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Injured Curry won't fret about missing season for Minnesota

By Dave Campbell Oct. 18, 2019 04:01 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An ordinary scrimmage for Minnesota last week took a discouraging

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) and Brandone Francis react after the team's 85-77 loss to Virginia in the overtime in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Tech has foundation for future after reaching national final

By Dave Campbell Apr. 09, 2019 09:02 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brandone Francis plopped down in front of the Texas Tech locker