Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 1.17.25
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GMBB Stuns No. 20 Michigan for First B10 Win
If you had to pick one local team most unlikely to end a long week of losing, it wouldn’t have been the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team.
Since the Vikings lost Monday, the Gopher women’s basketball team, Wild, Wolves and Frost had all lost. Until last night.
Dawson Garcia hit the game-winning 3-pointer and the buzzer and had 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks as the previously winless-in-the-Big-10 Gophers stunned No. 20 Michigan and handed them their first conference loss, 84-81 at The Barn. The Wolverines would have tied Michigan State for first in the B10 with a win.
Sports, amirite?
The Gophers trailed by nine at the half, but they only turned the ball over six times in 45 minutes, compared to 16 for the Wolverines. That was the difference.
Now, let’s see what the Gophers can do next Tuesday in Iowa. The Hawkeyes are 10-1 at home this season.
On the women’s side, the newly-ranked Gophers took No. 7 Maryland to the wire before falling 99-92. The Gophers had trailed by more than 20. Minnesota looks to improve on its 16-2 mark at Northwestern on Sunday.
Wild Loses Johansson; Kaprizov to LTIR but Eligible Saturday
It won’t be a minute too soon once Kirill Kaprizov plays for the Wild again. The star hasn’t played since before Christmas, and the Wild took yet another injury hit on Wednesday, when Oilers star Connor McDavid shamelessly elbowed Marcus Johansson. McDavid (no penalty, no fine) stuck his “chicken wing” out into MoJo, who was placed on injured reserve with a concussion.
The Wild placed Kaprizov on long term injured reserve yesterday in order to call up two more forwards (there wasn’t enough room under the salary cap without that move). Kaprizov is technically available to come off LTIR Saturday against Nashville, although if he was ready, they wouldn’t have needed two forwards late yesterday.
The result Wednesday was 5-3 Oilers, as Edmonton’s high octane offense was just too much for a Wild defense missing Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin. Faber and Kaprizov are at least practicing, with Faber looking more likely for Saturday.
Minnesota will attempt to snap a two-game skid Saturday at home against Andrew Brunette’s Preds. The Wild has lost three straight just once this season (a four-game skid).
Wolves Lose Game, DiVincenzo
The slow-starting Wolves were the tonic the slumping Golden State Warriors needed.
Minnesota fell down by 24 in the first half, tied the game with just more than a minute left, but the Warriors pulled out a 116-115 win. It was a costly loss for the Wolves, who will be without Donte DiVincenzo (sprained big toe) tonight in New York. DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards each scored 28 points; without DD, the Wolves will need to give more minutes to Mike Conley.
The Warriors had lost four of five, but the Wolves had no answer for Steph Curry (seven 3-pointers, 31 points).
Minnesota fell down 26-5, just an inexcusable open in a national TV game. The Warriors were missing both Draymond Green and Kyle Anderson, but Minnesota just did what Minnesota does.
And so the Wolves begin a treacherous three-in-four, with an emotional game against KAT tonight at MSG, followed by a second game in as many nights at home versus East-leading Cleveland. That’s followed by a road tilt in Memphis on Monday.
Gopher Hockey
The Gopher men need to be careful to not look ahead towards next weekend’s series with Michigan State for first place, when they host Notre Dame for two this weekend. The Fighting Irish have just two B10 wins.
It’s a home-and-home for the Gopher women and Minnesota State. The No. 3 Gophers are an overwhelming favorite against 4-11-1 Minnesota State.
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