The Minnesota Gophers’ basketball program made plenty of news today.
First Reid Travis, a Gopher recruit and top-50 talent in the nation according to Rivals, made the announcement he was spurning Minnesota to play his college ball at Stanford.
Then, the Gophers announced a six-game suspension for center Maurice Walker, who looked good in the Gophers two exhibition games after dropping 60 pounds in the offseason.
Finally, a bit of good news, as Minnesota opened their regular season with a 81-62 Williams Arena win over Lehigh.
Drake transfer Joey King, who has shown flashes of brilliance in the exhibition season, dropped 20 points to lead Minnesota over the Mountain Hawks.
Andre Hollins, who scored 41 points in the non-conference last year against Memphis, added 18 points, while center Elliot Eliason recorded his first career double-double, grabbing 17 rebounds while scoring 11 points.
Wally Ellenson did not play, and Gopher head coach Richard Pitino downplayed keeping Ellenson on the bench, saying it “doesn’t mean he won’t come back and play major minutes Tuesday.”
Lehigh, who upset Duke in the NCAA tournament just two years ago, was led by senior Mackey Mcknight, who scored 18.
Highlights are below, and the Gophers are off until Tuesday when the Montana Grizzlies come to the barn, a 7 p.m. tap.
