Dawson Garcia has begun the season with back-to-back stellar performances, but he might have to wait a while before notching a third.
The Minnesota star is considered a game-time decision with a groin injury when the Golden Gophers battle North Texas in nonconference play on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Garcia is averaging 27 points and 7.5 rebounds and is shooting 66.7 percent (20 of 30) from the field. His absence would rate as a huge loss for Minnesota.
“The biggest thing with a groin or those types of injuries is you just want to be really smart,” Golden Gophers coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday. “We’ll rely on him and our (team doctor). … If he can go, great, that means he’s feeling good. If he can’t, we’ll figure it out like we always have.”
In Minnesota’s 80-57 opening win over Oral Roberts, Garcia had 30 points and eight rebounds. He followed that up with 24 points and seven rebounds in Saturday’s 68-64 victory over Omaha.
Garcia had an impact against Omaha despite foul trouble. Fellow big man Trey Edmonds stepped up with 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench.
“It was a physical game for sure,” Edmonds said. “It wasn’t going to be a sweet or easy game we can just stroll into. … Coach got on us a little bit, but in the second half we came out with more fire.”
Starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr. (sprained ankle) was injured in the second half against Omaha. Johnson said Mitchell could miss two weeks.
North Texas (2-0) defeated Evansville in its opener and then walloped NAIA program Wayland Baptist 80-38 on Thursday.
It was the first time the Mean Green won by 40 or more since a 116-62 rout of Mississippi Valley State early in the 2020-21 season.
“I love how our team celebrates each other.” North Texas coach Ross Hodge said. “They genuinely celebrate each other’s success and root for each other. That’s a really good trait to have.”
Atin Wright tallied 16 points in both games and leads the Mean Green in scoring. Jasper Floyd is averaging 14 points and Johnathan Massie is contributing 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.
North Texas has never faced Minnesota but has enjoyed impressive recent success against Big Ten opponents.
The Mean Green were a No. 13 seed when they notched a 78-69 first-round upset of Purdue in the 2021 NCAA Tournament for the school’s first-ever March Madness victory. Then in the 2023 NIT, North Texas toppled Wisconsin 56-54 in the Final Four before beating UAB to win the title.
