The Gophers wasted no time in establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season, taking care of business in a hostile Dunkin’ Donuts Center en route to a convincing 86-74 victory over Providence on Monday. It was the type of game where a win was much more beneficial to the resume than a loss would have been as a detriment. No one would have blamed the Gophers for a hard-fought loss on the road against a good Big East team.
The win painted the Gophers as a squad that should have the capabilities to live up to early season expectations and showcased their ability to manage in-game challenges.