Gophers’ Dawson Garcia ‘feeling pretty good’ heading into Monday’s opener

Gophers newcomers Dawson Garcia and Braeden Carrington are still day-to-day on their availability for Monday’s opener against Western Michigan, Ben Johnson said Friday.

Garcia, a sophomore forward, and Carrington, a freshman guard,

missed Wednesday’s 71-55 exhibition win against St. Olaf with a muscle strain and ankle injury, respectively.

“I’m not so much worried if they can or can’t go,” Johnson said. “It’s more so how they feel. I know they got some treatment [Friday] morning and we’ll see how they responded. We’ll know more by the weekend.”

Garcia, a 6-11 North Carolina transfer, could be the Gophers’ top player with leading returning scorer Jamison Battle out indefinitely after foot surgery. Garcia was available to talk to the media about entering his first season back home with the Gophers.

“I’m feeling good right now and I’m excited to go into practice,” Garcia said. “As far as the beginning of the season, I’m really looking forward to it. I feel great. I know all the guys around me feel great. We’re all just excited to put on those uniforms and get into live action.”

The Gophers’ game notes for Monday’s opener listed Garcia as a projected starter with Morehead State transfer Ta’Lon Cooper, freshman Jaden Henley, junior Will Ramberg, and sophomore Treyton Thompson. The other four players started the exhibition game.

Ola-Joseph impressive

Freshman forward Joshua-Ola Joseph led the Gophers with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench Wednesday against St. Olaf, but that didn’t surprise Johnson.

The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Brooklyn Park native carried a tough and competitive mentality into practices since the summer. He’s also one of the most physical and athletic players on the roster regardless of class.

“He’s got a lot of pride in himself,” Johnson said Friday. “He’s got survival mode. Because he thinks like that and operates like that. We challenge him to be like that every day. It doesn’t surprise me how he’s played. He’s athletic enough and talented enough where within reps he’s going to figure stuff out.”

Freshman playing some PG

Cooper was the U’s starting point guard in the exhibition win, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists, but he also played off the ball during the game.

So did backup Taurus Samuels, a graduate transfer from Dartmouth.

They’re both adjusting to not having the ball primarily in their hands sometimes to allow freshman Jaden Henley to gain experience in both guard spots. The 6-7 Henley had 13 points, four rebounds, but four turnovers Wednesday.

“Just trying to give him little tips I’ve learned playing at the point,” Samuels said. “Just trying to get him comfortable playing there and being composed. Knowing his skill level he’s very capable playing at this level.”