Freshman Andre Hollins is expected to start at point guard when the Gophers open up exhibition play Tuesday night against Bemidji State. Hollins was battling junior college transfer Julian Welch for the starting job, but Welch turned his ankle over the weekend.

Tubby Smith is expected to give Maverick Ahanmisi the starting point guard job when the Gophers open up Big Ten Conference play at Illinois Tuesday night. Freshman Andre Hollins did have the job, but an ankle injury gave Ahanmisi a chance to claim the starting role. Smith says Hollins will likely play the same number of minutes off the bench as he did as a starter.

Tubby Smith says sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi will start at point guard when the Gophers open up Big Ten play Tuesday at Illinois. Ahanmisi has started the last three games, playing well enough to earn the job. Freshman Andre Hollins had the starting role before turning an ankle two weeks ago.

Madison Square Garden plays host the Gophers and Stanford tonight in the NIT championship game. Minnesota defeated Washington in the semifinals thanks to a big game from freshman Andre Hollins. Tubby Smith says he wants Hollins to have the ball in clutch situations "because he’s making very good decisions with it.”

Gophers big man Mo Walker is back practicing with the team and is "almost fully engaged now", according to head coach Tubby Smith. There still isn't a timetable for Walker to return to game-action. Freshman point guard Andre Hollins' ankle is still tender and he's questionable for Thursday's game against NDSU.

At Williams Arena, the basketball Gophers finish up exhibition play tonight against Augustana. Coach Tubby Smith is looking for more outside shooting. In Minnesota’s first tune-up against Bemidji state, the Gophers were just 1 of 7 from three-point range

Will junior college transfer Julian Welch be bringing the ball upcourt when the Gopher men open their season next week? Or will freshman Andre Hollins be at the controls? Perhaps sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi? Swami - er, Tubby - says: "If I had to pick one today, I don't know who I'd start."

Gophers' point guard Andre Hollins is questionable for Tuesday's game against Central Michigan. The freshman missed Saturday's win over St. Peter's because of a turned ankle. Tubby Smith says Hollins is still dealing with soreness.