MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Tubby Smith says one of the biggest focuses for Minnesota during the preseason has been to work on getting its offense revved up to the up-tempo style the demanding coach prefers.

He won’t accept anything less after last season’s sluggish performance on that end of the floor. Smith called last season’s offensive performance “ridiculous.” The Gophers averaged just 63.7 points in Big Ten play and shot 30 percent from 3-point range.

They lost 10 of their last 11 games to miss the NCAA tournament.

The first look at all the work that has been put in will be on Tuesday night.
The Gophers open the exhibition season at home against Division-II Bemidji State.

Smith says junior college transfer Julian Welch may miss the game with a minor ankle injury.

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