Former High School Teammates Face Off as Gophers Host Struggling Washington

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Former Prior Lake High School teammates Dawson Garcia and Tyree Ihenacho will reunite on opposite sides of the court Saturday when the Minnesota Gophers host the struggling Washington Huskies at Williams Arena. The matchup marks a rare meeting between the two players, who last shared the court during their senior season in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended their high school careers.

Garcia, a 6-foot-11 forward for the Gophers, and Ihenacho, a 6-foot-4 guard for the Huskies, were part of one of Prior Lake’s most talented teams, reaching the 4A section playoffs twice. Garcia, a McDonald’s All-American, and Ihenacho formed a dynamic duo that captivated their community. “If we were in the same section now, we’d probably win the state this year,” said Jon Miller, their former high school coach. “That’s how talented the team was with Dawson and Tyree their senior year. It was crazy.”

Both players took winding paths to the Big Ten. Garcia, who transferred from Marquette to North Carolina before landing at Minnesota, has been a standout for the Gophers, averaging 19.8 points and 7.3 rebounds this season. Ihenacho, who started his college career at North Dakota, transferred to James Madison before returning to North Dakota and eventually joining Washington. He has started 19 games for the Huskies, averaging 10.8 points and 3.6 assists.

Saturday’s game holds personal significance for both players. “It’s a little homecoming game for him,” Garcia said of Ihenacho. “We’ve got a bunch of mutual friends who will be in the same section. They all watched us together. That will be a cool experience.”

While the reunion is a highlight, both teams are focused on improving their standings in the Big Ten. The Gophers (11-10, 3-6 Big Ten) are coming off a 73-51 loss to Michigan State, ending a three-game winning streak. Garcia remains optimistic, saying, “It’s not the end of the world. Why not take what we have to from [the Michigan State loss] and flip it and learn from it?”

Washington (10-10, 1-8 Big Ten) is mired in a six-game losing streak, including five straight losses to ranked opponents. The Huskies have faced the toughest schedule in the Big Ten, according to KenPom.com. “We haven’t been winning, but we’ve been in really close games with a lot of good teams,” Ihenacho said. “We still have 11 games left, so we’re trying to capitalize and start to put some wins up.”

The game will also feature a matchup between two of the conference’s top big men. Garcia, a versatile stretch-five, will face Washington’s Great Osobor, who leads the Huskies in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. Osobor had 19 points and nine rebounds in a narrow 65-60 loss to UCLA last week.

Minnesota holds a slight edge in experience, with seven seniors among their top contributors. The Gophers rank 10th nationally in assist rate, emphasizing team play over isolation basketball. Washington, meanwhile, will look to capitalize on their defensive strengths, ranking 12th in opponent assist rate.

Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Williams Arena, with the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The Huskies last played at the Barn in 1989, and the Gophers won their most recent meeting, 68-66, in 2018.