{
  "id": 11711445,
  "title": "Gophers' Niko Medved, Malick Kordel make Big Noon Kickoff appearances",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/gophers-niko-medved-malick-kordel-make-big-noon-kickoff-appearances",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T15:19:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/gophers-niko-medved-malick-kordel-151946767.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Niko Medved, the Gophers' men's basketball head coach, along with big man Malick Kordel, made a guest appearance on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff pregame show on Saturday morning. Kordel, a Michigan transfer, impressed the show's crew with his dunking abilities, marking his debut in Minnesota's new home, The Barn. Medved introduced Kordel, providing national exposure for the Gophers team. Both Medved and Kordel kept their remarks brief, but the appearance generated significant attention for the team. Kordel is expected to be a starter in Minnesota's frontcourt, given his projected 7-foot-2 stature, shot-blocking skills, and finishing ability. The Gophers have plans for exhibition games against Omaha and Creighton before their regular season opener on November 2 against North Dakota. While media consolidation and AI advancements continue to reshape the sports landscape, local sports journalism remains invaluable. The writing team at Bring Me The Sports, comprised of a Wildcat, a Gopher, and even a Mustang, takes pride in their deep knowledge of Minnesota sports history and fervent support for local teams. Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the new Bring Me The Sports newsletter for continued coverage.",
  "summary": "Minnesota's basketball program was well represented on Saturday morning.",
  "key_points": [
    "Niko Medved and Malick Kordel appeared on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff",
    "Kordel impressed with dunking during debut at The Barn",
    "Gophers plan exhibition games before regular season opener"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}