The Gophers men’s basketball team wasn’t groggy for its Saturday morning tip-off against Alcorn State at Williams Arena.

Instead of an energy drink, the jolt was Minnesota’s stifling defense, which didn’t allow a bucket until 12:10 left in the first half. The U jumped out to a 17-0 lead in a 95-50 blowout win.

The Gophers had a similar sizzling start in the season opener against Gardner-Webb, not allowing a made field goal until 11:17 remained in the first half of that 87-60 win on Monday.

Combined, that’s more than 16 total minutes without a basket given up to start the opening two games of head coach Niko Medved’s tenure.

Both beginnings have been impressive, but need to be put in context. Alcorn State fell to 0-3 and was ranked 328th out of 365 teams nationwide, according to analytics site KenPom. Gardner-Webb dropped to 0-2 with a 97-59 defeat to Clemson on Friday and are 323 in KenPom.

Minnesota (2-0) will play at Missouri (2-0) on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the Gophers scored 27 points off 16 turnovers forced.

Point guard Chansey Willis, who was held scoreless in the opener, led the way in the first half with 11 points and four assists. He finished with 13 points.

Cade Tyson, who had a game-high 30 points against Gardner-Webb, finished with 21 points, including 10 of 11 shooting from the free-throw line.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who joined Medved in a move from Colorado State, posted his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. On Monday, he had 13 points and 14 boards.

BJ Omot and Grayson Grove missed Saturday’s game with injuries. Omot (leg) also missed the season opener on Monday.

With some walk-ons also unavailable, Minnesota had only nine players suited up, which kept some regulars on the court at the end of the blowout.

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The Gophers football program picked up a commitment Saturday from KJ Henson, a defensive tackle from Hutchinson Community College.

“After a great (official visit), I’m blessed and excited to say I swill be 100% committing to the University of Minnesota,” Henson wrote on X.

Henson joins his JUCO teammate, safety MJ Graham, who committed to the U’s 2026 class on Friday. Those two and Hutchinson receiver Derrick Salley were in Minneapolis this week.

Henson, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 289 pounds, had offers from Purdue, Kansas, Kansas State and others. As a redshirt freshman, the Glen Burnie, Md., native has 20 total tackles and six sacks for Hutchinson this season.

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Blending comedy and real-life experiences in a critique of the decades-long American housing crisis, zAmya Theater’s “Living in America: The Waiting List is Full” will return to Twin Cities venues this November.

Opening Nov. 13 at the Minneapolis Central Library, the play seeks to ask how the housing crisis began and how it could spiral out of control. Written by director Esther Ouray and the cast, “Living in America” focuses on the experiences of those at the system’s center.

The show will also have performances at 825 Arts in St. Paul and the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis later in the month.

zAmya Theater’s “Living in America: The Waiting List is Full” was written in collaboration by director Esther Ouray and the cast. The play blends comedy and real-life experiences for a critique of the U.S. housing crisis. The play opens Nov. 13 and will travel to multiple Twin Cities venues. (Bruce Silcox)

According to the 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, homelessness in Minnesota rose almost 10%, while the national rate rose around 18%.

Another key finding of the study was that nearly all populations reached record levels of homelessness, affecting families with children, individuals, people staying in unsheltered or sheltered locations, and unaccompanied youth.

“A total of 771,480 people — or about 23 of every 10,000 people in the United States — experienced homelessness in an emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional housing program or in unsheltered locations across the country,” the report said.

Ouray said the mission of zAmya first drew her into the theater as a performing and teaching artist of more than 45 years.

“That mission of combining lived experience and artistic expression is something that I was already doing to some degree,” Ouray said.

The show is a series of vignettes following the history of the housing crisis in America, beginning in the 1930s, when housing was severely affected by the Great Depression and the introduction of the Federal Housing Administration and the U.S. Housing Authority, as well as the practice of redlining and displacement. The U.S. housing policies are the through line of the show, with the cast portraying characters from each era — including those based on their own lives.

“Most of our troop live in public housing. And I had lived in public housing. So, we brought it up,” Ouray said. “And the first time we brought it up, it was surprisingly such a charged issue. Everybody wanted to talk about it. Everybody was really excited to talk about it. Everybody had something to say.”

One actor in the troop, Linward Jones, found the play to be a chance to share his story after being introduced to zAmya after his experience of short-term homelessness.

“I had to go through a short term of homelessness, and one of the places I would hang out was the Minneapolis Central Library,” Jones said. “The zAmya Theater group, they meet in the library on Tuesday mornings. And so I attended one time and I fell in love with it. The work that they do, how they receive people and help people in the community.”

During the writing process, Jones contributed his own experiences of homelessness and living in public housing.

“Either the waiting list is full or somebody don’t care,” Jones said. “It’s one of the two. And I think that last year, being a part of the show — there was a lot of truth behind it and it was very relatable. And hearing other people’s testimony and dealing with public housing and such, I think it’s a raw and positive message.”

Actress Marcia Barnes, another member of the cast, was drawn to zAmya for its creativity and openness.

“There are so many layers of homelessness and layers of waiting to get affordable housing that we haven’t even touched the surface of,” Barnes said. “It’s everyday people. And I’m hoping that this production will be the beginning of something to open that up, for people to see more of the diversity and the complexities of homelessness.”

Beginning in 2004, the zAmya Theater Project connects communities throughout the Twin Cities to theater and artistic expression, centering on social justice, advocacy and collaboration, according to its website.

“zAmya Theater envisions empowered and interconnected communities that story staring, start seeing and change the systems that dehumanize us,” reads their mission statement.

‘Living in America: The Waiting List is Full’

When: Nov. 13-21

Where: Minneapolis Central Library (Nov. 13), 825 Arts in St. Paul (Nov. 15-16) and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis (Nov. 21).

Tickets: Priced on a sliding scale, with more information and tickets available at zamyatheater.org

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Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb

Every November, Americans pause to honor the courage and sacrifice of our service members and their families. Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar; it’s a reminder that freedom and security come at a cost, and that those who served our nation are entitled to the same sense of safety and peace they fought to protect.

One of the most powerful ways to show appreciation is by helping our veterans make the most of the benefits they’ve earned. Today’s array of federal programs covering health care, housing, education, insurance, and retirement savings can provide a strong foundation for lifelong financial stability. But these benefits are complex and often underused. Knowing where to start can make all the difference.

Mapping your benefits to a real plan

Veterans’ finances are different because military service connects to nearly every part of a financial plan. Health care, disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits, TRICARE, and tax-free payments all interact in ways that can either strengthen or complicate a family’s long-term goals.

Begin by taking inventory. Gather your service record and note any exposure history, since the PACT Act has expanded eligibility for health care and disability compensation to many veterans who were previously excluded. Verify your disability rating and dependent status and review your education benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill programs.

Even if you are healthy, enrolling in VA health care is an important step. It keeps your record active, builds a relationship with a primary care provider, and makes future claims easier to process. Think of it as a continuation of the self-care that keeps you and your family strong.

For those receiving disability benefits, note that payments increased by 2.5% for 2025, reflecting the latest cost-of-living adjustment.

Housing: turning service into stability

Few benefits have transformed more lives than the VA home loan. For veterans with full entitlement, there are no loan limits. This presents an enormous advantage for buyers in higher-cost housing markets. The program’s funding fee can often be waived for a service-connected disability, and closing timelines today can rival conventional loans when paperwork is in order.

For veterans considering a move, understanding entitlement restoration rules can help preserve eligibility for future purchases. Home ownership remains one of the most enduring ways to build wealth, and the VA loan continues to make that dream attainable for those who served.

Education and career transitions

Education has long been part of America’s promise to its veterans. The GI Bill still offers some of the most generous tuition and housing benefits available anywhere. As of Aug. 1, 2025, new academic-year rates are in effect through July 2026, with the monthly housing allowance tied to the rate for an E-5 with dependents in the school’s ZIP code.

A major change this year comes from the Supreme Court’s Rudisill v. McDonough decision, which allows many veterans who earned both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills to use both programs for up to 48 months of combined education benefits. That is a significant win for those pursuing new careers or credentials after service.

Veterans who have completed their education have the option to transfer their education benefits to a spouse or child, creating a meaningful legacy. Before enrolling, use the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to evaluate programs and ensure the school is fully accredited and transparent about costs.

Preserving income, insurance and retirement

Financial security also depends on preserving income and protecting loved ones. The VA’s VALife program, introduced in 2023, offers guaranteed-acceptance whole-life insurance coverage up to $40,000 for veterans age 80 or younger. Those currently insured under the older S-DVI program have until Dec. 31, 2025, to apply for VALife while maintaining existing coverage during the two-year transition period.

As of this fall, more than $2 billion in VALife coverage has been issued, proof that many veterans are taking advantage of this new option. Meanwhile, TRICARE premiums and dental fees for 2025 have been updated; small adjustments can add-up over time, so be sure to account for those in your budget.

Service members under the Blended Retirement System should continue contributing enough to capture the 5% Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) match. This effectively is free money, and one of the simplest ways to strengthen long-term security. And remember that VA disability payments are tax-free, which can affect whether a Roth or traditional account makes more sense for your retirement savings.

Five fast moves every veteran should consider

Document any toxic exposure: The PACT Act expansions mean more veterans now qualify for early care and compensation

Time your education start: GI Bill housing allowances reset each Aug. 1, so plan enrollment around that date.

Check your Certificate of Eligibility (COE): Full entitlement can remove loan limits under the VA program.

Review your life insurance coverage: Compare private-term policies with the new VALife program, especially before the 2025 S-DVI deadline.

Revisit your TRICARE budget: Premium and dental costs changed this year, adjust accordingly.

A message of gratitude

This Veterans Day, our gratitude extends beyond words. We thank every service member and family who has shouldered the burden of duty and wish to remind them that financial well-being is part of the peace they’ve earned.

Take this Veterans Day as a moment to review your benefits, update your plan, and ensure the security you defended continues here at home.

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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb are financial advisers at Wealth Enhancement Group and co-hosts of “Your Money” on WCCO 830 AM on Sunday mornings. Email Bruce and Peg at yourmoney@wealthenhancement.com. Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC, a registered investment adviser and affiliate of Wealth Enhancement Group.