The Gophers men’s and women’s basketball teams were ready to announce something important Tuesday, just in time for Voter Registration Day:

Both teams are 100% registered to vote this year. 

The push to encourage athletes to exercise their right to vote has been stronger than ever this fall. The NCAA and the Big Ten announced last week that Election Day on Nov. 3 would be free from athletic activities to allow athletes to fill out their ballots for this year’s general election.

“The biggest thing we need our guys to understand is to go out and register to vote,” Gophers men’s hoops coach Richard Pitino told the Star Tribune recently. “There is no excuse there. We’ve talked to them about how to do it. The biggest thing is you educate them and get them to understand the process. Obviously, it’s great the NCAA set aside (time) they will have off to do that. I know our guys are really excited.”

A Coaches Voter Task Force, made up of 120 college basketball coaches across the country,teamed up to encourage their players and teams to register to vote this year to help make changes toward social injustice and racial inequality.

Representing Minnesota on the task force are Gophers director of basketball Ryan Livingston and Minnesota State Mankato head coach Matt Margenthaler. On the women’s side, Gophers assistant Carly Thibault has been involved in national programs as well.

The NABC posted Tuesday afternoon that 83 percent of Division I programs, including 16 conferences signed up all of their teams to the Coaches Voter Engagement Pledge to support athlete voting.

Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle said before the NCAA's decision last week that he wanted to have no team activities on Election Day.  

“Our student-athletes are the leaders of tomorrow and there is no better way to make sure their voice is heard than by voting on November 3,” Coyle said.

In honor of #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, we're happy to say that the entire team and staff is registered to vote!

We're encouraging everyone to do the same and commit to making their voice heard.

➡️ https://t.co/mk7QYHZBXC#B1GVote pic.twitter.com/Joss6yCq62

— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) September 22, 2020

Today is #NationalVoterRegistrationDay!

We're 100% registered, are you? https://t.co/aO0T1hoxyt

— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) September 22, 2020

After spending nine weeks in California getting ready for an NBA Draft with no set date, Daniel Oturu returned home to Minnesota recently with a better idea of what the process is moving forward.

It’s only a matter of time before the 6-foot-10 Woodbury product becomes the first Gophers player drafted since Kris Humphries in 2004. 

As he drilled jump shots from long distance Friday at his old gymnasium at Cretin Derham-Hall, Oturu’s face lit up when mentioning he now knows draft day is officially Nov. 18.

“Definitely think I’m a first-round pick,” Oturu said. “I just need to continue to work hard and to prove it. That’s one goal, but my mindset is to play in this league for multiple, multiple years.”

All indications from Oturu’s agent Kevin Bradbury is that his client has been acing the interview process with NBA teams since the process started Aug. 19 with the Chicago Bulls. In the last month, he’s also talked with the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers.

On Thursday, Oturu enjoyed his conversation with the San Antonio Spurs, including five-time NBA championship coach Gregg Popovich. Among upcoming interviews, he’ll take calls from the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and home state Minnesota Timberwolves.

The NBA predraft combine process runs Sept. 28 through Oct. 16 at different NBA team markets and facilities. Oturu, who returns to Southern California soon, has already gone through combine drills and measurements for teams while training at P3 Sports Science in Santa Barbara.

NBA teams have been impressed with his humble and warm personality. They’re learning how Oturu would fit into their organizations on and off the court. He’s attacked specific areas of his game since his breakout sophomore year ended in March with the Gophers last season.

“I’ve really been focusing on ways I can improve myself,” he said. “In the weight room, I’ve been focusing on getting my shoulders, legs and core stronger. I’m working on getting my jump shot even better than before [shot 36 percent last year]. Getting confident with my form but also the speed in my jump shot. I want to be able to play [power forward], but also a small-ball [center].