MINNEAPOLIS -- Much is expected from Minnesotas Jordan Murphy this year.After struggles in the teams first two games, he was dominant Wednesday night.The sophomore scored 18 points and added 12 rebounds and the Gophers pulled away to beat Mount St. Marys 80-56.The Gophers, 3-0 for the first time in three years, also got 13 points each from Dupree McBrayer and Nate Mason.Minnesota, which shot 57.4 percent, also had a 46-25 rebounding edge.There was a lot of good, said Gophers coach Richard Pitino. Our post offense was really good; our passing out of the post was really good.A member of the Big 10 All-Freshman team last year, Murphy totaled 17 points on 5 of 17 shooting in wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas-Arlington.Every time you step on the court its a new chance to see where youre at skill-wise . and just see how you can impact the game, said Murphy, who was 8 of 9 from the field.Sometimes he lets certain things zap his energy, whether hes confused by something or whatever, Pitino said. We just talked about playing through that is the most important thing.Junior Robinson scored 16 points to lead Mount St. Marys (0-3), which fell to 0-18 all-time against Big Ten teams. Elijah Long had 11 points and 5 rebounds.The Mountaineers were 7 of 27 on 3-pointers.This is the game where you got to make 14 to 15 threes. We are more than capable of doing that, but we are just coming up short right now and not having enough guys stepping in and knocking them down, said coach Jamion Christian.With Minnesota up 49-42, Murphy scored on a dunk, blocked a 3-pointer by Will Miller and scored on another dunk 5 seconds later. After a media timeout, he scored on a putback for a 13-point lead with 11:10 to play.Back-to-back 3-pointers by Akeem Springs pushed the lead to 19. He and Amir Coffey each finished with 10 points.We dont look at individually how we do, Mason said. Were just looking for the win.FREE THROW CONCERNSMinnesota was 14 of 23 from the free-throw line after shooting 72.2 percent in its first two games.Its early in the season I think feeling comfortable up there, Pitino said. Just got to be confident, stick to the routine.NOT GETTING TURNOVERSLast season, Mount St. Marys forced at least 17 turnovers in a game 18 times and 20 or more on eight occasions. In three games this season, the Mountaineers have forced an average of 12.3: West Virginia and Minnesota had 13 and Iowa State had 11.BIG PICTUREMount St. Marys: The Mountaineers live and die playing up-tempo, with an aggressive full-court pressure on defense and an offense that likes to shoot from beyond the arc. Mount St. Marys showed flashes on both ends, but needs to be more consistent, especially against teams with bigger post players.Minnesota: The Gophers, who went 8-23 last year, including home losses to mid-majors South Dakota, South Dakota State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, continue to advantageously use their depth. This was the third straight game at least five Gophers finished in double figures.UP NEXTMount St. Marys continues its season-opening nine-game road trip Friday at George Mason (1-1) of the Atlantic 10. Mount St. Marys has lost 14 straight non-conference road games.Minnesota is expected to have a tough test Friday when the Gophers welcome St. Johns as part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games. It will conclude a stretch of three games in five nights at home. The Red Storm (2-0) beat Binghamton 77-61 Monday. Rays Jerseys China . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Custom Rays Jerseys . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. http://www.customraysjersey.com/ . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. Evan Longoria Jersey Large . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Custom Rays Jersey China .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week.Barrie McDermott believes that Chris Chester and Wakefield are a good fit and is also excited by the proposed return to the Wildcats of John Kear. Wakefield announced Chester as head coach following the resignation of Australian Brian SmithThe 37-year-old, who was fired from his role with Hull KR just three weeks ago, will take charge immediately, preparing the team for the Super League visit to Hull FC on Friday. Former Wigan, Leeds and Widnes star McDermott is pleased that Chester is back in the game and hopes he is given the time to take Wakefield forward.Chester is from Wakefield and he knows how the club works, so in that respect I think it will work, McDermott told Sky Sports.It is a great appointment for him - he needed to get back into the game quickly and he has a big job to do at Wakefield. Chris Chester is a really good young coach who is a great communicator and can motivate - he really knows how to get the most out of his players.I really do hope that this is a long-term appointment so that he can work on a strategy and that he has a better ending than he did at his last role. It will be a difficult job.With the greatest respect the player roster he has at Wakefield has not got the same ring to it as some of the other clubs. He is going to have to get the best out of what he has, and make sure that he gets the best out of each individual so that the team plays beyond their potential.They are dealing with a lot of issues especially the insecurity surrounding their finances but I think it will be a great lesson for Chester and really develop his coaching abilities.ddddddddddddakefield also announced that former coach Kear will return to the club to work alongside Chester from 2017, as head of rugby - a match-up that McDermott is delighted to see. John Kear at Wakefield in 2011 The one thing I am in favour of is getting a head of rugby in to take some of the pressure off the coach, he added.I think sometimes all the other issues can take a coachs focus away from what he does best - and that is coach! There are very few coaches who can get it right on the grass and off the grass.Someone like John Kear is perfect to be teamed up with Chester - Kear has done all the top jobs and has done it at an international level. He has so much experience and still has a heck of a lot to offer.I see this as a real long-term commitment. So often clubs would rather spend money on a short-term fix - like put the money into the pockets of an overseas player. I think they should be focusing on a five or six-year plan that can really reap the long-term benefits. Also See: Chester named Wakefield coach WATCH: The Naughty Step Can Widnes last the pace? Follow @SkySportsRL ' ' '