Robert Vaihola — the new starting center on the Gophers men’s basketball team — aggravated a knee injury on Tuesday and is unlikely to play against San Francisco at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The 6-foot-8 transfer from San Jose State was incidentally kicked in his right leg in the second half of the 66-54 home win over Chicago State this week. He received medical attention on the Williams Arena court, limped off and didn’t return to the game.

“He’s really doubtful for (Saturday),” head coach Niko Medved told the Pioneer Press on Friday.

Starting all five games, Vaihola is the U’s second-leading rebounder (7.6 per game), while also contributing 5.0 points and 21.4 minutes per game.

The Gophers (4-1) lack frontcourt size, even with Vaihola, and his ex

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