Surely people told Gophers senior guard Malik Smith that it was going to be cold. Minnesota has a reputation for its chilly winters.

But no amount of forewarning  could have prepared Smith, a Boston native, for the temps he would have to endure this January.

"This weather is really shocking," Smith said. "You go outside and it just hits you in the face. It's -30 often out here. I really can't get used to it."

To be fair, this winter has been really, really cold — even for Minnesota. The month of January started with nine-consecutive days of the lows dipping into the negative temperatures — on two of those days even the highs were negative. It got so cold that Minneapolis' public grade schools were cancelled on back-to-back days.

Not even Smith's Massachusetts upbringing could have prepared him for this. 

"I thought Boston was cold," Smith said. "This is way worse."

It's a little different than the climate of Smith's last school  — Florida International in Miami, Fla.

"Man, I'm not going to lie to you, I miss Florida right now," he said with a laugh.

Smith said he had to buy a ski mask, a new coat and three sweaters to help handle the frigid temps. But he seems to have his winter routine down to a science.

"Bundle up, get in the gym, go back home," Smith said.

Weather.com's forecast for Thursday, Jan. 16:

                                     Hi                 Lo

Minneapolis, MN           21                  0

Boston, Mass.                41                33

Miami, Fla.                     64                 41