The Gophers are looking to grow this year after coming off a better than expected 2023-2024 season. The squad was able to put together one of their better seasons in recent history, but the 19-15 record was not enough for the NCAA tournament. This could be credited to the 9-10 Big Ten record which was middle of the pack and did not include many top tier wins. However, a bright spot can be found in the run to the NIT championship, which was ultimately lost to Indiana St.
While a season of growth would seem to be on the horizon for Minnesota, NIL and the NBA draft are making it harder and harder to keep key players at the U of M. Notably star player Pharrel Payne left as NIL money took him to Texas A&M, a school with minimal basketball history. This move gave fans a feeling that notable players may be far and between in the future. With the current landscape of our university, paying players the amount of money other schools are willing to offer is seen as impossible. Furthermore, is the idea of a kid staying “home” worth them thousands of dollars?
The Gophers will also be without Cam Christie this year as he declared for the NBA draft. Christie will join the Clippers and hope to continue his shooting success that was once had in Minnesota. While the NBA draft is inevitable for high level players, losing a high level guard will be tough for the Gophers to recover from.
On a more positive outlook for the year our leader Dawson Garcia will be coming back for his senior year. The Prior Lake, MN highschool graduate averaged 17.6 points per game last season, a stat that led the Gophers. This play led him to the All-Big Ten 2nd team last season. This year the preseason All-Big Ten honoree will look to propel the Gophers to their first NCAA tournament since 2019.
While Garcia and Mike Mitchel will be the only starters that coach Ben Johnson was able to retain, there is no true lack of talent in recruits. Coach Johnson has worked to recruit players with some college ball under their belt. This is due to the quick turnaround season to season, making it hard to build a true culture and team. However, experience is very necessary when it comes to winning in the Big Ten.
Redshirt senior Parker Fox will hope to help with the culture as he is seen as the team’s energizer bunny. After being injured for two straight years Fox played in every game last year and appeared to be a key personality to the team. Continuing this energy and attitude will hopefully build a culture for Minnesota’s new recruits.
In the front court the Gophers will be adding Frank Mitchell, an All-MAAC second team player who averaged a double double last season. They will also be adding the MAC defensive player of the year Tyler Cochran who will lead the backcourt with Mike Mitchell. Along with Mitchell and Cochran, Minnesota will look to guard Brennan Rigsby and forward Trey Edmonds.
Overall the season will be an uphill climb for the Gophers who have minimal funding compared to other Big Ten programs. They will hope to capitalize in non-conference play and pick up enough Big Ten wins to storm into March. While it feels like a roster that was thrown together in many ways the Gophers will hope to find balance and play as a team throughout the year. Without a true standout player it will be tough, but the leadership and play of Dawson Garcia will be truly essential to any Gopher success this season.
