Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Updated way-too-early rankings after the NBA Draft

By Lukas Harkins

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Murphy #3 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers reacts. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Murphy #3 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers reacts. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Speaking of teams who underachieved last season, Minnesota was also expected to be one of the top Big Ten teams in 2017-18. In similar fashion to Northwestern, the Golden Gophers failed to live up to expectations. They finished 4-14 in conference play and 11th in the Big Ten. There was also plenty of controversy surrounding the team throughout the year, but we will not go into that here.

As we look ahead to 2018-19, there are five key pieces returning for the Golden Gophers. It will not be easy to make up for the losses of Nate Mason and Reggie Lynch but the potential is there for Minnesota to exceed this preseason ranking. At the forefront of this is rising senior Jordan Murphy. The 6-foot-6 forward was excellent last season, posting averages of 16.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. He will be the go-to player for Minnesota but there is plenty of talent around him as well.

Isaiah Washington (8.7 points) and Dupree McBrayer (9.4 points are all also returning from solid seasons a year ago. In addition, injury recoveries will play a vital role in how successful Minnesota will be in 2018-19. Both Amir Coffey (who averaged 14.0 points in 18 games) and Eric Curry (who missed the whole season) are returning from injuries that kept them out for extended periods of time last season.

With all of these players back, as well as a solid recruiting class featuring a fringe top-50 player, Minnesota has the potential to exceed this ranking by a wide margin. However, can we trust head coach Richard Pitino to lead his team into a top-half finish in the conference? Since taking over as head coach, the Golden Gophers are a combined 31-59 (.344) and have just one winning season in five years.

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