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Minnesota Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Golden Gophers

By Austin Walther

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 20: Head coach Richard Pitino of the Minnesota Golden Gophers looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 20: Head coach Richard Pitino of the Minnesota Golden Gophers looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Isaiah Washington #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers reacts in the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Isaiah Washington #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers reacts in the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Last year was a disappointing season, to say the least for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Are they poised for a bounce-back 2018-19 season?

Minnesota Basketball entered last season with so many expectations. They were going to have a really strong starting five after making it to the Tournament a year before. It didn’t start that bad. The Gophers stayed ranked for five weeks. They won their first eight out of nine. Minnesota then lost two in a row. Reggie Lynch was kicked off the team, they got plagued by injuries and it all went downhill.

Depth was going to be the only downfall for the Golden Gophers going into last season. It basically blew up in their face after all the various injuries throughout the season and the pain-staking suspension.

The whole Lynch situation was terrible. He was poised to have a dominant senior year playing at the five positions for the Gophers. Then it went up in flames when he was faced with three accounts of sexual assault.

The biggest injury came when Amir Coffey missed 14 games due to a shoulder injury. He was going to be a mainstay in the Golden Gophers backcourt. Coffey averaged 14 points per game before getting hurt during his sophomore season. He will get it back after being approved for a medical redshirt.

Many guys were thrown into the fire because of the multiple injuries and suspensions. That will help out the depth issue that they faced from a year ago.

Last year was simply a disaster with only four Big Ten wins. Two years ago, they won 11 in league play, 24 overall and made the Tournament. It was actually Richard Pitino’s only time finishing with an over a .500 record in the Big Ten and making the NCAA Tournament.

I feel like they lost some ground after having a very bad season. Since there’s only one season with a Tournament appearance under Pitino, it’ll be a tall task to get back to where they were two seasons ago. Even though they definitely have the talent.

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