Minnesota Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Golden Gophers
How is the entire season going to play out for Minnesota?
It’s certainly going to go better than last season. The whole 4-14 Big Ten record, finishing near the bottom and under .500 overall is behind them. With that said, they need to stay healthy in order to have a bounce-back season.
It would also help if all the guys stayed out of trouble. That’s preventable. Minnesota has an All-Big Ten candidate in Jordan Murphy. From there, he is surrounded by a great cast of guards who can play.
The lack of three-point shooting will be a weakness. No returning player made over 40 last season. The counter argument though is that two of their best long-distant shooters missed at least five games last season.
Realistically Minnesota could win all of their non-conference games. It’s doable. Washington will certainly be their toughest opponent. That all depends on how the Gophers fare against Texas A&M and if the Huskies win. I have no doubt that Washington will win. Minnesota it’s up in the air.
At best they’ll start 6-0. After further review, it looks like 5-1, but maybe 4-2 if Boston College trips them up on the road.
Either way, they’ll draw Ohio State and Nebraska early on. Both teams will be difficult this season. Then it’s cupcake city for four games until they reopen with Big Ten play for good to start the New Year.
They play Illinois and Rutgers twice. I said in my Illinois preview that the Illini could sneak a win away from the Gophers. So I’ll stay consistent and hold to that.
Minnesota also plays Wisconsin twice. They could easily split that series too. They only have one matchup against Northwestern and Penn State. Those will be two very important games.
Otherwise, the Gophers have to play Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska and Purdue all twice. In order to be back in the Tournament conversation, they can’t afford to get swept by either four of those teams.
Next. Big Ten Basketball: Ranking the head coaches for 2018-19. dark
There’s no doubt in my mind that Minnesota isn’t capable of finishing in the top-eight of a very deep Big Ten conference and getting back into the Tournament. Even as a play-in game.
Jordan Murphy is a big-time player. I’m a huge believer in him. The team will run through him as the star player. He’s going to do things Keita Bates-Diop did last season. In order for him to receive the same recognition as Bates-Diop, Minnesota has to finish strong in Big Ten Play.