Big Ten Basketball: Predicting teams at the bottom for 2019-20 season
8. Minnesota
2018-2019 conference record: 9-11
Key players lost: Jordan Murphy, Amir Coffey, Dupree Mcbrayer
Key players returning: Gabe Kalscheur, Daniel Oturu,
Key newcomers: Alihan Demir (transfer), Marcus Carr (transfer), Isaiah Innen
Minnesota is another roster that is in flux. They lost two program-altering seniors in Jordan Murphy and Dupree McBrayer, but the crushing blow was Amir Coffey’s decision to stay in the NBA Draft.
Despite losing those three, they return two promising players in Daniel Oturu and Gabe Kalscheur. The duo both averaged double-figure scoring while starting the majority of their games. Kalscheur is an athletic wing who excels from the three-point line, while Oturu is a presence down low.
The x-factors will be transfers Marcus Carr and Alihan Demir who both will both be eligible at the start of the season. Carr started 27 of 32 games for Pittsburgh last season scoring 10 points per game to go along with four assists. He will likely start at point guard for the Gophers and fill the playmaking void left by Coffey. Demir is a 6’9 forward who averaged over 14 points per game at Drexel last season.
With Carr, Kalscheur, Denim, and Oturu, Minnesota has four guys who can get them double-digit points. But depth is the big issue for Richard Pitino’s squad. Four-star freshman Isaiah Innen will get some minutes at the forward spot, but Carr and Kalscheur will have to play a lot for the Gophers to succeed.
dark. Next. Top 25 homecourt advantages
Minnesota has enough scoring, defense, and rebounding on the surface to be a very good team. Combine that with a tough home court and there is a very real possibility the Golden Gophers are in the tournament for a second straight season. But a lot of mileage will be placed on the starters and it remains to be seen how they will hold up.