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Butler Basketball: Keys to success against Minnesota in 2019-20

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Butler Bulldogs players react from the bench against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Butler Bulldogs players react from the bench against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Kalscheur/Oturu of Minnesota celebrate. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Kalscheur/Oturu of Minnesota celebrate. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Opponent Intel: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota has not been the most successful high-major basketball program in recent years but is coming off reaching the NCAA Tournament during this past season. With that said, though, expectations are not particularly high for the 2019-20 campaign considering the massive losses of Jordan Murphy, Amir Coffey, and Dupree McBrayer this offseason. Minnesota appears destined to be a middle-of-the-pack squad in the Big Ten this season as they were slotted in No. 11 spot by the unofficial media poll.

The Golden Gophers have seven newcomers joining the program this season and it is therefore difficult to project exactly where they will finish in the national rankings. Arguably the team’s top returning players are both sophomores in sharpshooting wing Gabe Kalscheur and talented big man Daniel Oturu. Both players averaged in double-figures last season and will now be seen as the stars of this team. Kalscheur is one of the only true perimeter threats on this roster following a 77-for-188 (41.0%) season from beyond the arc last season while Oturu is an excellent glass-cleaner and superb shot-blocker.

With regard to the newcomers, Marcus Carr is an incoming transfer from Pitt that is already holding down the starting point guard position for the team. He averaged 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a freshman for the Panthers in 2017-18. Carr is a well-built point guard with the potential to be a star for the team this season alongside major breakout candidates in Kalscheur and Oturu.

Another transfer, Payton Willis (Vanderbilt), shares the backcourt with Carr. Minnesota definitely lacked perimeter threats this offseason and the hope is that the arrival of Willis will help in that department. He averaged 5.1 points per game for the Commodores on 34.9% from beyond the arc as a sophomore. Willis can be a high-volume threat from beyond the arc as he is already 9-for-20 across two games with the Gophers.

The final piece of the starting lineup is Alihan Demir. A 6-foot-9 grad transfer from Drexel, Demir averaged 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game last season. He is a solid all-around player but could struggle to adjust to playing at the high-major level.

Expected Starters vs. Butler: Carr, Kalscheur, Williams, Demir, and Oturu.

As you can tell, Minnesota’s starting five features a lot of new pieces with three transfers and two rising sophomores. That group still needs a bit more time to gel together and the depth on the squad is exceptionally young. Head coach Richard Pitino is essentially only running a seven-man rotation right now with freshman Tre’ Williams and senior Michael Hurt playing ~15 minutes as the only reserves. Although Hurt is a senior, he has never averaged more than 3.2 points per game in his career.

The Golden Gophers have started this season at 1-1. They won their home opener against Cleveland State, a sub-300 opponent, by 35 points before falling to Oklahoma by nine at a neutral site. This start has gone about as expected for Coach Pitino’s team so far this season. Butler is likely to be the more talented team in this meeting while also boasting home-court advantage but Minnesota has been tested more early this season by virtue of their matchup with the Sooners.

From a stylistic point of view, Minnesota has traditionally looked to attack the glass and draw fouls under head coach Richard Pitino. They also ranked just 343rd (out of 353) in 3PAr last season. With that said, though, the team appears to be far more willing to let it from distance this time around. With Carr, Kalscheur, and Willis all in the starting lineup, the Gophers feature more perimeter threats than in the past and have already attempted 61 trifectas over two games, hitting 21 of them (34.4%).

A two-game sample size is not enough to think that Minnesota has made such a significant stylistic change with regards to 3-point shooting at volume, but film backs up the idea that they are seeking more perimeter jumpers. Coach Pitino appears to be adjusting his scheme to fit the players that he has. With that said, though, still expect that the Gophers will fight for rebounds on both ends and look to get to the free-throw line.

Minnesota will enter this matchup at No. 79 in KenPom whereas Butler sits at No. 27.