Minnesota Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for Golden Gophers

Key reserves

G Sean Sutherlin, Senior

Another transfer, Sean Sutherlin comes from New Hampshire, where he sat out the 2020-21 season with an injury. Prior to that, he nearly averaged a double-double as a junior, with 12.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Despite being just 6-foot-5, Sutherlin was one of the nation’s best defensive rebounders that season, 7.64 per game. Sutherlin is not much of a three-point shooter, but he can do almost everything else off the bench for the Gophers.

G Abdoulaye Thiam, Freshman

Abdoulaye Thiam is entering his first season at the D1 level after playing for Indian River State College last season, where he averaged 15 points per game and hit a staggering 48.6 percent of his three-pointers. He was even better in conference action, hitting 54.4 percent of his threes. Thiam is not much of a passer (less than 1 assist per game) and is relatively raw, but if he can carry over that three-point shot, Ben Johnson will have a gem on his hands.

F Charlie Daniels, Senior

Charlie Daniels is another transfer exhausting his eligibility at Minnesota – oddly, he also spent time with Indian River State College, though he and Thiam didn’t overlap. Instead, Daniels spent the last two seasons with Stephen F. Austin, where he averaged 4.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season. He’ll provide depth in the frontcourt.

C Treyton Thompson, Freshman

A true freshman, Treyton Thompson arrives on campus as a three-star recruit, according to 247 Sports, and one of the 200 best players in his class. He was a big scorer and big on the boards during his high school years and will be an essential development project for the new coaching staff.