Big Ten Basketball: Updated early power rankings for 2022-23 season

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 70-59. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

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Big Ten Basketball Minnesota Gophers forward Jamison Battle Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers

The good news for the Gophers is that they’re bringing back their best from last season in Jamison Battle, one of the most effective transfers from a year ago. The former George Washington forward averaged a team-leading 17.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg and played a big part in the success of the team.

The bad news is that the other five players that scored more than 2.0 ppg on the roster all moved on after exhausting their respective eligibility. That includes double-digit scoring guards, Payton Willis and E.J. Stephens. After playing with one of the most experienced rosters, the Gophers did add some more transfers but these newcomers have more than one year to work with.

That includes Dawson Garcia, who started out at Marquette before going to North Carolina last year as one of the most high-profile transfers in the portal. He never got it going with the Tar Heels and missed the last half of the season due to personal issues involving his family. He’s back in his home state and gives the Minnesota frontcourt a massive boost.

It’ll come down to how good the new transfer guards play in extended minutes. Ta’Lon Cooper (9.1 ppg and 5.9 apg at Morehead State) and Taurus Samuels (9.4 ppg at Dartmouth) are solid players but it’s hard to envision them being great scoring options at the Big Ten Basketball level next season. They’ll need Garcia to average around 15-18 ppg for the team to be fairly competitive.

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