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Minnesota Basketball: Projected depth chart and rotation for 2023-24 season

By Tommy McGowan

Feb 25, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Ben Johnson watches action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Ben Johnson watches action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

Point Guard

Starter – Mike Mitchell Jr.: 11.4 PPG / 4.1 RPG / 5.0 APG / 33.6 MPG

Mike Mitchell Jr. was a huge get for Johnson and his staff, particularly after a season in which the Gopher backcourt was the worst in the Big Ten. The junior comes over from Pepperdine after starting all 63 games for the Waves the last two seasons. He brings immediate playmaking to the position and is the type of player who can impact the game in a variety of ways.

Most importantly for the Gophers, Mitchell brings a proven shooter and distributor who doesn’t turn the ball over too often. That alone should make an upgrade after the Gophers were one of the most turnover-prone teams in the country last season, and finished dead last in Division I basketball at the free throw line.

Off the bench – Elijah Hawkins: 12.9 PPG / 6.0 APG / 29.7 MPG

Just as important as the Mitchell transfer was the addition of Elijah Hawkins, who comes over from Howard after starting 26 games for the Bison last season. Much like Mitchell, the playmaking of Hawkins will immediately jolt a lethargic Gopher offense, but his most impactful trait? His ability to shoot the three ball. He shot 47% from three-point territory in 2022-23, despite taking nearly four per contest.

It will be interesting to see whether Hawkins’ role is more as a backup point guard, or whether Johnson chooses to run him alongside Mitchell in the starting lineup. At 5’11”, he’s not going to play the two in the Big Ten, but Minnesota is going to want to get the talented guard on the court as much as possible, even as he acclimates to the high-major level.

Emergency – Jackson Purcell

Although there has been talk that true freshman Cam Christie could see some minutes at point guard, the more likely scenario is that former walk-on Jackson Purcell operates as No. 3 at the position. Purcell has played just one game, for a total of three minutes, during his Gopher career but played the position in high school and could be utilized as an emergency option.

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