Minnesota Basketball: 4 takeaways from 1st month of 2023-24 regular season

The shooting has improved – but still has a long way to go

It’s no secret why Minnesota boasted one of the worst offenses in college basketball last season. They paired a horrific three-point shooting offense with free throw that ranked dead last among all Division I programs, not exactly a winning combination in the ultra-competitive Big Ten.

So far, the offense has shown notable progress, improving to 76.8 points per game, thanks in large part to the additions of guards Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell, along with the continued growth of big man Dawson Garcia. Hawkins hasn’t quite been able to carry the 47% three-point shooting over from Howard, but his presence alone gives defenses a reason to be defend the three-point line, opening up space for Garcia underneath to work.

The improvement at the free throw line has been the most encouraging part of the early season for the Gophers. They currently rank 38th in the nation shooting at a near 77% clip, a distinct change for a program that has regularly posted poor numbers year after year. The next step will be ensuring those improved numbers translate in crunch time. The Missouri defeat was evidence that Minnesota’s issues making free throws when the game is on the line persists.

The Gophers should feel genuinely good about the improvements offensively, especially considering how many new pieces they are breaking in. But considering the competition, this team should understand that continued progress is needed. The defenses they play in the Big Ten will be stronger, more physical, and more athletic than what they’ve seen over the month of November, and how the team responds will tell us a lot.