16. Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will have quite the new look in 2025-26 with former Colorado State head coach Niko Medved set to lead the charge.
The Gophers don’t return much from last year’s squad, welcoming in nine new transfers. However, they do return Isaac Asuma in the backcourt, who averaged 5.6 PPG in over 20 MPG last season.
Niko Medved isn’t shy to display his development prowess, including the likes of former Medved-coached players John Tonje and Nique Clifford. While I don’t expect Asuma to skyrocket into the national scene like Tonje and Clifford did, his development under Medved will be important to monitor for the Gophers this season. He will be paired alongside Northern Colorado transfer Langston Reyonolds and Western Michigan transfer Chansey Willis Jr. in the backcourt.
Additional names from Minnesota’s transfer-heavy class include Davidson transfer Bobby Durkin, who averaged 13.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 2.4 APG in 2024-25. Durkin will be joined by North Carolina transfer Cade Tyson on the wings. Tyson was a lethal sharpshooter at Belmont, but struggled massively at UNC. Can he rediscover his groove?
There’s no question that Minnesota has the talent alone to turn some heads this season. But with a heavy influx of new faces, it’s difficult to envision the Golden Gophers finishing outside the bottom of the Big Ten.