Big Ten Basketball: Purdue, Ohio State, Wisconsin rise in latest power rankings

17. Minnesota (4-1)

The Golden Gophers haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since before the pandemic and Ben Johnson’s tenure as head coach hasn’t been the most productive. Regardless, last season was a major step forward, more than doubling their wins while actually competing for the most part in the middle of the Big Ten race. Things are a little different this season, though the initial results cause some reservations.

Minnesota has played just five games this season, with all five coming at home against mid-majors. They were upset last week against a strong North Texas team and barely came away with wins over Yale and Omaha. They’ve actually played pretty well defensively but have been abhorrent shooting from long-range and their slow-paced offense is a big reason why they’re giving up less than 56 points a night.

Like last season, Dawson Garcia is the notable piece on offense, averaging 23 points per game through the first few weeks. Beyond that, the Golden Gophers are hunting for consistency. They’re among the worst teams in the nation in some offensive categories, including free throw and 3-point percentage, and cannot play like this to compete in the Big Ten. Unless someone breaks out, Minnesota is going to struggle and take a major step back.