17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It’s going to be a new look for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after losing Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey to the NBA. Returning to Piscataway is Dylan Grant, who showed promise as a freshman, averaging 5.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG. The 6-foot-7 forward started in 16 of 21 games -- the only returning starter from last season.
Steve Pikiell is betting on the upside of George Washington transfer Darren Buchanan Jr. Buchanan had a spectacular freshman season but his numbers dipped significantly in his sophomore season from a production standpoint. He’s also betting on the upside of former four-star recruit Baye Fall, who spent limited time at Arkansas and Kansas State. But it’s hard to bet on a team that loses four of its five starters off a team that went 15-17. Tariq Francis, who averaged 19.1 PPG at NJIT last season, must step up in the backcourt if Rutgers wants to turn heads in the Big Ten in 2025-26.
16. Minnesota Golden Gophers
It’s a new era of Gopher hoops with Niko Medved leading the charge. The Gophers don’t return much but the development of Isaac Asuma is something to watch. Medved is an excellent developer. He developed Nique Clifford into a bona-fide first-round pick. He developed John Tonje -- who improved year by year under Medved -- who later flourished in Greg Gard’s wing factory last season. While Asuma won’t be anywhere near the John Tonje level, expecting a significant sophomore jump is in the cards.
The Gophers have some nice wings to work with, with forward BJ Omot, who averaged 16.7 PPG at North Dakota State before only playing four games at California. Forward Bobby Durkin averaged 13.5 PPG at Davidson and is another strong addition. Langston Reynolds shot 59.3% from the field and nearly 41% from three on Northern Colorado and expects to be a nice piece in Minnesota’s backcourt.
With lots of new faces at a school that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, it’s hard to foresee how the Gophers will shake out in 2025-26. With Medved leading the charge, the Gophers won’t be an easy out, even if they are slotted at 16th here.