3 Reasons To Be Encouraged About The Future Of Gophers Men's Basketball

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After Tuesday night's nonaccomplishment to Ohio State, nan Gophers person mislaid 4 games successful a row. At 10-9, their postseason outlook for 2025-26 looks shaky, but it's difficult not to beryllium encouraged astir nan early of nan program. Here's why.

Drastic betterment since Dec. 1

On Dec. 1, nan Gophers were nan 114th-rated squad connected KenPom.com, and classed 142nd connected nan first NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. As of Jan. 22, they're now No. 82 connected KenPom and No. 83 successful nan NET. Those numbers don't matter arsenic overmuch arsenic wins and losses, but it does show that Minnesota is playing astatine a dramatically amended level, contempt losing its past 4 games by an mean of 5.5 points.

Future roster outlook

There's a script wherever Minnesota is capable to clasp 9 of its apical 11 players for nan 2026-27 season. Cade Tyson and Langston Reynolds are nan only 2 players retired of eligibility pursuing nan year. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Bobby Durkin, Isaac Asuma, Grayson Grove, Kai Shinholster and Nehemiah Turner each person astatine slightest 1 much twelvemonth of eligibility.

B.J. Omot besides had 1 twelvemonth of eligibility coming into nan season, but that mightiness beryllium 2 if he doesn't spot nan level this season. Chansey Willis Jr. and Robert Vaihola are some expected to use for a aesculapian redshirt aft suffering season-ending injuries. In an era wherever there's important roster turnover year-to-year, Minnesota could person a akin squad adjacent season.

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The Gophers besides person in-state standouts Cedric Tomes and Nolen Anderson group to subordinate nan programme adjacent season, alongside California large man Chadrack Mpoyi arsenic precocious schoolhouse recruits. With 1 of 2 splashes successful nan transportation portal, they could person an upgraded roster successful 2026-27.

Rest of 2025-26 outlook

With 9 losses earlier nan past week successful February, Minnesota's chances of receiving an at-large invitation to nan NCAA Tournament are slim, but that doesn't mean it can't make sound successful nan postseason. If nan play ended today, nan Gophers would beryllium nan 10-seed successful nan Big Ten Tournament.

The Big Ten did not person a squad participate successful past year's NCAA Invitational Tournament (NIT), they alternatively had USC and Nebraska compete successful nan College Basketball Crown. The Cornhuskers coiled up winning nan event, which they've parlayed into a cleanable 19-0 commencement to 2025-26. The 2026 section will beryllium trim down from 16 to 8 teams, but it's still a realistic anticipation for a programme for illustration Minnesota.