The Minnesota Golden Gophers have long been in the rebuilding stages under head coach Ben Johnson. The Big Ten will be as tough as ever with four new teams. So the room for error just got bigger for Minnesota. They proved to be a tough out every time they took the floor in 2023-24.
The Gophers shocked many finishing with a 19-15 record and reaching the second round of the NIT. They were certainly ahead of schedule, especially after winning only nine games the previous season. Minnesota had a lot of good players last season that stepped up, led by freshman Cam Christie, who made an impact early and often.
However, it’s back to draining board for 2024-25, as Christie went to the NBA. His departure wasn’t the only big departure as the Gophers lost several key contributors to the transfer portal. Minnesota has a lot of work to do to be able to contend this coming season.
Minnesota Big Ten Basketball Preview 2024-25: Rebuilding Year
Transfer season didn’t help the Gophers, as they lost several key players to other schools including Pharrel Payne. Payne was making big strides to be a force in the post for Minnesota. However, he chose to leave Minneapolis for College Station and Texas A&M. He isn’t the only big contributor to leave via the portal, as Elijah Hawkins who when healthy was the best point guard in the Big Ten last season. Hawkins averaged eight assists per game in 2023-24. He will be deeply missed this season.
The portal can give and take, as Minnesota may have lost six players to it, but they were able to bring in seven new players as well. Those transfer additions are highlighted by Brennan Rigsby from new Big Ten foe Oregon, as well as Femi Odukale from New Mexico State. Odukale was mic’d up during a recent Gopher practice shared via Minnesota’s social media.
Let's have a great day 😁@showtime_Femi is on the mic 🎤 pic.twitter.com/0Q175RzqaE
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) July 1, 2024
Senior Heavy Team
Even with all the new portal guys, and a two-man freshman class, Minnesota is once again going to rely on a senior-heavy team. With Christie, Payne, and Hawkins all gone, things are going to look different across the board. One thing that remains is Dawson Garcia who is back for what feels like his seventh or eighth senior year.
Garcia has played a lot of Big Ten games, and that should only help the Gophers in a very tough season. He averaged nearly 18 points per game last season, and he has a real chance to be an all-league performer this season. He isn’t alone as Minnesota has at least six seniors on their team.
As for the new blood, Isaac Asuma a four-star point guard from Iron, Minnesota will have to break out for the Gophers to build on their 19 wins from a season ago. Team chemistry looks to be on track as can be seen via Minnesota’s X page.
Another day, another challenge ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/x7dHqHZ0pI
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) June 24, 2024
A Look at the Schedule
As for the Gophers 2024-25 schedule, nothing is easy in the Big Ten. The Barn in Minneapolis has plenty to be rocking about. Minnesota gets some huge games at home with both Purdue and Illinois having to go to one of the most hostile environments in the Big Ten. They also get conference newcomers Oregon and Washington at home. The home slate of Big Ten games also includes Michigan, Northwestern, and Ohio State.
As for their road games, trips to both USC and UCLA will be some travel, as will trips to the East Coast against Maryland and Rutgers. That’s just the new normal in the Big Ten. Their road slate also includes trips to Indiana, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Like every other team in the Big Ten, there are three teams the Gophers will play twice. Those lucky three teams are Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin. The Gophers and Spartans had two very tough meetings last season. When Minnesota plays the Badgers it is always crazy at both venues, so this year should be no different.
B1G news for 2024-25! 🗓
📰: https://t.co/Ejd6S2ehhh pic.twitter.com/nVomiuj9HB
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) May 1, 2024
Gophers Have Tall Task
It’s going to be a tough ask for Minnesota to finish about 10th in the Big Ten this year. All four of the new teams could easily have just a little bit more talent and the fact the bottom three teams won’t make the Big Ten Tournament. The Gophers can stay above that bottom three especially if Garcia has another 18-point per game season. Nonetheless, Minnesota is a middle-of-the-pack team, that is likely closer to a rebuild than a contender at this point.
