BleedGopher
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Per Off Tackle Empire:
SG: Mike Mitchell, 6’2 Third Year: No real idea who gets this job. Braeden Carrington is a possibility, but his line was pretty abysmal, so we will go with Pepperdine transfer Mitchell. A capable passer, his biggest strength is his outside shooting, hitting a blistering 44% on threes last season. Like Hawkins, he also struggled with turnovers. This backcourt could be interesting in having two ballhandlers who can blitz you from deep and also play Hot Potato with the ball.
SF: Joshua Ola-Joseph, 6’7 Second Year: Minny played a quartet of freshmen last year. The top minute getter was Ola-Joseph, who displayed a bit of shooting touch. His effective field goal rate was 57%, though unfortunately that was his free throw percentage as well. Can’t have everything. Ola-Joseph didn’t really pass or rebound much either, but he is shaped like a wing so gets the nod here.
PF: Dawson Garcia, 6’11, Fourth Year: Formerly a top 30 recruit to Marquette and then North Carolina, Garcia was supposed to be a big infusion of talent. While he didn’t turn in an NBA worthy showcase, he was probably Minny’s best player last season, a true three level scorer who was also a plus rebounder. No reason to expect any different this season, and perhaps he can finally put on some tape that gets some pro interest. Somebody has to, right?
C: Pharrel Payne, 6’9 Second Year: The top freshman in the recruiting class was their most effective freshman on the court. He mostly stood near the basket and put in bunnies and got rebounds, which is really all anyone wants him to do. It’s likely he will continue to stand near the basket and put in bunnies and get rebounds. We’ll see if he extends his range by a foot or two.
PF Parker Fox, 6’8’’ Seventh Year: The Ballad of Parker Fox keeps on getting sung, and this may be the year he suits up for the Gophs. Originally a freshman in 2017 for the Northern State Wolves in Aberdeen, South Dakota, he joined the Ben Johnson train in 2021. Unfortunately, he promptly went down to a season ending knee injury, then again in 2022. In 2023, he is cleared for practice and gives them...what exactly? Your guess is as good as mine.
PF Isaiah Ihnen, 6’9’’ Fifth Year: Deutsch! The Big German Ihnen also returns from two years of injury. Originally a four star recruit for Richard Pitino, Ihnen played sparing minutes his first two seasons but seemed destined to mold into a decent big guy. What is he two years later? Hopefully something that can rebound and block shots and give them some minutes under the basket. Achtung baby.
SF Kadyn Betts, 6’8’’ Second Year: Betts redshirted last season - he actually skipped his senior year of high school to not play basketball for the Gophs last season, so efficient I guess. In theory he can play both forward spots, so that’s something.
C Jack Wilson, 6’11, Fourth Year : A transfer from Washington State, Wilson was lightly used for a good Wazzu squad. He originally played sparingly for Idaho, before going to Wazzu to play sparingly, and seems destined to play sparingly in Minnesota. He is getting a good tour of northern states, however.
SG Will Ramberg, 6’5’’ Fourth Year: A walk on turned scholarship guy to maybe back to walk on. Included here for his awesome last name.
SG Cameron Christie, 6’5’’ First Year: One of two freshman in the class after Dennis Evans decommitted, Christie has some height and some versatility. If you remember Max Christie dipping his foot in East Lansing a couple years ago, this is his younger brother. The book on him is if he develops a shot, he could be the Real Deal. Probably won’t know that this season though.
SF Kristupas Keinys, 6’8’’ First Year: A very late addition to the class, Keinys is an unknown Euroball Project who last played for Klaipėdos Neptūnas-Akvaservis in Lithuania. Go Neptunas-Akvaservis!!
Go Gophers!!
Starters
PG: Elijah Hawkins, 5’11 Third Year: With Ta’Lon Cooper moving on, Minny needs a point guard. Enter Howard transfer Mitchell, who will give Minny a different, and much shorter, look at the point. Howard made the tourney last year, and Mitchell was their leading scorer and assister (assistor?). He was a pest defensively and was aces from three (45%), but did have a problem with turnovers. Difficult to say how his game translates to the B1G - in their game against Kansas last year he has 12 points, 8 assists, and 7 turnovers.SG: Mike Mitchell, 6’2 Third Year: No real idea who gets this job. Braeden Carrington is a possibility, but his line was pretty abysmal, so we will go with Pepperdine transfer Mitchell. A capable passer, his biggest strength is his outside shooting, hitting a blistering 44% on threes last season. Like Hawkins, he also struggled with turnovers. This backcourt could be interesting in having two ballhandlers who can blitz you from deep and also play Hot Potato with the ball.
SF: Joshua Ola-Joseph, 6’7 Second Year: Minny played a quartet of freshmen last year. The top minute getter was Ola-Joseph, who displayed a bit of shooting touch. His effective field goal rate was 57%, though unfortunately that was his free throw percentage as well. Can’t have everything. Ola-Joseph didn’t really pass or rebound much either, but he is shaped like a wing so gets the nod here.
PF: Dawson Garcia, 6’11, Fourth Year: Formerly a top 30 recruit to Marquette and then North Carolina, Garcia was supposed to be a big infusion of talent. While he didn’t turn in an NBA worthy showcase, he was probably Minny’s best player last season, a true three level scorer who was also a plus rebounder. No reason to expect any different this season, and perhaps he can finally put on some tape that gets some pro interest. Somebody has to, right?
C: Pharrel Payne, 6’9 Second Year: The top freshman in the recruiting class was their most effective freshman on the court. He mostly stood near the basket and put in bunnies and got rebounds, which is really all anyone wants him to do. It’s likely he will continue to stand near the basket and put in bunnies and get rebounds. We’ll see if he extends his range by a foot or two.
Backups
SG Braeden Carrington, 6’4’’ Second Year: Carrington was Mr. Basketball in Minnesota, and a lot of fans were high on him coming into last season. He was...not particularly inspiring coming off the bench, neither doing much with the ball nor making many shots. He did show some rebounding, and with some more seasoning you could see him in the starting lineup instead of Mitchell or Hawkins. They could even move him to the three in a small ball lineup if he shows some shot making.PF Parker Fox, 6’8’’ Seventh Year: The Ballad of Parker Fox keeps on getting sung, and this may be the year he suits up for the Gophs. Originally a freshman in 2017 for the Northern State Wolves in Aberdeen, South Dakota, he joined the Ben Johnson train in 2021. Unfortunately, he promptly went down to a season ending knee injury, then again in 2022. In 2023, he is cleared for practice and gives them...what exactly? Your guess is as good as mine.
PF Isaiah Ihnen, 6’9’’ Fifth Year: Deutsch! The Big German Ihnen also returns from two years of injury. Originally a four star recruit for Richard Pitino, Ihnen played sparing minutes his first two seasons but seemed destined to mold into a decent big guy. What is he two years later? Hopefully something that can rebound and block shots and give them some minutes under the basket. Achtung baby.
SF Kadyn Betts, 6’8’’ Second Year: Betts redshirted last season - he actually skipped his senior year of high school to not play basketball for the Gophs last season, so efficient I guess. In theory he can play both forward spots, so that’s something.
C Jack Wilson, 6’11, Fourth Year : A transfer from Washington State, Wilson was lightly used for a good Wazzu squad. He originally played sparingly for Idaho, before going to Wazzu to play sparingly, and seems destined to play sparingly in Minnesota. He is getting a good tour of northern states, however.
SG Will Ramberg, 6’5’’ Fourth Year: A walk on turned scholarship guy to maybe back to walk on. Included here for his awesome last name.
SG Cameron Christie, 6’5’’ First Year: One of two freshman in the class after Dennis Evans decommitted, Christie has some height and some versatility. If you remember Max Christie dipping his foot in East Lansing a couple years ago, this is his younger brother. The book on him is if he develops a shot, he could be the Real Deal. Probably won’t know that this season though.
SF Kristupas Keinys, 6’8’’ First Year: A very late addition to the class, Keinys is an unknown Euroball Project who last played for Klaipėdos Neptūnas-Akvaservis in Lithuania. Go Neptunas-Akvaservis!!
Go Gophers!!
