BleedGopher
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Per Shama:
Niko Medved Talks Keeping Best Hoops Talent Home
For most of this millennium the men’s Gopher basketball program has been unable to bring the best players in the state to Dinkytown. From Tyus Jones to Chet Holmgren, the elites have gone elsewhere.
That has contributed to dismal results at Minnesota. In the past 20 seasons the Gophers have one winning season in Big Ten games. Twice during that stretch, they have won an NCAA Tournament game.
In the class of 2026 the top two prep players in the state, according to 247Sports, are Faribault center Ryan Kreager and Wayzata shooting guard Christian Wiggins. They’re committed to Loyola Chicago and Iowa State respectively. Wayzata small forward Nolen Anderson is ranked No. 3 and verbally committed to the Gophers.
New head coach Niko Medved was asked by Sports Headliners what it will take to reverse the longstanding trend at Minnesota of not convincing the most elite players to choose the program. Medved said there’s “a lot to sell here” and at his previous job (Colorado State) there was a track record of winning and helping players reach full potential.
“Playing in a system that they love playing in, that is conducive to them growing and developing as a player,” Medved said. “I think we have a great culture that guys want to be a part of and it’s just continuing to sell that. …We have really made an effort to do that and try to get the best guys, but they gotta be the best fit for us.
“…I look at what P.J. (Fleck) has done right across the way (for football). It didn’t necessarily happen for him right away but, man, he just kept chopping wood, chopping wood, and selling and selling, and now look at it. All these guys from around the area want to come and play for the Gophers. And we are going to get there too.”
Go Gophers!!
Niko Medved Talks Keeping Best Hoops Talent Home
For most of this millennium the men’s Gopher basketball program has been unable to bring the best players in the state to Dinkytown. From Tyus Jones to Chet Holmgren, the elites have gone elsewhere.
That has contributed to dismal results at Minnesota. In the past 20 seasons the Gophers have one winning season in Big Ten games. Twice during that stretch, they have won an NCAA Tournament game.
In the class of 2026 the top two prep players in the state, according to 247Sports, are Faribault center Ryan Kreager and Wayzata shooting guard Christian Wiggins. They’re committed to Loyola Chicago and Iowa State respectively. Wayzata small forward Nolen Anderson is ranked No. 3 and verbally committed to the Gophers.
New head coach Niko Medved was asked by Sports Headliners what it will take to reverse the longstanding trend at Minnesota of not convincing the most elite players to choose the program. Medved said there’s “a lot to sell here” and at his previous job (Colorado State) there was a track record of winning and helping players reach full potential.
“Playing in a system that they love playing in, that is conducive to them growing and developing as a player,” Medved said. “I think we have a great culture that guys want to be a part of and it’s just continuing to sell that. …We have really made an effort to do that and try to get the best guys, but they gotta be the best fit for us.
“…I look at what P.J. (Fleck) has done right across the way (for football). It didn’t necessarily happen for him right away but, man, he just kept chopping wood, chopping wood, and selling and selling, and now look at it. All these guys from around the area want to come and play for the Gophers. And we are going to get there too.”
Ownership Speculation Puts Spotlight on Falvey, Baldelli – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners
Go Gophers!!
