Big Ten X-Factors: One Player Who Could Swing Every Team’s Season (MN: Isaac Asuma, Sophomore, Guard)

Per Antonio:

Minnesota​

Isaac Asuma, Sophomore, Guard​

Asuma made the most of his minutes last year in 32 games with the Golden Gophers. In his freshman year he logged 5.6 points per match on 43.7% shooting. With almost an entirely new team in Head Coach Niko Medved's first season, Asuma stayed loyal to the school that gave him a chance during their coaching shift. Asuma is expected to have a larger role in his sophomore campaign, gaining more trust, taking more shots and seeking to be the team's leader meaning a breakout season is well in play for the homegrown talent. With a leap forward this year, Isaac can help bring this team from the ground up as they eye their first tournament bid since 2019.


Go Gophers!!

I remarked to my fellows last night that Asuma was making some tough plays and making them look easy. He was very smooth. He continues to have all-conference potential.

Niko has done no wrong, and it's been fun thus far, but I'm going to criticize him regardless with a hot take.

Hot Take: Asuma should not be starting at the SG. He doesn't look to score nearly enough (I wish he would)! Let him run the PG with the second unit and start Reynolds, who's looking to get to the bucket.

I can't wait until Asuma actually thinks of himself as a scorer because the guy is so freaking smooth, and as Bad Gopher remarked, he has all-conference potential written all over him.

Bad Gopher said:

I remarked to my fellows last night that Asuma was making some tough plays and making them look easy. He was very smooth. He continues to have all-conference potential.

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I noted that Isaac was wearing a back brace when he was on the bench. Hopefully the back is not a chronic injury as I don't think we have actually seen what he is truly capable of doing on the court this season (including exhibition games).

topos said:

Hot Take: Asuma should not be starting at the SG. He doesn't look to score nearly enough (I wish he would)! Let him run the PG with the second unit and start Reynolds, who's looking to get to the bucket.

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Reynolds played more minutes than Asuma last night. Only Tyson played more minutes than Reynolds.

TwistingMyMelon said:

Reynolds played more minutes than Asuma last night. Only Tyson played more minutes than Reynolds.

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I couldn't watch the game but Reynolds sure filled up the stats sheet. What position best suits his skill set for those of you that watched him last night?

I don't know why but Isaac reminds me quite a bit of Jordan Taylor. He is a little bigger and Jordan developed into a more consistent scorer but I think its just that they are both solid facilitators and always seem collected.

Slim Tubby said:

I couldn't watch the game but Reynolds sure filled up the stats sheet. What position best suits his skill set for those of you that watched him last night?

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I didn't watch the game either but I agree that he looks like a stat stuffer from the box score.

Isaac Asuma had a crazy good freshmen and sophmore year in high school. By his JR and SR year he shifted some of his scoring numbers to setting up his teammates as his assist went from 5.8 to 8.2. His scoring dropped from 25 and 27ppg, to 20 and then just 18 his SR year.

He became too unselfish for most who watched Cherry, those final two years. Sometimes passing out of a double to a less good player who will likely miss a shot, isn't the right play, sometimes when you're the best player, you beat two players and take the shot. I call it KG syndrome.

Isaac has one of those nice guy personalities that Niko may require him to be more aggressive or he will have to sit him to get the message across. Coincidently, Willis hasn't been half as aggressive as he was in the MAC. For this team to reach its potential they both will need to take over.

Reynolds doesn't seem to need encouragement to get aggressive. Easily one of the top 5 players, but because of only having 3 guards, someone has to come in off the bench, and it's nice to have a scorer there.