Kyan Evans Commits to the Gophers!

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I don’t think there is any chance Kordel starts. There are like 5 minutes of available video of him touching a basketball, and they are all garbage time alley-oops with Michigan. He only started playing basketball 5 years ago. He’s a multi-year project with tremendous upside, but not a plug and play piece.
 


howeda7 said:
I don't see both Winters and Grove starting over Durkin.

Evans
Asuma
Durkin
Groves/Winters
JCJ

Winters/Groves
Grove
Kordel

Tomes
Shinholster/last portal spot

Possible redshirt:
Anderson
Mpoyi
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I don't for see mpoyi being redshirted... He's raw but that man has sooooo much potential. He may not be getting a ton of minutes but I expect to see him on floor a lot
 


Great pickup! Pick off guys from Michigan and unc every year!

Evans/Asuma/Tomes
Asuma/Groves/Kai
Durkin/Grady/Groves
JCJ/Durkin/Anderson
Grove/Mpoyi/kordel

That's my guess to start, eventually I think Grady starts and Durkin is our 6th man sharpshooter as was seemingly the plan this year. Also think Grayson found his role and is a good option to start. Feels like C is 18min GG 8 Mpoyi 8 Kordel 6 JCJ small ball.

Not a lot of star power per se but feels like a lot of options.
 



MTBeaudry said:
I count 11 i count us at 11 players! I am not counting Shinholter he has not given any indication what he plans to do!
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I was counting Shinholster because he's still on the roster as of now. If he's going to leave, he has only days to do so.
 

leib0039 said:
Great pickup! Pick off guys from Michigan and unc every year!

Evans/Asuma/Tomes
Asuma/Groves/Kai
Durkin/Grady/Groves
JCJ/Durkin/Anderson
Grove/Mpoyi/kordel

That's my guess to start, eventually I think Grady starts and Durkin is our 6th man sharpshooter as was seemingly the plan this year. Also think Grayson found his role and is a good option to start. Feels like C is 18min GG 8 Mpoyi 8 Kordel 6 JCJ small ball.

Not a lot of star power per se but feels like a lot of options.
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Im thinking Evans / Asuma/ Tomes
Groves/ Nelson
Grady/ Durkin
JCJ/ Groves
Kordel/ Mpoyi
Shinholter ????
 

Gold Vision said:
I don’t think there is any chance Kordel starts. There are like 5 minutes of available video of him touching a basketball, and they are all garbage time alley-oops with Michigan. He only started playing basketball 5 years ago. He’s a multi-year project with tremendous upside, but not a plug and play piece.
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That's about one more year than Hakeem Olajuwan had when he showed up at the University of Houston. Now, of course Hakeem was one of the all-time greats and one can't expect that to translate across lesser mortals but it's not out of the question that Kordel could be ready sooner.
 



Before the Grady and Groves pickups, Nolen Anderson was my number 1 lock for a freshman to play a big role on the team. I still think he can. He’s one of the highest ranked players on the team and only a year younger than Groves and Grady. Any one of those three can step up for meaningful minutes.
 

TommieGopher45 said:
It’ll be Evans Asuma Durkin JCJ Kordel
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This is my guess as well, though I think people put too much stock into who starts. Grove is going to play plenty with stints at the 4 and 5. Niko watched rebounding be a real Achilles heel for this team all last season, having a 7’2 kid that has decent hands, can protect the rim (which Grove isn’t great at) and rebound will be valuable for a group that won’t lack for offense. Kordel is 22 with grown man strength that can hold up against the bigger bodies will see in conference, may be some growing pains but the investment will be worth it in the long run. No reason to bring Durkin off the bench after the year he had.

There’s a fair bit of TBD with the new guys but I like this group a lot, good size, intriguing upside with the younger ones. Like some others have mentioned, would like to see an older bigger wing thats more of a combo forward but content with this group as is.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Who wants to take a shot at our current depth chart for this upcoming season?
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Bigger Line Up
PG: Kyan Evans (Asuma first back up), Cedric Tomes
SG: Isaac Asuma, Nolan Groves, Kai Shinholster, Max Lorenson
SF: Bobby Durkin, Winters Grady, Nolen Anderson
PF: JCJ, (first back up, Grove),
C: Grayson Grove, Mpoyi, Kordel

Smaller Line Up
PG: Kyan Evans
SG: Isaac Asuma
SF: Bobby Durkin
SF: Winters Grady
PF: JCJ

We have two more spots. We need a big who can start along JCJ. We had 4 bigs last year and one was useless and the other we lost to injury which is why we had a RS freshman playing 40 minutes a game.

The last spot will probably be another walk on. Bigs need to learn a lot before they can become effective starters in the Big 10. I think the above is the starting line up, as the year goes on, I expect some of the back ups, particularly Winters Grady and Mpoyi to get some time.
 
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Off-GridTNgopher said:
This would be my starting line up to start the non con schedule.. by B1G play I would hope the big German would be starting
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I hope the big German is starting but judging only by the picture of him dribbling with his head down like elementary school kiddos, I think he has a long way to go. Hopefully that picture wasn't indicative of his skills but he's only been playing basketball for 4 years so it very well might be. Tough to get your footwork and touch down so quickly. But if he's starting, that'll mean he's up to speed or the others are injured. Fingers crossed but I'd like one more big.
 

FinnGopher said:
Evans at 6'2" and Durkin at 6'8" means they aren't playing the same positions.
Starting is overrated. Who is playing at crunch time? Probably both.
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Yes, yes, yes. It's not about who starts, it's all about who finishes!!!!!!
 

Gold Vision said:
I don’t think there is any chance Kordel starts. There are like 5 minutes of available video of him touching a basketball, and they are all garbage time alley-oops with Michigan. He only started playing basketball 5 years ago. He’s a multi-year project with tremendous upside, but not a plug and play piece.
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100% agree. Hope we are wrong but highly doubt it.
 

CoMn said:
Bigger Line Up
PG: Kyan Evans (Asuma first back up), Cedric Holmes
SG: Isaac Asuma, Nolan Groves, Kai Shinholster, Max Lorenson
SF: Bobby Durkin, Winters Grady, Nolen Anderson
PF: JCJ, (first back up, Grove),
C: Grayson Grove, Mpoyi, Kordel

Smaller Line Up
PG: Kyan Evans
SG: Isaac Asuma
SF: Bobby Durkin
SF: Winters Grady
PF: JCJ

We have two more spots. We need a big who can start along JCJ. We had 4 bigs last year and one was useless and the other we lost to injury which is why we had a RS freshman playing 40 minutes a game.

The last spot will probably be another walk on. Bigs need to learn a lot before they can become effective starters in the Big 10. I think the above is the starting line up, as the year goes on, I expect some of the back ups, particularly Winters Grady and Mpoyi to get some time.
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who is Cedric Holmes?
 

Gold Vision said:
I don’t think there is any chance Kordel starts. There are like 5 minutes of available video of him touching a basketball, and they are all garbage time alley-oops with Michigan. He only started playing basketball 5 years ago. He’s a multi-year project with tremendous upside, but not a plug and play piece.
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He's a 23 y/o man, 7'2" 275lb, athletic, very physical, spent last season getting great coaching & playing against the best big men in college basketball every day.

I think there's a good chance he's our main Center next season.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
He's a 23 y/o man, 7'2" 275lb, athletic, very physical, spent last season getting great coaching & playing against the best big men in college basketball every day.

I think there's a good chance he's our main Center next season.
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You could be right given that he's way bigger than anyone else and he doesn't have the stiffest competition to beat.
 

Tony's projection. Still some open roster spots, and Shinholster still a question mark.

 

Back to Evans- I really like that a Niko coached guy wants to come back and play for him again. Great sign. Evans is a really good shooter. I want to see one more guy 6-3 to 6-6 who can fly.
We lack that one big time athlete for match up purposes. Overall, this definitely feels like an upgraded squad from last year. More depth, more size, more shooting. Also this team can legit go big or small.
 

Gold Vision said:
Before the Grady and Groves pickups, Nolen Anderson was my number 1 lock for a freshman to play a big role on the team. I still think he can. He’s one of the highest ranked players on the team and only a year younger than Groves and Grady. Any one of those three can step up for meaningful minutes.
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Couldn’t agree more-very good shooter. I think we will be surprised at how much he plays.
 

Bad Gopher said:
Tony's projection. Still some open roster spots, and Shinholster still a question mark.

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I would guess that the start of the season will be a veteran lineup that knows the Niko system. I would not even be surprised if Grove started at center or JCJ, early on. Then as the season goes along, the young guys will rise as they get into the groove of the system. Kordel, Mpoyi, Anderson and Groves all will get worked into the picture. If either of Evans or Asuma get hurt then Tomes becomes more of a factor.
 

CoMn said:
They play different positions. Evans is a PG, Durkin is a SF
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That wasn’t my point.

The OP said if starts or come off the bench.

If he doesn’t start, then who starts at point?

Tomes? No.

Asuma would be the logical choice instead.

If Evans starts, Asuma stays at the 2 and in my premise Groves at the 3 and Durkin off the bench.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
That wasn’t my point.

The OP said if starts or come off the bench.

If he doesn’t start, then who starts at point?

Tomes? No.

Asuma would be the logical choice instead.

If Evans starts, Asuma stays at the 2 and in my premise Groves at the 3 and Durkin off the bench.
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Benching a returning senior who averaged double digits for a sophomore transfer who averaged 2 ppg would be pretty upsetting. I don't see Niko doing that to Durkin.
 

I
Slim Tubby said:
Who wants to take a shot at our current depth chart for this upcoming season?
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I'll take a shot:

Grove
Crocker-Johnson
Durkin
Evans
Asuma

Groves
Grady
Mpoyi
Anderson
Kordel
Tomes
????
????
????
????

IMO the only starting position that is up-for-grabs is at Center. While Mpoyi and Kordel both have more size and more upside, I think we start the season with Grove at Center because he is a known commodity, knows the scheme, and works hard. By the end of the season, who knows? Could be any of the three bigs but neither of the other two have any (significant) experience playing at this level...and Grove does.

The other position that some think should be up-for-grabs is PG. Personally, I am going with Asuma but if we are entertaining a change, moving Evans to PG and plugging in Groves or Grady at SG would be the way to go.
 

howeda7 said:
Benching a returning senior who averaged double digits for a sophomore transfer who averaged 2 ppg would be pretty upsetting. I don't see Niko doing that to Durkin.
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I see Durkin starting at the beginning of the year, but I could also see him getting a sixth man sharpshooter role as the season goes along. Either way, I'd say 20-25 minutes is in the cards and he would be great in the slot. Defense is a challenge for him- he works at it but he is a little slow on D. It will work itself out and they will all understand why they are where they are. Winning is what they want to do.
 


daveozark said:
If you look at what he meant to CSU there is no doubt he is going to be Nikos point guard for the next 2 years. Bettter get those season tickets now, the future looks bright.
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Exactly, I’m uber excited as we don’t. Have to waste time teaching Niko’s system to someone else.
 

howeda7 said:
Benching a returning senior who averaged double digits for a sophomore transfer who averaged 2 ppg would be pretty upsetting. I don't see Niko doing that to Durkin.
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I could be wrong, I often am🤷‍♂️
 

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