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During this dead period before summer practices start, here are the Torvik TRank Projections (based on analytics of roster composition) for each P5 conference. Clearly the SEC and BIG TEN project as the best conferences from top to bottom. However, if you look at only the top 10 teams in each...

MN lost its ability to defend right after beating MSU at home. It was crazy. In the first 11 Big Ten games, our Def Eff Rating was 104.3. After beating MSU, the rest of the season 12 games the rating ballooned to 118.8. Fatigue, locker room drama, nagging injuries, coaching adjustments...

That would be terrific. I hope you are correct!

I think MN is done team building. Maybe get reserves for practice squad. Questions for upcoming season: How much better will MN defend? Will the new guards be able to handle the ball calmly without turning it? Will MN have enough presence at the 5 position scoring? How much more is MN going...

And our defense should be better without Hawkins and Christie getting pushed around.

How much is Braeden Carrington getting from Tulsa?

I am liking this roster with a few thoughts. Patterson was listed at 6'1"/230lbs last year, and I am certain CBJ and staff will get him leaner/faster. I like the look of a slightly heavier PG like Chucky Hepburn or even Marcus Carr when he was here. Helps in Big Ten play to be a bit thicker...

Mixed feelings on spending NIL money on Christie if he decides to return. Between Ken Evans and Christie, I'd take Evans and be done. Conf. POY says something, and although Cam is a very nice player and pure shooter, he would likely be defensive neutral taking a larger $$ for a year. Christie...

Whether we are upgraded or not depends on how the new guys defend…

Garcia is a terrific two-way player, and his defense is woefully overlooked. He limits the opposition without fouling excessively, is fundamentally sound, and without him on the floor we were disadvantaged. I think he should have at least been nominated for DPOY. Not going to die on that hill...

Defense is a lot attitude, and Mitchell has it. Moot point but our worst defenders imo last season were in order: JOJ Ihnen Christie Hawkins Mitchell Payne Garcia was our best defender by far and should have been heavily considered for BigTen Def POY based on his body of work. MN will...

The whole "star system" for recruits is flawed, biased toward offensive abilities. It is believed that anyone can be taught to defend at a high level, but scoring has the highest value. Rightly so, because in basketball you are trying to get more points than your opponent. Young guys play...

The Gopher roster construction looks pretty good imo. If we add a mature PG like Patterson, we should fight in the middle of Big Ten. MN would be an improved team vs. '23-'24 because we got a lot older (9 seniors/grad), and by adding a mature PG our turnovers will DROP. Hawkins had a ton of...

Just posted On3, Edmonds commits to MN

I would take that bet. Freshman PG is not a good recipe for success. I like the idea of Asuma being Big Ten ready, but likely its an unrealistic jump. Time will tell depending on who we sign in the next few weeks.

Torvik is taking the current rosters/ratings from RosterCast, and ordering them based on that. If MN adds Patterson and Edmonds, our roster strength jumps from #81 to #65 and falls a few teams higher in the projected standings and anticipated W-L record. Its early and a lot of guys haven't...

This reprint I fully agree with.

Not all, most are reasonable, but a proportion of vocal minority known as the "pitchfork crowd" lack emotional control. As a topic example, you have to believe the conversation between CBJ and Christie have been had, keeping his options open, while being cognizant of our salary cap and desires...

I certainly wasn't implying that Caleb is the next Bobby Jackson. The point was that really good players can come from any level of play, from D1 transfers all the way down to JUCO level, a step above High School. Athletics and academic balances are individualistic, and one's basketball...

Definitely don't pooh pooh him because of the D3 background. He's 6'2" with a great handle, can shoot lights out, is quick and defends. The guy can ball. Projected as our starting PG as of yesterday. His game will translate. He comes in more heralded than a guy we got from Western Nebraska...