coolhandgopher
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Between Fuller's article in the Strib on last year's Gophers and the 2022 portal beginning to rev up, it got me to thinking about some of the players whose names were bandied about last year and how they did this season. Without having seen a minute of action from any of them, I'll give an arbitrary grade on whether they would have had a positive or negligible impact for the Gophers this season:
Khadim Sy, Wake Forest: 6.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 20 mpg. Had the Gophers in his final four, has been a solid contributor for a Demon Deacons squad on the bubble (nod to Selection Sunday). Having another quality 6'10" post along with Curry would have helped this team greatly.
Dawson Garcia, UNC: 9 ppg, 5.5 rpg in truncated season. The Prior Lake native would have been a definite contributor. Maybe next season we'll see him in the Maroon & Gold.
Trey Wade, Arkansas: 3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 16 mpg. Has been getting regular minutes for the Razorbacks that could be poised for a deep run again this year. Had the Gophers in his final 8, have to think the 6'6" forward would have perhaps doubled his stats across the board, but probably isn't regretting jumping in with Musselman.
Ody Oguama, Cincinnati: 4.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 14 mpg. Seems to have been a disappointing season for the 6'9"Wake Forest transfer--stats were down across the board for a middling Bearcats team and he only reached double figures twice during the season. While he probably would have contributed more than Daniels, he's not a difference maker.
Greg Lee, Penn State: 7 ppg, 6 rpg in 13 games. It looks like he was injured early in the season, but the former Western Michigan post could have definitely been a solid addition to the frontline.
Jamari Sibley, UTEP: 5 ppg, 4 rpg. The Georgetown transfer didn't prosper with the Miners. Hasn't lived up to his prep press clippings yet.
Steffon Mitchell, ???: I'm not sure where Mitchell is playing-I did a quick Google search and couldn't find any details on him. Sure could have used him this season, if he's healthy.
Emanuel Miller, TCU: 10 ppg, 6 rpg. Solid contributor for a Horned Frogs team destined for the Big Dance, although his numbers slid considerably this season from the previous year at Texas A&M.
Cashius McNeilly, headed to Maryland: This is a strange one--followed his uncle to TCU, along with Miller, but then transferred to a juco and during the season committed to the Terps for next season, even though Danny Manning might not be the head coach when he arrives on campus.
Dylan Disu, Texas: 4 ppg, 3 rpg, 11 mpg. Whew, it was quite a comedown from a sophomore campaign at Vandy where he averaged 16 and 9. He has barely getting off the bench in recent games.
Kur Kuath, Marquette: 6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 bpg in 20 mpg. Yep, another big that could have really been put to service for the Gophers, but he's headed to March Madness so probably is feeling just fine with his decision.
Filip Rebraca, Iowa: 6 ppg, 5.5 rpg in 21 mpg. Hotly pursued by Coach Johnson, but ultimately chose the Hawkeyes. Of course, his only double double of the season was against the Gophers. Could have used him.
Tyree Ihenacho, James Madison: 4 ppg, 4.5 apg in 14 games. Missed two months with what must have been an injury. The Prior Lake native and former UND guard never really got his season going, although he did play a lot of minutes once healthy.
Broc Finstuen, Cleveland State: 7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg. The Pine Island native went from Pacific to the Vikings of Cleveland State and had a nice season, although they will not be repeating the magic of last season, having been bounced out of their conference tourney in the semi-finals.
Theo John, Duke: 3 ppg, 3 rpg, 12 mpg. Well, he's going to the tournament and it's Duke, so it could be a deep run or bounced in the first weekend. Can't fault a guy for wanting that experience, but could have at least doubled his numbers across the board while playing with the Gophers.
I'm sure there's more I've overlooked, but this is a pretty fair accounting, I believe. *Sigh*--one or two more bigs from this list and who knows. . .it's interesting that nearly every big on this list will be in the NCAA tournament, so there likely aren't many regrets, but one does wonder what John and Wade (as examples) could have provided to the Gophers throughout this season. One can hope that the Gophers showed enough for this year's contingent of portal prospects to pull the trigger when Ben J. comes a-calling.
Khadim Sy, Wake Forest: 6.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 20 mpg. Had the Gophers in his final four, has been a solid contributor for a Demon Deacons squad on the bubble (nod to Selection Sunday). Having another quality 6'10" post along with Curry would have helped this team greatly.
Dawson Garcia, UNC: 9 ppg, 5.5 rpg in truncated season. The Prior Lake native would have been a definite contributor. Maybe next season we'll see him in the Maroon & Gold.
Trey Wade, Arkansas: 3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 16 mpg. Has been getting regular minutes for the Razorbacks that could be poised for a deep run again this year. Had the Gophers in his final 8, have to think the 6'6" forward would have perhaps doubled his stats across the board, but probably isn't regretting jumping in with Musselman.
Ody Oguama, Cincinnati: 4.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 14 mpg. Seems to have been a disappointing season for the 6'9"Wake Forest transfer--stats were down across the board for a middling Bearcats team and he only reached double figures twice during the season. While he probably would have contributed more than Daniels, he's not a difference maker.
Greg Lee, Penn State: 7 ppg, 6 rpg in 13 games. It looks like he was injured early in the season, but the former Western Michigan post could have definitely been a solid addition to the frontline.
Jamari Sibley, UTEP: 5 ppg, 4 rpg. The Georgetown transfer didn't prosper with the Miners. Hasn't lived up to his prep press clippings yet.
Steffon Mitchell, ???: I'm not sure where Mitchell is playing-I did a quick Google search and couldn't find any details on him. Sure could have used him this season, if he's healthy.
Emanuel Miller, TCU: 10 ppg, 6 rpg. Solid contributor for a Horned Frogs team destined for the Big Dance, although his numbers slid considerably this season from the previous year at Texas A&M.
Cashius McNeilly, headed to Maryland: This is a strange one--followed his uncle to TCU, along with Miller, but then transferred to a juco and during the season committed to the Terps for next season, even though Danny Manning might not be the head coach when he arrives on campus.
Dylan Disu, Texas: 4 ppg, 3 rpg, 11 mpg. Whew, it was quite a comedown from a sophomore campaign at Vandy where he averaged 16 and 9. He has barely getting off the bench in recent games.
Kur Kuath, Marquette: 6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 bpg in 20 mpg. Yep, another big that could have really been put to service for the Gophers, but he's headed to March Madness so probably is feeling just fine with his decision.
Filip Rebraca, Iowa: 6 ppg, 5.5 rpg in 21 mpg. Hotly pursued by Coach Johnson, but ultimately chose the Hawkeyes. Of course, his only double double of the season was against the Gophers. Could have used him.
Tyree Ihenacho, James Madison: 4 ppg, 4.5 apg in 14 games. Missed two months with what must have been an injury. The Prior Lake native and former UND guard never really got his season going, although he did play a lot of minutes once healthy.
Broc Finstuen, Cleveland State: 7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg. The Pine Island native went from Pacific to the Vikings of Cleveland State and had a nice season, although they will not be repeating the magic of last season, having been bounced out of their conference tourney in the semi-finals.
Theo John, Duke: 3 ppg, 3 rpg, 12 mpg. Well, he's going to the tournament and it's Duke, so it could be a deep run or bounced in the first weekend. Can't fault a guy for wanting that experience, but could have at least doubled his numbers across the board while playing with the Gophers.
I'm sure there's more I've overlooked, but this is a pretty fair accounting, I believe. *Sigh*--one or two more bigs from this list and who knows. . .it's interesting that nearly every big on this list will be in the NCAA tournament, so there likely aren't many regrets, but one does wonder what John and Wade (as examples) could have provided to the Gophers throughout this season. One can hope that the Gophers showed enough for this year's contingent of portal prospects to pull the trigger when Ben J. comes a-calling.
