Every Team, Ranked from First to Worst (72. Minnesota: Medved will bring the program back to prominence, but it will be a while.)

[BleedGopher]

Per Busting Brackets:

72. Minnesota Golden Gophers- Last Season Ranking: 60

Conference: Big Ten

Player to know: BJ Omot

Minnesota fans are relieved that the Ben Johnson era of Gopher basketball is finally over. Minnesota never lived up to the expectations that their rosters often had. The Gophers hired Niko Medved, who was a home run and will bring the program back to prominence, but it will be a while. The Big Ten is deep this year, and Minnesota is going to be pesky, but they don't have enough to win most nights in that league.

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Go Gophers!!

 

[upnorthkid]

Wait so we’ll be worse?!

 

[Drake University Gopher]

If BJ Omot turns out to be the player to know, I’ll be a lot more excited about this season. At the moment he appeared to be our 7th or 8th best player as he works his way back from injury.

 

[crazysauce]

I am cautiously optimistic about this squad. I think they are going to surprise this year.

 

[Bad Gopher]

I'd be satisfied if we ended up as the 72nd best team (or better) in KenPom at the end of the year. That would be a good start to this era and something to build on.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I think Bad Gopher is spot on. A new regime trying to turn around a program whose cupboards are bare is gonna take a minute. This is definitely a building block year and Niko will have his hands full. That said, a few solid wins here and there would be nice!

 

[RockChalk]

I think Bad Gopher is spot on. A new regime trying to turn around a program whose cupboards are bare is gonna take a minute. This is definitely a building block year and Niko will have his hands full. That said, a few solid wins here and there would be nice!

I get good vibes!!!

 

[Bad Gopher]

I think Bad Gopher is spot on. A new regime trying to turn around a program whose cupboards are bare is gonna take a minute. This is definitely a building block year and Niko will have his hands full. That said, a few solid wins here and there would be nice!

I'd like to thank the Academy...

Seriously, it's worth recounting the season-end KenPom of the previous four years:
2024-25: #83
2023-24: #75
2022-23: #216
2021-22: #109

A ranking of 72nd would beat all those seasons, including 2023-24--Johnson's best team--when they made the NIT and won a game there. Obviously, Johnson was able to get the Gophers solidified into the top-100 after a rough first couple seasons, but it fell short of what the fans and administration expected, and he was facing the loss of his star player, Garcia.

By year four and hopefully sooner, the expectation of Medved and the Gophers wil be top-40, top half of the conference, and the NCAA tournament.