Like Roster Medved Has Built

[MTBeaudry]

We have a much more skilled and much deeper roster going into 2025-26 seaaon. There are 30 centers left if we can pick up one them for depth than this roster is absolutely done being built.
Ilook for a 10-12 win Big 10 season with 2 Big 10 Tourney wins and a 10 or 11 win non conf season( let's hope we have a bdtter NC Schedule)!
If we achieve that we are in the dance!

 

[FinnGopher]

We have a much more skilled and much deeper roster going into 2025-26 seaaon. There are 30 centers left if we can pick up one them for depth than this roster is absolutely done being built.
Ilook for a 10-12 win Big 10 season with 2 Big 10 Tourney wins and a 10 or 11 win non conf season( let's hope we have a bdtter NC Schedule)!
If we achieve that we are in the dance!

This is a wonderful dream, but how do we stack up with all the other Big10 teams? This is a hard league with great players. For me, it's really too soon to predict anything.

 

[coolhandgopher]

This is a wonderful dream, but how do we stack up with all the other Big10 teams? This is a hard league with great players. For me, it's really too soon to predict anything.

Agreed. Just as it’s hard to predict how good the Gophers will be, I’d say it’s the same for other programs too, now matter how stacked their rosters may seem. USC is the kid in the candy store with a $100 bill, but how those players mesh, what happens to the players who don’t get the play time they anticipate, what if injuries hit, what if a minor injury turns into a season ender so as to regroup for next season’s NIL loot…who knows? And that’ll play out across all programs. It’s a volatile new era.

 

[bga1]

This is a wonderful dream, but how do we stack up with all the other Big10 teams? This is a hard league with great players. For me, it's really too soon to predict anything.

It is too soon. That said, I agree with the OP. We have more size and more speed than last year. We have a coach that has proven he can take a team and develop them in his system in a fairly short time- as he did last year at CSU. Be ready for a bumpy start and a good finish.

 

[Gopher-in-Keno]

I’m so ready for that. It seems for the majority of almost a decade they start strong and wilt come February. So ready for a team that gets stronger and develops as the season goes on.

 

[Bayfield Gopher]

Agreed. Just as it’s hard to predict how good the Gophers will be, I’d say it’s the same for other programs too, now matter how stacked their rosters may seem. USC is the kid in the candy store with a $100 bill, but how those players mesh, what happens to the players who don’t get the play time they anticipate, what if injuries hit, what if a minor injury turns into a season ender so as to regroup for next season’s NIL loot…who knows? And that’ll play out across all programs. It’s a volatile new era.

This is so true. Talent isn't an end all. Blending the talent into a team is what counts.

Niko talked about the importance of getting the "right" player. Guys who understand that there is no "I" in the word "team".

It appears as if the talent level of this team is not off the charts and likely less than others in the BIG. Its too early to see how that translate but it will be very interesting to see if Niko can turn this program in the right direction.

 

[#2Gopher]

I agree with you in regards to the unknowns this coming season. One thing for sure, it has been very refreshing coming to the Basketball board.

 

[60's Guy]

Here's what I think we know....we have a better coach. After that it's a crap shoot.

On paper in June you could find optimism with Ben's roster last year too. And it was anchored by a guy talked about as Big Ten MVP. We don't have that,

Purdue finished 5th in the conference...Field of 68 is talking about them as pre-season #1 in the country going into 25-26.
Michigan State won the conference and expects to again.
Michigan finished third and depending what a player decides NBA Draft wise they'll be better or only just as good again.
Wisconsin finishes top 4 real often - they were last year again.
Illinois was 7th in the conference...they are being picked Top 10 in the country.
UCLA was 6th and added Donovan Dent...$3 million point guard. Again, if a guy drops out of the NBA Draft and picks UCLA they are a Top 10 in the country type team as well.
Oregon was 8th and is expected to be better.
Indiana was 9th and is better....better coach with better players and system.
Ohio State is listed among Top 25 pre season teams.
USC has spent 3X as much money on new players as we have.
I will bet anyone Iowa is in the NCAA Tournament.
An outlier says Washington is a Top 25 pre season team
That's 12 teams I think most analysts would rate ahead of the Gophers.
Maryland finished 2nd...new coach in Buzz Williams...he has a track record winning at his stops.
Do we finish ahead of Buzz? That's 13 teams many, most would rate ahead of us.
Penn State, Nebraska, Northwestern and Rutgers are in the group with the Gophers.

How many of those 13 teams that most people would rate ahead of us can we climb past?
Who is our "Big Dog" to replace Garcia? You gotta have one...every good team does. Sitting here in May, I don't think we know who our best player is...or even if we have one.

Niko is a better coach than Ben....how many of the 13 teams ahead of us is he going to outcoach the other guy to steal a win...especially in year one of learning the Big Ten? It's a BIG time league that got better. Things are harder ... not easier.

If we are Top 10 in the conference at season's end we will be in the NCAA Tournament and I believe we could be but it is going to be a difficult well earned achievement to do so.

 

[Married@SiebertField]

Winning Big Ten home games (at least 7) which a solid roster and good coaching can produce. It’s the foundation of every season and a/the key for Nico showing progress in Year One. The December game will be an early, important marker.