Rocco Miller high on the Gophers

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Unregistered User said:
I had not heard of Rocco Miller before, so I searched him

When I entered “rocco mi” the first thing to auto-fill my search was Rocco Mini Fridge
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In my opinion, the best college basketball resource out there, bar none. Knowledge, insights, scheduling, fairness, not a BS’er. Makes Andy Katz, Joe Lunardi look like Little Leaguers.
 








SelectionSunday said:
In my opinion, the best college basketball resource out there, bar none. Knowledge, insights, scheduling, fairness, not a BS’er. Makes Andy Katz, Joe Lunardi look like Little Leaguers.
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I actually ran into Andy Katz in the staircase at the barn after the IU win, cool dude, I do wish he would tone it down on TV, he's too good of a writer to need a weird fake personality
 













Rocco had great pizza on East Minnehaha on St Paul's Eastside. With Modular Scheduling at the high school we frequently lunched there. Unless we had already breakfasted at Serlin's on Payne Avenue.
 

Kudos to Niko for assembling a dangerous roster. Using potential and player development, I posed AI the question:

"Using high school recruiting metrics and normal player development, what is the prediction for the entire Minnesota Gophers basketball team including transfers Kordel, Palmer, Groves, Evans, and Grady"?

AI--Accounting for the high school recruiting profiles and normal player development curves of MN core returners, the addition of impact transfers Malick Kordel, Malachi Palmer, Nolan Groves, Winters Grady, and veteran Kyan Evans projects the Golden Gophers to complete the 2026-27 season with a 21-10 overall record (13-7 BigTen). This complete roster composition ensures depth, multi-level scoring, and physical length that solidifies an NCAA Tournament berth.

--Starting Five
Isaac Asuma-The primary playmaker 11.2ppg, 5.5 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG
Contribution: Undergoing a traditional "Junior Leap", Asuma takes over as the floor general. High school metrics highlights his elite vision and pass-first mentality, driving head coach Niko Medved's high-motion offense while locking down opposing guards.

Malachi Palmer- Two-way Wing 8.8ppg, 3.5RPG, 2.0APG, 37%3PT
Contribution: Coming from Villanova, Palmer brings elite physical presence to the backcourt. His high school metrics as a slashing guard translates to easy paint touches, while his mature defensive capability shields the perimeter.

Bobby Durkin-The Volume Marksman 13.8ppg, 4.0RPG, 1.6APG, 42%3PT
Contribution: Standard upperclassman shooting progression positions Durkin as the top floor-spacing threat. His high-volume catch-and-shoot output is essential for opening driving lanes.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson-Frontcourt Anchor 11.5ppg, 7.3RPG, 1.9APG, 51%FG
Contribution: A returning senior whose development turns him into a high-low passing orchestrator. He will carry the heavy load on the glass and provide muscle against Big Ten interiors.

Malick Kordel-The Screen & Rim Protector 6.2ppg, 6.0RPG, 1.7BPG, 59%FG
Contribution: After a developmental freshman year earning a national championship at Michigan, Kordel's standard sophomore leap brings massive size to MN. He will eat up early minutes to contest shots at the rim and set physical screens.

The Core Bench Rotation

Winters Grady-The Sixth Man Microwave 9.5ppg, 2.9RPG, 1.1APG, 40%3PT
Contribution: A former top-100 four-star recruit who transferred from Michigan. His high school track record showcases elite mid-range and 3-point efficiency. Grady will serve as the permier bench scorer capable of filling both wing spots.

Kyan Evans-Veteran Backcourt Depth 6.5ppg, 3.4APG, 1.8RPG, 38%3PT
Contribution: An experienced ball-handler who commands the secondary unit. Evans allows Asuma to play off the ball occasionally, managing game tempo and minimizing turnovers.

Nolan Groves-Homegrown Sparkplug 7.0ppg, 2.5RPG, 1.5APG, 39%3PT
Contribution: The former Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year returns home after a true freshman season at Texas Tech. Normal guard development channels his high school scoring instinct into an efficient perimeter asset.

Grayson Grove-Mobile Big 5.5PPG, 3.8RPG, 0.9BPG
Contribution: Following a redshirt developmental year, Grove supplies versatile bench minutes at both frontcourt slots, functioning as a stretch-four when needed.

Kai Shinholster-Perimeter Depth 3.8ppg, 1.4RPG
Contribution: Continues his natural backcourt development path by offering defensive energy and perimeter relief.

Deep Bench & Freshman Development

Nolen Anderson Projected 2.5ppg. Top -125 freshman wing utilizing the year to adapt defensively to high-major physicality.

Chadrack Mpoyi Projected 1.5ppg, 2.0RPG. A raw three-star big man insurance policy behind Kordel.

Cedric Tomes Elite local high school playmaker learning Medved's system behind veteran ball-handlers.

+++Clearly there is some questionable content ie. Evans as a backup (maybe AI doesn't like him as a defender), and Grove as a stretch-four but I like the assembly of developmental talent barring injury.
 

SplitDecision said:
Kudos to Niko for assembling a dangerous roster. Using potential and player development, I posed AI the question:

"Using high school recruiting metrics and normal player development, what is the prediction for the entire Minnesota Gophers basketball team including transfers Kordel, Palmer, Groves, Evans, and Grady"?

AI--Accounting for the high school recruiting profiles and normal player development curves of MN core returners, the addition of impact transfers Malick Kordel, Malachi Palmer, Nolan Groves, Winters Grady, and veteran Kyan Evans projects the Golden Gophers to complete the 2026-27 season with a 21-10 overall record (13-7 BigTen). This complete roster composition ensures depth, multi-level scoring, and physical length that solidifies an NCAA Tournament berth.

--Starting Five
Isaac Asuma-The primary playmaker 11.2ppg, 5.5 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG
Contribution: Undergoing a traditional "Junior Leap", Asuma takes over as the floor general. High school metrics highlights his elite vision and pass-first mentality, driving head coach Niko Medved's high-motion offense while locking down opposing guards.

Malachi Palmer- Two-way Wing 8.8ppg, 3.5RPG, 2.0APG, 37%3PT
Contribution: Coming from Villanova, Palmer brings elite physical presence to the backcourt. His high school metrics as a slashing guard translates to easy paint touches, while his mature defensive capability shields the perimeter.

Bobby Durkin-The Volume Marksman 13.8ppg, 4.0RPG, 1.6APG, 42%3PT
Contribution: Standard upperclassman shooting progression positions Durkin as the top floor-spacing threat. His high-volume catch-and-shoot output is essential for opening driving lanes.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson-Frontcourt Anchor 11.5ppg, 7.3RPG, 1.9APG, 51%FG
Contribution: A returning senior whose development turns him into a high-low passing orchestrator. He will carry the heavy load on the glass and provide muscle against Big Ten interiors.

Malick Kordel-The Screen & Rim Protector 6.2ppg, 6.0RPG, 1.7BPG, 59%FG
Contribution: After a developmental freshman year earning a national championship at Michigan, Kordel's standard sophomore leap brings massive size to MN. He will eat up early minutes to contest shots at the rim and set physical screens.

The Core Bench Rotation

Winters Grady-The Sixth Man Microwave 9.5ppg, 2.9RPG, 1.1APG, 40%3PT
Contribution: A former top-100 four-star recruit who transferred from Michigan. His high school track record showcases elite mid-range and 3-point efficiency. Grady will serve as the permier bench scorer capable of filling both wing spots.

Kyan Evans-Veteran Backcourt Depth 6.5ppg, 3.4APG, 1.8RPG, 38%3PT
Contribution: An experienced ball-handler who commands the secondary unit. Evans allows Asuma to play off the ball occasionally, managing game tempo and minimizing turnovers.

Nolan Groves-Homegrown Sparkplug 7.0ppg, 2.5RPG, 1.5APG, 39%3PT
Contribution: The former Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year returns home after a true freshman season at Texas Tech. Normal guard development channels his high school scoring instinct into an efficient perimeter asset.

Grayson Grove-Mobile Big 5.5PPG, 3.8RPG, 0.9BPG
Contribution: Following a redshirt developmental year, Grove supplies versatile bench minutes at both frontcourt slots, functioning as a stretch-four when needed.

Kai Shinholster-Perimeter Depth 3.8ppg, 1.4RPG
Contribution: Continues his natural backcourt development path by offering defensive energy and perimeter relief.

Deep Bench & Freshman Development

Nolen Anderson Projected 2.5ppg. Top -125 freshman wing utilizing the year to adapt defensively to high-major physicality.

Chadrack Mpoyi Projected 1.5ppg, 2.0RPG. A raw three-star big man insurance policy behind Kordel.

Cedric Tomes Elite local high school playmaker learning Medved's system behind veteran ball-handlers.

+++Clearly there is some questionable content ie. Evans as a backup (maybe AI doesn't like him as a defender), and Grove as a stretch-four but I like the assembly of developmental talent barring injury.
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There is a 100% chance Evans is starting and very little chance that Palmer is. AI is dumb.
 


SplitDecision said:
Agreed. Well, maybe 98%. Same low bar Cade was projected after a year at NC.
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I don't know enough about Palmer to judge, but if he is strong defensively and athletic as described, he may be the kind of guy you want to start to set the tone. I hate when the other team gets comfortable on offense early. At any rate, I expect there will be a nice 4 man rotation with Asuma, Evans, Groves and Palmer all playing good minutes at the 1/2, with Groves and Palmer able to slide up to the 3 as needed.
 

bga1 said:
I don't know enough about Palmer to judge, but if he is strong defensively and athletic as described, he may be the kind of guy you want to start to set the tone. I hate when the other team gets comfortable on offense early. At any rate, I expect there will be a nice 4 man rotation with Asuma, Evans, Groves and Palmer all playing good minutes at the 1/2, with Groves and Palmer able to slide up to the 3 as needed.
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Agree. Hope they can find 1 or 2 of them with a hot hand each night to keep defenses honest.
 

howeda7 said:
There is a 100% chance Evans is starting and very little chance that Palmer is. AI is dumb.
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I tend to think our starting five will be Evans, Asuma, Durkin, JCJ and Grove, although I could see Kordel starting over Grove for his size, with Grove getting more minutes as we go smaller throughout the game, plus you'd rather have Kordel use fouls early on while the game is being established than Grove. Obviously whoever isn't starting will be the main big off the bench, from there Palmer a jack knife combo forward with high major. Groves and Kai can defend anything 1-3. Winters Grady is probably a better offensive option, where as Kai and Groves are more proven defensively at this point so it will probably depend situationally which of those three will see the most. With Palmer here, Anderson is probably only getting mop up time, same with all the freshman unless they're truly out performing the older players in players like Gabe K did as a freshman. Obviously people get hurt, players emerge, but I think we are in a good spot depth wise just need to see who steps up as leaders at the top
 


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