Strength in numbers: Gophers men’s basketball relying on depth this season; Gophers’ bench has outscored opponents in 14 of 15 games this season

[BleedGopher]

Per Greder:

The Gophers’ bench has outscored opponents in 14 of 15 games this season and the U has had at least five players score in double figures in six games.

Strength in numbers: Gophers men’s basketball relying on depth this season

Minnesota is consistently playing nine players in games and different ones are stepping up.

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[CentralGopher]

Bleed just flooding the forum this morning lol

 

[MNVCGUY]

Early in Johnson's tenure there was a lot of concern about his lack of bench usage. Think we are finding out that if he has guys that can play he will use them.

Nice to see 9 guys all averaging over 10 minutes a night and just 2 guys sitting right around 30 min per game (Garcia and Hawkins). In past years he has had multiple players averaging 35+ minutes a game which is a lot.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Bleed just flooding the forum this morning lol

refreshing to see lots of positive media coverage

 

[MNVCGUY]

refreshing to see lots of positive media coverage

This board is a lot more fun this season as well. I could only handle small doses of the basketball forum the past 2 seasons because people were so negative about everything. Not that I blame them because the seasons sucked but this place was really tough to be around.

 

[upnorthkid]

4 guys in double figures for averages now. Would be first time since 2018-19

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

4 guys in double figures for averages now. Would be first time since 2018-19

So close to 5 with Payne’s 9.7

 

[MNVCGUY]

So close to 5 with Payne’s 9.7

Hawkins not far away at 8.8 as well. Really nice scoring balance, and we have seen how one or even two guys can have an off night and others are there to pick up the slack on the offensive end.

 

[Dakota2]

Early in Johnson's tenure there was a lot of concern about his lack of bench usage. Think we are finding out that if he has guys that can play he will use them.

Nice to see 9 guys all averaging over 10 minutes a night and just 2 guys sitting right around 30 min per game (Garcia and Hawkins). In past years he has had multiple players averaging 35+ minutes a game which is a lot.

Unfortunately, Ben does not dare going more than a minute or two a half without the Hawk on the floor. He really is the glue in a tough game. On the other hand, barring getting wrecked when they cartwheel him under the basket, the Hawk can play three games a day without slowing down. He can run for days.

So he needs to play more than 35 minutes. That could change next year with Asuma coming in.