BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,780
- Reaction score
- 16,190
- Points
- 113
per Brendan:
Minnesota
The latest: Star center Daniel Oturu declared for the draft and will not return to school, while all-conference guard Marcus Carr is testing the waters. Richard Pitino has been active in the transfer portal, landing commitments from Rice wing Drew Peterson, Western Michigan grad transfer forward Brandon Johnson and Drake forward Liam Robbins. On the other hand, the Gophers lost guard Payton Willis, who started 25 games and averaged 8.9 points on 35.9 3-point shooting. He’s headed to College of Charleston as a grad transfer.
The good news: If Carr withdraws from the draft, he and Gabe Kalscheur combine for a solid backcourt duo. They teamed to average 27.0 points per game this season. Johnson was an All-MAC selection at Western Michigan, averaging 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. He’s eligible for 2019-20. The question is whether Peterson and/or Robbins will score waivers. Minnesota could really use Robbins, a 7-footer who averaged 14.1 points and 7.1 boards while earning All-Missouri Valley honors. Additionally, Peterson, a 6-foot-8 wing, averaged 11.1 points and 6.5 rebounds at Rice, including 16.5 points per game over the final six games of his sophomore year. If Carr remains in the draft, the door will be open for four-star freshman Jamal Mashburn Jr., one of the more interesting additions to the league, to make a major impact.
The bad news: Oturu averaged 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds and often looked like the best center in the league. He gave the Gophers legitimate star power, but even still, team success didn’t follow. Carr’s draft decision looms large. If he’s back, and both Peterson and Robbins can gain eligibility, Minnesota might have enough pieces to be competitive. That’s the best-case scenario, though — being competitive. If Carr leaves? If those transfer have to sit? It’ll be another painful rebuilding year in Minneapolis.
The outlook: Minnesota finished 15-16 overall and 8-12 in the league despite having Oturu and Carr. What will it look like without at least one of them? That’s the backdrop heading into Pitino’s eighth season at the helm. He has reached two NCAA Tournaments and is 48-82 (.369) in Big Ten play. This year he’s hoping a slew of piecemeal additions can keep things afloat.
theathletic.com
Go Gophers!!
Minnesota
The latest: Star center Daniel Oturu declared for the draft and will not return to school, while all-conference guard Marcus Carr is testing the waters. Richard Pitino has been active in the transfer portal, landing commitments from Rice wing Drew Peterson, Western Michigan grad transfer forward Brandon Johnson and Drake forward Liam Robbins. On the other hand, the Gophers lost guard Payton Willis, who started 25 games and averaged 8.9 points on 35.9 3-point shooting. He’s headed to College of Charleston as a grad transfer.
The good news: If Carr withdraws from the draft, he and Gabe Kalscheur combine for a solid backcourt duo. They teamed to average 27.0 points per game this season. Johnson was an All-MAC selection at Western Michigan, averaging 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. He’s eligible for 2019-20. The question is whether Peterson and/or Robbins will score waivers. Minnesota could really use Robbins, a 7-footer who averaged 14.1 points and 7.1 boards while earning All-Missouri Valley honors. Additionally, Peterson, a 6-foot-8 wing, averaged 11.1 points and 6.5 rebounds at Rice, including 16.5 points per game over the final six games of his sophomore year. If Carr remains in the draft, the door will be open for four-star freshman Jamal Mashburn Jr., one of the more interesting additions to the league, to make a major impact.
The bad news: Oturu averaged 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds and often looked like the best center in the league. He gave the Gophers legitimate star power, but even still, team success didn’t follow. Carr’s draft decision looms large. If he’s back, and both Peterson and Robbins can gain eligibility, Minnesota might have enough pieces to be competitive. That’s the best-case scenario, though — being competitive. If Carr leaves? If those transfer have to sit? It’ll be another painful rebuilding year in Minneapolis.
The outlook: Minnesota finished 15-16 overall and 8-12 in the league despite having Oturu and Carr. What will it look like without at least one of them? That’s the backdrop heading into Pitino’s eighth season at the helm. He has reached two NCAA Tournaments and is 48-82 (.369) in Big Ten play. This year he’s hoping a slew of piecemeal additions can keep things afloat.
Early 2020-21 Big Ten basketball preview
An overarching look at all 14 teams in the Big Ten heading into the 2020-21 season.
theathletic.com
Go Gophers!!