Hold up, Big Ten. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are bringing back a *ton* of production this season, way more than you might think, and it could totally flip their game. We’re talking 53.7% of last year’s scoring coming back, which puts them fourth in the entire Big Ten. Think about that for a second. An 8-12 conference record last season, and they’re rocking this much continuity. That is a massive signal.
The Core is Back and Ready to Cook
Look, nobody’s doing cartwheels over an 8-12 record, we get it. But head coach Niko Medved isn’t just bringing back a bunch of guys who happened to score points. The real hype is that he is returning a *quality core* of players and dropping in some interesting new pieces too. The goal? Simple: add depth, add talent where it counts, and turn that 8-12 conference finish into a winning record. It is not some pipe dream, either. When you have 53.7% of your scoring coming back, that is a foundation you can build on, especially when other teams are scrambling to find their feet. That consistency is key in college hoops, and Minnesota has it.
Key Returners Ready to Explode
Let’s talk about some of the guys who are going to drive this potential turnaround. First up, we’ve got guard Isaac Asuma. It took him a minute, maybe a month or two, to really get comfortable with Medved’s systems on both offense and defense last season. But once January hit, man, he just clicked. He looked confident, he looked comfortable. Remember that 18-point game in a win over Northwestern? That was a preview. He ended up averaging two more points per game in 2026 than in his first 13 games. Asuma isn’t going to be your top scorer, no. But he is absolutely the glue for this squad. Imagine him improving his three-point shooting closer to 35% and dropping around 13 points per game. That is an ideal scenario for this team.
Then there is forward Bobby Durkin. This guy is a certified bucket-getter. He started last season coming off the bench, averaging just over 6 points per game. But then injuries hit the team hard, and Durkin got thrust into the starting lineup. And he did not just survive; he *thrived*. In November, he was still at that 6 points per game mark, but in the 25 games he started after that? He nearly doubled his scoring, hitting 11.5 points per game. Durkin is a lethal shooter, no joke. His 6’7” frame and length just give him the ability to get shots off against anyone. This guy is a problem for defenses.
We are just a little over a week away from their opening scrimmage against Omaha, and then it is game one against North Dakota a couple of weeks after that. Get ready, Gopher fans, because with this much talent returning and a clear goal to flip that record, this season could be seriously exciting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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