Despite struggling to add wins to their record, Gophers men’s basketball is continuing to develop into a promising young team.
There’s no denying the Gophers have struggled this season. With an overall record of 7-12, they’re currently in last place in the Big Ten. While this is a rather unfortunate year for the Gophers, there’s hope on the horizon with five true freshmen, three transfers and a head coach in his second year.
Being a rather new team, they have competed relatively well. Freshman Pharrel Payne leads the team with 20 blocks and transfer Dawson Garcia leads the team in points (14.9 per game) and rebounds (6.3 per game).
After losing to the No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers 61-39 on Jan. 19, head coach Ben Johnson said he is proud of the team for their efforts, but also acknowledged losing takes a mental toll on the athletes, making it difficult to find a rhythm.
“This group doesn’t have quit in them. So now we need to fight when our back is against it,” he said. “It’s such a mental game, and it isn’t easy seeing the ball go in just one time. The inner confidence comes from knowing you put in the time and we just have to stick with it.”
In their last game against Indiana, Minnesota was without Braeden Carrington (leg stress fracture), Pharell Payne (concussion) and Dawson Garcia (bone bruise). Other players were asked to step into roles they haven’t been playing. Johnson commented on his team’s confidence and specifically called out freshman Jaden Henley.
“They played relaxed. They didn’t worry about the play, positive or negative,” he said. “Jaden even played 32 minutes and did a heck of a job. I mean no turnovers, and that was my biggest thing. No turnovers against a team that was trying to climb up in them.”
Johnson said he knew last year he was going to have a whole new team this season, and he’s feeling comfortable heading into next season with this year’s teaching moments.
“We’re almost starting over again. So to be able to go through the good and the bad with a group that you’re going to be able to bring back, all of these are reference points and teaching points,” Johnson said.
With such a young team, the Gophers have time to rebuild and become more competitive in the coming years.
After battling to a four-point loss against Indiana with only seven scholarship players, the Gophers have plenty to build off of. They will soon travel to Evanston, Illinois, where they will take on the Northwestern Wildcats in their next matchup Saturday at 11 a.m.
