A visitor asked Gophers associate head basketball coach Ron Jirsa about next season’s team and heard a positive response. “The sky’s the limit,” he said. “I believe in our coach.”
The coach, of course, is Tubby Smith. In his second season with Minnesota he had the Gophers back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.
Minnesota has nine players expected to return from last year’s 22-11 team, 9-9 in the Big Ten Conference. The season before, the Gophers were 20-14 and 8-10.
Jirsa likes the program’s approach of becoming a “little” better each year, hopefully moving toward a championship level. No one is forecasting a conference title for next season, not with Michigan State and Purdue expected to be among the country’s best teams, but the Gophers are a potential top 25 team.
Earlier this off-season ESPN’s Andy Katz ranked the Gophers No. 19 for next year (Kansas No. 1, Michigan State No. 2 and Purdue No. 6). https://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4262039 Rivals.com listed Minnesota No. 24 in April rankings for next year (Purdue No. 4, Michigan State No. 5). https://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=933183
Jirsa said the Gophers don’t expect to lose any players between now and their opening practice in October because of grades. The coaching staff encourages academic work including summer school classes and graduation.
The concern about having an intact roster is with junior college transfer Trevor Mbakwe. A power forward who seems like the prescription to fill the team’s need for a strong rebounder and inside scorer, Mbakwe is thought to be a likely starter if available. Problem is a woman alleges Mbakwe attacked her earlier this year in Florida. A trial later this month regarding a felony aggravated battery charge will further address the allegation.
The Gophers, even without Mbakwe, could be formidable if they can improve their offense. Minnesota struggled to score at times last season, averaging only 61.6 points as a team in conference games. The leading scorer, guard Lawrence Westbrook, averaged 12.6 points per game and no other teammate averaged double figures.
Westbrook is one of five returning starters, along with four other reserves who contributed to last year’s success that often was built on a hustling defense and a deep bench. “We might have been the only ones in the country platooning (separate units at times),” Jirsa said.
The team will only be deeper with a freshmen threesome of point guard Justin Cobbs, and forwards Royce White and Rodney Williams. Cobbs impressed during summer league play and Jirsa said White’s physical strength and “dedication” in the weight room earned his admiration. Jirsa said no decision would be made on redshirting any of the freshmen until November but there’s speculation that sitting out a season could particularly benefit Williams, a player with a slight build (6-7, 210) but gifted athleticism.
Whatever the look of the final roster, the Gophers will have depth and defense. Playing in the Big Ten, a conference that likely will be among the best two or three in the nation, the Gophers will need better scoring and consistent rebounding to continue the yearly improvement Jirsa talked about. With a more mature team and deeper talent, it looks like a good bet.