Late last month we took a look at next season's basketball roster. But that was then and this is now. Recruiting and lineup maneuvering has been fluid this spring, and there have been major additions and subtractions in the past four weeks. Today we will take another look at what next year's team looks like.
However, keep one thing in mind. There will be more movement before we know what the final team looks like.
Subtractions
When we originally did the story in March, we knew that Minnesota was losing their front line. Daniel Oturu provided 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds at the center position while Alihan Demir went for 7.1 points and 5.0 boards. That is 27.2 points and 16.3 combined rebounds along with an average of 58.7 of a possible eighty minutes of post time per game.
Since then, the Gophers have also had a hit to the backcourt. Payton Willis has transferred, and Marcus Carr has declared for the NBA Draft, although he hasn't acquired and agent, thus leaving the door open to return to college next season.
If both perimeters leave, that is 24.3 more points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.4 assists. With Carr gone, along with the numbers from Michael Hurt and Brady Rudrud, Minnesota would lose 53.7 points, or 75.5% of their scoring. and 26.6 or 67.7% of their team rebounds. If Carr returns, the point total drops to 38.3 or 53.9% of their scoring.
Additions
Last month we knew that Minnesota would be bringing in two freshmen: Jamal Mashburn Jr, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, and 6-foot-10 forward, Martice Mitchell.
Since then, Richard Pitino has signed two post players, and if things break right they could both make instant contributions.
Brandon Johnson, a 6-foot-8 grad transfer from Western Michigan, should step right into the power forward position. He averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds last season with the Broncos, and was a major get for the Gophers.
Liam Robbins will be another newcomer. The seven-foot sophomore averaged 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds last season at Drake. He was also one of the nation's leading shot blockers with 2.9.
The hold-up is the way things currently stand, Robbins will have to sit out a season due to the transfer. Pitino has two hopes to get him immediately eligible. First would be a waiver. Robbins is the nephew of Minnesota's Associate Head Coach, Ed Conroy. Secondly, the NCAA will meet in May and is expected to pass a one-time automatic transfer rule that would allow players to switch schools without red-shirting. Even if it passes it is still uncertain if this will be enacted this summer or held off until 2021.
If Robbins is granted immediate eligibility, odds are that he an Johnson will be the starting front court next season.
The scheduled roster
Freshmen: Jamal Mashburn Jr, 6-foot-2 combo-guard; Martice Mitchell, 6-foot-10 power forward.
Sophomores: Sam Freeman, 6-foot-10 center; Bryan Greenlee 6-foot-0 point guard; Isaiah Ihnen 6-foot-9 forward; Tre' Williams 6-foot-5 shooting guard.
Juniors: Gabe Kalscheur 6-foot-4 guard; Jarvis Omersa 6-foot-6 power forward; Liam Robbins , 7-foot-0 center (possible redshirt), Marcus Carr, 6-foot-3 guard (could return).
Seniors: Eric Curry 6-foot-9 power forward (redshirt); Brandon Johnson, 6-foot-8 power forward.
As the numbers stand right now, Minnesota has filled eleven of the thirteen allowed scholarship spots on the roster. That leaves two more players that Pitino can bring in. We will look at who they are still looking at later in the article.
If Carr returns then Minnesota will have filled twelve of the thirteen, and would still have one open spot remaining.
The Positions
Point guard: Bryan Greenlee/Jamal Mashburn Jr.
Wings: Gabe Kalscheur/ Isaiah Ihnen/ Tre' Williams/ Martice Mitchell
Posts: Eric Curry/Jarvis Omersa/Sam Freeman/ Brandon Robinson
Keep in mind that this also doesn't include Carr. If he returns, he could play the combo, although I would expect him to play at the one. Jamal Mashburn Jr. could also come in and play the combo. He is an excellent shooter, but the recruiting plan was for him to play point guard.
I think with the new makeup, Kalscheur looks more like a pure two instead of a shooting guard/small forward. The other three wings have great size from the 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-10 range. Mitchell and Isaiah Ihnen have the size, combined with agility and the skill set to even play some power forward to go along with the three. Pitino will have the option to go small, and then go even smaller.
We also left Liam Robbins off the list for now. If he is granted eligibility that lets Pitino become better and deeper at the center spot. Once again, I would expect Robbins to start at the five and Robinson at the four. Freeman could work his way into some playing time as the backup center, and of course Omersa will provide depth and energy at power forward.
The other wild card is Eric Curry. Will his health permit him to play another season? If things go well, Minnesota could be five deep in the post. If they don't that changes to three bodies, then Ihnen and then perhaps Mitchell could be asked to step down and defend the four, although I don't think Mitchell will be ready to do that next year.
Potential additions.
The high school map starts and ends with Kerwin Walton. The 6-foot-5 guard will announce this Saturday, and choose between Minnesota, Arizona, Creighton, Georgetown, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt. The Tar Heels currently own four of the five FutureCasts, with the other one belonging to Arizona. Individuals we have spoken with are not so sure. We have heard lots of uncertainty and several reasons why Walton should choose the Gophers over the past few days.
The list of portent transfers have also changed within the past month. After adding two posts, it is now obvious that Pitino is looking to add instant backcourt help. Drew Buggs cut Minnesota from his list Tuesday night. So of the two remaining graduate transfers they are pursuing the hardest, both are shooting guards.
Justin Kier - He has been in the portal the longest and is one of the available transfers who has begun to make a move. He recently trimmed his list to seven schools which includes Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgetown, Georgia, Iowa State, Michigan, and North Carolina State. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard from George Mason averaged 14.5 points. 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals last season. He will be immediately eligible.
Jonah Antonio - The 6-foot-5 grad transfer from UNLV averaged 12.5 points last season. he is known as a stationary shooter. Minnesota has been in contact and even done a virtual visit. Nevertheless, an offer has not come yet. He does have offers from DePaul, Missouri State, Rhode Island, Texas-Arlington, and Xavier. He would be immediately eligible.
Courvoisier McCauley - The 6-foot-6 sophomore was an All-American this past season at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He averaged over twenty-points per game and is a knock down three-point shooter. Our most recent article was about him. He has already heard from the likes of Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, DePaul, Georgetown, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest.
Jose Perez - Another sophomore, the 6-foot-5 Perez averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last season at Gardner-Webb. He is also almost a forty-percent three point shooter. The Bronx native is one of the most recent transfers. He announced he was entering the portal Monday, and has already heard from over thirty schools which includes Minnesota.
However, keep one thing in mind. There will be more movement before we know what the final team looks like.
Subtractions
When we originally did the story in March, we knew that Minnesota was losing their front line. Daniel Oturu provided 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds at the center position while Alihan Demir went for 7.1 points and 5.0 boards. That is 27.2 points and 16.3 combined rebounds along with an average of 58.7 of a possible eighty minutes of post time per game.
Since then, the Gophers have also had a hit to the backcourt. Payton Willis has transferred, and Marcus Carr has declared for the NBA Draft, although he hasn't acquired and agent, thus leaving the door open to return to college next season.
If both perimeters leave, that is 24.3 more points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.4 assists. With Carr gone, along with the numbers from Michael Hurt and Brady Rudrud, Minnesota would lose 53.7 points, or 75.5% of their scoring. and 26.6 or 67.7% of their team rebounds. If Carr returns, the point total drops to 38.3 or 53.9% of their scoring.
Additions
Last month we knew that Minnesota would be bringing in two freshmen: Jamal Mashburn Jr, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, and 6-foot-10 forward, Martice Mitchell.
Since then, Richard Pitino has signed two post players, and if things break right they could both make instant contributions.
Brandon Johnson, a 6-foot-8 grad transfer from Western Michigan, should step right into the power forward position. He averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds last season with the Broncos, and was a major get for the Gophers.
Liam Robbins will be another newcomer. The seven-foot sophomore averaged 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds last season at Drake. He was also one of the nation's leading shot blockers with 2.9.
The hold-up is the way things currently stand, Robbins will have to sit out a season due to the transfer. Pitino has two hopes to get him immediately eligible. First would be a waiver. Robbins is the nephew of Minnesota's Associate Head Coach, Ed Conroy. Secondly, the NCAA will meet in May and is expected to pass a one-time automatic transfer rule that would allow players to switch schools without red-shirting. Even if it passes it is still uncertain if this will be enacted this summer or held off until 2021.
If Robbins is granted immediate eligibility, odds are that he an Johnson will be the starting front court next season.
The scheduled roster
Freshmen: Jamal Mashburn Jr, 6-foot-2 combo-guard; Martice Mitchell, 6-foot-10 power forward.
Sophomores: Sam Freeman, 6-foot-10 center; Bryan Greenlee 6-foot-0 point guard; Isaiah Ihnen 6-foot-9 forward; Tre' Williams 6-foot-5 shooting guard.
Juniors: Gabe Kalscheur 6-foot-4 guard; Jarvis Omersa 6-foot-6 power forward; Liam Robbins , 7-foot-0 center (possible redshirt), Marcus Carr, 6-foot-3 guard (could return).
Seniors: Eric Curry 6-foot-9 power forward (redshirt); Brandon Johnson, 6-foot-8 power forward.
As the numbers stand right now, Minnesota has filled eleven of the thirteen allowed scholarship spots on the roster. That leaves two more players that Pitino can bring in. We will look at who they are still looking at later in the article.
If Carr returns then Minnesota will have filled twelve of the thirteen, and would still have one open spot remaining.
The Positions
Point guard: Bryan Greenlee/Jamal Mashburn Jr.
Wings: Gabe Kalscheur/ Isaiah Ihnen/ Tre' Williams/ Martice Mitchell
Posts: Eric Curry/Jarvis Omersa/Sam Freeman/ Brandon Robinson
Keep in mind that this also doesn't include Carr. If he returns, he could play the combo, although I would expect him to play at the one. Jamal Mashburn Jr. could also come in and play the combo. He is an excellent shooter, but the recruiting plan was for him to play point guard.
I think with the new makeup, Kalscheur looks more like a pure two instead of a shooting guard/small forward. The other three wings have great size from the 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-10 range. Mitchell and Isaiah Ihnen have the size, combined with agility and the skill set to even play some power forward to go along with the three. Pitino will have the option to go small, and then go even smaller.
We also left Liam Robbins off the list for now. If he is granted eligibility that lets Pitino become better and deeper at the center spot. Once again, I would expect Robbins to start at the five and Robinson at the four. Freeman could work his way into some playing time as the backup center, and of course Omersa will provide depth and energy at power forward.
The other wild card is Eric Curry. Will his health permit him to play another season? If things go well, Minnesota could be five deep in the post. If they don't that changes to three bodies, then Ihnen and then perhaps Mitchell could be asked to step down and defend the four, although I don't think Mitchell will be ready to do that next year.
Potential additions.
The high school map starts and ends with Kerwin Walton. The 6-foot-5 guard will announce this Saturday, and choose between Minnesota, Arizona, Creighton, Georgetown, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt. The Tar Heels currently own four of the five FutureCasts, with the other one belonging to Arizona. Individuals we have spoken with are not so sure. We have heard lots of uncertainty and several reasons why Walton should choose the Gophers over the past few days.
The list of portent transfers have also changed within the past month. After adding two posts, it is now obvious that Pitino is looking to add instant backcourt help. Drew Buggs cut Minnesota from his list Tuesday night. So of the two remaining graduate transfers they are pursuing the hardest, both are shooting guards.
Justin Kier - He has been in the portal the longest and is one of the available transfers who has begun to make a move. He recently trimmed his list to seven schools which includes Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgetown, Georgia, Iowa State, Michigan, and North Carolina State. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard from George Mason averaged 14.5 points. 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals last season. He will be immediately eligible.
Jonah Antonio - The 6-foot-5 grad transfer from UNLV averaged 12.5 points last season. he is known as a stationary shooter. Minnesota has been in contact and even done a virtual visit. Nevertheless, an offer has not come yet. He does have offers from DePaul, Missouri State, Rhode Island, Texas-Arlington, and Xavier. He would be immediately eligible.
Courvoisier McCauley - The 6-foot-6 sophomore was an All-American this past season at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He averaged over twenty-points per game and is a knock down three-point shooter. Our most recent article was about him. He has already heard from the likes of Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, DePaul, Georgetown, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest.
Jose Perez - Another sophomore, the 6-foot-5 Perez averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last season at Gardner-Webb. He is also almost a forty-percent three point shooter. The Bronx native is one of the most recent transfers. He announced he was entering the portal Monday, and has already heard from over thirty schools which includes Minnesota.
