Definitely a challenging schedule thus far compared to our soft schedules in the past. We play at least five high major teams out of a possible 13 game non-conference schedule. Out of these five games, we need to win at least 3 to give ourselves a chance to go to the postseason entering big ten play. None of these teams are blue bloods, and we should definitely be able to compete in every match up. Let me know what you guys think!
1. St. John's at the Barn: Johnnies will be a lot like us next year, coming off a horrible season but a good young nucleus of talent arrives in back court studs Marcus Lovett and Shamorie Ponds who join stud Sophomore PG Frederico Mussini. This should be a good game as plenty of experts predict similar jumps this season in each of the Big East and Big Ten conferences from SJ and MN.
2. Arkansas: We may be catching them at a good time. Anthlon Bell has graduated and takes 15.7 ppg with him and Jimmy Whitt transferred out a couple months back. They have a so-so recruiting class coming in, but their top two players in Dusty Hannahs and Moses Kingsley are back. They'll need former big time recruit Anton Beard to take a big jump this season. Definitely a winnable game for MN, especially since its at home, and we may have more depth and overall talent.
3. @Florida State: This may be our toughest non-conference game. We have won three in a row against the Seminoles, but they are loaded with talent this year after a few solid recruiting coups in a row. Almost 30 ppg comes back in their backcourt with Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes returning. Florida State is loaded on the wing with Terrance Mann also coming back and top 10 recruit Jonathon Isaac entering the mix. Should be a very tough game for MN that could come down to forcing FSU into mistakes considering they really don't have a true point guard. Talent edge definitely goes to Florida State.
4. Vanderbilt @ Sanford Pentagon: Interesting game that the public has just heard about today. Vandy loses top two players in Wade Baldwin and Damian Jones to the NBA after they led the Commodores to the NCAA tourney last season. Were supposed to be a top 20 team last season but had a very disappointing season and barely snuck into the tourney before Wichita State blew them out by 20 in a play-in game. Riley LaChance is an efficient guard who will lead their attack this season. Big man shooter Luke Kornet returns as does swing man Joseph Toye. Two big losses for Vandy with Baldwin and Jones, Gophers could and should be the favorite when these two teams match up.
5. Two game preseason tourney, TBD.
1. St. John's at the Barn: Johnnies will be a lot like us next year, coming off a horrible season but a good young nucleus of talent arrives in back court studs Marcus Lovett and Shamorie Ponds who join stud Sophomore PG Frederico Mussini. This should be a good game as plenty of experts predict similar jumps this season in each of the Big East and Big Ten conferences from SJ and MN.
2. Arkansas: We may be catching them at a good time. Anthlon Bell has graduated and takes 15.7 ppg with him and Jimmy Whitt transferred out a couple months back. They have a so-so recruiting class coming in, but their top two players in Dusty Hannahs and Moses Kingsley are back. They'll need former big time recruit Anton Beard to take a big jump this season. Definitely a winnable game for MN, especially since its at home, and we may have more depth and overall talent.
3. @Florida State: This may be our toughest non-conference game. We have won three in a row against the Seminoles, but they are loaded with talent this year after a few solid recruiting coups in a row. Almost 30 ppg comes back in their backcourt with Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes returning. Florida State is loaded on the wing with Terrance Mann also coming back and top 10 recruit Jonathon Isaac entering the mix. Should be a very tough game for MN that could come down to forcing FSU into mistakes considering they really don't have a true point guard. Talent edge definitely goes to Florida State.
4. Vanderbilt @ Sanford Pentagon: Interesting game that the public has just heard about today. Vandy loses top two players in Wade Baldwin and Damian Jones to the NBA after they led the Commodores to the NCAA tourney last season. Were supposed to be a top 20 team last season but had a very disappointing season and barely snuck into the tourney before Wichita State blew them out by 20 in a play-in game. Riley LaChance is an efficient guard who will lead their attack this season. Big man shooter Luke Kornet returns as does swing man Joseph Toye. Two big losses for Vandy with Baldwin and Jones, Gophers could and should be the favorite when these two teams match up.
5. Two game preseason tourney, TBD.
