2026-27 Big Ten offseason at a glance: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Photos from IU basketball's 77-47 win against Minnesota at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Welcome to “Big Ten offseason at a glance,” a team-by-team look at the conference at the start of the summer. We’ll examine roster movement for each Big Ten roster and give an early outlook for each Big Ten program for the 2026-27 season.

Up next: Minnesota (15-18 overall in 2025-26, 8-12 in Big Ten play)

Previously: Penn State, Rutgers

After finishing 15-17 with a 7-13 conference record under Ben Johnson in 2024-25, Minnesota decided it was time for a change. The Golden Gophers brought in Niko Medved out of Colorado State, who compiled a 143-85 record in his seven years with the Rams.

Medved, a Minnesota native and Golden Gopher alum, saw a bit of everything in his first year.

In true modern college basketball fashion, Minnesota’s roster was made up of 13 newcomers, including nine transfers. The Golden Gophers’ 8-12 record in the Big Ten was good for 11th in the conference standings. Three of those wins came against ranked opponents in Michigan State (No. 10 at the time), Iowa (No. 19) and Indiana (No. 22).

An injury-riddled season with bad losing streaks and quality wins set the table for Minnesota to improve in Medved’s second year. The Golden Gophers are projected to finish next-to-last according to Bart Torvik’s 2026-27 projections.

Minnesota roster movement

Players returning with eligibility: Isaac Asuma, Bobby Durkin, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Grayson Grove, Kai Shinholster

Players departing due to NBA Draft/professional route/out of eligibility: Langston Reynolds, Cade Tyson, Maximus Gizzi

Players who departed via transfer portal: B.J. Omot (to Cal State Northridge), Chance Stephens, Chansey Willis Jr. (to Kent State), Nehemiah Turner (to Jacksonville), Robert Vaihola (to San Jose State)

Players arriving via transfer portal: Winters Grady (from Michigan), Malick Kordel (from Michigan), Nolan Groves (from Texas Tech), Kyan Evans (from North Carolina), Malachi Palmer (from Villanova)

Incoming freshmen: Nolen Anderson, Chadrack Mpoyi, Cedric Tomes

What to like about Minnesota

In this age of college basketball, a good amount of continuity can be hard to find. Minnesota has some continuity going into this season and it’s in the right spots.

The Golden Gophers retain three players who averaged at least 10 points per game last season in Asuma, Crocker-Johnson and Durkin. They also bring back their top two bench options, Grove and Shinholster, based on minutes played.

This was a team that was top-heavy and relied on its starters last season. That looks to be the case once again. This time around, however, three bona fide starters will have a year of Big Ten experience under their belt. They have tasted the postseason as well, playing in the Big Ten Tournament and the Crown in 2025.

Not to mention, a head coach with a season in the Big Ten under his belt can help as well.

What to question about Minnesota

Where is the production going to come from?

Tyson, an All-Big Ten honorable mention, averaged the sixth-most points per game in the conference last year at 19.6. Reynolds averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The two accounted for 45.1 percent of Minnesota’s total points last year. Another 45.4 percent came from Asuma, Crocker-Johnson and Grove.

Five players accounted for over 90 percent of the team’s points. Now, 45 percent of that production is gone.

The bench did not play much last year, especially in Big Ten play. Minnesota’s moves this offseason may cause that to happen once more.

Minnesota’s five incoming transfers all come from power-conference programs, but did not play major roles on their previous teams. All five averaged below 20 minutes and five points per game. It is ranked 74th nationally among transfer classes.

If Minnesota wants to succeed, its bench pieces and transfers must significantly improve upon their previous seasons. Replacing Tyson and Reynolds is a tall task. Minnesota was still 15-18 with Tyson and Reynolds. If the Golden Gophers want to improve, their new pieces need to do more than replace.

Minnesota’s outlook for the 2026-27 season

Here’s the Minnesota Big Ten schedule for next season:

Home: Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Washington

Away: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers, UCLA, USC

Home/Away: Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin

Minnesota showed signs of new life in Medved’s first year. The Gophers showed they can beat top Big Ten teams. They showed they can win at home. They played in a postseason tournament.

Moving up into the next tier of the Big Ten will still be a tall task.

The amount of proven talent on this team is not on par with other mid- to high-level Big Ten programs. That is not to say Medved cannot coach them to success or unproven talent can never blossom. It is to say that Minnesota is behind the proverbial eight ball compared to many of its Big Ten counterparts.

Rebuilding a program after a coaching change takes time. Medved can get the Gophers to where they want to be. This year just might not be the year to do it.

See More: Commentary, 2026-27 Big Ten preview, Minnesota Golden Gophers