CBB Rank 2025: No. 72, Minnesota Basketball

The beginning of the Niko Medved era at Minnesota basketball is fueled by one of the most intriguing transfer classes in college basketball.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Minnesota basketball.

Medved moves on to his 4th team in 13 years, and with his first job in a power conference with Minnesota. And after losing pretty much everyone but Isaac Asuma, he had to hit the portal HARD.

At guard, Chansey Willis and Langston Reynolds figure to lead the way. They come from the mid-major ranks, but both put up good scoring numbers, and Willis was one of the shiftiest players in the MAC with Western Michigan. Off the bench, Asuma should play big minutes, and Maximus Gizzi/Chance Stephens can give solid depth when needed.

At forward, Cade Tyson hopes to bounce back from a very down year with the North Carolina Tar Heels. He was a star at Belmont and could get back to those ways in a new system. BJ Omot and Bobby Durkin are two more good options to start at forward or play important minutes off the bench. An injury kept Omot out of most of last season which is something to note.

And Medved has no shortage of big men. Stretch four Jaylen Crocker-Johnson also comes over from Colorado State and could pair well with bruiser Robert Vaihola. Nehemiah Turner is a good backup after a solid freshman year at Central Arkansas.

Medved clearly went out and got guys who can fill specific roles – but also play multiple positions if needed. It’s a deep team, an intriguing team, and while we aren’t high on them, the potential is there to surprise people.

Head coach: Niko Medved (1st season at Minnesota, 13th season overall)

2024-25 record: 15-17 (7-13)

2025 postseason finish: No postseason

Notable departures: 

• Dawson Garcia (19.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 37.3 3P%)
• Lu’Cye Patterson (11.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.3 APG)
• Mike Mitchell Jr. (8.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG)
• Femi Odukale (6.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.2 BPG)
• Parker Fox (5.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 BPG, 59.3 FG%)
• Brennan Rigsby (5.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.6 APG)
• Frank Mitchell (4.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 66.3 FG%)

Notable non-conference games: 

• at Missouri (Nov. 12)
• vs. San Francisco (Nov. 22 in Sioux Falls, S.D.)
• vs. Stanford (Nov. 27 – Acrisure Series)
• vs. Santa Clara OR Saint Louis (Nov. 28 – Acrisure Series)

Projected Rotation

PG: Chansey Willis Jr. (6-2, 190, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 16.8 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG (Western Michigan)

SG: Langston Reynolds (6-4, 205, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 16.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 59.3 FG%, 40.9 3P% (Northern Colorado)

SF: Cade Tyson (6-7, 200, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 2.6 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.1 APG, 7.9 MPG (UNC)

2023-24 stats: 16.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 46.5 3P% (Belmont)

PF: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (6-8, 230, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 9.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 35.4 3P% (Colorado State)

C: Robert Vaihola (6-8, 260, Rs.-Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 BPG, 53.6 FG% (San Jose State)

6: Isaac Asuma (6-3, 196, So.)

2024-25 stats: 5.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 35.7 3P%

7: BJ Omot (6-8, 195, Rs.-Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 10.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 4 GP (Cal)

2023-24 stats: 16.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.4 APG (North Dakota)

8: Bobby Durkin (6-7, 220, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 13.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 35.5 3P% (Davidson)

9: Nehemiah Turner (6-10, 265, So.)

2024-25 stats: 8.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 BPG, 51.3 FG% (Central Arkansas)

10: Maximus Gizzi (6-1, Gr.-Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 10.9 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 89.0 FT% (Huntington University – NAIA)

11: Chance Stephens (6-3, 185, Rs.-Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 1.3 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 5.3 MPG, 7 GP (Maryland)

2022-23 stats: 6.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG (Loyola Marymount)

Minnesota Basketball team MVP: Langston Reynolds

On a team with just one returning rotation player, it’s very hard to pinpoint an early candidate for team MVP. Additionally, Minnesota’s transfers all kind of add up to the same type of players on paper – solid mid-major guys who look to up their games in the Big Ten.

With that being said, Langston Reynolds might have the easiest time adjusting to power conference basketball. At 6-4, 205, he has the size – and the senior USES that size like no one else. Reynolds quite literally commands contact around the rim, invites physicality, and can punish smaller – and even like-sized players. His toughness should be a leadership quality as coach Medved looks to change the culture for Minnesota basketball.

Of course, his play can do the speaking too. Reynolds was a scorer at Northern Colorado, but also got his teammates involved, and as you might guess, didn’t shy away from rebounding the basketball. He was very efficient from the field – mostly inside – but if left open from three, made opposing teams pay.

Simply put, Langston Reynolds is a tone setter.

Minnesota Basketball make-or-break player: Cade Tyson

Tyson was a stud at Belmont, putting up two great scoring seasons and becoming a knockdown shooter for the Bruins.

But at UNC, he just didn’t fit, playing sparingly, and when on the court, losing his efficiency and becoming more of a liability than an asset.

Tyson’s hoping a scenery change might do the trick. In fact, if he can revisit his Belmont years, he’s a great option to start at small forward next to two Gophers guards that command attention on the dribble. That style of play could open up lots of open looks for Tyson, who at his best, is an elite shooter. He seems to be a great fit at Minnesota.

Key analytic: APG

Since it’s an all-new team, let’s look at one stat Medved had his Colorado State Rams excel in – and that was assists. Last season, the Rams finished 26th in the country, averaging 16.5 APG. The year before that, with Isaiah Stevens leading the way, the mark was 18.0 APG, 7th in the country. The year before that? 12th.

You have to think Medved will preach the same thing – and from the looks of the guys he brought in – Minnesota has the prototype to be one of the top passing teams in the Big Ten. Up and down the roster – including some big men – are guys that are willing to share the ball and not command 15-20 shots per game. It’ll be by committee, especially in year one, and that’s a great way to help change a program’s culture.

Minnesota Basketball 2025-26 projections

Projected conference finish: 16th in the Big Ten

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament First Round Exit