Don’t let last year’s record fool you; this Minnesota basketball team is tough and could shock many this year.
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.
If you looked at Minnesota’s record, you would assume this was a pretty bad team. They won just 15 games, and lost nine out of ten at one point. However, they really clicked at the end of the season, going 4-3. They beat Michigan State, and they kept it close, losing by 3 and 4 to Wisconsin, and going toe to toe with the national champions, Michigan. Obviously, these are all moral victories, but the momentum at the end of the season was enough to return 62.1% of their minutes, second most in the Big Ten.
They do lose superstar Cade Tyson, who averaged 20 points a game last year. They return three of their top five scorers, including Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who was second on the team in scoring before suffering a season-ending injury on February 8th. They also bring back Isaac Asuma and Bobby Durkin, who averaged double-digit scoring, and both bring their own strengths, with Asuma doing so defensively and Durkin with his shooting stroke.
The bench is loaded with elite Power Five players who didn’t get the minutes at those schools. That includes Kyan Evans, who was terrific under Niko Medved at Colorado State, but struggled at UNC. He’ll look to reignite that spark at Minnesota. They also add two Michigan transfers, who are hoping to bring that championship culture to Minneapolis. Niko Medved is a terrific coach who turned Colorado State into an annual tournament threat, and could do just that in year two with Minnesota basketball.
Head coach: Niko Medved (14th season overall, 2nd at Minnesota)
2025-26 record: 15-18 (8-12)
2026 postseason finish: Lost in College Basketball Crown Quarterfinals
Notable departures:
- Cade Tyson (19.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.1 APG)
- Langston Reynolds (11.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.5 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Dayton OR Virginia Tech OR Utah OR Oklahoma State (Charleston Classic Nov. 20-22)
- vs. California (Nov. 28)
- vs. SMU (Dec. 5)
Projected Rotation
PG: Isaac Asuma (6-3, 205, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 10.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 74.2 FT%
SG: Malachi Palmer (6-6, 220, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 4.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 46.6 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 76.2 FT% (Villanova)
SF: Bobby Durkin (6-7, 220, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 10.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 43.2 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 87.5 FT%
PF: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (6-8, 240, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 13.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 41.5 FG%, 32.3 3P%, 71.8 FT%
C: Grayson Grove (6-9, 220, So.)
2025-26 stats: 4.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 59.4 FG%
6: Kyan Evans (6-2, 175, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 4.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 69.2 FT% (UNC)
7: Winters Grady (6-6, 210, Fr.)
2025-26 stats: 2.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.2 APG, 9 games played (Michigan)
8: Nolan Groves (6-5, 205, So.)
2025-26 stats: 0.9 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, 5.7 minutes per game (Texas Tech)
9: Malick Kordel (7-2, 275, So.)
2025-26 stats: 1.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.1 APG, 0.4 BPG, 57.1 FG%, 4.1 minutes per game (Michigan)
10: Kai Shinholster (6-5, 175, So.)
2025-26 stats: 1.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 75.0 FT%
Minnesota basketball team MVP: Isaac Asuma
After a solid freshman year, Asuma took a notable leap in his sophomore year as his minutes increased. He plays with a ton of confidence, always trying to make the difficult pass if it means an easy bucket. That does lead to a lot of turnovers, but as he grows and matures, that’ll start to go down. He’s also a solid scorer, scoring in double figures in 11 of the last 12 games. With the depth they brought in, he shouldn’t have to play 34 minutes a game, which led to some late-game fatigue.
Playing with two other starters from last year, as well as Grayson Grove, who started 12 games last year, should give him great chemistry and allow him to succeed on the court. Defensively, he’s arguably the best player on this team, making him a dangerous two-way threat.
Minnesota basketball make-or-break player: Kyan Evans
In his sophomore season at Colorado State under Niko Medved, Evans had his breakout season. He averaged 10.6 PPG and also averaged 3 rebounds and assists a game. Where he really thrived was his shooting. Evans shot 45% from three on 4.4 attempts a game, and 85% from the line. He jumped up to UNC, but couldn’t replicate that success, seeing not only his numbers go down, but his minutes as well. After starting 17 games in the beginning of the season, he played just 26 minutes in his final four games.
Now, he’s back with Niko, and without clear bench depth, he can slot himself into the 6th man role and be a key piece. He doesn’t have to shoot 45%, but if he can hit 40-42% on 4-5 attempts a game, while also being a plus defender, this adds a whole new dimension to this team. This also would allow Asuma to rest more, ensuring a refreshed lineup down the stretch, something that haunted them late in the season. This is still Power 5 competition, though, which he struggled against last year, so if he continues to struggle, then that will be a major concern for the team’s tournament chances.
Key statistic: Bench Points
If you were on the bench last season for Minnesota, you might as well head home early and beat traffic, because you weren’t going to see the court too often. Minnesota basketball averaged 7.18 bench points a game, second-worst in college basketball. We saw time and time again when the starters would hang tough with the top of the Big Ten, then falter down the stretch when they ran out of gas.
Without a guy like Cade Tyson, we may see this team lean on the bench a lot more this year. While the current bench pieces might not have the counting stats, they all come from elite programs and developed under great coaches. We’ll see if anyone rises up and becomes a key piece, or if the starters are going to play 35 minutes a game again.
Minnesota basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 15th in the Big Ten
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament round of 32 exit