2019–20 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team

2019–20 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record15–16 (8–12 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaWilliams Arena
2019–20 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 17 Wisconsin 14 – 6   .700 21 – 10   .677
No. 9 Michigan State 14 – 6   .700 22 – 9   .710
No. 12 Maryland 14 – 6   .700 24 – 7   .774
No. 21 Illinois 13 – 7   .650 21 – 10   .677
No. 25 Iowa 11 – 9   .550 20 – 11   .645
Penn State 11 – 9   .550 21 – 10   .677
No. 19 Ohio State 11 – 9   .550 21 – 10   .677
Rutgers 11 – 9   .550 20 – 11   .645
Michigan 10 – 10   .500 19 – 12   .613
Purdue 9 – 11   .450 16 – 15   .516
Indiana 9 – 11   .450 20 – 12   .625
Minnesota 8 – 12   .400 15 – 16   .484
Northwestern 3 – 17   .150 8 – 23   .258
Nebraska 2 – 18   .100 7 – 25   .219
Note: The 2020 Big Ten tournament was canceled prior to the second round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings from AP poll

The 2019–20 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gophers were led by seventh-year head coach Richard Pitino and played their home games at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 15–16, 8–12 in Big Ten play to finish in 12th place. The Gophers defeated Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten tournament before the tournament was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All other postseason tournaments including the NCAA tournament were later canceled effectively ending the season.

Previous season

The Golden Gophers finished the 2018–19 season 22–14, 9–11 in Big Ten play to finish in seventh place. As the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they defeated Penn State in the second round. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Purdue for the second time on the season. In the semifinals, they lost to Michigan. The Gophers received a bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the East Region. There, they defeated seventh-seeded Louisville in the first round before losing to Michigan State in the second round.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Dupree McBrayer 1 G 6'5" 195 Senior Queens, NY Graduated
Jordan Murphy 3 F 6'7" 250 Senior San Antonio, TX Graduated
Amir Coffey 5 G 6'8" 205 Junior Hopkins, MN Declared for NBA Draft
Isaiah Washington 11 G 6'1" 195 Sophomore Harlem, NY Transferred to Iona
Jarvis Johnson 12 G 6'1" 185 Senior Minneapolis, MN Graduated
Brock Stull 31 G 6'4" 210 RS Senior Rockford, IL Graduated
Matz Stockman 35 C 7'0" 245 RS Senior Oslo, Norway Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Alihan Demir F 6'9" 232 Senior Ankara, Turkey Drexel

Recruiting class

2019 recruiting class US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Sam Freeman
C 		Justin, TX Northwest High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Apr 4, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN: N/A
Bryan Greenlee
PG 		Gainesville, FL The Rock School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jun 13, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Isaiah Ihnen
SF 		Böblingen, Germany N/A 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Apr 23, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN: N/A
Tre Williams
SG 		Mount Pleasant, UT Wasatch Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 13, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Future recruits

2020–21 team recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Martice Mitchell
PF 		Chicago Heights, Illinois Bloom High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oct 7, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 79
Jamal Mashburn Jr.
CG 		Miami, Florida Brewster Academy 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Oct 14, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

2021–22 team recruits

US college sports recruiting information for 2021 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Treyton Thompson
PF 		Alexandria, Minnesota La Lumiere School 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Nov 30, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct 28, 2019*
7:00 pm, BTN Plus 		Southwest Minnesota State W 73–48 
 14 – Willis   16 – Oturu   6 – Tied  Williams Arena (7,387)
Minneapolis, MN
Regular season
Nov 5, 2019*
7:00 pm, BTN Plus 		Cleveland State W 85–50  1–0
  18 – Carr   10 – Oturu   8 – Tied  Williams Arena (8,693)
Minneapolis, MN
Nov 9, 2019*
7:00 pm, BTN 		vs. Oklahoma
Sioux Falls Showcase 		L 62–71  1–1
  16 – Carr   10 – Carr   6 – Carr  Sanford Pentagon (3,445)
Sioux Falls, SD
Nov 12, 2019*
7:30 pm, FS1 		at Butler
Gavitt Tipoff Games 		L 56–64  1–2
  24 – Oturu   10 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Hinkle Fieldhouse (7,879)
Indianapolis, IN
Nov 15, 2019*
8:00 p.m., P12N 		at Utah L 69–73  1–3
  21 – Oturu   18 – Oturu   6 – Carr  Jon M. Huntsman Center (12,760)
Salt Lake City, UT
Nov 21, 2019*
7:00 pm, BTN Plus 		Central Michigan W 82-57  2–3
  19 – Carr   12 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Williams Arena (8,566)
Minneapolis, MN
Nov 24, 2019*
6:00 pm, BTN 		North Dakota W 79–56  3–3
  18 – Kalscheur   9 – Omersa   6 – Carr  Williams Arena (8,854)
Minneapolis, MN
Nov 29, 2019*
2:00 pm, FS1 		DePaul L 68–73  3–4
  19 – Oturu   18 – Oturu   4 – Carr  Williams Arena (10,260)
Minneapolis, MN
Dec 2, 2019*
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		Clemson
ACC–Big Ten Challenge 		W 78–60  4–4
  24 – Carr   6 – Demir   9 – Carr  Williams Arena (10,148)
Minneapolis, MN
Dec 9, 2019
7:00 pm, BTN 		at Iowa L 52–72  4–5
(0–1) 		 22 – Oturu   12 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Carver–Hawkeye Arena (10,442)
Iowa City, IA
Dec 15, 2019
5:30 pm, BTN 		No. 3 Ohio State W 84–71  5–5
(1–1) 		 35 – Carr   13 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Williams Arena (9,854)
Minneapolis, MN
Dec 21, 2019*
4:30 pm, ESPN2 		vs. OSU
BOK Center Basketball Showdown 		W 86–66  6–5
  34 – Kalscheur   8 – Oturu   8 – Carr  BOK Center (4,979)
Tulsa, OK
Dec 28, 2019*
3:00 pm, BTN 		FIU W 89–62  7–5
  23 – Kalscheur   20 – Oturu   8 – Carr  Williams Arena (10,546)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 2, 2020
6:00 pm, BTN 		at Purdue L 78–83 2OT 7–6
(1–2) 		 29 – Oturu   18 – Oturu   4 – Carr  Mackey Arena (14,804)
West Lafayette, IN
Jan 5, 2020
6:30 pm, BTN 		Northwestern W 77–68  8–6
(2–2) 		 19 – Oturu   16 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Williams Arena (9,574)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 9, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPN2 		at No. 8 Michigan State L 58–74  8–7
(2–3) 		 22 – Oturu   10 – Oturu   6 – Carr  Breslin Center (14,797)
East Lansing, MI
Jan 12, 2020
12:00 pm, BTN 		No. 19 Michigan W 75–67  9–7
(3–3) 		 30 – Oturu   7 – Oturu   12 – Carr  Williams Arena (10,453)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 15, 2020
8:00 pm, BTN 		Penn State W 75–69  10–7
(4–3) 		 27 – Carr   14 – Oturu   9 – Carr  Williams Arena (9,714)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 19, 2020
12:00 pm, BTN 		at Rutgers L 56–64  10–8
(5–4) 		 19 – Oturu   9 – Oturu   5 – Carr  Louis Brown Athletic Center (8,000)
Piscataway, NJ
Jan 23, 2020
5:30 pm, FS1 		at Ohio State W 62–59  11–8
(5–4) 		 21 – Carr   7 – Carr   2 – Tied  Value City Arena (13,234)
Columbus, OH
Jan 26, 2020
2:00 pm, FOX 		No. 11 Michigan State L 52–70  11–9
(5–5) 		 19 – Oturu   7 – Tied   6 – Carr  Williams Arena (12,114)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 30, 2020
6:30 pm, FS1 		at No. 19 Illinois L 51–59  11–10
(5–6) 		 20 – Oturu   9 – Carr   2 – Carr  State Farm Center (15,544)
Champaign, IL
Feb 5, 2020
8:00 pm, BTN 		Wisconsin W 70–52  12–10
(6–6) 		 21 – Willis   14 – Oturu   10 – Carr  Williams Arena (11,389)
Minneapolis, MN
Feb 8, 2020
3:00 pm, BTN 		at No. 22 Penn State L 66–73  12–11
(6–7) 		 32 – Oturu   16 – Oturu   5 – Carr  Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)
University Park, PA
Feb 16, 2020
12:00 pm, FS1 		No. 21 Iowa L 55–58  12–12
(6–8) 		 15 – Oturu   9 – Demir   6 – Carr  Williams Arena (14,625)
Minneapolis, MN
Feb 19, 2020
8:00 pm, BTN 		Indiana L 56–68  12–13
(6–9) 		 12 – Tied   14 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Williams Arena (9,686)
Minneapolis, MN
Feb 23, 2020
2:00 pm, BTN 		at Northwestern W 83–57  13–13
(7–9) 		 22 – Oturu   12 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Welsh-Ryan Arena (5,815)
Evanston, IL
Feb 26, 2020
8:00 pm, BTN 		No. 9 Maryland L 73–74  13–14
(7–10) 		 28 – Oturu   11 – Oturu   7 – Carr  Williams Arena (9,252)
Minneapolis, MN
Mar 1, 2020
5:30 pm, BTN 		at Wisconsin L 69–71  13–15
(7–11) 		 26 – Oturu   12 – Oturu   4 – Carr  Kohl Center (17,287)
Madison, WI
Mar 4, 2020
6:00 pm, BTN 		at Indiana L 67–72  13–16
(7–12) 		 24 – Oturu   16 – Oturu   5 – Carr  Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)
Bloomington, IN
Mar 8, 2020
12:00 pm, BTN 		Nebraska W 107–75  14–16
(8–12) 		 26 – Kalscheur   10 – Demir   11 – Carr  Williams Arena (9,984)
Minneapolis, MN
Big Ten tournament
Mar 11, 2020
6:00 pm, BTN 		(12) vs. (13) Northwestern
First Round 		W 74–57  15–16
  24 – Oturu   8 – Tied   5 – Carr  Bankers Life Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
Remaining Games Canceled
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. ^ "Northwestern vs. Minnesota - Game Recap - March 11, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Solari, Chris. "March Madness cancellation inevitable, unavoidable: 'Bigger than basketball'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. ^ Almasy, Steve. "The NCAA is canceling March Madness". CNN. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 NCAA Tournament canceled due to growing threat of coronavirus pandemic". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Gophers shake off slow start to force overtime, beat Penn State in Big Ten basketball tournament". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Minnesota knocks Purdue basketball out of Big Ten tournament". Journal & Courier. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  7. ^ "Recap: Michigan rolls over Minnesota, will play Michigan State in Big Ten final". Detroit News. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  8. ^ "Minnesota vs. Louisville - Game Recap - March 21, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  9. ^ "Minnesota vs. Michigan State - Game Recap - March 23, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  10. ^ Greder, Andy (May 15, 2019). "Former Gophers guard Isaiah Washington to transfer to Iona". Twincities.com. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball
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Seasons
Helms and Premo-Porretta national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearance in italics