A year ago, the Gophers had Jordan Murphy on the watch list for the Karl Malone Award that goes to the top power forward in college basketball.
Now with Murphy's graduation, the Gophers will be trying to compete without him in a league loaded with quality players at his position.

The Big Ten had six names on the Karl Malone Award's preseason watch list released Thursday. Maryland's Jalen Smith, Michigan State's Xavier Tillman, Ohio State's Kaleb Wesson, Penn State's Lamar Stevens and Purdue's Trevion Williams are among 20 players mentioned.
Replacing Minnesota's all-time rebounding leader just got tougher with the season-ending knee injury last week to junior Eric Curry. Another unfortunate setback for Curry means Richard Pitino is without his most experienced returning post player, putting more pressure on Drexel graduate transfer Alihan Demir (pictured) and others.
There won't be any Karl Malone Award candidates walking through the Barn doors this season, but all isn't lost for Pitino to fill the power forward spot without Murphy and now Curry, too.
Below are the players the Gophers will turn to at the spot Murphy held down strong for four record-breaking rebounding seasons at the U.
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Alihan Demir 6-9 235 senior – The Gophers won't be as physical and dominant on the boards with Demir in Murphy's place. But there are strengths adding a different element to the power forward spot than in years past. Demir made 43 three-pointers and had 145 assists in two seasons in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Turkey native's outside shooting (36.5 percent as a sophomore), passing and ball-handling skills for his size could make the Gophers tougher to defend. Demir also isn't a poor rebounder having averaged 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per 40 minutes in 2018-19. The high-low offense that helped Murphy and starting center Daniel Oturu excel in games together last season won't work without Demir being a legitimate post-up threat. But Pitino and his coaching staff are studying new offensive styles to help their big men thrive away from the basket as well.