The Big Ten is changing, but projections have stayed the same for Gophers men’s basketball in the last several years under coach Ben Johnson.
The unofficial Big Ten men’s basketball media poll has the Gophers picked to finish last — the third time in Johnson’s four seasons that has happened. This year, the Gophers are picked 18th, with the conference adding four new teams.
Last season, the Gophers outperformed their preseason projection of 14th when they finished tied for ninth place with a 9-11 Big Ten record and 19-15 overall mark after winning a game in the NIT. The Gophers were also picked last (14th) in Johnson’s first season and 12th in his second year.
Now, three starters are gone, but Johnson returns senior leading scorer and rebounder Dawson Garcia, starting senior guard Mike Mitchell Jr. and senior sixth man Parker Fox. Big Ten basketball media days in Chicago began Wednesday with women’s teams, followed by the men’s teams Friday.
Garcia was named to the media’s unofficial All-Big Ten preseason second team Wednesday. He was also selected to the 10-member official All-Big Ten preseason team Monday by the conference media.
Projected Big Ten standings
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Purdue (20)
2. Indiana (7)
