Even after knocking the Gophers from the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament Thursday, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo claimed his counterpart, Ben Johnson, has the talent to win the Big Ten next season.
“They could be the No. 1 team in the league next year,” Izzo said after the 77-67 Spartans win.
That’s a bold prediction for the 18-14 Gophers, who finished ninth in the conference standings this season, but it’s not far-fetched to think they could become a Big Ten contender — if everyone comes back.
“I think it’s important to keep the group together, so we can keep building on it,” sophomore Pharrel Payne said. “Imagine what we could do if we keep the group together for next year.”
In a deflated locker room, with the team pointed toward a possible NIT bid Sunday night, players expressed enthusiasm over what they could accomplish next season by staying together. Making the 2025 NCAA tournament seems attainable, along with other goals.
“I feel like if you keep us together, we’re a top four team in the league,” sophomore Braeden Carrington said. “And we could possibly break into the top 25. We have a lot of potential here.”
Leading scorer Dawson Garcia said the second-round exit in the Big Ten tournament in front of the home crowd left a sour taste for him. Not enough to decide yet on coming back, though.
“I don’t know,” Garcia said Thursday. “You know I love this program. I love my coaches, teammates and everything. It’s going to be a tough decision. But I’m going to make it quick because I want to be fully committed to whatever I’m doing.”