The Gophers men’s basketball team posted a 10-win improvement last season, including nine victories in Big Ten Conference games and a postseason win on the way to the second round of the NIT.

When listing achievements from last season, head coach Ben Johnson also mentions true freshman guard Cam Christie, the first U player selected in the NBA draft since Daniel Oturu in 2020. The Los Angeles Lakers took Christie with the 46th overall pick, in the second round.

But Christie is gone and Johnson has to replace his production as the second-leading scorer on last year’s team. Christie and returning guard Mike Mitchell were the Gophers’ two best 3-point shooters a year ago. Both made 39 percent from beyond the arc.

Current true freshman Isaac Asuma of Cherry, Minn., should assume some of Christie’s workload as the season progresses. Asuma’s maturity can help him be an early contributor.

“There are a lot of similarities with IQ, feel, play the right way,” Johnsons said about Asuma and Christie in late August. Like Christie Asuma is “a development-type player that understands you have to put the work in.”

Johnson didn’t start Christie at the beginning of last season, but Christie soon became a regular, making 26 starts. With seven new transfer players, including a few veteran transfer guards, Asuma will perhaps start lower on the pecking order. He isn’t expected to stay there long.

“I think he’s going to have an extremely bright future,” Johnson said. “Really, really excited to get him now fully engrained in our program.”

At 6-foot-3, Asuma isn’t as tall as the 6-6 Christie, but he is thicker and stronger at 196 pounds. “Not built like a typical freshman, which will help,” Johnson said.

The Gophers also brought in Grayson Grove from Alexandria in their 2024 recruiting class. The 6-foot-9 and slighter 220-pound forward doesn’t have as clear a path to the court with a slew of veterans in front of him this winter.

Briefly

The Gophers will have two exhibition games at Williams Arena: Bemidji State on Oct. 19 and Hamline on Oct. 29. The U decided against having a closed scrimmage against another team this preseason, opting for their new players to get an early feel for The Barn.

Related Articles

Gophers AD Mark Coyle on expectations and reality for football, men’s basketball and wrestling teams

Gophers AD Mark Coyle discusses financial pinch, prospect of cutting sports, future of The Barn

With Pharrel Payne gone, Gophers men’s basketball looks to Frank Mitchell, others in post

Gophers men’s basketball boosts nonconference schedule in ESPN Events Invitational

Gophers basketball: Star Dawson Garcia suffers foot injury, but expected back for season