The Gophers men’s basketball team will look to prove doubters wrong for a second straight season.

Minnesota has been predicted to finish last in the expanded 18-team Big Ten Conference, according to the media poll published Wednesday. With the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington, the Gophers received only 62 votes, which is 25 votes fewer than the next closest team, Penn State.

A year ago, the U was projected to finish last, which then was 14th, but ended up ninth in the standings, with a record of 19-15 overall and 9-11 in conference play. Minnesota missed the NCAA tournament but advanced to the second round of the NIT.

The Gophers lost three starters from last year’s team — center Pharrel Payne, shooting guard Cam Christie and point guard Elijah Hawkins — but return forward Dawson Garcia and guard Mike Mitchell Jr.

Garcia was one of 10 players named to the preseason all-Big Ten team on Tuesday. At 17.6 points per game, he is the conference’s top returning scorer. The senior from Savage, Minn., was on this preseason list a season ago, too.

Minnesota added nine new players for this year, including seven transfers. Six are seniors: Lu’Cye Patterson (Charlotte), Tyler Cochran (Toledo), Brennan Rigsby (Oregon) Fame Odukale (New Mexico State) and Caleb Willams (Macalester), and forward Trey Edmonds (Texas-San Antonio). One is a junior: Frank Mitchel (Canisius).

The Big Ten poll, which is conducted by The Columbus Dispatch and The Indianapolis Star, included 33 media members.

Low expectations

Projected Big Ten standings, with total votes (first-places votes):

1. Purdue, 572 (20)
2. Indiana, 549 (7)
3. UCLA, 510 (2)
4. Illinois, 458 (2)
5. Michigan State, 448 (1)
6. Oregon, 412
7. Rutgers, 391
8. Ohio State, 369 (1)
9. Michigan, 342
10. Maryland, 263
11. Iowa, 249
12t. Wisconsin, 212
12t. Nebraska, 212
14. USC, 196
15. Washington, 158
16. Northwestern, 153
17. Penn State, 87
18. Minnesota, 62

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