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Gophers men looking to mix freshmen with veterans in nonconference play

andy greder, pioneer press
·3 min read

Over the opening three games of the Gophers men’s basketball season, head coach Ben Johnson has had a question pinging around in his head: “How many freshmen are on the floor at the same time?”

Johnson said answers are often kicked around the night before a game, usually when he’s going over the subbing pattern. Come 8 p.m. Thursday, the Gophers (2-1) will play Central Michigan (1-1) at Williams Arena.

Without Jamison Battle, there are fewer veteran options to work with and with Braeden Carrington coming back, one more youthful option in the mix. Johnson feels a primary need is to have either point guard Ta’Lon Cooper or forward Dawson Garcia on the floor at all times. Even if they are surrounded by a majority of underclassmen.

“Being forced to do that, I think, will help all these guys and will help our team, especially later on in the year,” Johnson said Wednesday. Jaden Henley has started all three games and leads all freshmen at 26 minutes per game. Pharrell Payne is playing 22 minutes a game, and Josh Ola-Jospeh is getting 19.

Last year, the Gophers started 10-1 with a collection of older, more experienced players, primarily transfers. “We could get better, but the better was different last year,” Johnson said. “It was more like, ‘Can we be more disciplined and can we get better from a strategic, game-planning standpoint?’ ”

Johnson said this year’s team might be up and down early, but later on in the season, “we are going to get better because of talent and experience and there is more growth.”

An initial low point was Monday’s 69-53 loss to DePaul, with Minnesota struggling to rebound; they allowed the Blue Demons to gather 20 offensive boards. Central Michigan is not as big or as experienced as DePaul but Johnson has emphasized defensive rebounding positioning in practice since Monday’s loss.

Battle out

The Big Ten Network broadcast Monday pegged a potential return for Jamison Battle (foot) to post-Thanksgiving. The only word on that from the Gophers is that last year’s leading scorer is out week-to-week and will remain sidelined on Thursday.

“I don’t know on a timetable with that,” Johnson said Monday. “I just know he has been able to do more each day and I really do think he’s in a really good spot as far as the rehab part goes. I do think it could be hopefully sooner rather than later, and he’s working his butt off to get back.”

The Gophers will play in the SoCal Challenge against California Baptist in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., next Monday and the Southern Illinois/UNLV winner next Wednesday.

After Thanksgiving, they will travel to Virginia Tech for an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game on Nov. 28.

Briefly

Central Michigan is ranked 304th out of 363 Division I teams in KenPom rankings. CMU has beaten Eastern Illinois 76-60 and lost 97-73 to Marquette. .. Incoming Gophers center Dennis Evans has been named to the Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year watch list for his senior season at Hillcrest High School in Riverside, Calif. The 7-foot-1, four-star recruit will join the U in June. … Cooper is third in the Big Ten with with 7.3 rebounds per game. … In a small sample size, the Gophers are shooting just 54 percent from the free-throw line. Cooper is at 38 percent (5 for 13). … Johnson acknowledged he threw Carrington into the deep end of the pool, making his collegiate debut against a Big East opponent in DePaul. Scoreless in 15 minutes Monday, Mr. Basketball Minnesota should contribute more offensively in the near future.

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