Cade Tyson is back with the Gophers men’s basketball team, at least for the moment, as Minnesota prepares for the 2026-27 season.
The program announced Tuesday that the 6-foot-7 wing has rejoined the squad, enrolled in classes and will practice with the team while his full playing status is sorted out. Tyson led the Gophers in scoring last season, and his return gives the roster a familiar face while the eligibility process plays out.
“We’re excited to have Cade rejoin our program,” head coach Niko Medved said in a statement. “We’re here to support him in any way we can through this process and are looking forward to having Cade around the facility and program.”
Tyson, a native of Monroe, N.C., is a member of the class of 2022 and has already played four collegiate seasons across four years. He has been part of a group of players working through the court system to gain a fifth year of eligibility.
Last season, Tyson averaged 19.6 points and 37 minutes per game, both team-high marks for Minnesota.
Roster math had looked like the main obstacle to a possible return, with the Gophers carrying 15 men’s basketball players, what had been believed to be the roster cap. But the university said the House vs. NCAA settlement creates a path for Designated Student-Athletes, or DSAs, who do not count against the cap, leaving room for Tyson on the roster.
Over his four seasons at Belmont, North Carolina and Minnesota, Tyson has scored 1,621 points, knocked down 213 3-pointers and collected 528 rebounds in 124 games.
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Cade Tyson's Gophers Return Comes With One Huge Catch
Cade Tyson is back around the Gophers as the legal fight over his college eligibility plays out, giving Minnesota a familiar face in the mix while the offseason keeps moving. His situation stems from the NCAAs new five-year eligibility model, which changed the old redshirt structure and limited most waiver paths for players trying to squeeze out a final season.
Tyson and other athletes from the 2022 recruiting class sued the NCAA to argue for a fifth year under the new system, and they initially won a preliminary injunction. The NCAA appealed, though, and the injunction was temporarily stayed, which leaves Tyson ineligible for now even as he has rejoined the team while the process continues. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Have A Huge Cade Tyson Question Hanging Over This Season
Cade Tyson is back around Minnesota mens basketball, and for a program trying to reset under Niko Medved, that matters. The University of Minnesota announced Tyson has rejoined the Gophers for the 2026-27 season, has enrolled in classes and is already practicing with the team while his eligibility status gets sorted out.
Tyson was Minnesotas leading scorer last year, so his presence adds both familiarity and a real on-court boost to a roster still taking shape. Medved has voiced support for Tyson through the process, but the important part for the Gophers is still unresolved, and it leaves a major question hanging over the season as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Offseason Suddenly Hinges On One Massive Cade Tyson Decision
The offseason picture for Minnesota basketball changed quickly with Cade Tyson back in the fold, at least for now. The University of Minnesota announced that the teams leading scorer from last season has rejoined the program for the 2026-27 campaign pending eligibility, and he has already enrolled in classes and begun practicing with the Gophers while the staff waits for confirmation under the NCAAs new five-year eligibility rules.
For a program trying to build around proven production, Tysons return carries obvious weight because he also led Minnesota in rebounds and assists during the 2025-26 season. The only real question left is whether the eligibility process clears in time to make his comeback official, turning what looked like a straightforward offseason into one of the most important unresolved items on the Gophers board. [Read more 🡒]