Cade Tyson has wasted no time making his presence felt in Minneapolis - and if his last outing is any indication, the Golden Gophers have a go-to star to lean on as the season heats up.
Minnesota (6-5) is set to host Campbell (5-6) on Sunday, looking to build on the momentum from last weekend’s win over Texas Southern. And the spotlight, once again, will be on Tyson, who’s been nothing short of electric since arriving on campus.
In that win over Texas Southern, Tyson went off - 38 points in 37 minutes, shooting 11-of-19 from the field and a blistering 8-of-12 from three-point range. That kind of efficiency paired with volume? That’s not just good shooting - that’s elite shot-making.
But it’s not just the scoring that’s turned heads. Head coach Niko Medved has been vocal about Tyson’s impact across the board. The sophomore is averaging 22.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game heading into Sunday’s matchup, and according to Medved, it's the little things that set him apart.
“He’s just awesome,” Medved said. “His mindset has been terrific every day.
It’s not just the scoring - it’s him battling on the glass, bloodied lip. He just always plays the right way.”
That type of gritty, do-it-all mentality is exactly what Minnesota needs as it looks to establish consistency. And it’s not just Tyson doing the heavy lifting. The Gophers’ offense showed real cohesion in their last game, racking up 27 assists on 28 made baskets - a stat that speaks volumes about the team’s unselfishness and ball movement.
That kind of efficiency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s part of a culture Medved has been working to build.
“(Give up a) good shot for a great shot,” Medved said. “Guys are sharing the ball, helping each other get great shots. It’s great to see that come into play.”
That mindset will be tested against a Campbell team that’s looking to bounce back after a tough 98-70 loss to No. 7 Gonzaga. The Fighting Camels had won back-to-back games against Ball State and Virginia-Lynchburg before running into a buzzsaw in Spokane.
Despite the lopsided loss, Campbell has weapons. Guard D.J.
Smith is the team’s top scorer at 19.4 points per game, and forward Dovydas Butka has been a steady presence inside, averaging 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. That inside-out combo gives Campbell a foundation to compete, even on the road.
Head coach John Andrzejek believes the recent road stretch - including the Gonzaga matchup - will pay dividends for his group.
“I think we’ve really been coming together as a team,” Andrzejek said. “I like the direction we’re going. I think our attitude’s been getting better and better.”
So, Sunday’s matchup brings two teams with different recent experiences but similar goals: to build chemistry, find rhythm, and stack wins. For Minnesota, it’s a chance to keep feeding the hot hand in Tyson while continuing to grow as a unit. For Campbell, it’s about rebounding from adversity and proving they can hang with quality competition.
Tip-off in Minneapolis should offer another look at just how far these teams have come - and where they might be headed next.