Minnesota’s season is still a little ways off, but the pressure points are already pretty easy to spot.
With the Gophers less than 100 days from opening night, three players stand out as the ones who will feel the most heat heading into the 2026-27 season: Kyan Evans, Isaac Asuma and Bobby Durkin. Each one brings a different kind of expectation, and each one has a different reason why the margin for error is thin.
Evans is the clearest case. Minnesota brought him in to run the point, and that move effectively meant Chansey Willis Jr was not brought back. Niko Medved and his staff chose Evans and handed him the offense, so the opportunity is there for him to deliver right away.
That opportunity comes with baggage, though. Evans already showed what he could do for Medved at Colorado State, helping push the Rams to the second round of the NCAA Tournament - a run the piece argues should have gone even further.
He was expected to follow Medved to Minnesota for 2025-26 before North Carolina entered with the kind of money he couldn’t turn down. A year later, he’s back in Medved’s system, and that familiarity matters.
Still, what worked in the Mountain West won’t automatically translate to the Big Ten. Evans is the one steering the offense now, and Minnesota needs him to be steady.
Not flashy. Not a one-man show.
Just consistent and solid for a veteran group that has to take a step forward.
Asuma carries a different kind of pressure. Being a home-state player comes with the usual perks - family nearby, familiarity with the area, pride in wearing Minnesota across your chest - but it also comes with a bigger spotlight and higher expectations.
He’s already shown plenty. Asuma was one of the team’s top defenders, averaged 11 points, four rebounds and four assists a game, and ranked top 15 in the league in assists.
He fit the kind of player Medved wants on the floor. But his shooting drew plenty of attention, especially after he hit 30.4 percent from three after making 35.7 percent as a freshman, a difference of eight made threes last season.
Now a junior, Asuma is expected to lead more and do it more consistently. The pressure is real, even if he looks built to handle it.
Durkin rounds out the group because his role is the most vulnerable if the shooting goes sideways. JCJ was considered for this spot, but he’s going to play, and the team doesn’t need him to carry the kind of scoring load Cade Tyson had. Durkin, on the other hand, has competition waiting behind him if he hits a rough patch.
Winters Grady, Nolen Anderson, Nolan Groves, Malachi Palmer and Kai Shinholster are all options who could step in if Durkin’s shot isn’t falling. That matters because Durkin’s value is tied closely to his perimeter production. He’s a smart team defender, moves the ball well and fits the Medved system, but if the jumper isn’t there, Minnesota has other players who can defend and keep the offense moving.
The numbers show why the Gophers will keep trusting him if the shot holds. Durkin made 50 percent from three over the final 13 games of last season and finished the year at 39.2 percent from deep as a junior.
If he stays anywhere near that level, he’ll be on the floor plenty. If not, the minutes could start to shrink fast.
In Other News...
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Other league schools have already announced patch deals, and the NCAAs recent approval of additional commercial patches on uniforms has only widened the lane for programs looking to capitalize. Minnesota is talking with current sponsors and other targeted companies, but the specifics remain under wraps for now, including how the Gophers might structure the arrangement or what kind of value they expect to land. [Read more 🡒]
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What makes Santos especially intriguing is how his style could open up lineup options right away. His aggressive approach and versatility give Minnesota a forward who can be used in more than one spot, and his off-ball instincts fit the kind of offense that rewards cutting, extra passes and movement shooting. For a staff trying to build a new identity quickly, that sort of fit can matter as much as raw talent. [Read more 🡒]