Major contributions from Gophers men’s basketball transfers fuel two recent wins

A key difference between the Gophers’ 0-6 start to Big Ten play and its 2-0 resurgence, then, is how new transfers have stepped up.

In the 84-81 home, they upset the then no. 20 Michigan on January 16, Ly’cye Patterson provided a scoring surge with a season-high 22 points. Then, in Tuesday’s 72-67 win at Iowa, Femi Odukale provided a shakeup with a season-high 18 points and team-high eight rebounds, while Frank Mitchell contributed eight points—including two clutch free throws—and six rebounds.

During the brutal start to conference play, these types of performances were few and far between, and the losses piled up.

With some of their new seven now making a difference, Minnesota produced its first ranked win in head coach Ben Johnson’s three-plus seasons, and U Won in Iowa City for the first time since 2015.

The Gophers (10-9, 2-6 Big Ten) will again need more of their newer role players to pull off another upset against 15th-ranked Oregon (16-3, 5-3) at 15.00 Saturday at the barn. The Ducks are 4-0 on the road in conference play.

“That’s a big part of it,” Johnson said of the transfers’ impact on the recent wins. “Getting them caught up in exactly what we’re doing at a high level with confidence, I think, is the biggest factor.”

Johnson values ​​Odukale’s versatility and Mitchell’s physicality, but Odukale can be erratic and Mitchell a defensive liability. Mitchell especially struggled to implement pick-and-roll coverages in the first half, but that has changed.

“He’s really picked it up,” Johnson said. “Some, if it is, there is less thinking now. The more reps you get under your belt. I had to remind myself that the guy has only been playing basketball since the pandemic so we throw so much at him. “

Mitchell’s contribution against the Hawkeyes was refreshing because the Canisius transfer had been taken out of the starting lineup nine games ago in favor of veteran Parker Fox.

“So much of this is a confidence factor to play in this league and play college basketball,” Fox said. “If you don’t have that confidence, you’re already screwed. I think for (Mitchell) comes in and puffs his chest out, keeps his head up and is able to do what he can do. “

Johnson said Mitchell plays with more freedom, and it shows in him rebounding at a higher rate and getting instinctive tip-ins on the offensive end.

“It comes down to the coaches: They believe in me every day,” Mitchell said. “Some days I come into the gym and I’m not working as hard as I should be, but all credit to the coaches and the team for continuing to believe in me, continue to encourage me and tell me who I am.”

Fellow U transfer Big Man Trey Edmonds from Texas-San Antonio hasn’t risen above being a bit player, and Minnesota could certainly use more from the 6-foot-10 post against Oregon 7-Footer Nathan Bittle, who averages team heights of 13.6 Points and 7.7 rebounds per Match goes into Saturday.

Short

Transfer guard Tyler Cochran did conditioning drills before Friday’s practice but still hasn’t joined a full practice. The Toledo addition was expected to return from foot surgery in the preseason, but as of Friday, Johnson had no revised timeline on Cochran. … The Ducks are 23rd in the net rankings, while Minnesota’s Spurt has them up from 137 to 104. … After Oregon and the no. 8 Michigan State, which is 7-0 in Big Ten play, Tuesday, U has only two ranked opponents in the second half of its conference slate.