2023 College Basketball Preview: Minnesota Golden Gophers

The college basketball season is less than three weeks away, and here at FTN Bets we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player, and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team. 

Let’s continue our preview with the Big Ten. Always competitive each season, the Big Ten has developed a reputation for early-round flameouts in the NCAA Tournament. Only Michigan State advanced past the second round last season, and No. 1 Purdue’s opening round loss to 16-seeded FDU is the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history. With both Purdue and Michigan State opening the season ranked inside the AP top four teams, the conference again has Final Four contenders. Just eight years ago the Big Ten put two teams in the Final Four (Wisconsin, Michigan State), and 24 seasons since a Big Ten team was crowned overall champion (Michigan State, 2000). 

Let’s continue with our betting preview for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

2023-2024 Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Preview

Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Ben Johnson (3rd season)
2022-2023 Record: 9-22 (2-17)
ATS: 13-16-2
O/U: 14-17
Projected Starters: G Elijah Hawkins; G Mike Mitchell Jr.; G Braeden Carrington; F Dawson Garcia; F Pharrel Payne

Ben Johnson enters his third season at Minnesota in need of improvement. The Golden Gophers have gone just 6-33 within Big Ten play and are projected last again in this year’s preseason poll. Minnesota does return 48.3% of their minutes from last season and hope a brand-new backcourt can jumpstart their offense. Howard transfer Elijah Hawkins and former Pepperdine product Mike Mitchell Jr. bring over 24 PPG and 11 APG to the Gophers attack, and hopefully improve Minnesota’s nation-worst 61.9% from the free-throw line. 

Key Player: Dawson Garcia 

Garcia was the best player on a bad Minnesota team last season. He averaged 15.3 PPG and 6.3 APG but is not a dominant presence on the floor. At 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, Garcia could blossom into a first-team All-Big Ten player, which is what the Golden Gophers desperately need. There were certainly moments for Garcia last season. He posted 28 points and 9 rebounds in a road win at Ohio State, and 18 points with 13 rebounds in their Big Ten Tournament win over Nebraska. This team needs more of those … many more of those to stay competitive. 

Projection: This team is projected last in the Big Ten by the media, and I agree. Johnson was thrilled to return to his alma mater but hasn’t produced. The Golden Gophers had relevance with Richard Pitino, and now need to take a step forward in Johnson’s third season. Matching their six combined conference wins from the previous two seasons would actually be a great season. 

How I’m Betting Minnesota: The Golden Gophers were 3-7 ATS in the nonconference, failing to cover by an average of 4.4 points per game. On the surface, Johnson has structured a fairly easy schedule to start the season, but I will still be looking to fade Minnesota with a brand-new backcourt. If Garcia or fellow big man Pharrel Payne catch early foul trouble in any game, the Gophers are a prime fade spot for live betting.