Minnesota’s coach says Gophers optimistic after bleak year

By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The numbers that sum up this season for Minnesota are awfully bleak. The Gophers have 17 losses in Big Ten play. Their average scoring margin is fourth-worst among major conference teams. Their free-throw shooting percentage ranks 352nd, dead last in the country. They lost their top recruit in the 2023 class two weeks ago. Second-year coach Ben Johnson still has found legitimate reasons to remain upbeat. That starts with the four freshmen who have all averaged at least 20 minutes per game. Pharrel Payne, Joshua Ola-Joseph, Braeden Carrington and Jaden Henley are all expected to return next season.