Gophers Basketball Faces Challenges with Key Players Out

The Gophers men’s basketball team is grappling with a significant lack of depth as injuries and medical issues continue to plague the roster. Starting point guard Chansey Willis Jr. has been ruled out for the season due to a foot injury. Additionally, head coach Niko Medved announced that starting center Robert Vaihola and backup wing B.J. Omot will remain sidelined, while reserve wing Chance Stephens is also away from the team, compounding the team’s struggles.

The Gophers currently hold a record of 5-5 and have yet to welcome any reinforcements. Omot, who is dealing with a leg issue, and Stephens, who has a medical condition, have not participated in any games this season. Vaihola, a transfer from San Jose State, has missed five consecutive games after aggravating a knee injury during a 66-54 victory against Chicago State on November 18.

Medved expressed cautious optimism about the potential return of both Vaihola and Omot, stating, “I’m hopeful there is a chance that both of them are back at some point this season. That is kind of the plan and what we would like, but at this point there is no real timeline.” In contrast, Stephens is facing a longer absence. Medved noted, “Right now from his issues that he has had medically, he’s not somebody that is going to be able to play. For him right now, he is away from the team and just focusing on trying to get his health right. It’s nothing that is a life-threatening thing or anything like that.”

In their recent matchup against Purdue, the Gophers played only eight players during a 73-64 upset victory against No. 22 Indiana on December 3 and fielded only seven players for more than ten minutes against the Boilermakers. The limited roster has forced inexperienced players into significant roles, including redshirt freshman forward Grayson Grove and true freshman wing Kai Shinholster.

The current starting lineup, featuring Isaac Asuma, Langstron Reynolds, Cade Tyson, Bobby Durkin, and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, has been logging over 30 minutes each in their two Big Ten games thus far. This heavy workload may take a toll as the season progresses.

Looking ahead, the Gophers have three non-conference home games scheduled to conclude December. They will face Texas Southern at noon on December 17, Campbell on December 21, and Fairleigh Dickinson on December 29. Following that, they will embark on an 18-game stretch of Big Ten play, starting with a road trip to Northwestern on January 3.

As the Gophers navigate these challenges, their ability to adapt and overcome will be crucial to their performance in the upcoming games. The continued absence of key players places additional pressure on the remaining roster, making every game a test of resilience.