Minnesota’s Second Year Under Niko Medved

Niko Medved is in his second season at Minnesota. The Gophers were not a top-75 offense last year. Cade Tyson led them in scoring and has rejoined the program, though his eligibility is still pending. Medved also added a point guard he coached at Colorado State and a wing who played regular minutes at Villanova.

Cade Tyson

Tyson averaged 19.6 points per game last season after previous stops at Belmont and North Carolina. He rejoined Minnesota in September and is practicing with the team. He remains ineligible while the Tenth Circuit hears his case in Wisne v. NCAA. The next hearing is October 13. Minnesota’s first exhibition is October 15 against Omaha.

If he is cleared, Minnesota gets its leading scorer back. If he is not, the Gophers will play without the player who carried the offense last year.

Kyan Evans

Evans started all 36 games for Medved at Colorado State in 2024-25. He averaged 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He shot 47.1% from the field, 44.6% from three, and 85.2% from the line. That Colorado State team finished 40th in KenPom offense and 52nd in KenPom defense.

He transferred to North Carolina last season and averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 assists in 33 games. His three-point percentage dropped to 30.5%. He is now back with Medved. Minnesota needs a point guard who can run an offense, and Evans has already done that under this coach on a top-40 KenPom team.

Malachi Palmer

Palmer transferred from Villanova, where he played 18.3 minutes per game across 33 games and started four. He averaged 4.6 points and 1.7 rebounds, shooting 46.6% from the field and 35.9% from three. At 6-6, he provides size on the wing and has experience against Big East competition.

Other transfers include Malick Kordel from Michigan and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson from Colorado State. Crocker-Johnson also played for Medved previously.

Outlook

Minnesota’s offense needs to improve from last season. Tyson gives them a proven scorer if he is eligible. Evans gives them a point guard who produced under Medved on a Colorado State team that ranked 40th in KenPom offense and 52nd in KenPom defense. Palmer gives them a wing who can contribute minutes right away. The exhibitions will show how the pieces fit before the Big Ten schedule begins.