Editor's note: In college basketball, it's next season already. The 2019-20 season paused into oblivion, now rosters are building busily for 2020-21. Meet the Gophers men's and women's teams, new player after new player.
The sports world might be shut down, but the Gophers men's basketball roster has been changing rapidly.
Daniel Oturu and Marcus Carr, the team's best two players this past season, have declared for the NBA draft, though Carr is expected to return to the Gophers.
Another starter from last season, Payton Willis, announced he was transferring last week, but that same transfer market also landed coach Richard Pitino two key pieces — a 7-foot center from Drake and a 6-8 power forward from Western Michigan.
Add an incoming recruiting class with at least one player, Jamal Mashburn Jr., who could make an immediate impact, and the Gophers will have a decidedly different look, coming off a 15-16 finish.
Keep in mind, Pitino went through a similar roster overhaul last offseason, when three starters came aboard via transfer — Carr, Willis and Alihan Demir — and Amir Coffey declared early for the NBA draft.
How might the newest Gophers pieces fit together next season? Here's an early look:
Projected starters
Marcus Carr, G, 6-2 junior