BTN.com staff, January 15, 2016
Who gets your vote for the best players in Minnesota basketball history? We came up with a list of 12 former Gopher greats, and now it?s your job to rank them!
Also, tune into BTN Saturday to watch the Gophers take on Indiana at 12:30 p.m. ET. Watch on BTN2Go.
Read each player?s bio below, then scroll down and rank them, 1-12 via our SurveyMonkey poll. The results of this fan survey will be announced on TV?s ?BTN Live? in February.
You can only submit your list once, so make sure you get it right. We?re rolling out a survey per school throughout the coming weeks.
Randy Breuer 1979-83: One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 45 in 2015). Two-time First-team All-Big Ten (1982-83). School?s second all-time leading shot blocker (229) and third all-time leading scorer (1,777 points). Member of one of three Sweet 16 teams in school history as well as the last Big Ten Regular Season Championship team not vacated (1982).
Jim Brewer 1970-73: 1972 Big Ten Player of the Year. One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 52 in 1973). 1973 first-team All-Big Ten. Minnesota?s first three-time Team MVP (1971-73). 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist while at Minnesota. School?s third all-time leading rebounder (907) and leader in rebounds per game (12.1).
Willie Burton 1986-90: 1990 first-team All-Big Ten. Minnesota?s third three-time Team MVP (1988-90). School?s second all-time leading scorer (1,800 points). School?s second all-time leader in NCAA Tournament scoring (99) and rebounding (55). Member of school?s only Elite Eight team not vacated (1990) and two of the three Sweet 16?s (1989-90).
Dick Garmaker 1953-55: One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 53 in 2011). One of three consensus All-Americans in school history (1955). Two-time first-Team All-Big Ten (1954-55). Reached the 1,000 point mark in 44 career games, the fastest in Gophers history. School-record holder with 22.9 ppg career scoring average.
Lou Hudson 1964-66: One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 14 in 1966). Reached the 1,000 point mark in 65 career games (only Dick Garmaker did it faster). 1965 first-team All-Big Ten.
Bobby Jackson 1995-97: 1997 Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year (later revoked due to academic fraud scandal). Member of 1997 Big Ten Regular Season Champions and Final Four team (vacated).
Sam Jacobson 1994-98: Fourth leading scorer in school history (1,709 pts). Member of 1997 Final Four team (vacated). Also helped lead Minnesota to the NIT Title as a senior. Led Gophers in scoring all four seasons at Minnesota.
Voshon Lenard 1991-95: Minnesota?s fourth three-time Team MVP (1993-95). Two-time All-Big Ten Second Team selection. One of eight players in school history to record 1,000-plus points and 100-plus 3-pointers.
Kevin McHale 1976-80: One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 40 in 1980). 1980 first-team All-Big Ten. Minnesota?s fifth two-time Team MVP (1979-80). 1979 World University Games Gold Medalist while at Minnesota. School?s all-time leader in blocked shots (235), second all-time leading rebounder (950) and fifth all-time leading scorer (1,704 points).
Chuck Mencel 1952-55: 1955 Big Ten Player of the Year. One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 30 in 2011). First-team All-American in 1955; Two-time First-Team All-Big Ten (1953, 1955).
Mychal Thompson 1974-78: 1978 Big Ten Player of the Year. One of three consensus All-Americans in school history (1978). One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 43 in 1978). First three-time first-team All-Big Ten honoree in Gophers history (1976-78). Minnesota?s second three-time Team MVP (1976-78). School?s all-time leading scorer (1,992 points) and second leading rebounder (956).
Trent Tucker 1979-82: One of nine retired numbers in Gophers? history (No. 332 in 2009). Eighth all-time leading scorer (1,445 points) and fifth all-time leader in steals (164). First team All-American selection in 1982.