Who Are The 3 Key Players For 2015-2016 Minnesota Basketball To Improve Next Year?

The Minnesota Golden Gophers had their fair share of ups and downs last season, and the team disappointed during Big Ten play by going 6-12. The team also had plenty of talented players on their roster last season like Andre Hollins and Maurice Walker, but the team could not win the big games. Going into next season, the Golden Gophers are going to need these three players to step up if they want to make some noise in the Big Ten.

Here are three key players who can allow Minnesota to improve in 2015-16.

Nate Mason

Mason had an impressive freshmen stint in Minneapolis last season where he started most games and contributed right away as a floor general. He averaged 9.8 PPG and 2.8 PPG, and he shot 38.9 percent from deep. Mason really did impress during his first season as a Golden Gopher, but he still has plenty of room for improvement. He will need to become a better facilitator and improving his scoring with the team's offseason losses.

Mason will also need to be a leader for this team next season, especially since the team will be welcoming a lot of new players, which is why Mason's play and leadership is very vital.

Carlos Morris

Morris was a pleasant surprise for the Golden Gophers last season after transferring from junior college, He can score in a variety of ways and he can shoot it from deep. He is a two-guard,and he has great size for the position and speed which allows him to blow by defenders or simply shoot over smaller guards. Morris should be able to pick up right were he left off and likely become the go-to guy for Minnesota next season because of his ability to get to rim.

Morris can attack the rim at will, but he will need shot more consistently from deep if he really wants to help Minnesota make a push in the Big Ten.

Kevin Dorsey

Dorsey is a player that you might not know much about because he is an incoming freshmen, and most of the focus for Minnesota this offseason has been on incoming freshman Jarvis Johnson, who is not medically cleared to play next season. Dorsey will try an fill in for Johnson who had high expectations. Dorsey is also a 4-star recruit who is primarily known for his great defense and speed. He can score the basketball, but he is a pass-first guard who likes to create for others. If he is going to score the basketball he will score with his mid-range jumpers and speed.

Maybe it is a good thing that Dorsey is a defensive-minded guard since guards like Morris and Mason are going to want to get their shots up. Dorsey should impact the Golden Gophers right away next season.

Overall

Yes, the three key players for Minnesota next season are all guards, but if these three guards do not play at a high level, then the team will have little chance of making the NCAA tournament or making a push in the Big Ten.