Cade Tyson is thriving in his first season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers after bouncing between programs earlier in his career.

A Fresh Start Paying Off in Minneapolis

Now in his third school in four seasons, the 6-foot-7 guard from Monroe, North Carolina looks fully settled.

Tyson is averaging 22.8 points per game, along with 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He is shooting an efficient 53.7 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from three, numbers that place him among the most efficient high-volume scorers in the country.

Immediate Impact From Day One

Minnesota fans did not have to wait long to see what Tyson could be. In his debut against Gardner-Webb on November 3, he scored 30 points in just 29 minutes. That opener set the tone for a season filled with big scoring nights.

Since then, Tyson has added 27 against Green Bay, 29 against Santa Clara over Thanksgiving, and has reached double figures in every one of Minnesota’s 12 games. No matter the opponent or venue, the scoring has been steady.

A Career Night to Remember

The best performance of Tyson’s season came on December 14 against Texas Southern. In an 89-53 blowout win, he poured in a season-high 38 points, shooting 11 of 19 from the field and knocking down eight of his 12 three-point attempts. He also went perfect at the free throw line, added 11 rebounds, and recorded his first double-double of the year.

It was the kind of performance that turns heads nationally and reinforces how important Tyson has become to Minnesota’s offense.

Early Big Ten Lessons

Minnesota split its first two games in Big Ten Conference play, beating Indiana at home before running into a tough road loss at Purdue. Tyson scored 17 in the win over the Hoosiers and followed with 15 in the loss to the Boilermakers, continuing his streak of consistent production even when the Gophers struggled as a team.

Those early games offered a glimpse of how heavily Minnesota will lean on Tyson once conference play ramps up.

Finding the Right Role After Moving On

Before arriving in Minneapolis, Tyson was a reliable starter at Belmont, starting 59 of 61 games while averaging 13.2 and 16.2 points per season. A move to North Carolina did not bring the opportunity he hoped for, as he played limited minutes and averaged just 2.6 points per game.

Choosing to leave Chapel Hill and join Niko Medved has proven to be the right decision. Medved has given Tyson the freedom to score, create, and lead, and the results have followed.

What Comes Next for Minnesota

The Gophers close nonconference play against Fairleigh Dickinson before diving back into Big Ten action. A road trip to Northwestern awaits, followed by a lengthy home stretch featuring Iowa, USC, and Wisconsin.

With Tyson playing at an All-Big Ten level, Minnesota is chasing its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019. That year ended with an upset win over Louisville before a loss to Michigan State. The program has not reached the Sweet 16 since its Final Four run in 1997, but with a scorer like Tyson leading the way, belief is building again in Minneapolis.