The Gophers men’s basketball team has lost seven straight games, and 10th-ranked Michigan State is up next on Wednesday night at Williams Arena.

But this ongoing skid is not as bleak as it might appear.

While head coach Niko Medved bristles at opportunities to take moral victories, one fact is important to lean on in these lean times: The majority of Minnesota’s roster will have eligibility remaining for at least next season. They can learn from this rough patch and apply it in the future, potentially to the benefit of the U in 2026-27.

While leading scorer Cade Tyson and guard Langston Reynolds are seniors, the three other starters can return next season: junior Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, sophomore Isaac Asuma and junior Bobby Durkin.

Two starters during nonconference play, point guard Chansey Willis and center Robert Vaihola, were seniors, but due to season-ending injuries, they are candidates for medical redshirts and could return for 2026-27. The same would go for B.J. Omot and Chance Stephens, who have not played at all this season.

Medved, in his first season at the U, said he’s constantly looking ahead to the future. “Your focus is on this year, but you are always thinking about your program,” he told the Pioneer Press last week. “What is next? How do we build on this?

“For us, too, being in Year 1, you are also trying to set a foundation. You are thinking about what can we build on going into next spring and summer. We spend a lot of time thinking about that and what it might look like.”

Every Gophers player is currently signed to one-year revenue sharing contracts, the Pioneer Press learned, so all of the key players would require a re-signing for them to return to Minnesota for next season.

The two biggest pieces would be Crocker-Johnson, who had followed Medved to Colorado State last year and Minnesota again this year. Asuma stayed loyal to the U through the coaching change from Ben Johnson last March.

Durikin, a transfer from Davidson, has adjusted to the Big Ten level and is averaging 17.3 points per game in his last three. That’s up from 9.3 on the season.

“Those thoughts go through your mind,” Durkin said about next year. “But I just try to stay locked in on the present moment and what I have to do (Tuesday) at practice and the best way I can be prepared for Michigan State.”

Through injuries, the Gophers have had to rely on two freshmen in their seven-man rotation. Both big Grayson Grove and guard Kai Shinholster have shown signs of development. That bodes well for larger roles next season.

Next year’s mix will also include three incoming freshman: Wayzata wing Nolen Anderson, East Ridge point guard Ced Tomes and Irvine, Calif., center Carrack Mpoyi. While Medved and staff went out and signed three high school recruits, it’s important to know the existing cupboard will not be bare — unlike last year.

Under Johnson a year ago, five of the top six players were seniors. The lion’s share of the offense went through Dawson Garcia, and their 15-17 overall record, 7-13 in Big Ten play, didn’t give signs for a brighter tomorrow.

This year’s situation has a different vibe.

Briefly

Tyson reported soreness in his ankle after playing 27 minutes in the 77-75 loss to Penn State on Sunday, but it doesn’t appear it will be an issue that will keep him from playing against the Spartans, Medved said. Tyson, who scored 17 on Sunday, missed one game, the 67-63 loss at Wisconsin last Wednesday.

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Country star Tim McGraw will take his show outdoors, with the help of some friends, when he headlines Target Field Aug. 23.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster. Citi cardholders have access to a presale that runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday.

McGraw, who’ll be 59 when he gets to the Twins ballpark, first hit No. 1 with 1994’s “Don’t Take the Girl” and has landed back in that spot more than two dozen more times over the years, with smashes like “I Like It, I Love It,” “Unbroken,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” “Last Dollar (Fly Away),” “Felt Good on My Lips,” “Shotgun Rider” and “Humble and Kind.”

In his more than three decades-long career, the Louisiana native has been a frequent visitor to the Twin Cities. He’s headlined the former Xcel Energy Center, Target Center and Minnesota State Fair Grandstand numerous times and played multiple shows with his wife Faith Hill. Most recently, McGraw drew a capacity crowd to the X in 2024.

McGraw released his 16th album, “Standing Room Only,” in 2023 and the title cut gave him yet another hit.

At the time, he said he had worked on the record for three years and that it had “some of the most emotional, thought-provoking and life-affirming music I’ve ever recorded.”

Opening acts

Emily Robison, left, Natalie Maines, and Martie Maguire of The Chicks perform on the second weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

At Target Field, McGraw will be joined by veteran acts the Chicks and Lady A as well as 49 Winchester and Timothy Wayne.

The Chicks are likely to help McGraw move some tickets. The trio formerly known as the Dixie Chicks have only toured sporadically over the past two decades, but sold out the Grandstand the three times they’ve played there.

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Children’s Minnesota hospital says it will pause some gender health services for minors following federal actions on health care.

The hospital network said in a statement Tuesday that there has been an increase of federal actions “directed at pediatric health systems” such as Children’s, which provides gender-specific care through its Gender Health Care Program.

Among the recent federal actions was a U.S. Health and Human Services declaration in December that called treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries unsafe and ineffective for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria. The declaration also warned doctors that they could be excluded from federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid if they provide those types of care.

A coalition of states including Minnesota has sued Health and Human Services over the declaration.

Children’s said it will pause prescribing puberty-suppressing medications and hormones to patients under 18 beginning Feb. 27.

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Still, the hospital said its Gender Health Program will not fully close: Mental health, supportive care, medical treatment and non-medical treatment services will continue to be provided to patients and their families.

“Children’s Minnesota remains committed to advocating for the dignity and well-being of the patients and families who trust us with their care,” Children’s stated. “We have contacted our patient families directly to help them navigate any impacts to their care.”

The statement continued that the decision was not one the hospital wanted to make but instead one that had to be made to protect the hospital and its providers. “We stand firmly behind the fact that gender affirming care is evidence-based, safe and lifesaving for transgender and gender diverse youth,” Children’s stated.