Cade Tyson earned second team All-Missouri Valley honors two years ago and served as UNC’s ninth man last season. His role with the Gophers is expected to be somewhere in between these two positions.
During his freshman year, Tyson was named Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year, averaging nearly 14 points per game while shooting nearly 42% from three-point range. In his sophomore season, he improved to over 16 points per game with a shooting percentage of 46.5% from beyond the arc, earning second-team accolades from the Missouri Valley. Last year, however, he struggled, making slightly over 29% of his three-point attempts while coming off the bench at UNC. After visiting Minnesota at the end of April, he committed shortly after and was announced as a Gopher ten days ago.
Statistically Speaking
The Good
Tyson has successfully converted 142 of his 335 three-point attempts, yielding a career shooting percentage of 42.4%. According to analyst Isaac Trotter of 247 Sports, he boasts a 57% accuracy on open catch-and-shoot three-pointers (69 out of 122), which aligns well with Niko Medved’s offensive strategy, known for generating quality catch-and-shoot opportunities. Over his career, Tyson has played in 92 games, starting 59 and logging more than 2,000 minutes. Although primarily recognized as a three-point shooter, 54% of his shot attempts have come from inside the arc, where he has finished 53.4% of those attempts, including 15 of 24 shots at UNC. Furthermore, he’s an impressive 83.2% from the free-throw line, a reassuring statistic for all Gopher supporters. Additionally, he averaged six rebounds per game during his sophomore year at Belmont and five in his freshman year.
The Not So Good
While Tyson has generally excelled in scoring and rebounding, he has recorded 80 career assists compared to 86 turnovers, a ratio that ideally should be reversed. His performance at UNC was particularly disappointing; he shot just 14 of 48 from beyond the three-point line, with five of those made in a single game. He had a 40% field goal percentage last season, nine points lower than his career average, as he played only 245 minutes. These underwhelming statistics led him to seek a new opportunity.
Focus on 25-26
Tyson’s situation at UNC didn’t provide optimal conditions for a catch-and-shoot forward, characterized by limited ball movement, which can hinder a shooter’s consistency. However, with Medved’s offensive approach, there should be more reliable shooting opportunities for Tyson. While it remains to be seen if this strategy will translate successfully in the Big Ten, Medved has a track record of success across various collegiate levels. Expectations for Tyson to thrive might be high after his stint at North Carolina, but a return to form is certainly anticipated.
Moreover, Tyson has impressed as a defender, rebounder, and finisher at the rim, which could position him well for a starting role. Even if he doesn’t secure a spot over Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, it’s likely we’ll see Tyson contributing significantly in various line-ups due to his versatility.
The Stat Line
Predicting Tyson’s performance will be challenging. I foresee him averaging around 17 to 23 minutes per game. If he can regain his confidence, I expect his three-point shooting percentage to improve, potentially returning to the 40% mark. A realistic projection would be about 7-8 points and four rebounds per game, though this could elevate if Tyson finds his groove.
