Ben Johnson’s backcourt just got deeper for the 2024-25 season with the addition of Tyler Cochran, an All-MAC Second Team player.
Ben Johnson’s backcourt just got deeper for the 2024-25 season with the addition of Tyler Cochran, an All-MAC Second Team player. The MAC’s Defensive Player of the Year chose Minnesota over Ohio State this evening.
The Gophers acquired a quality shooter, a veteran player, a strong body, and an effective defender to an already experienced roster. Minnesota was deep during the 24-25 season, and they are now even deeper.
Minnesota had used 12 scholarships, leaving one to use. But there were also three walk-on spots, so the roster felt complete until…. Ben Johnson mentioned earlier this month that they could add another player. Then Tyler Cochran decommitted from Oregon State, creating an opportunity to add more guard depth and defensive potential to the roster.
Tonight, the Cochran commitment added a NINTH senior for 2024-25.
Cochran began his career at Northern Illinois, then spent one season at Ball State and the final two years at Toledo. Tyler is from Bolingbrook, Illinois, and averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, two steals, and two assists a game in 2023-24.
Cochran is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound shooting guard who has one year of eligibility left. The guard was named MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and All-MAC Second Team last season. He averaged 49.5 percent from the floor and led the conference in thefts per game. He played only nine games in his junior season at Toledo, averaging 9.2 points and shooting over 50 percent from the field, before being sidelined by a toe injury.
When Oregon State added Cochran, Wayne Tickle said the following about it:
“Tyler is an excellent addition to our curriculum. He’s as flexible and dynamic a guard as we’ve seen in a while. He is a true three-level scorer and playmaker with excellent court vision and a willingness to pass the ball. Tyler’s stature and strength will allow him to play a variety of positions on and off the ball, and those characteristics, combined with his competitiveness, make him an excellent defender. We’re thrilled to have him join our team; he’ll greatly improve our physicality and maturity.”
Cochran hails from Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Tyler has played 115 basketball games in his five-year career. After starting only one of 31 games as a true freshman, he has started 67 of his last 84 games. Across 115 games, he has averaged 11 points per game, including 15.5 points per game as a true sophomore before injuries struck, and 14.4 points per game last season.
Tyler has a career three-point shooting percentage of 34 percent, an overall shooting percentage of 47 percent, and a foul shooting percentage of 68 percent across five seasons.
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