Eric Curry Unretires and Will Return to Gophers as a Player, Not Coach

Eric Curry was once a promising young freshman with the entire basketball world in front of him. In his first season with the Minnesota Gophers back in 2016-17, Curry played in 34 games, averaging 20 minutes and over 5 points and 5 rebounds per game. He looked like a future star.

Then, disaster struck toward the end of that offseason. In August, 2017 Curry tore all of his ACL, MCL and meniscus ligaments in a pick-up basketball game. The injury would cost him the entirety of his Sophomore season and, after multiple setbacks during his return journey, Eric was never the same player.

In March, at the end of another frustrating season both personally and as a team in 2020-21, Eric Curry announced he was hanging up his basketball shoes. After Ben Johnson

The Return?

But moments ago, to the internet’s schock, Curry unretired and announced his return to the hardwood for one last season as a Gopher player, via Instagram.

I can confirm that Eric Curry will be playing a 6th year at Minnesota next winter.

Curry of course missed over two seasons because of injury but with last year not counting against eligibility, Curry will return for Minnesota up front. pic.twitter.com/V1yYQMo5D0

— Ryan James (@RyanJamesMN) July 6, 2021

I’d be interested to hear the inside story on Curry’s sudden change of heart. Remember, new Minnesota Gophers head coach Ben Johnson has struggled mightily with recruiting the transfer portal and even bigger problems with keeping his own guys out of it. Big men have been his biggest struggle.

How much of Curry’s return is out of desperation in the front court vs a renewed love for playing basketball? We may never get the answer to that question. No matter, it’s an added big man who we know can play at the Big Ten level. So, that’s an upgrade.

Unfortunately, I’m worried about what the above paragraph says about the state of Gopher basketball in 2021 and beyond.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan