The Gophers are still in the field…for now
The conference tournament season is underway and the Big Ten Tournament kicks off Wednesday. Despite two losses to close out the regular season, in the most recent NCAA Bracketology released on Monday March 3rd, the Gophers are still in the field of 68 in three major sources. That can definitely change will a second loss to a Washington Huskies team who also is clinging to their NCAA Tournament lives entering the Big Ten Tournament.
As we enter Wednesday’s games Minnesota sits in the last four teams in in three of the major bracketology sites—ESPN, Her Hoop Stats and College Sports Madness. All three were updated at the completion of the regular season on Monday.
ESPN:
The ESPN Bracket has the Gophers as the 3rd to last team in the NCAA field. Joining them in the Last Four in category are the Washington team the Gophers play on Wednesday, and then a pair from the Ivy League in Princeton and Harvard. ESPN currently slates the Gophers to face Harvard in the First Four game as an 11 seed with the winner advancing to play #6 seed West Virginia—Coach Dawn Plizuweit’s former team in the second round.
Last Four Byes:
Oregon, Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa State
Last Four In:
Washington, Minnesota, Princeton, Harvard
First Four Out:
Virginia Tech, Arizona, Marquette, St. Joseph’s
Her Hoop Stats:
The Her Hoop Stats bracket has the Gophers as the second to last team in the field, joined by Washington, Harvard and Virginia Tech. They also have the Gophers as an 11 seed playing Harvard in the First Four with the winner facing #6 seed Florida State in the second round.
Last Four Byes:
Georgia Tech, Oregon, Nebraska, Indiana
Last Four In:
Harvard, Washington, Minnesota, Virginia Tech,
First Four Out:
Princeton, George Mason, St. Joseph’s, Arizona
College Sports Madness:
College Sports Madness has the Gophers as the final team in the field of 68. They are joined in the first four in with Washington, Arizona, and Colorado. They have the Gophers facing Colorado as a #11 seed with the winner playing #6 seed Oklahoma State.
Last Four Byes:
Illinois, Creighton, Oregon, Indiana
Last Four In:
Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota
First Four Out:
Virginia Tech, Harvard, Seton Hall, Stanford
Games to Pay Attention To:
Wednesday March 5th:
Houston Cougars vs Colorado Buffalo Big 12 First Round 1:30 PM
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Washington Huskies—B1G Tournament 1st Round 2:30 PM
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Nebraska Cornhuskers-B1G First Round 5:15 PM
Clemson Tigers vs Stanford Cardinal ACC First Round 5:30 PM
Thursday March 6th:
Oregon Ducks vs Indiana Hoosiers—B1G 2nd Round 11 AM
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Georgia Tech Yellowjackets 12:30 PM
Houston/Colorado vs Arizona Wildcats Big 12 Second Round 1:30 PM
Minnesota/ Washington vs Michigan Wolverines 1:45 PM
Rutgers/Nebraska vs Illinois Fighting Illini 5:30 PM
Stanford/Clemson vs Louisville Cardinals 6:30 PM
Friday March 7th
George Washington/ Loyola/ Rhode Island vs St. Josephs Hawks A-10 Quarterfinal 12:30 PM
St. Bonnie/ St. Louis/ UMass vs George Mason Patriots A 1- Quarterfinal 4:00 PM
Saturday March 8th
Princeton Tigers @ Penn Quakers 1 PM
Harvard Crimson @ Dartmouth Big Green 1 PM
Villanova Wildcats vs Marquette Golden Eagles Big East Quarterfinal 1:30 PM
Georgetown/Providence vs Creighton Blue Jays Big East Quarterfinal 6 PM
Xavier/ DePaul vs Seton Hall Pirates Big East Quarterfinal 8PM