Welcome to March!
It’s official. The calendar flips over on Saturday and we have officially reached the madness that is the month of March in the collège athletics world. The Minnesota Golden Gophers have ramped up allready with a pair of Big Ten Championship meets this weekend, the start of the WCHA Tournament, the final games of the regular season in men’s hockey, and women’s basketball, AND a full slate of spring sports. Deep breath. If you need help keeping track of it all—we got you. Here is the weekend schedule and how you can watch all the action.
Friday February 28th
Indoor Track @ Big Ten Championships, Indianapolis 9 AM B1G+
The Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships take place this weekend in Indianapolis. Several Gophers will have a chance to bring home some hardware led by Anthonett Nabwe, who has the longest throw in the nation in the weight throw this year. Action kicks off just after 9 AM central time with the women’s weight throw beginning about 6:30 PM Central time. All the action will stream on B1G+.
Tennis vs Wisconsin 4 PM Gophersports.com
The Gopher tennis team kicks off the Big Ten schedule with their rivals to the east the Wisconsin Badgers in town on Friday afternoon. First serve is set for 4 PM and will stream live for free on Gophersports.com
Softball vs North Dakota State— US Bank Stadium 4:30 PM B1G+
The Gopher softball team gets to stay home this weekend instead of hitting the road and will host the Gopher Indoor Classic at US Bank Stadium, US Bank will host thee full days of softball from Friday through Sunday with Minnesota opening play against North Dakota State at 4:30 Friday. The game will stream live on B1G+.
Men’s Swimming and Diving—Big Ten Championships 5:30 PM B1G+
Day three of the Men’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships takes place in Minneapolis on Friday. Prelims occur in the morning but the finals will begin at 5:30 PM and will stream live on B1G+.
Women’s Hockey vs Minnesota State 6 PM B1G+
The Gopher women kick off their best-of-three WCHA First Round series by hosting #6 seed Minnesota State at Ridder Arena. The #3 seeded Gophers will look to punch their ticket to the WCHA Final Faceoff the following weekend in Duluth with a series win. Puck drop is set for 6 PM and will stream live on B1G+.
Softball vs Wagner 7 PM— US Bank Stadium B1G+
The second Gopher softball game of the weekend takes place at 7 PM as the Gophers host Wagner at US Bank Stadium. The game will stream on B1G+
Baseball @ Arizona State 7:30 PM ESPN+
The Gopher baseball team fresh off their upset of #7 Oregon State last weekend heads for a three game series against another classic NCAA power in Arizona State. While not ranked this season the Sun Devils have one of the deepest histories in the NCAA and has produced such MLB stars as Reggie Jackson, Barry Bonds and Dustin Pedroia. Friday’s series opener is set for a 7:30 first pitch and will stream on ESPN+.
Men’s Hockey @ #15 Penn State 7:30 PM BTN
The Gophers open a huge series on the road at Penn State to close out the regular season. Minnesota can clinch the Big Ten regular season title with five points over the Nittany Lions and earn the first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament next weekend. Penn State is the hottest team in the nation as they play for their NCAA Tournament lives going 9-1-2 over their last 12 games. Faceoff is set for 7:30 PM and will air live on Big Ten Network.
Saturday March 1st
Indoor Track @ Big Ten Championships, Indianapolis 9 AM B1G+
Day two of the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships kicks off at 9 AM Saturday morning. The meet will stream on B1G+
Tennis vs North Dakota 10 AM Gophersports.com
The Gophers go from their eastern rival to their western rival with a match against North Dakota. First serive is set for 1 AM and will stream on gophersports.com
Men’s Basketball @ Nebraska 1 PM BTN
The Gopher men will look to try and dig themselves out of a hole after two bad losses this week when they head to Lincoln on Saturday. Nebraska is playing for their NCAA Tournament lives, so lots will be at stake. Tip is set for 1 PM and will air live on Big Ten Network.
Women’s Basketball @ #23 Michigan State 1 PM B1G+
The Gopher women close out the regular season at a ranked Michigan State team and could really use an upset win to lock down their NCAA Tournament hopes. Minnesota lost a game they should have won Wednesday night at home to Washington and now squarely are on the NCAA tournament bubble as they close out the regular season. Tip is set for 1 PM and will stream on B1G+.
Women’s Hockey vs Minnesota State 2 PM B1G+
The Gophers and Mavericks play Game 2 of their best-of three series Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena. Faceoff is set for 2 PM and will stream on B1G+.
Softball vs Miami, Ohio—US Bank Stadium 3 PM B1G+
Game three of the weekend for the Gopher Softball team is a rematch from the season opening weekend where the Gophers defeated the Redhawks. Minnesota will try and do it again at 3PM on B1G+.
Tennis vs Boise State 3 PM Gophersports.com
The third match of the weekend and second of the day for the Gopher Tennis team sees them hosting Boise State. First serve is set for 3 PM and will stream on gophersports.com
Gymnastics vs Michigan/ Illinois @ Maryland 5 PM BTN
The Gophers head to one of three Big 4 meets in the Big Ten this weekend on Saturday at Maryland. Minnesota will face the Terrapins, along with Michigan and Illinois in the quad-meet. The action begins at 5 PM and will air live on Big Ten Network.
Men’s Swimming and Diving—Big Ten Championships 5:30 PM B1G+
The final day of the Men’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships takes place in Minneapolis on Saturday. Prelims occur in the morning but the finals will begin at 5:30 PM and will stream live on B1G+.
Men’s Hockey @ #15 Penn State 7:00 PM BTN
The Gophers will complete the regular season Saturday night at Penn State and will know their Big ten Tournament fate by the end of the night. Faceoff is set for 7 PM on Big Ten Network.
Baseball @ Arizona State 7:30 PM ESPN+
Game two of the series between the Gophers and Sun devils is set for a 7:30 Saturday first pitch and will stream on ESPN+.
Sunday March 2nd
Men’s Golf @ Colleton River Collegiate Bluffton, SC 7 AM
The Gopher men’s golf team is back in action against an impressive field at the Colleton River Collegiate Tournament in Bluffton, South Carolina. The tournament is hosted by Michigan State. The Gophers and other teams will play 36 holes on Sunday beginning with a 7 AM shotgun start and will complete the tournament with 18 more holes Monday morning.
Softball vs NDSU/ St. Thomas 11:30 AM/ 2 PM B1G+
The Gophers clouse out their indoor tournament with a rematch against North Dakota State in the morning and a game against St. Thomas in the afternoon. Both games will stream on B1G+
Baseball @ Arizona State 2:00 PM ESPN+
The Gophers and Arizona State close out their three game series with a Sunday matinee. First pitch is 2 PM and will stream on ESPN+.
Women’s Hockey vs Minnesota State 2 PM B1G+ IF NECESSARY
The Gophers and Mavericks will play a tiebreaking Game 3 on Sunday afternoon if the Gophers falter and lose one of the two previous games on the weekend. Faceoff would be 2 PM and will stream on B1G+.
Soccer vs Wisconsin 4 PM Sanneh Dome
The Gopher soccer team fresh off their NCAA Sweet 16 appearance will play their spring exhibition opener Sunday afternoon against Wisconsin at the Sanneh Dome in St. Paul. Admission is free.