Gopher Basketball
All RPI references are courtesy of Jerry Palm at collegerpi.com, through games played February 10.
RPI Sweet 16
1. Kansas (23-1)
2. BYU (22-2)
3. Ohio State (24-0)
4. Georgetown (19-5)
5. San Diego State (22-1)
6. Pitt (22-2)
7. Duke (22-2)
8. Texas (21-3)
9. Notre Dame (20-4)
10. Kentucky (17-6)
11. Purdue (19-5)
12. Florida (19-5)
13. North Carolina (17-6)
14. UConn (18-5)
15. Arizona (20-4)
16. Villanova (19-5)
Big Ten in the RPI
3. Ohio State (24-0)
11. Purdue (19-5)
21. Wisconsin (18-5)
32. Illinois (16-8)
38. Gophers (16-8)
48. Michigan State (13-10)
59. Michigan (14-10)
71. Penn State (12-11)
81. Northwestern (14-9)
95. Nebraska (15-8)
142. Iowa (10-14)
155. Indiana (12-13)
Big Ten RPI Top-50 Wins (32)
Ohio State (6): Purdue (11), @ Florida (12), @ Illinois (32), @ Gophers (38), Gophers (38), @ Florida State (50)
Wisconsin (5): Purdue (11), Illinois (32), Gophers (38), vs. Boston College (43), Michigan State (48)
Illinois (4): North Carolina (13), Wisconsin (21), @ Gophers (38), Michigan State (48)
Gophers (3): Purdue (11), vs. North Carolina (13), vs. West Virginia (17)
Penn State (3): Wisconsin (21), Illinois (32), Michigan State (48)
Michigan State (3): Wisconsin (21), vs. Washington (37), Gophers (38)
Indiana (2): Illinois (32), Gophers (38)
Purdue (2): Gophers (38), Michigan State (48)
Nebraska (1): Texas A&M (29)
Northwestern (1): Illinois (32)
Michigan (1): @ Michigan State (48)
Iowa (1): Michigan State (48)
Overall Big Ten Road/Neutral Records
1. Ohio State (8-0)
2. Purdue (6-5)
T3. Wisconsin (5-5)
T3. Gophers (5-5)
5. Illinois (5-7)
6. Northwestern (4-6)
7. Michigan (3-6)
T8. Michigan State (3-8)
T8. Iowa (3-8)
T10. Penn State (1-7)
T10. Nebraska (1-7)
12. Indiana (0-10)
Gophers’ Nonconference Opponents/RPI & Record
13. North Carolina (17-6, 7-2 ACC)
17. West Virginia (15-8, 6-5 Big East)
149. Virginia (12-11, 3-6 ACC)
151. Wofford (13-12, 10-4 SoCon South)
172. Akron (13-10, 5-5 MAC East)
189. Siena (10-13, 7-6 MAAC)
200. Western Kentucky (10-13, 5-6 Sun Belt East)
210. Saint Joseph’s (6-17, 1-8 Atlantic 10)
213. South Dakota State (14-9, 8-6 Summit)
236. North Dakota State (11-11, 7-7 Summit)
250. Cornell (5-15, 1-5 Ivy)
253. Eastern Kentucky (12-11, 8-6 Ohio Valley)
Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 171.083 (last week = 168.083)
Preseason Projected RPI of Nonconference Opponents (excluding UNC & WV): 133.5
Big Ten/Big 12 Road Wins (19)
Ohio State (6): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Gophers, Northwestern
Wisconsin (2): Iowa, Northwestern
Purdue (2): Michigan, Penn State
Illinois (2): Iowa, Gophers
Michigan (2): Michigan State, Penn State
Michigan State (1): Northwestern
Gophers (1): Michigan
Penn State (1): Indiana
Northwestern (1): Iowa
Iowa (1): Indiana
Indiana & Nebraska (0)
Updated Big Ten Tournament Bracket
Thursday, March 10 (1st Round)
1:30 p.m. — #8 Penn State (5-7) vs. #9 Northwestern (4-8)
3:55 p.m. — #7 Michigan (5-7) vs. #10 Iowa (3-9)
6:30 p.m. — #6 Gophers (5-7) vs. #11 Indiana (3-9). … somehow, despite going 0-2 since last week’s bracket update, the Gophers have moved up a spot.
Friday, March 11 (Quarterfinals)
11 a.m. — #1 Ohio State (11-0) vs. Penn State/Northwestern winner
1:25 p.m. — #4 Illinois (6-5) vs. #5 Michigan State (6-6)
5:30 p.m. — #2 Wisconsin (8-3) vs. Michigan/Iowa winner
7:55 p.m. — #3 Purdue (8-3) vs. Gophers/Indiana winner
Weekend Bubblicious Games (*denotes bubble team)
Yale @ *Harvard (Friday)
*Baylor @ Texas (Saturday)
Brown @ *Harvard
Cal @ *Wazzu
Detroit @ *Butler
*Gonzaga @ Pepperdine
Indiana @ *Michigan
*K-State @ Colorado
*Maryland @ *Boston College
*New Mexico @ *Colorado State
North Carolina @ *Clemson
*Oklahoma State @ Nebraska
Old Dominion @ *VCU
*Ole Miss @ Alabama
Rice @ *UAB
Saint Louis @ *Richmond
*Southern Miss @ *Memphis
*Wichita State @ *Northern Iowa
Youngstown State @ *Cleveland State
Duke @ *Miami-Florida (Sunday)
Georgia Tech @ *Virginia Tech
*Gophers @ Iowa
*Marquette @ Georgetown
St. John’s @ *Cincinnati
Xavier @ *Duquesne
Hi Ho the Merrio to the Bubble the Gophers Go
Now that the Gophers officially have fallen to bubble status, here’s an off-the-top-of-my-head list of teams Gopher fans should be rooting against for the remainder of the season. Of course, this is provided the Gophers do enough down the stretch (win 4 games prior to the Big Ten tourney to even warrant serious at-large consideration.
ACC: Boston College, Clemson, Maryland, Miami-Florida, Virginia Tech
Atlantic 10: Richmond
Big East: Cincinnati, Marquette
Big Ten: Michigan, Michigan State
Big 12: Baylor, K-State, Oklahoma State
Colonial: VCU
Conference USA: Memphis, Southern Miss, UAB
Horizon: Butler, Cleveland State
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa, Wichita State
Mountain West: Colorado State, New Mexico
Pac 10: Wazzu
SEC: Ole Miss
West Coast: Gonzaga
Gophers Rest of the Way?
I’m predicting the Gophers will win three of their final six regular-season games. … @ Penn State (odds are Gophers will stink out one more road win somewhere), Michigan State (hopefully Sparty finishes strong enough to remain in the top 50 of the RPI), and Penn State again at Williams Arena. That would put them at 19-11 overall and 8-10 in the Big Ten, in the conversation for an at-large bid but like last season needing to do significant damage (likely 2 wins) in Indianapolis. Here’s hoping the Gophers 1-up my projection, as I think a 9-9 finish (not holding my breath this will occur) will have them in the mix for yet another Selection “Sweaty” Sunday. Life as a Gopher fan. … don’t you love it!
Beat Iowa.