BIG Game 13: Gophers @ Rutgers, Feb 8th

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pharmacygopher said:
Where will the Gophers appear in the rankings?? They should be no less than 17-18 (I'd still say under ranked) but my guess is probably 22-23
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Google AI says 21-24. Projected spot is 23.

Minnesota is projected to enter the
AP Top 25 rankings for the first time this season in the poll to be released on Monday, February 9, 2026. Following a massive road upset of then-No. 10 Iowa on February 5 and a subsequent 63–52 victory over Rutgers on February 8, the Golden Gophers have now won six consecutive Big Ten games.

Ranking Outlook
  • AP Poll Prediction: While currently unranked, Minnesota received nine votes (30th overall) in the February 2 poll. Their top-10 road win is expected to catapult them into the No. 20–25 range.
  • Advanced Metrics: Minnesota already boasts elite status in other rankings, currently sitting at No. 9 in the NCAA NET rankings as of February 7, 2026.
  • Conference Standings: The Gophers are 18–6 overall and 9–4 in the Big Ten, placing them 6th in one of the nation's toughest conferences.
The bottom of the current Top 25 is vulnerable, creating a clear path for Minnesota's entry:
  • Washington (No. 24): While they beat Wisconsin in overtime on February 8, they suffered consecutive home losses to Illinois and Ohio State earlier in the week. This inconsistency, paired with Minnesota's high-profile win over Iowa, makes them a prime candidate to be leapfrogged.
  • Maryland (No. 22): The Terrapins took a significant 6-spot tumble in the last poll and remain on shaky ground.
  • Princeton (No. 23): They fell 4 spots last week and could slide further if voters prioritize Minnesota's Big Ten success.

Based on their recent performance and the current poll landscape, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are projected to break into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 2026, likely landing between No. 21 and No. 24 in the poll to be released on February 9, 2026.
  • Top 10 Upset: On February 5, the Gophers secured a massive 91–85 road win over No. 10 Iowa, shooting a school-record 71.4% from three-point range. This was the program's first top-10 road victory since 2003.
  • Continued Momentum: They followed the upset by defeating Rutgers 63–52 on the road on February 8, extending their winning streak to six games.
  • NET Gains: Minnesota's metric profile is elite; they currently rank 9th in the NCAA NET rankings, which heavily influences AP voters as the season progresses.

Minnesota Recent Performance (Last 5 Games)

DateOpponentResultKey Stat
Feb 8, 2026@ RutgersW 63–52Sophie Hart: 17 pts, 10 reb
Feb 5, 2026@ No. 10 IowaW 91–85Team shot record 71.4% from 3PT
Feb 1, 2026vs PurdueW 88–55Fifth straight conference win
Jan 28, 2026@ Penn StateW 87–6621-point road victory
Jan 25, 2026vs WisconsinW 88–5335-point blowout win
Minnesota's next opportunity to solidify their new ranking will be at home against Nebraska on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 7:00 PM CT.

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Shocking, but not really I guess, and not that this matters, but it does :mad:

Gophers still aren't ranked - and Iowa is #15
 

They probably get ranked if they beat Nebby on Thursday.
Got to bring massive energy, foot on the gas!
GG will bounce back.
 


FYI. My in-game quote from live stats was wrong. Sorry for the confusion. SB:

In the game against Rutgers on February 8, 2026, Grace Grocholski did not make any shots, finishing 0-for-10 from the field. Her attempts were split between two-point and three-point shots as follows:
  • 2-pointers: 0-for-4
  • 3-pointers: 0-for-6
Despite being held scoreless for the first time in the 2025-26 season, she contributed defensively and on the glass with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a team-high 3 steals in Minnesota's 63-52 victory.

Otherwise over the season she is amazing.
 

WinMinGophers! said:
FYI. My in-game quote from live stats was wrong. Sorry for the confusion. SB:

In the game against Rutgers on February 8, 2026, Grace Grocholski did not make any shots, finishing 0-for-10 from the field. Her attempts were split between two-point and three-point shots as follows:
  • 2-pointers: 0-for-4
  • 3-pointers: 0-for-6
Despite being held scoreless for the first time in the 2025-26 season, she contributed defensively and on the glass with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a team-high 3 steals in Minnesota's 63-52 victory.

Otherwise over the season she is amazing.
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Did any frustrated fans start yelling that she needs to stop shooting after the first 5 misses, like they do when any other player on the mens or womens team starts a game cold?
 

Chico Gopher said:
Did any frustrated fans start yelling that she needs to stop shooting after the first 5 misses, like they do when any other player on the mens or womens team starts a game cold?
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No because she is their best player and their best shooter.. and very seldom does she force a shot or settle for shots… so me no
 




tripledouble said:
I never worry about GG. She's rock solid, the team's most consistent player.
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I just observed that she at the end, her tough game might be impacting her as she missed an open 3 by a lot, which is not normal for her
 

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