Are Gophers Headed to CBC College Basketball Crown, Are You? April 1–5, 2026, in Las Vegas, with games held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile

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collegebasketballcrown.com

College Basketball Crown

Introducing a New Postseason Reign in College Basketball, Las Vegas, April 2026
collegebasketballcrown.com collegebasketballcrown.com

It's an eight-team field, featuring two automatic qualifiers each from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East (the top two teams in each conference that do not make the NCAA Tournament) plus two at-large wild cards

Minnesota could make this.

Unless UCLA falls out of the NCAA tournament. Argh!
 

Pretty sure quite a few teams bailed on the Crown last season, so it's possible a couple Big Ten teams that are offered a spot before the Gophers may pass. But there were 16 teams last season, so it's a lot tighter getting an invitation this season. Hopefully teams like Indiana and/or Ohio State would take a pass.
 

If Indiana can get in as the 10th big ten team, I think we would have a good shot at one of the two spots, though Washington has the head to head on us, as would USC. Of course if we go into Bloomington and win that's going to kill there chances at a bid
 

SelectionSunday said:
Pretty sure quite a few teams bailed on the Crown last season, so it's possible a couple Big Ten teams that are offered a spot before the Gophers may pass. But there were 16 teams last season, so it's a lot tighter getting an invitation this season. Hopefully teams like Indiana and/or Ohio State would take a pass.
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That's exactly right. Last year, the Gophers would have had a good chance with their current record but cutting it to 8 teams significantly reduces their chances. It's possible that USC would choose not to go this season since they went last year. Washington's Steinbach is showing up as a first-round pick in mock drafts so he might choose not to play and that could result in them opting out.
 

Not the best weekend for devoted churchgoers. Holy Thursday is my favorite liturgy of the year.

In any case, it would be way more enticing to make a trip if it were still a 16-team field.
 


Bad Gopher said:
Not the best weekend for devoted churchgoers. Holy Thursday is my favorite liturgy of the year.

In any case, it would be way more enticing to make a trip if it were still a 16-team field.
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Given the limited roster availability, the fewer potential games for the Gophers the better.
 
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UpAndUnder43 said:
I'm not positive the Gophers would accept an invitation to this.
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Not 100% sure but thought I heard Niko specifically mention The Crown in an interview. My impression is they'd love a postseason opportunity even with the depleted roster.

For this particular season, I think it would be foolish to turn down a Crown (or NIT, not sure if the Big Ten allows teams to go the NIT anymore) invitation if they get one. For this team, how impressively they've played & competed, it would be a nice kickstart into 2026-27, win or lose.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Not 100% sure but thought I heard Niko specifically mention The Crown in an interview. My impression is they'd love a postseason opportunity even with the depleted roster.

For this particular season, I think it would be foolish to turn down a Crown (or NIT, not sure if the Big Ten allows teams to go the NIT anymore) invitation if they get one. For this team, how impressively they've played & competed, it would be a nice kickstart into 2026-27, win or lose.
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Yeah, pretty sure if we get offered we would go.
 



SelectionSunday said:
Not 100% sure but thought I heard Niko specifically mention The Crown in an interview. My impression is they'd love a postseason opportunity even with the depleted roster.

For this particular season, I think it would be foolish to turn down a Crown (or NIT, not sure if the Big Ten allows teams to go the NIT anymore) invitation if they get one. For this team, how impressively they've played & competed, it would be a nice kickstart into 2026-27, win or lose.
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Given the amount of roster turnover there will be into 2026-27 and given the workload they have had, if any of Iron 6 want to call it a wrap on the current season following the Big 10 Tournament for whatever reason, I would not blame them one iota.

If all of them are "all-in" on playing into April, then great more power to them.
 



Ope3 said:
Given the amount of roster turnover there will be into 2026-27 and given the workload they have had, if any of Iron 6 want to call it a wrap on the current season following the Big 10 Tournament for whatever reason, I would not blame them one iota.

If all of them are "all-in" on playing into April, then great more power to them.
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This. Especially with the uncertainty that all eligible guys would be back next year.

JCJ still listed as out indefinitely. Maybe he’s back and can give us a 7th man.
 



UpAndUnder43 said:
This. Especially with the uncertainty that all eligible guys would be back next year.

JCJ still listed as out indefinitely. Maybe he’s back and can give us a 7th man.
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If any of the current 6 hit the portal, they really would have to decline.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Hopefully teams like Indiana and/or Ohio State would take a pass.
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Or, hopefully both make the NCAA Tournament. OSU's net ranking of 34 and its win over Purdue helps the cause immensely. Indiana is definitely headed the wrong direction, but a net ranking in the Top 45 puts them on par with or better than many of the bubble teams. As putrid as the IU resume has become, the rest of the bubble is as equally putrid. And Indiana is a name brand.

I'd also add.....the winning team splits up $300k for the players. The 2nd place team splits up $100k. Semifinalist losers split up $50k. I'm guessing that will keep players (and teams) interested.

Technically, players cannot enter the portal until AFTER the Crown.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Not 100% sure but thought I heard Niko specifically mention The Crown in an interview. My impression is they'd love a postseason opportunity even with the depleted roster.

For this particular season, I think it would be foolish to turn down a Crown (or NIT, not sure if the Big Ten allows teams to go the NIT anymore) invitation if they get one. For this team, how impressively they've played & competed, it would be a nice kickstart into 2026-27, win or lose.
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All of this. Correct.
 

TwistingMyMelon said:
It's possible that USC would choose not to go this season since they went last year.
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Or, they choose not to go since they just kicked their best player off the team, have lost five straight, will be underdogs in their final two games, and are headed no where fast.

Not out of the realm of possibility that the Gophers are ahead of USC in NET rankings by the time the two Crown auto bids are distributed.
 
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60's Guy said:
Why would any of the current 6 enter the portal? They are not individually exceptional and they are getting plenty of playing time right here. Winning with the roster they have has to be fun.
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The only one that could IMO is Shinholster but you never know.
 


60's Guy said:
Why would any of the current 6 enter the portal? They are not individually exceptional and they are getting plenty of playing time right here. Winning with the roster they have has to be fun.
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Not saying they will or won’t but likely none of them have an NBA future so if they get the chance to cash in now it would be hard to blame them. Again I have no idea if that will happen but that would likely be a reason why.
 

The Deliberate Stranger said:
If Indiana can get in as the 10th big ten team, I think we would have a good shot at one of the two spots, though Washington has the head to head on us, as would USC. Of course if we go into Bloomington and win that's going to kill there chances at a bid
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I’ll take our chances with a season sweep of Indiana outweighing the virtues of playing in The Crown…
 

60's Guy said:
I agree anything is possible but it wouldn't be a logical decision.
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It’s not out of the question that a college student might be convinced to make an illogical decision. Just saying. Ever since no consequence transfers we have had players leave that few if any thought would. There are a lot of good reasons to stay but that doesn’t mean they will.
 
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SelectionSunday said:
Pretty sure quite a few teams bailed on the Crown last season, so it's possible a couple Big Ten teams that are offered a spot before the Gophers may pass. But there were 16 teams last season, so it's a lot tighter getting an invitation this season. Hopefully teams like Indiana and/or Ohio State would take a pass.
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Honestly, I hope the Gophers pass if they're offered a spot. The remaining healthy players have to be gassed by now.
 

One has to remember that the players are playing for money at the Crown tournament. That changes things a lot. Now that teams saw how it went last year, I am guessing less teams turn down the invite.
 

The portal will be interesting, I really think Asuma or Durkin could get a bag, though I highly doubt Asuma leaves, he seems very locked in here. Durkin I could see a legit title contender offering him a bag to be a shooter off the bench but knowing he will have a huge role here and will get shots that would be a lot to weigh. JCJ will get looks as well, the other wild card is the five for five role, every team in the country will want Tyson if he's eligible for next year. I do feel good about our ability to keep Durkin, Asuma, JCJ, Grove, Kai, and Vailola, what would be interesting is if Evans wants to come here from UNC, what that will mean for Willis, I can't see us rolling with Evans, Willis, Asuma and Tomes as our options at the one and two, if we bring in another Reynolds type, or Omot gets healthy, someone out of Evans or Willis would not be happy next year with their minutes. If Evans had came here as originally planned we probably do not go after Willis.
 


The Deliberate Stranger said:
If Indiana can get in as the 10th big ten team, I think we would have a good shot at one of the two spots, though Washington has the head to head on us, as would USC. Of course if we go into Bloomington and win that's going to kill there chances at a bid
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Minnesota beats Indiana they will be tied in the Big Ten and possibly end up higher. Win out and a couple of B1G tournament wins and they are a legit bubble team.
 
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Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0 said:
Honestly, I hope the Gophers pass if they're offered a spot. The remaining healthy players have to be gassed by now.
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In every post game interview these guys seem like they are having a blast. Tyson was asked about the minutes in one and he basically said he loves it.

I assume Niko is taking it easy on them between games. I know if I was a player I would want to keep going as long as possible.
 

MNVCGUY said:
In every post game interview these guys seem like they are having a blast. Tyson was asked about the minutes in one and he basically said he loves it.

I assume Niko is taking it easy on them between games. I know if I was a player I would want to keep going as long as possible.
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I'm surprised they haven't hit a wall yet. If they make a run in the conference tournament, it would be quite amazing if they can continue to play effectively further into the postseason potentially.
 

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