ESPN Way-Too-Early 2026 Bracketology

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Belzx009 said:
And then Prince becomes a Gopher and takes over Battles spot?
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Aesop70 said:
I don't hate that idea. But I'll also cover all bets as she is a lifelong Husker, born and bred.
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tripledouble said:
Ha. I had the same thought. Okay for fans to tamper, right?
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Would be interesting, Definitely doesn't hurt to have experience at point.

Not sure who.will.play what or be ready for it. Look who is.coming in.

Coach P also likes versatile wing-guard-defense types that are versatile, all be able.to take the ball up if the team has the players for it. That is why we see McKinney and others sometimes taking it up even though Battle is the best being at point.

Not sure where the new players will.play.or when.

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tripledouble said:
Iowa has already played UCLA. Lost by 23. Purdue, Michigan , Illinois and Wisconsin remaining.
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Oops, you're right. I was thinking of the Michigan game not UCLA.

So to be above Iowa, we have to either hope they lose to Michigan and get upset by Illinois or Wisconsin OR that we sweep the last three of our games and hope Michigan beats them. We might have better chances of OSU getting knocked out of the top four, especially if we beat them Wednesday. After us they still have USC, Michigan, and MSU.

Still not very good odds we make it to the top 4, but I didn't expect to win 8 straight games either!
 

My preseason back-of-the-envelope scratching had us at 12-6 in the conference... or at least 11-7. Looking forward in December, I wouldn't have expected the Iowa win.

Even if they lose 2 of the last 3, which they won't, this team has already met or exceeded my expectations. I am standing in line to renew my season ticket.
Go Gophers!
 


ESPN guy now has us as a 6 in Ft. Worth. 2nd round match against TCU.
 






Gophers up to a 5 seed in the latest ESPN bracketology. Would play either Arizona State/Virginia. Kentucky is the 4 seed.
 


pharmacygopher said:
Gophers up to a 5 seed in the latest ESPN bracketology. Would play either Arizona State/Virginia. Kentucky is the 4 seed.
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OSU at a 4 seed, and it would be quite easy to flip those, based on results in the next few games, when OSU has a tougher schedule than the Gophers do (USC, MI, MSU).
 

Analyst Andraya Carter on ESPN just now, talking about how, besides UCLA, others in the B1G will fare in the NCAAs: "I like this Michigan team, I like Minnesota. There are a few teams I have an eye on in the Big Ten."
 



Charlie Creme update with us being a 4 seed playing at home against #13 UC Irvine. The #5 seed in Minneapolis would be Texas Tech.

Also Nebraska moved up to #25 in NET so we're now 6-6 in Q1 games. So awesome.
I think they will reward MN with hosting regardless if we win or lose are first game in the BIG tourney. Just a gut feeling.
 

Creme thinks Plitzuweit's old team, West Virgina, is the #5 seed that just misses hosting. Please join me in rooting for them to flop in their conference tourney.
 

DietCokeFan said:
Charlie Creme update with us being a 4 seed playing at home against #13 UC Irvine. The #5 seed in Minneapolis would be Texas Tech.

Also Nebraska moved up to #25 in NET so we're now 6-6 in Q1 games. So awesome.
I think they will reward MN with hosting regardless if we win or lose are first game in the BIG tourney. Just a gut feeling.
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With the Girl's State BB Tournament using Williams, I would guess we would be Saturday-Monday for our games. With practice times in the AM on Friday.
 

Dang. How do they get 2 ncaa games in on Saturday around the girls state tourney? Is it logistically possible?
 



AllEars said:
I thought girls tournament was 3/11-3/14.
First and second rounds NCAA; 3/20-3/21, 3/22-3/23.
Boys tournament 3/24-3/28.

Perhaps I am wrong
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For selfish reasons I want Gophers to host first two games. After that I think I can make travel work for however long Gophers make it in tournament.
 

Former season ticket holder now living 2 hours from Mpls. Hosting the NCAA would definitely get me back to Williams Arena. Love this team and feel strongly that we're on the right track to becoming a frequent NCAA tourney participant.
 


DietCokeFan said:
Teams to keep an eye on are Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ole Miss.
Having a couple of these teams go far in conference tournament could make this nervous for MN. However I think we’re finally getting some respect.
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Honestly I was kind of shocked when the tournament selection committee announced we were in their top 16 the other day, even before the Illinois game. I was thinking we'd have to prove ourselves by getting another quad 1 win at Illinois and one win in the Big Ten tournament before they'd consider us to host. Glad to know we're at least in their heads!
 

MaroonMagic said:
Honestly I was kind of shocked when the tournament selection committee announced we were in their top 16 the other day, even before the Illinois game. I was thinking we'd have to prove ourselves by getting another quad 1 win at Illinois and one win in the Big Ten tournament before they'd consider us to host. Glad to know we're at least in their heads!
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Nebraska getting back in top 25 of NET helped us get another Q1 win which probably helped some. Now we need them to stay there lol
Cheer for them to beat Indiana and even Ohio State :)
 


AllEars said:
I thought girls tournament was 3/11-3/14.
First and second rounds NCAA; 3/20-3/21, 3/22-3/23.
Boys tournament 3/24-3/28.

Perhaps I am wrong
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My mistake.

This year's calendar has got me all screwed up.

Usually the 1st weekend of March is wrestling (it was the last weekend of February this year), followed by Boy's Hockey, Girl's Basketball, & Boy's Basketball.

Did the U & the MSHSL know the Gophers were going to be this good, and put a extra week between the boy's and girl's tournament;)?
 

Ski U Mah Gopher said:
My mistake.

This year's calendar has got me all screwed up.

Usually the 1st weekend of March is wrestling (it was the last weekend of February this year), followed by Boy's Hockey, Girl's Basketball, & Boy's Basketball.

Did the U & the MSHSL know the Gophers were going to be this good, and put a extra week between the boy's and girl's tournament;)?
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Yes, they did schedule an opening because of the calendar conflicts last year.
 

Anyone know if other conferences have their WBB tourney this week also or if the Big 10 is unique in their schedule?
 


With the Nebraska collapse against Indiana they will drop out of NET 25 so we will lose one of our Q1 wins.
Make sure we’re cheering against West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ole Miss.
 

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