ESPN Ranking - Gophers 23

[burton34]

The Gophers are ranked No. 23 in the latest ESPN poll (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings). Not quite the love we hoped for, but still very respectable. Louisville drops all the way to No. 19. Other Big Ten teams:

OSU - 13
PUR - 15
MSU - 18
Others:
MICH - 28 (38 votes)
WIS - 36 (9 votes)

 

[bga1]

Wow- not much respect for other Big Ten teams that have done well. I think 23rd is an appropriate rank for the Gophers at this point however.

Let's hope Louisville gets angry, and starts whooping some Big East programs. Pitino's clubs have had a history of getting better as the year goes on even in years that they started very slowly.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Louisville has a tough stretch coming up. ...

to finish out the nonconference portion of its schedule, but all of the games are at home. UAB (#18 in RPI), UNLV (#66) and Kentucky (#56) are all solid opponents. Win those three and the 'Ville's RPI will skyrocket, which in turn would help the Gophers as well.

Gophers need whatever help they can get from Louisville, Cornell, Virginia & NDSU with regards to strength of schedule and hoping in the end they'll be quality wins, as they won't get much juice from the other squads they played.