ESPN Way-Too-Early 2026 Bracketology

[Roland Brooks]

Eye test forget the computers.. let’s be somebody! IF the Gophers play solid basketball the rest of the conference schedule they can get to a 4/5 seed… not out of the question the schedule is doable…

 

[DietCokeFan]

Todays ESPN bracketology still has us as an #8 seed, opening up against #9 Mississippi St. Win and get to play UCONN lol

I think if we can be respectable at Iowa and then for sure beat Nebraska and grab a win against either Ohio State, Mich State, or Illinios I think we could move to the #6/7 lines. That also means we can't have any bad losses. Getting off that 8/9 line would be nice.

 

[WinMinGophers!]

The Gophers of Sunday's Purdue game CAN beat Iowa.

 

[WinMinGophers!]

Do your part. Get to the Barn for the Feb 12 game against Nebraska.

 

[tripledouble]

What's the over/under on WinMinGophers! urging us to buy tickets for the Nebraska game?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Be nice to get up to the 5 or 6 line. Possible if they finish top 5 or 6 in league and make a little noise in BIG tournament.

We got opportunities galore this month to get some ranked wins. Stsrts with

Beat Iowa

 

[Roland Brooks]

Eye test forget the computers.. let’s be somebody! IF the Gophers play solid basketball the rest of the conference schedule they can get to a 4/5 seed… not out of the question the schedule is doable…

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

We got opportunities galore this month to get some ranked wins. Stsrts with

Beat Iowa

Yes, indeed

 

[MaroonMagic]

Just moved up to a 7 seed in ESPN's bracketology. Looks like we have the potential to move up a bit more if we can beat MSU and/or OSU, who are both 3 seeds right now.

 

[Gophermangeek]

Gophers need to take care of business but at the moment a 7 seed feels super disrespectful for the gophers. 8-4 in the best conference in the sport, no bad loss (Kansas is meh) a top 10 team in net before beating a AP top 10 team on the road.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Gophers need to take care of business but at the moment a 7 seed feels super disrespectful for the gophers. 8-4 in the best conference in the sport, no bad loss (Kansas is meh) a top 10 team in net before beating a AP top 10 team on the road.

No. That's about right. The team hasn't been that impressive.

Win the next couple games. The seed will take care of itself with some more wins.

 

[thatjanelpick]

No. That's about right. The team hasn't been that impressive.

Win the next couple games. The seed will take care of itself with some more wins.

The difference between NET and RPI (I know, not as vital anymore) is striking. If we expect the better NET team to win the Gophers' remaining games, they would win all of them. If we expect the better RPI team to win, they have three losses coming. (My projection is two more losses but we shall see.)

 

[DietCokeFan]

The difference between NET and RPI (I know, not as vital anymore) is striking. If we expect the better NET team to win the Gophers' remaining games, they would win all of them. If we expect the better RPI team to win, they have three losses coming. (My projection is two more losses but we shall see.)

As long as its not to Rutgers lol - that would be the only bad loss left on the schedule. I have to admit the at Wisconsin games still makes me nervous.

 

[WinMinGophers!]

the at Wisconsin games still makes me nervous.

Think so? You've got another thing comin'.




That was humor, not a dig at ya. THEY'VE got somethin' comin':

 

[ISUnorth]

Not strictly "bracketology" but good vibes and good PR happening after Iowa win.

 

[rwlarson]

As long as its not to Rutgers lol - that would be the only bad loss left on the schedule. I have to admit the at Wisconsin games still makes me nervous.

They all make me nervous, but if this team can take it one opponent at a time, I don’t see anyone they can’t beat. Ohio State’s incessant pressure could be a problem for awhile, but once we get used to it, we have the ball handlers to beat it and make them pay. Nebraska has shooters, which could present some issues if they have an on night against us, but they lack the inside presence they’ve had in the recent past. Michigan State and Illinois are solid teams but if we continue playing as we have been we are simply better than either of them.

Our goal should be to get a top-4 seed in the B1G tournament for the double-bye. Looking at the teams ahead of us, we’ve beaten Iowa, and wins over Ohio State and/or Michigan State would give us another tiebreaker advantage to obtain a top-4 seed.

 

[Longtimegopherfan]

The key to this recent success? Keeping Tori HEALTHY and OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE.
Kansas loss: Tori played 23 minutes and fouled out.
Alabama loss: Tori did not play.
Maryland loss: Tori played 35 of 50 minutes and fouled out.
UCLA loss: Tori did not play.
Washington loss: Tori did not play.
This is not a criticism, just an observation. At least a couple of more wins probably. She is obviously very important to this team.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Gophers need to take care of business but at the moment a 7 seed feels super disrespectful for the gophers. 8-4 in the best conference in the sport, no bad loss (Kansas is meh) a top 10 team in net before beating a AP top 10 team on the road.

It’s simply a projection

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Not strictly "bracketology" but good vibes and good PR happening after Iowa win.

Everything he said regarding the stats, is indicative of a well coached team!

Coach P knows what the heck she’s doing and it so nice to the Negative Nancy’s have been quieted.

 

[Star City]

Gophers need to take care of business but at the moment a 7 seed feels super disrespectful for the gophers. 8-4 in the best conference in the sport, no bad loss (Kansas is meh) a top 10 team in net before beating a AP top 10 team on the road.

To be much higher right now they needed to beat Kansas and/or Alabama. If they could've beaten Alabama with Alabama being good this year that would've made a difference but it is what it is.