"Magic Number" Update

[SelectionSunday]

"Magic Number" Update (Jan. 23, 2014)

Below is an update on the Gophers' potential path to the NCAA Tournament, via a preseason Road to Selection Sunday column. Back on Oct. 31 we set the number at 21 D-I wins, but with the Gophers only playing two D-I games in Maui, am confident 20 D-I wins would do the trick.

As stated prior to the season, there is no such thing as a magic number to make the NCAA Tournament, but if there were the Gophers' road to 20 D-I wins (21 overall counting Chaminade) looks like this so far. ...

Level 5/Gooey Cupcakes (must go 6-0) -- completed, Gophers finished 6-0
Lehigh (Nov. 8) = W
Coastal Carolina (Nov. 19) = W
Wofford (Nov. 21) = W
New Orleans (Dec. 7) = W
Omaha (Dec. 20) = W
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 28) = W

Level 4/Can't Afford Slip Up (go 3-0) -- currently 2-0
Montana (Nov. 12) = W
South Dakota State (Dec. 10) = W
Penn State (March 8/9)

Level 3/Beware: Danger Ahead (go 4-2) -- currently 2-1
vs. Arkansas (Nov. 26) = L
Florida State (Dec. 3) = W
@ Penn State (Jan. 8) = W
@ Nebraska (Jan. 26)
Northwestern (Feb. 1)
@ Northwestern (Feb. 16)

Level 2/Toss A Coin (go 4-1) -- currently 2-0
@ Richmond (Nov. 16) = W
Purdue (Jan. 5) = W
@ Purdue (Feb. 5)
Indiana (Feb. 8)
Illinois (Feb. 19)

Level 1/The Big Boys (go 3-7) -- currently 2-4
vs. Syracuse (Nov. 25) = L
Michigan (Jan. 2) = L
@ Michigan State (Jan. 11) = L
Ohio State (Jan. 16) = W
@ Iowa (Jan. 19) = L
Wisconsin (Jan. 22) = W
@ Wisconsin (Feb. 13)
@ Ohio State (Feb. 22)
Iowa (Feb. 25)
@ Michigan (March 1)

Obviously, some of the dynamics of these lists have changed since the start of the season, but for the most part I think we have games in the right places.

 

[WanderingGopher]

The last category is going to be the problem, especially after last night. Going 3-5 in those remaining games is going to be very, very tough.

 

[SelectionSunday]

The last category is going to be the problem, especially after last night. Going 3-5 in those remaining games is going to be very, very tough.

With you 100% on that. I think the Gophers really need to kick butt in Levels 2 and 3 just to keep their head above water. Gotta' find a way to create some margin for error, but that's going to require a major/signature upset of one of the Level 1's. Would prefer it a road game and/or the Ohio State/Wisconsin home games. There's a decent chance the Badgers could come to Williams Arena with an 18-0 record. That certainly would create the opportunity for some national attention (other than Myron rehashing the same old stuff & telling the entire country how much The Barn, our program and our university sucks).

 

[scools12]

Agree no need to panic but we seen last night how important it is for Austin and Andre to play well in these conference games.

This team will pull off an upset or two but there is no doubt that last night was a huge miss and something we have seen over and over the last few years.

 

[golfing18now]

Level 5/Gooey Cupcakes (must go 6-0) -- completed, Gophers finished 6-0
Lehigh (Nov. 8) = W
Coastal Carolina (Nov. 19) = W
Wofford (Nov. 21) = W
New Orleans (Dec. 7) = W
Omaha (Dec. 20) = W
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 28) = W

Level 4/Can't Afford Slip Up (go 3-0) -- currently 2-0
Montana (Nov. 12) = W
South Dakota State (Dec. 10) = W
Penn State (March 8/9)

Level 3/Beware: Danger Ahead (go 4-2) -- currently 1-1
vs. Arkansas (Nov. 26) = L
Florida State (Dec. 3) = W
@ Penn State (Jan. 8)
@ Nebraska (Jan. 26)
Northwestern (Feb. 1)
@ Northwestern (Feb. 16)

Level 2/Toss A Coin (go 4-1) -- currently 1-0
@ Richmond (Nov. 16) = W
Purdue (Jan. 5)
@ Purdue (Feb. 5)
Indiana (Feb. 8)
Illinois (Feb. 19)

Level 1/The Big Boys (go 3-7) -- currently 0-2
vs. Syracuse (Nov. 25) = L
Michigan (Jan. 2) = L
@ Michigan State (Jan. 11)
Ohio State (Jan. 16)
@ Iowa (Jan. 19)
Wisconsin (Jan. 22)
@ Wisconsin (Feb. 13)
@ Ohio State (Feb. 22)
Iowa (Feb. 25)
@ Michigan (March 1)

Bump.....interesting to see how our pursuit of 20 looks more and more attainable.

Level Five: Target (6-0) Finished (6-0)
Level Four: Target (3-0) Currently (2-0) Beat Penn State at home
Level Three: Target (4-2) Currently (2-1) Two games against Northwestern and at Nebraska
Level Two: Target (4-1) Currently (2-0) At Purdue, Illinois, Indiana
Level One: Target (3-7) Currently (2-4) Four very tough games remain

Opportunities to pick up one game in groups two and three. Need to hold serve in group four and steal one in group one. Seems doable to me.

 

[MadtownGopher]

Lot of 'Beware: Danger Ahead' games coming up. That's why it's critical we don't have a huge let down after last night. Nebraska is us going into last night. They got 1 big win already and are looking for another.

 

[SelectionSunday]

"Magic Number" Update (Jan. 23)

Thanks golfing18now. Here's the updated version. With a couple of really good (RPI) conference wins under our belt, I think Level 2 has become increasingly important. Take care of business vs. Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue (especially the Illini & Hoosiers at home), and it should be nearly impossible for the Gophers to miss the tournament.
_______________________________________________
Update on the Gophers' potential path to the NCAA Tournament, via a preseason Road to Selection Sunday column. Back on Oct. 31 we set the number at 21 D-I wins, but with the Gophers only playing two D-I games in Maui, am confident 20 D-I wins would do the trick.

As stated prior to the season, there is no such thing as a magic number to make the NCAA Tournament, but if there were the Gophers' road to 20 D-I wins (21 overall counting Chaminade) looks like this so far. ...

Level 5/Gooey Cupcakes (must go 6-0) -- completed, Gophers finished 6-0
Lehigh (Nov. 8) = W
Coastal Carolina (Nov. 19) = W
Wofford (Nov. 21) = W
New Orleans (Dec. 7) = W
Omaha (Dec. 20) = W
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 28) = W

Level 4/Can't Afford Slip Up (go 3-0) -- currently 2-0
Montana (Nov. 12) = W
South Dakota State (Dec. 10) = W
Penn State (March 8/9)

Level 3/Beware: Danger Ahead (go 4-2) -- currently 2-1
vs. Arkansas (Nov. 26) = L
Florida State (Dec. 3) = W
@ Penn State (Jan. 8) = W
@ Nebraska (Jan. 26)
Northwestern (Feb. 1)
@ Northwestern (Feb. 16)

Level 2/Toss A Coin (go 4-1) -- currently 2-0
@ Richmond (Nov. 16) = W
Purdue (Jan. 5) = W
@ Purdue (Feb. 5)
Indiana (Feb. 8)
Illinois (Feb. 19)

Level 1/The Big Boys (go 3-7) -- currently 2-4
vs. Syracuse (Nov. 25) = L
Michigan (Jan. 2) = L
@ Michigan State (Jan. 11) = L
Ohio State (Jan. 16) = W
@ Iowa (Jan. 19) = L
Wisconsin (Jan. 22) = W
@ Wisconsin (Feb. 13)
@ Ohio State (Feb. 22)
Iowa (Feb. 25)
@ Michigan (March 1)

Obviously, some of the dynamics of these lists have changed since the start of the season, but for the most part I think we have games in the right places.