Minnesota vs La Salle, Wednesday 6pm ESPN2

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Gopher07

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Just announced on the NIT selection show. At La Salle.
 

La Salle 21-12 (10-8 in the A10)
RPI 87
SOS 116

1-4 vs Top 50 (win versus Xavier)
5-4 vs 51-100
8-3 vs 101-200
7-1 vs 201+
 

Really pumped to watch some more Gopher basketball. Hopefully Dre continues to flourish.
 

Looking at the number of first round games on espn3, we got pretty darn fortunate to grab a game on espn2.
 






I'm glad the Gophers managed to salvage the season a bit with strong play to end the season. Normally, the NIT would be time for despair among the fans and players, but this time around, I think it can possibly do wonders for our young players for next year. And to boot, I think we can definitely make a good run.
 




tidbits on LaSalle

• La Salle was the league’s second-best shooting team in conference play with 45.9 percent success in 16 league games. The Explorers also were second in 3-point efficiency at 41.1 percent.

By The Numbers: Minus-3.5—It shouldn’t come as a surprise that with four guards in the starting lineup, the Explorers might have trouble on the boards. They were outrebounded by about 3.5 a game for the season.

Small and shoot the three well, interesting matchup for us.
 

gopherinpain said:
tidbits on LaSalle

• La Salle was the league’s second-best shooting team in conference play with 45.9 percent success in 16 league games. The Explorers also were second in 3-point efficiency at 41.1 percent.

By The Numbers: Minus-3.5—It shouldn’t come as a surprise that with four guards in the starting lineup, the Explorers might have trouble on the boards. They were outrebounded by about 3.5 a game for the season.

Small and shoot the three well, interesting matchup for us.
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Gophers can go small also, you're right, could be interesting.
 

@GophersNow: Tubby on NIT: "This gives our young team the opportunity to experience what postseason basketball is all about.”

Go Gophers!!
 



Here's the entire press release via the U of MN:

Gophers Awarded National Invitational Tournament Bid

The Minnesota men’s basketball program today learned that they will play La Salle in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 14 at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The game can also be heard statewide on the Gopher Radio Network, including 1500 ESPN in the Twin Cities.



Sixth-seeded Minnesota will head into the contest with a 19-14 record following a 1-1 showing in the Big Ten Tournament. The third seed La Salle Explorers are 21-12 out of the Atlantic 10 Conference.



“We are very grateful to get this opportunity to take part in the 75th annual NIT,” said head coach Tubby Smith. “We have been playing well of late and this gives our young team the opportunity to experience what postseason basketball is all about.”



The Gophers have an overall record of 18-11 in NIT games, most recently losing to Maryland in the first round of the 2008 tournament. Minnesota has won two NIT titles, in 1993 & 1998. The 1998 title has since been vacated.



Minnesota is 1-0 all-time against La Salle, a 92-87 victory during the 1965-66 season.



The National Invitation Tournament is the oldest tournament in college basketball. The NIT was started in 1938. It was the first national postseason collegiate tournament to be played in the country.



NIT SCHEDULE



First Round Games –

Tuesday, March 13 and Wednesday, March 14



Second Round Games –

March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18 & March 19



Quarterfinal Games –

March 20 & March 21



Semifinal Games –

Tuesday, March 27



Championship Game –

Thursday, March 29
 

LaSalle plays four guards, 6' to 6' 5" and these guards each play more than 30 mpg. They rotate one big in and out of the line up. I haven't seen them play, but their line-up reminds me most of Michigan. Don't know whether RSIII will be ready by Wednesday, but it would be a good match-up for him. These guys can shoot and will try to speed up the game I would think and try to get into the open floor for their three point fest. Gophers will be stronger and should play ball on defense rather than lay off the ball and give up the threes. LaSalle never played a B1G opponent all year. Should be an interesting contrast in styles....the fun continues; bring it on!
 

I am excited!

Would have been extremely disappointed if Gophers didn't make it in.
 

KyGopherfan said:
I'm glad the Gophers managed to salvage the season a bit with strong play to end the season. Normally, the NIT would be time for despair among the fans and players, but this time around, I think it can possibly do wonders for our young players for next year. And to boot, I think we can definitely make a good run.
Click to expand...

Yep, can't believe how happy I am about us getting in. I think a lot of it has to do with the dejection after the Iowa game. They looked so bad at times you had to wonder if they had totally quit on Tubby and what that might mean for next year. Those worries have pretty much disappeared although this is the Gophers we're talking about so who the hell knows if we're going to get kicked in the groin again. The other part of it is looking forward especially to watching Andre play. Hope they go on a run and gain some more confidence going into next year.
 



I get to see my team in my home town....anyone coming to Philly for the game?
 



GopherinPhilly said:
I get to see my team in my home town....anyone coming to Philly for the game?
Click to expand...

I am considering taking the Amtrak down for the evening to catch the game. However, I was not too sure how easy it is to get to La Salle from the train station either using public transit or cabbing it? I took the Amtrak last season for an evening to catch the game at St. Joe's which worked well but ended up getting picked up by a friend at the station and then drove to the game, which is not an option this time.

I was hoping we would draw Drexel since the Amtrak station is about a block from their arena.
 

Nice. I'm actually feeling very psyched to make the NIT. :D Never thought I'd be at that point, but I just don't want the season to end yet for these guys. I was very proud of their performance in the B1G Tournament, and the more opportunities these youngsters get to play together, the better. Dre, EE, Austin and Rodney offer a lot of hope for next year, in my opinion, and I'm very happy to see them get an opportunity to keep on playing.

It's cool too that we've only played LaSalle once in our history, and that all the way back in 1966, so I'm pretty excited to see how this all unfolds.
 

Minnesota is 1-0 all-time against La Salle, a 92-87 victory during the 1965-66 season.

They are obviously out for revenge!
 



Miami could be a tough matchup in the 2nd round...I hope it happens as I live about 10 miles from the Hurricanes home court.
 



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