BleedGopher
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Per Randy:
With the victory, the Gophers improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. They're one game behind West Division-leading Wisconsin (3-1 Big Ten) and a half-game back of second-place Iowa (3-2). There is a path for Minnesota to win the West in its final year before conference expansion eliminates division play. To do so, the Gophers most likely would need to win at least four of their final five games and receive some help.
Minnesota finishes with home games against Michigan State (2-5) on Saturday and Illinois (3-5) and trips to Purdue (2-5) and Ohio State (7-0). Then comes the home finale against Wisconsin (5-2).
If the Gophers go 5-0 the rest of the way, they would win the West because they would own the head-to-head tiebreaker over any two-loss team.
Should the Gophers go 4-1, to win the West they would need Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska to each lose a third Big Ten game and Northwestern to lose a fourth. A 4-1 Gophers finish would mean they own head-to-head tiebreakers over Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. In addition, there are scenarios in which the West champ could have a 5-4 record.
Fleck isn't looking that far ahead — just to Saturday's game against Michigan State.
"We're 0-0 again,'' he said. "It's Monday.''
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
With the victory, the Gophers improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. They're one game behind West Division-leading Wisconsin (3-1 Big Ten) and a half-game back of second-place Iowa (3-2). There is a path for Minnesota to win the West in its final year before conference expansion eliminates division play. To do so, the Gophers most likely would need to win at least four of their final five games and receive some help.
Minnesota finishes with home games against Michigan State (2-5) on Saturday and Illinois (3-5) and trips to Purdue (2-5) and Ohio State (7-0). Then comes the home finale against Wisconsin (5-2).
If the Gophers go 5-0 the rest of the way, they would win the West because they would own the head-to-head tiebreaker over any two-loss team.
Should the Gophers go 4-1, to win the West they would need Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska to each lose a third Big Ten game and Northwestern to lose a fourth. A 4-1 Gophers finish would mean they own head-to-head tiebreakers over Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. In addition, there are scenarios in which the West champ could have a 5-4 record.
Fleck isn't looking that far ahead — just to Saturday's game against Michigan State.
"We're 0-0 again,'' he said. "It's Monday.''
Win at Iowa opens path for Gophers to challenge for Big Ten West title
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck has been savoring the win at Iowa — and is done debating the replay review on Cooper DeJean's punt return.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!