The Drive for (at minimal) the #10 Seed in Chicago

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SelectionSunday

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In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Will update this thread frequently. Next update will come after Saturday's Big Ten games.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (6-1)
2. Ohio State (6-3)
3. Maryland (6-3)
4. Michigan (6-3)

Single Byes
5. Purdue (5-3)
6. Michigan State (5-3)
7. Indiana (5-3)
8. Iowa (4-3)
9. Nebraska (4-4)
10. Illinois (3-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. Penn State (2-6)
12. GOPHERS (2-7)
13. Rutgers (2-7)
14. Northwestern (1-6)

GOPHERS/Rutgers winner would get Purdue on Day 2.

Gophers' guesstimated path to the BTT championship: #13 Rutgers/#5 Purdue/#4 Michigan/#1 Wisconsin/#6 Michigan State
 

Funny thing is, that speculative path - at least up to the final - features teams we've played tough, beaten and should have beaten. This team is capable of so much more. It's staggering when I think of how much they've underperformed this year.
 

So we've lost 6 Big Ten games by 5 points or less. If we had won half of those, we'd be like 4th or 5th in the conference. The conference seems very open this year, and this season really feels like such a missed opportunity for us.
 

Nebraska
Purdue
@Iowa
@Indiana
Northwestern
@Wisconsin
@Michigan St
Wisconsin
Penn State

I'd say they need 5 wins. Get to 7-11 to pass up Nebraska or Illinois.
 

Face The Facts said:
Nebraska - W

Purdue
@Iowa
@Indiana
Northwestern
@Wisconsin
@Michigan St
Wisconsin
Penn State

Big Win today. They obviously needed that one.
I think they'll be competitive in all the games except the two Wisconsin games, but winning 4 more could prove difficult.
Click to expand...
 


Frustrating that we are chasing teams as low as Nebraska, but great that the win today was able to force a loss on Nebraska too. If we would have lost this one, falling another game behind Nebraska and giving them the tiebreaker could have been fatal to our chances to catch them.
 

Through Nebraska game (Jan. 31)

In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Will update this thread frequently. Next update tomorrow after Michigan-MSU game.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (7-1)
2. Ohio State (6-3)
3. Purdue (6-3)
4. Indiana (6-3)

Single Byes
5. Michigan (6-3)
6. Maryland (6-3)
7. Michigan State (5-3)
8. Iowa (4-4)
9. Nebraska (4-5)
10. Illinois (4-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-7)
13. Rutgers (2-8)
14. Northwestern (1-7)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Maryland in Day 2.
 

SelectionSunday said:
In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Will update this thread frequently. Next update tomorrow after Michigan-MSU game.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (7-1)
2. Ohio State (6-3)
3. Purdue (6-3)
4. Indiana (6-3)

Single Byes
5. Michigan (6-3)
6. Maryland (6-3)
7. Michigan State (5-3)
8. Iowa (4-4)
9. Nebraska (4-5)
10. Illinois (4-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-7)
13. Rutgers (2-8)
14. Northwestern (1-7)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Maryland in Day 2.
Click to expand...

Thanks for doing this...as someone that wants to see friends on Weds. night in Chicago (and their new baby), I'd REALLY love to play Thursday. So you're saying there's a chance...;)
 

A.B.M. (Anybody But Maryland). The Gophs could make a run at the Big Ten Tourney, but I believe a run-in with Maryland on Thursday would kill the hope. We do NOT want to play Maryland early in the conference tourney.
 



GopherLady said:
Thanks for doing this...as someone that wants to see friends on Weds. night in Chicago (and their new baby), I'd REALLY love to play Thursday. So you're saying there's a chance...;)
Click to expand...

Any time, GL. Looking at remaining schedules it will be tough for Gophers to get to #10, but it's doable. Best/most likely scenario is Nebraska bombing down the stretch. Huskers' final 7 games a brutal stretch.
 

It might not be such a bad thing to play Wednesday. The way this team has performed on the road/neutral setting, it might help them gain confidence to play a lower rated team on Wednesday and build momentum...you never know.
 

Blitzkrieg said:
It might not be such a bad thing to play Wednesday. The way this team has performed on the road/neutral setting, it might help them gain confidence to play a lower rated team on Wednesday and build momentum...you never know.
Click to expand...


If you have any dreams of a possible NCAA bid, the only way is by winning the NCAA tourney and playing 5 games in 5 games is a ridiculous feat.

If you are playing the opening weekend and you're battling to be 0.500 (tournament eligible) then picking up an easy win is good before the guarranteed loss of tournament play.
 

Through February 1

In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Will update this thread frequently. Next update after Tuesday's games.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (7-1)
2. Ohio State (6-3)
3. Maryland (6-3)
4. Purdue (6-3)

Single Byes
5. Michigan State (6-3)
6. Indiana (6-3)
7. Michigan (6-4)
8. Iowa (4-4)
9. Nebraska (4-5)
10. Illinois (4-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-7)
13. Rutgers (2-8)
14. Northwestern (1-7)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Indiana on Day 2.
 



Lost ground

Lost ground to Illinois & Nebraska last night.

The Gophers are one of 6 teams playing their final regular season game on Sunday (March 8), so if they play on Wednesday they would only have 2 days rest. To win the BTT they would be playing 6 games in 8 days.
 

Through Tuesday, Feb. 3 games

In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Next update after tonight's (Wednesday) games.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (8-1)
2. Ohio State (6-3) -- @ Purdue
3. Maryland (6-3) -- Penn State
4. Purdue (6-3) -- Ohio State

Single Byes
5. Michigan State (6-3)
6. Indiana (6-4)
7. Michigan (6-4)
8. Iowa (4-4)
9. Nebraska (5-5)
10. Illinois (5-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-7) -- @ Maryland
13. Rutgers (2-9)
14. Northwestern (1-8)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Indiana on Day 2.
 

Ope3 said:
The Gophers are one of 6 teams playing their final regular season game on Sunday (March 8), so if they play on Wednesday they would only have 2 days rest. To win the BTT they would be playing 6 games in 8 days.
Click to expand...

With the change to a Wednesday start for the Big Ten tourney, was a little surprised the Big Ten scheduled Sunday games on the final weekend. Cash/TV related, I'm sure. Was thinking they could play a couple Friday games on BTN, but forgot about the women's tournament being on BTN that weekend
 


SelectionSunday said:
In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Next update after tonight's (Wednesday) games.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (8-1)
2. Ohio State (6-3) -- @ Purdue
3. Maryland (6-3) -- Penn State
4. Purdue (6-3) -- Ohio State

Single Byes
5. Michigan State (6-3)
6. Indiana (6-4)
7. Michigan (6-4)
8. Iowa (4-4)
9. Nebraska (5-5)
10. Illinois (5-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-7) -- @ Maryland
13. Rutgers (2-9)
14. Northwestern (1-8)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Indiana on Day 2.
Click to expand...

I think it is possible to catch one of Illinois, Nebraska or Michigan to get to 10. Not sure it will happen but hoping. What I am very confident of: we will NOT play 6 games in 8 days. I doubt we will play 5 games in 8 days either. Be happy if we did either though. I'll also be happy if we beat Purdue. 10 looks doable for a couple days then.
 

The reality is Nebraska is the only team we realistically have a chance to catch. Illinois and Michigan should have little problem getting to 8 wins. Definitely can see Nebraska fading down the stretch, but that means the Gophers still have to get to at least 7 wins, even then passing someone not a given.
 

Through February 4

In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Next update after Thursday's Iowa-Michigan game.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (8-1)
2. Maryland (7-3)
3. Purdue (7-3)
4. Michigan State (6-3)

Single Byes
5. Ohio State (6-4)
6. Indiana (6-4)
7. Michigan (6-4) -- Iowa
8. Iowa (4-4) -- @ Michigan
9. Nebraska (5-5)
10. Illinois (5-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-8)
13. Rutgers (2-9)
14. Northwestern (1-8)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Indiana on Day 2.
 

Through February 6

In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Next update after Saturday games.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (8-1)
2. Maryland (7-3)
3. Purdue (7-3)
4. Michigan State (6-3)

Single Byes
5. Ohio State (6-4)
6. Indiana (6-4)
7. Iowa (5-4)
8. Michigan (6-5)
9. Nebraska (5-5)
10. Illinois (5-5)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (3-7)
12. Penn State (2-8)
13. Rutgers (2-9)
14. Northwestern (1-8)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Indiana on Day 2.
 

In other, related news, so much for Matt Painter losing his job. He seems to have coached his way out of that pickle. Kudos to him and what his team has done so far.
 

First order of business is beating Purdue, obviously, but in order to get to the #10 seed the Gophers really need to start getting help elsewhere. Really, really need Penn State to dump Nebraska this weekend, and it wouldn't hurt if Illinois lost @ MSU. We have a much better chance of catching the Huskers, but the Illini might as well lose, too.
 

SelectionSunday said:
First order of business is beating Purdue, obviously, but in order to get to the #10 seed the Gophers really need to start getting help elsewhere. Really, really need Penn State to dump Nebraska this weekend, and it wouldn't hurt if Illinois lost @ MSU. We have a much better chance of catching the Huskers, but the Illini might as well lose, too.
Click to expand...

Just focus on what we can control. Win the game at hand. A lot of basketball left to be played. What other cliche's can I put in here. Point is yes we need someone to lose a few but I'd have a hard time seeing 10/14 teams being at or above 0.500 at the end of the season. Someone will fall back a bit. We just need to win some games.
 

Bad Gopher said:
In other, related news, so much for Matt Painter losing his job. He seems to have coached his way out of that pickle. Kudos to him and what his team has done so far.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think it is fair to say Purdue is about where I thought the Gophers would be through 10 conference games given their schedule and the Gophers are about where I thought Purdue would be through 10 conference games. That first game was key.
 

golfing18now said:
I agree. I think it is fair to say Purdue is about where I thought the Gophers would be through 10 conference games given their schedule and the Gophers are about where I thought Purdue would be through 10 conference games. That first game was key.
Click to expand...

That first game was a crossroads - for both teams.
 

Nebraska and Michigan could lose the rest of their games. We may be favored in two home games. If Nebraska did lose them all we are past them with two wins. So, win the two home games ha but we absolutely can. Somehow steal a win from iowa, Mich St on the road or Wisconsin at home and we are up to 7 wins. Steal two and beat NW and Penn St and we are very safe...maybe talking NCAA with close losses and a couple wins in the Big Ten tourney? Our overall record and close losses gives me hope...if we win 3 or especially 4 more regular season. 3 more conference wins and two Big Ten tournament wins gets us to 20 wins. 4 and 1 also does.
4 and 2 with the close losses, 21 wins...are we in?

Here's the Bracket for the Big Ten Tournament http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/bracket_2015.pdf
 

Through February 7

In place of the "road to 22 wins", we'll do this in its place. The goal now for the Gophers is to avoid Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. Next update after Sunday games.

Double Byes
1. Wisconsin (9-1)
2. Maryland (7-3)
3. Purdue (7-4)
4. Michigan State (6-4)

Single Byes
5. Ohio State (6-4)
6. Indiana (6-4)
7. Iowa (5-4)
8. Illinois (6-5)
9. Michigan (6-5)
10. Nebraska (5-6)

The Fab 4 (playing on Wednesday)
11. GOPHERS (4-7)
12. Penn State (3-8)
13. Rutgers (2-9)
14. Northwestern (1-9)

GOPHERS/Northwestern winner draws Indiana on Thursday.

Looking at the positive? Gophers are 2-0 so far on the back 9 of the Big Ten season. Have started with a couple pars (home wins), now need a birdie (@ Iowa) to keep it rolling.
 

Hole 12 isn't one of the tougher handicap holes but the green has a funny grain to it and we never (putt) well on that surface!
 

Question: Could it be beneficial for the Gophers to play on Wednesday to add one win to the record? For example, if the Gophers were to finish something like 7-11, would it necessarily do any good to get the bye? Could it be worth it to pick up the extra win over Northwestern (not a given, I know) before getting into the more competitive B1G teams? Or would it be better in terms of postseason to have the bye in hand and hope it helps towards a deep run?
 

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