What do the Gophers need to do?

[anonymous]

.... to get into the NCAA tournament?

My feeling is that they need two more wins against teams other than Iowa, Indiana and Northwestern. And they need to avoid a bad loss.

Win both games this week and don't do anything stupid in Indy and I think they're fine.

If they split the two games this week, they very well may be playing one of the bottom three in the first round in Indy. If that's the case, I really think they need to win the first round game and the quarterfinal game.

Thoughts?

 

[burton34]

Simple. Win two this week and not make fools of ourselves in Indy. If we even split this week, I think we're out. Unless we make a deep run to the BT championship.

 

[howeda7]

Selection Sunday had a good breakdown in his post on Friday. I pretty much agree with it. Basically, win 2, you're in. Split, beating Wiscy, and one BTT win is probably enough. Spit beating Michan, and 2 BTT wins are needed. Lose both and only a run to the BTT final gives you a shot.

 

[XMan]

I think we will win both games, and make it in. I expect them to win. These are both games at home that we should win. If we don't, then we don't deserve to be in.

 

[KyGopherfan]

We play much better at home. It seems the team is more loose. I fully anticipate we'll punch our ticket with 2 big wins at home this week.

 

[cncmin]

IMO, it's pretty simple, actually. I believe 7 Big Ten teams are headed to the Dance no matter what, based on conference RPI, sports writers' projections, etc. Our RPI is high enough that we'll likely be in (e.g., Providence, with a 72 RPI, shouldn't be a threat), as long as we don't do anything stupid, where "stupid" is losing both games here, or losing one by a huge margin and barely escaping the other.

IMO, the situation is this. Beating Wisconsin doesn't do much for us in terms of keeping us in, because they're not a true bubble team. If we beat Wisconsin but lose to Mich., we may very well need to win 2 in the BTT to even have a chance. If we beat Michigan and lose to Wisc., as long as Michigan doesn't make a big run in the BTT, or as long as we win at least one there, we're in. Why? Because Michigan's non-conference record wasn't as good, and whoever wins that game will be a top-7 BT team heading into the BTT.

If we lose both, we'll have to win the BTT, or at least make the championship game and play well in it.

If we win both, we're firmly in no matter what we do in the BTT (although a loss to Indiana would probably put us back on the front side of the bubble.

 

[Monty519]

I think winning two this week will effectively "clinch" a berth into the NCAA tournament. If we split, I think we actually could still sneak in there if we don't have a bad loss in the BTT. But I wouldn't count on that. Just win the last two here and feel good about it lol.

 

[gopher madness]

The gophers will be fine if they play their game. Play good defense at the start and the offense will get going at home. Play one game at a time. DON'T look ahead to Saturday. Play Wisconsin like we did at their house earlier this season and on Thursday begin preparation for Michigan. These gophers can do it. WE need to get behind them!
Go Gophers!