With Robbins Aboard, Gophers Slide Into Latest Field of 68 Projection

[SelectionSunday]

The Gophers move into my Field of 68 projection with the NCAA's announcement of Drake transfer Liam Robbins' immediate eligibility for next season. Both Gach's waiver will be a formality, so I expect we'll see him in a Gopher uniform next season, too.

The Big Ten appears loaded for next season. I see 11 of the 14 teams with the potential to be NCAA squads, but for now I'm going with a nation-best 9 NCAA bids. The Gophers have more than enough talent, versatility, and depth to be one of those 9.

An * denotes the projected champion in a multiple-bid conference.

FIELD OF 68 PROJECTION (September 2)
America East (1): Vermont

American (3): *Houston, Memphis, SMU

ACC (7): Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, *Virginia

ASUN (1): Lipscomb

Atlantic 10 (2): *Richmond, Saint Louis

Big East (5): Creighton, Providence, Seton Hall, UConn, *Villanova

Big Sky (1): Northern Colorado

Big South (1): Winthrop

Big Ten (9): *Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin

Big XII (6): *Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia

Big West (1): UCSB

Colonial (1): College of Charleston

Conference USA (1): Western Kentucky

Horizon (1): Youngstown State

Ivy (1): Yale

MAAC (1): Iona

MAC (1): Bowling Green

MEAC (1): NCCU

Missouri Valley (1): Loyola

Mountain West (2): *San Diego State, UNLV

Northeast (1): Saint Francis-Pa

Ohio Valley (1): Austin Peay

Pac 12 (4): Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, *UCLA

Patriot (1): Colgate

SEC (6): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, *Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee

SoCon (1): UNC-Greensboro

Southland (1): Stephen F. Austin

SWAC (1): Southern U

Summit (1): South Dakota State

Sun Belt (1): South Alabama

WCC (2): BYU, *Gonzaga

WAC (1): New Mexico State
__________________________________

Last 4 In: Miami-Florida, Providence, SMU, UNLV

First 4 Out: Cincinnati, Florida, Northern Iowa, Purdue

Dozen to Watch: Boise State, Bradley, Clemson, Dayton, Furman, Marquette, Maryland, San Francisco, South Carolina, USC, Utah State, Xavier

Non-Power 6 At-Large Bids (5): BYU, Memphis, Saint Louis, SMU, UNLV

Final 4: Baylor, Gonzaga, Villanova, Virginia

Lurking: Creighton, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas

National Champion: Gonzaga

 

[BleedGopher]

I like!!

Thanks for keeping this list updated.

Go Gophers!!

 

[gopherguy15]

Good list. Two mid-majors definitely to watch are Boise St and Rhode Island. Both could be NCAA tournament squads.

Still hoping the Gophers get to play Saint Louis in the non-conference. That was a solid choice by Pitino. Should be their best team in years.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Good list. Two mid-majors definitely to watch are Boise St and Rhode Island. Both could be NCAA tournament squads.

Still hoping the Gophers get to play Saint Louis in the non-conference. That was a solid choice by Pitino. Should be their best team in years.

Yep, I think I missed the boat not including Rhode Island among the "Dozen to Watch". I'll probably get that rectified with the next projection. A-10 looks pretty good this year at the top with 4-5 squads.

 

[GrampaGopher]

Yes, but will they be above 500 in the Big Ten? If you want the top MN recruits to stay home you need to compete for championships.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Could we say climb instead of slide,