March Madness 2025 is just around the corner, but before then, there are several exciting matchups we can expect before the regular season comes to an end. The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team is going to be part of several of them, as the team’s February schedule is packed with Big Ten matches.
This page covers all the Golden Gophers basketball action for the month.
Game-by-game analysis for Minnesota through February
Sat, Feb 1 vs Washington
The Golden Gophers will travel to Washington in a Big Ten rivalry match that’s sure to bring thrilling surprises. These two teams haven’t played against each other since 2018, where the match ended 68-66 in Minnesota’s favor. This season, though, the Golden Gophers are 18th in Big Ten standings against Washington’s 15th place.
Tue, Feb 4 @ Penn State
This is the first meeting of these teams this season and another Big Ten matchup. The Nittany Lions were the weaker side last season, with Minnesota winning two out of two matches they played that term. This time around, PSU are 12th in the Big Ten and doing big numbers (86.8 PPG, 33.2 RPG, 18.1 APG). With Penn State having the home advantage as well, the Golden Gophers will have to be confident enough in their past dominance to try and win the game.
Sat, Feb 8 vs Illinois
The Fighting Illini are among the best-performing teams in the conference this season and, based on past head-to-heads, have won the last seven matchups since 2020. As such, it will be a tough hurdle for Minnesota to surmount.
Sat Feb 15 @ USC
The Trojans entered a new era this season as they debuted in the Big Ten. They’re averaging more points per game than Minnesota, which is why they’re higher on the table (16th). However, they’re still finding their footing in their new conference, which may be an opening for Minnesota to swoop in for the win.
Tue, Feb 18 @ UCLA
Another new entry into the Big Ten, UCLA quickly earned their first win against the Washington Huskies in early December 2024 and are 10th in the standings. Minnesota, which has yet to grab its first Big Ten win of the season, will be itching to do so against the newbies.
Sat, Feb 22 vs Penn State
Minnesota will meet Penn State again, but this time on the home ground of the Golden Gophers. The rematch is likely to be a closely contested one, with the winners of the earlier encounter coming in more confident and the losers eager to redeem themselves. SportyTrader regularly has the best NCAA picks and predictions, so make sure to check out the site for expert forecasts on this reverse game.
Tue Feb 25 vs Northwestern
Northwestern won three of the past five head-to-heads, with the Golden Gophers edging out their opponents on the other two. The Wildcats are in the bottom half of the Big Ten alongside Minnesota, so this one is going to be a pretty even matchup that could go either way.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the most prestigious collegiate teams in the US. They’re one of the founding members of the Big Ten and have played in this conference since 1896, when it was first established. The team has revealed some incredible talent in Dawson Garcia, Isaac Asuma and Lu’Cye Patterson this season. It’s left to see if they’ll finally grab their first Big Ten win or stay locked at the bottom of the conference.