If Jim Dutcher is correct, the Gophers are headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Dutcher, the former Gopher coach and one of the smartest basketball authorities in this area, left the following voice mail message for Sports Headliners earlier this week:
“The Gophers go 11-7 in the Big Ten, 12-0 nonconference (and) 23 and 7 (overall). They’re in (the tournament). Can’t miss.”
Coach Tubby Smith’s team opened the Big Ten schedule last week by splitting two home games, losing to Michigan State and defeating Ohio State. In the Michigan State game the Gophers were dominated by a team that’s ranked No. 8 in the country by Associated Press and deserves to be the conference title favorite. But Minnesota, ranked 19th in the ESPN/USA Today poll and 22nd by A.P., looked like an NCAA tournament team in beating Ohio State, showing a determined defense and interchangeable personnel in the 68-59 win.
Smith said his team improved after the first two league games and added this: “…There was a big learning curve after we lost to Michigan State. We got a rude awakening and lesson in just how hard they have to play.”
The Gophers, with a 13-1 overall record, play their only game this season against Iowa tomorrow night in Iowa City. Dutcher figures the Gophers will win against the Hawkeyes (1-1 in conference, 11-4 overall) and here’s how he projects Minnesota’s record versus other Big Ten teams:
The Gophers will be 2-0 against Indiana, Northwestern and Ohio State. They will be 1-1 versus Illinois, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. Minnesota will be 0-2 against Michigan State and 0-1 versus Purdue, presumably the conference’s other best team.
As usual, every segment of the conference schedule will be challenging including the next four games with three of them on the road, at Iowa, Wisconsin (January 15) and Northwestern (January 18). The next two home games are Penn State on January 11 and Purdue on January 22.
If the Gophers have only one or two losses by January 22, Williams Arena could be jumpin’ for the Purdue game more than at any time in the Smith era which began last season.