January 14 Big Ten & RPI Top 25 Update

Wouldn't this be something? In his most recent bracket projection, Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI.com projects the Gophers as the #4 seed in the West Region playing the #13 seed in Boise, Idaho. And who is that #13 seed? None other than Dan Monson's Long Beach State 49ers.

Rankings courtesy of CollegeRPI.com.

Big Ten RPI Rankings
5. Michigan State
14. Wisconsin
20. GOPHERS
26. Illinois
29. Ohio State
32. Michigan
50. Northwestern
60. Purdue
69. Iowa
83. Penn State
161. Indiana

Big Ten Nonconference SOS Rankings (out of 343 D-I teams)
30. Wisconsin
38. Indiana
57. Michigan State
74. Michigan
99. Northwestern
105. Ohio State
122. Illinois
168. Iowa
188. Purdue
235. GOPHERS
324. Penn State

Wins vs. RPI Top 50 (20)
Michigan St 6: vs. Oklahoma St (19), at Gophers (20), vs. Texas (23), Ohio State (29), Kansas (42), at Northwestern (50)
Michigan 3: Duke (2), Illinois (26), vs. UCLA (38)
Ohio St 2: Butler (4), at Miami-Florida (39)
Purdue 2: Wisconsin (14), vs. Davidson (31)
GOPHERS 2: vs. Louisville (15), Ohio State (29)
Wisconsin 2: at Michigan (32), Northwestern (50)
Northwestern 1: Florida State (27)
Illinois 1: vs. Mizzou (49)
Penn St 1: Northwestern (50)

National RPI Top 25 Rankings
1. Pitt
2. Duke
3. Clemson
4. Butler
5. Michigan State
6. UConn
7. Oklahoma
8. Xavier
9. North Carolina
10. Cal
11. Georgetown
12. Memphis
13. Syracuse
14. Wisconsin
15. Louisville
16. Wake Forest
17. West Virginia
18. Miami-Ohio
19. Oklahoma State
20. GOPHERS
21. Utah
22. Arizona State
23. Texas
24. Gonzaga
25. Marquette

I think that would be awesome for interest here in GopherLand. So all the Gophers need to do is KEEP WINNING!!!!! GO GOPHERS!!!!!

No thanks

The truth is, Long Beach State is about the last team I'd want the Gophers to face in the NCAA Tournament. Not because I think the Gophers would lose, or that Tubby would lose the X&O battle with Dan, but my goodness. ... IF SOMEHOW the Gophers did lose to a Monson-coached team in the NCAA just 2 years removed from his firing, that's about the only possible thing that could put a damper on the Gophers getting back to the NCAA Tournament so quickly after the rubble of a program Tubby inherited.

God forbid, it might even bring Loon back to the board to tell us how wrong Minnesota & Maturi were for not sticking with the status quo (read: mediocrity at best) of Monson and Mason.

Point well taken, SS, that is why I would like to see Tubby annihilate Monson, and keep commentors like Loon, and a jmarksor from FL quiet. Anyway, what will be, will be, and let's prepare to play anyone in the NCAA's, including KY!!!!!!!!!!!