BleedGopher
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per Marcus:
Take a quick look at the Gophers men’s basketball schedule in November and early December — and the first thing that jumps out at you will probably be the number of high-major opponents: seven.
Look closer at those opponents, the nonconference foes specifically, and you’ll see bottom-half teams from the SEC (Texas A&M), ACC (Boston College) and Big 12 (Oklahoma State) losing to the Big West, Horizon League and Conference USA already this season.
Washington, a Pac-12 contender and preseason ranked team, got humbled in a 22-point loss at Auburn.
Several of these major conference opponents suddenly look vulnerable. It’s an opportunity for a team like Minnesota to show how much it has improved from last season and build some confidence before Big Ten play.
If the Gophers (2-0) want to be considered in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth, it starts with taking care of business Sunday night against Texas A&M to open the Vancouver Showcase — and carrying that momentum over to Tuesday and Wednesday against Santa Clara and Washington.
“There’s a chance for us to go put the NCAA [tournament] on notice,” senior guard Dupree McBrayer said. “We’re a sleeper pick everywhere. We want that, but we also want everybody to feel that we’re on the rise.”
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-basketball-team-tests-the-high-major-waters/500759022/
Go Gophers!!
Take a quick look at the Gophers men’s basketball schedule in November and early December — and the first thing that jumps out at you will probably be the number of high-major opponents: seven.
Look closer at those opponents, the nonconference foes specifically, and you’ll see bottom-half teams from the SEC (Texas A&M), ACC (Boston College) and Big 12 (Oklahoma State) losing to the Big West, Horizon League and Conference USA already this season.
Washington, a Pac-12 contender and preseason ranked team, got humbled in a 22-point loss at Auburn.
Several of these major conference opponents suddenly look vulnerable. It’s an opportunity for a team like Minnesota to show how much it has improved from last season and build some confidence before Big Ten play.
If the Gophers (2-0) want to be considered in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth, it starts with taking care of business Sunday night against Texas A&M to open the Vancouver Showcase — and carrying that momentum over to Tuesday and Wednesday against Santa Clara and Washington.
“There’s a chance for us to go put the NCAA [tournament] on notice,” senior guard Dupree McBrayer said. “We’re a sleeper pick everywhere. We want that, but we also want everybody to feel that we’re on the rise.”
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-basketball-team-tests-the-high-major-waters/500759022/
Go Gophers!!