BleedGopher
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per RandBall:
*Gophers: On a macro level, Minnesota’s 73-69 victory over Big Ten-leading Purdue was a major positive affirmation. Minnesota under Richard Pitino hasn’t always risen to the occasion in big games, but on Tuesday the Gophers certainly did. Amir Coffey was brilliant for the second straight game, which bodes well if he’s entering a hot streak.
On a micro level, the victory obviously enhanced the Gophers’ chances of making the NCAA tournament. They’re currently 19-11, including 9-10 in the Big Ten. They didn’t move in terms of seeding with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi (who still has them as a No. 11) or CBS’s Jerry Palm (who still has them as a No. 10), but they did move up the rung a couple places on Lunardi’s “last four teams to get a bye” list.
Was that one win enough to conclude the Gophers are safely in the field of 68? I wouldn’t quite go that far. While a loss at Maryland in the regular-season finale wouldn’t do much damage, that in combination with a first-round loss in the conference tournament would still leave Minnesota on shakier ground.
If we look at this simulator — thanks to @GettingGophery for reminding me of it — a loss to Maryland and then, say, Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament would according to the model still leave the Gophers more likely than not to receive a bid, but only around a 61 percent probability.
A loss to Maryland and a win over Rutgers in the conference tourney before a loss to Michigan State would give the Gophers an estimated 73 percent chance of getting a bid.
But long story short: The Purdue win was huge. Change Tuesday’s result to a loss, then give the Gophers just one more win over Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament in the simulator, and their likelihood of getting in drops to 36 percent.
The signs point to yes. To remove more doubt: win another game. To remove all doubt: keep winning.
http://www.startribune.com/big-night-for-gophers-wolves-and-wild-what-does-it-all-mean/506767932/
Go Gophers!!
*Gophers: On a macro level, Minnesota’s 73-69 victory over Big Ten-leading Purdue was a major positive affirmation. Minnesota under Richard Pitino hasn’t always risen to the occasion in big games, but on Tuesday the Gophers certainly did. Amir Coffey was brilliant for the second straight game, which bodes well if he’s entering a hot streak.
On a micro level, the victory obviously enhanced the Gophers’ chances of making the NCAA tournament. They’re currently 19-11, including 9-10 in the Big Ten. They didn’t move in terms of seeding with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi (who still has them as a No. 11) or CBS’s Jerry Palm (who still has them as a No. 10), but they did move up the rung a couple places on Lunardi’s “last four teams to get a bye” list.
Was that one win enough to conclude the Gophers are safely in the field of 68? I wouldn’t quite go that far. While a loss at Maryland in the regular-season finale wouldn’t do much damage, that in combination with a first-round loss in the conference tournament would still leave Minnesota on shakier ground.
If we look at this simulator — thanks to @GettingGophery for reminding me of it — a loss to Maryland and then, say, Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament would according to the model still leave the Gophers more likely than not to receive a bid, but only around a 61 percent probability.
A loss to Maryland and a win over Rutgers in the conference tourney before a loss to Michigan State would give the Gophers an estimated 73 percent chance of getting a bid.
But long story short: The Purdue win was huge. Change Tuesday’s result to a loss, then give the Gophers just one more win over Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament in the simulator, and their likelihood of getting in drops to 36 percent.
The signs point to yes. To remove more doubt: win another game. To remove all doubt: keep winning.
http://www.startribune.com/big-night-for-gophers-wolves-and-wild-what-does-it-all-mean/506767932/
Go Gophers!!