Nothing comes easy in Big 10 Basketball, especially with Tubby Smith’s squad.
After beating No. 1 Indiana, the Gophers have gone into freefall, losing to who the immortal Ken Pomeroy –college basketball aficionado and ESPN consultant — says are the 65th, 127th, and 42nd best teams in the land.
These results have made the maroon and gold’s hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid a little too close for comfort, especially since Minnesota’s RPI rating has now dropped to 33 nationwide.
But bracketologist Joe Lunardi says the U is still in line for a bid and first round matchup with former Gopher Colton Iverson.
Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com doesn’t like the direction Tubby’s team is headed, but still believes they’re in as well, with a first-round match-up with Creighton on the horizon. The Blue Jays are Missouri Valley Conference champions, led by MVC title game hero and Minnesotan Ethan Wragge.
Any way you cut it, there will be a few nervous Gophers fans around campus come Selection Sunday.
While the overwhelming opinion sees Minnesota getting in, their situation is hard to believe after their scorching hot start.
