Minnesota Gophers Aim for Big Ten Tournament Success

Gophers look to make noise in Chicago after up-and-down regular season

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Minnesota Gophers men's basketball team will begin their Big Ten Tournament run this week in Chicago as the 11th seed. With a first-round matchup against 14th-seeded Rutgers, the Gophers are expected to advance, but anything beyond that would be considered a surprise given their struggles on the road this season.

Why it matters

The Gophers do not have an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament locked up, so a strong showing in the Big Ten Tournament could help bolster their chances of earning a spot in the College Basketball Crown postseason tournament. A deep run in Chicago would also provide a boost of momentum heading into the offseason for head coach Niko Medved and his young squad.

The details

Minnesota beat Rutgers 80-61 at home during the regular season, and ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Gophers a 70.2% chance of winning their first-round game. However, the Gophers have struggled mightily away from their home court, going just 2-12 in road and neutral site games this season. Advancing past the first round would likely require the Gophers to knock off higher-seeded opponents like UCLA or Michigan State, which would be a tall task given their road woes.

  • The Big Ten Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • Minnesota's first-round game against Rutgers is scheduled for Wednesday night around 8 p.m. CT.
  • If the Gophers advance, they would play their next game on Thursday night around 8 p.m. CT.

The players

Niko Medved

First-year head coach of the Minnesota Gophers men's basketball team.

Rutgers

The 14th-seeded team in the Big Ten Tournament, with a 13-18 overall record and 6-14 conference mark.

UCLA

A potential opponent for Minnesota in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan State

Another potential opponent for Minnesota in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

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What’s next

If the Gophers advance past Rutgers, they would face the winner of the UCLA-Michigan State matchup in the second round on Thursday night.

The takeaway

While the Gophers are expected to take care of business against Rutgers in the first round, a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament would be a major surprise given their struggles away from home this season. However, any postseason success could provide a valuable boost of momentum for Niko Medved and his young squad heading into the offseason.