Minnesota Gophers' Postseason Fate Remains Uncertain After Early Big Ten Tournament Exit

The Gophers' loss to Rutgers leaves their chances of making the NIT or College Basketball Crown in limbo.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Minnesota Gophers' early exit from the Big Ten tournament with a 72-67 loss to Rutgers has left their postseason outlook unclear. At 15-17 overall, the Gophers are out of contention for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, and their potential invitation to the NIT or the newer College Basketball Crown event is now in question.

Why it matters

The NIT and College Basketball Crown have both undergone significant changes in recent years, with the Crown becoming the preferred postseason tournament for many major conferences. Minnesota's standing in the NET rankings and the shrinking field size of the Crown make their path to the postseason uncertain.

The details

The NIT will still have 32 teams in 2026, with the top 12 conferences each receiving one exempt bid. However, many top conferences like the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East have opted to send their teams to the Crown over the NIT in recent years due to TV contracts. The Crown has also reduced its field from 16 to just 8 teams, inviting the top two NET-ranked teams from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East that miss the NCAA Tournament, plus two at-large bids. Minnesota currently sits at No. 80 in the NET, behind teams like Indiana, Washington and Northwestern who could claim the Crown bids.

  • The Gophers lost to Rutgers 72-67 in the Big Ten tournament on March 11, 2026.
  • The NIT and College Basketball Crown fields will be announced in less than 4 days.

The players

Niko Medved

The head coach of the Minnesota Gophers men's basketball team.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The men's basketball team that defeated Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament.

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What’s next

The Gophers' postseason fate will be determined in the coming days as the fields for the NIT and College Basketball Crown are announced. Their standing in the NET rankings and the shrinking Crown field size will be key factors in whether they receive an invitation.

The takeaway

The Gophers' early exit from the Big Ten tournament has left their postseason prospects in limbo, with uncertainty around whether they will receive a bid to the NIT or the more prestigious College Basketball Crown event. The changing landscape of the postseason tournaments has added complexity to the Gophers' situation, highlighting the challenges mid-major programs face in securing a spot in the national spotlight.