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Gophers Face Tough Path to Final Four, UCLA Rematch Looms
Minnesota's NCAA Tournament journey could include a rematch with the top-seeded Bruins
Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:37pm
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The Minnesota Gophers have officially returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. As a 4-seed, they face a challenging path to the Final Four, potentially including a rematch with the top-seeded UCLA Bruins, who defeated them earlier this season.
Why it matters
The Gophers' return to the Big Dance is a significant milestone, but they will need to navigate a treacherous bracket that could include battles with high-powered programs like UCLA and Ole Miss to make a deep tournament run.
The details
Minnesota opens against 13-seed Green Bay, who had a solid regular season with a win over Kansas State and close losses to Wisconsin and Washington. The Gophers are heavy 22.5-point favorites at home. If they advance, they would likely face 5-seed Ole Miss, led by Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon, in the second round. A potential Sweet 16 matchup with 1-seed UCLA, who defeated Minnesota by 18 earlier this season, looms as a major obstacle to the Gophers' Final Four aspirations.
- The Gophers' first-round game against Green Bay is scheduled for Friday night at Williams Arena.
- The potential second-round matchup with Ole Miss would take place on Sunday.
The players
Cotie McMahon
The 5-seed Ole Miss Rebels are led by Ohio State transfer guard Cotie McMahon, who is averaging 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game this season.
Lauren Betts
The top-seeded UCLA Bruins feature center Lauren Betts, who helped lead the team to the Big Ten Tournament championship.
Kiki Rice
UCLA guard Kiki Rice is another key player for the Bruins, who are the overall 1-seed in the tournament.
What’s next
The Gophers' potential Sweet 16 matchup with UCLA would take place in Sacramento, California.
The takeaway
Minnesota's return to the NCAA Tournament is an exciting moment, but they face a daunting path that could include battles with high-powered programs like UCLA and Ole Miss. Advancing to the Final Four will require the Gophers to overcome significant challenges and avenge an earlier loss to the top-seeded Bruins.
