Gophers Coach Calls Out Lack of 'Respect' from Badgers

Niko Medved frustrated by repeated misspelling of his name after loss to Wisconsin

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:47am

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University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Niko Medved expressed frustration after his team's 67-63 loss to Wisconsin on Wednesday, calling out the continued misspelling of his name as 'Nico' on a name card at the postgame press conference. Medved, a Roseville native who has deep ties to the Minnesota program, said the lack of respect shown by the Badgers is indicative of the Gophers' struggles in the long-running Border Battle rivalry, which has now seen Minnesota lose 11 straight games to Wisconsin.

Why it matters

The Gophers-Badgers rivalry is one of the most storied in college basketball, and Medved's comments highlight the ongoing challenges Minnesota faces in earning respect from their in-state rivals. The Gophers' recent struggles, including playing short-handed due to injuries, have only exacerbated the rivalry dynamics.

The details

Medved held up a name card that spelled his name as 'Nico' during his postgame press conference, saying 'You know how much we still don't have enough respect when we still spell it N-I-C-O, right? One day we will get it right.' The Gophers led by 18 points at halftime but were outscored 50-28 in the second half, falling 67-63. Minnesota has now lost six straight games and 11 in a row to Wisconsin dating back to 2016.

  • The Gophers lost to Wisconsin 67-63 on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.
  • Minnesota has now lost 11 consecutive games to Wisconsin, the longest streak in the rivalry since the Badgers won 10 straight from 1912-16.

The players

Niko Medved

The head coach of the University of Minnesota men's basketball team, who has deep ties to the program as a former player, student manager, and assistant coach.

John Blackwell

A guard for the Wisconsin Badgers, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer against Minnesota earlier this season.

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What they’re saying

“You know how much we still don't have enough respect when we still spell it N-I-C-O, right? One day we will get it right.”

— Niko Medved, Head Coach, University of Minnesota (twincities.com)

“What would I expect in Madison, right?”

— Niko Medved, Head Coach, University of Minnesota (twincities.com)

What’s next

Barring a rematch in the Big Ten tournament, the Gophers' quest to end their 11-game losing streak against the Badgers will continue into the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Niko Medved's frustration over the continued lack of respect shown by Wisconsin towards Minnesota highlights the ongoing challenges the Gophers face in this long-running rivalry, especially as they struggle with injuries and a six-game losing streak. Earning respect from their in-state foes remains a priority for the Minnesota program.