Joe Lunardi - ESPN: Gophers move up a spot from the 8 to a 7 seed after the win over Indiana. This matchup would have them playing California in a 7/10 matchup in Greenville, South Carolina. The winner would likely play the #2 seed North Carolina Tarheels.
USA Today: Minnesota moves up a spot in USA Today's poll after the win over Indiana last night. This projection has them playing TCU in a 7/10 matchup in Orlando. The winner of this game would play Florida State in round two, who is the 2 seed.
Jerry Palm - CBS: He hasn't updated his since Monday, which had the Gophers as a 7 seed against Kansas State, who is a 10 seed, in Greenville. The winner would play North Carolina.
Analysis: There are five games to go now, including three winnable home games against Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska. If they were to do this and lose to Wisconsin and Maryland on the road and then lose their first game in the Big Ten tournament, they likely wouldn't fall below a 7 or 8 seed. With 3-5 wins and a run in the Big Ten tournament, they could possibly work their way up to a 5 or 6 seed.
For Those Hoping to Travel to Milwaukee or Indianapolis for a Regional:
Milwaukee: There are two 5/12 matchups in each Milwaukee regional. So the Gophers would have to get win big time to get to a 5 seed, and that would involve probably 6-7 more wins before the NCAA Tournament. The winners of the 5/12 matchups would play the 4/13 winners, and right now a four seed just seems a little far-fetched. If Wisconsin is in that same range as a 5 seed, they would likely get the nod over Minnesota because of how close Madison is to Milwaukee. This would be a good location for Gopher fans, though, as it is just about 5 hours east of Minneapolis.
Indianapolis: The pairings for the two Indianapolis regionals are one 3/14 and 6/11 matchup and one 2/15 and 7/10 matchup. It's possible for Minnesota to get paired here if they work their way up to a 6 seed, but there are just so many teams that are reasonably close to Indianapolis. Teams like Louisville, Xavier, Notre Dame, Purdue, etc. So it will be tough for Minnesota to get paired here.
USA Today: Minnesota moves up a spot in USA Today's poll after the win over Indiana last night. This projection has them playing TCU in a 7/10 matchup in Orlando. The winner of this game would play Florida State in round two, who is the 2 seed.
Jerry Palm - CBS: He hasn't updated his since Monday, which had the Gophers as a 7 seed against Kansas State, who is a 10 seed, in Greenville. The winner would play North Carolina.
Analysis: There are five games to go now, including three winnable home games against Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska. If they were to do this and lose to Wisconsin and Maryland on the road and then lose their first game in the Big Ten tournament, they likely wouldn't fall below a 7 or 8 seed. With 3-5 wins and a run in the Big Ten tournament, they could possibly work their way up to a 5 or 6 seed.
For Those Hoping to Travel to Milwaukee or Indianapolis for a Regional:
Milwaukee: There are two 5/12 matchups in each Milwaukee regional. So the Gophers would have to get win big time to get to a 5 seed, and that would involve probably 6-7 more wins before the NCAA Tournament. The winners of the 5/12 matchups would play the 4/13 winners, and right now a four seed just seems a little far-fetched. If Wisconsin is in that same range as a 5 seed, they would likely get the nod over Minnesota because of how close Madison is to Milwaukee. This would be a good location for Gopher fans, though, as it is just about 5 hours east of Minneapolis.
Indianapolis: The pairings for the two Indianapolis regionals are one 3/14 and 6/11 matchup and one 2/15 and 7/10 matchup. It's possible for Minnesota to get paired here if they work their way up to a 6 seed, but there are just so many teams that are reasonably close to Indianapolis. Teams like Louisville, Xavier, Notre Dame, Purdue, etc. So it will be tough for Minnesota to get paired here.
