Gophers are the four-seed in the event (photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS
Gophers headed to Big Ten Tourney (AUDIO)
#4 MINNESOTA (23-8, 11-6) vs. TBD
Friday, March 10 – 1:30 p.m. CT
Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
STARTING FIVE
• The Minnesota men’s basketball team heads to the Nation’s Capital to begin its postseason schedule, as the fourth-seeded Gophers await their opponent in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Washington, D.C. Minnesota earned its highest-ever seed in the Big Ten Tournament dating to its 1998 inception, along with its first-ever double-bye. Finishing fourth in the conference standings, it marked the best finish since the 2005 season where the Gophers tied for fourth and earned the fifth seed in the tournament.
• Five members of the Minnesota basketball program were recognized Monday with All-Big Ten accolades. Junior Nate Mason was named to the All-Big Ten first team, sophomore Jordan Murphy earned third team honors, while Amir Coffey was selected to the All-Freshman team. Head coach Richard Pitino earned the Big Ten Coach of the Year honor – the first Gophers head mentor to do so since 1982 – while redshirt junior Reggie Lynch was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, also just thesecond time in school history that a Minnesota player earned the award.
• With a record of 23-8 to date, the Gophers are the NCAA’s most improved team. The Gophers have also now tallied five road wins in conference play, their most since 1982. The previous eight-game win streak in B1G play is the best since the 1973 stretch of nine. The Gophers also earned 11 wins for the first time in Big Tenplay since 1990.
• In the latest edition of the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) as of Mar. 7, the Gophers stand in 20th place. The Gophers once again received votes in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls this week.
• Lynch sits among the nation’s leaders in blocked shots. The Edina, Minn. native now has 106 blocks on the season, leading both the team and the Big Ten Conference and second nationally with an average of 3.5 blocks per game. He is spearheading the Minnesota team blocking effort which leads Division I at 7.0 blocksper game. Lynch has also made his mark on the record books, becoming the new leader for single season blocks among all-time Gophers. He is just the seventh player in Big Ten history to block more than 100 shots in a season. MNN Sports Director Mike Grimm spoke with Lynch this week about his honors:
#22 Reggie Lynch blocks a shot (photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)