Golden Gophers

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NCAAB Minnesota Golden Gophers

General Information

Conference: Big Ten

NCAA Division: Division I

City: Minneapolis, MN

Stadium: Williams Arena

Championships

  • National Championships: None
  • Conference Titles: None
  • NCAA Tournaments: 14 (1972, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019)

Past Conferences:

  • Western
  • Independent

Minnesota Golden Gophers Standings & Analysis

This college basketball team analysis breaks down the team stats that matter and provides insights into the Minnesota Golden Gophers standings for this season, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Whether you’re a seasoned sports analyst or just starting to follow college basketball, this section has something for everyone. Be sure to check the updated NCAAB injury report and the best team players.

All-Time Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats & Records

Points Scored

  • Voshon Lenard: 2,103
  • Mychal Thompson: 1,992
  • Jordan Murphy: 1,802

Rebounds

  • Jordan Murphy: 1,305
  • Mychal Thompson: 956
  • Kevin McHale: 950

Assists

  • Arriel McDonald: 547
  • Nate Mason: 512
  • Kevin Burleson: 440

Wins

  • Louis Cooke: 248
  • Clem Haskins: 239
  • Dave McMillan: 196

Overview of the Minnesota Golden Gophers Standings

Last-Season Standings

The Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball team had an up-and-down 2021-2022 NCAAB season, finishing with a record of 15-16. They started the season off strong with six consecutive wins, including a dominant 71-56 victory over the Michigan Wolverines. However, they then went on to lose five straight games, which put a damper on their early-season success.

Despite this setback, the Golden Gophers were able to bounce back and earn some impressive victories throughout the season. One of their standout performances was a thrilling 68-67 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in early February. They also had a strong showing in the Big Ten Conference tournament, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before ultimately falling to the Illinois Fighting Illini.

One of the key contributors to the Golden Gophers’ success was senior guard Marcus Carr. Carr was a consistent scoring threat throughout the season, averaging 19.4 points per game and shooting 37.5% from the field. He was also a strong distributor, recording 4.9 assists per game.

Another standout player for the Golden Gophers was sophomore center Liam Robbins. Robbins was a dominant force in the paint, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. He was also an excellent defender, recording 78 total blocks throughout the season.

In terms of national rankings, the Golden Gophers did not fare particularly well. They were ranked 72nd out of 357 Division I teams in the KenPom rankings, which is a statistical system that ranks teams based on their performance throughout the season. They were also ranked 65th in the NCAA’s official NET rankings. The Minnesota Golden Gophers Standings in the national rankings were not impressive.

Despite these rankings, the Golden Gophers showed some real progress throughout the season. They were able to compete with some of the top teams in the Big Ten Conference and showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers Standings in the conference placed them in the middle of the pack. With some key players returning next year, the Golden Gophers could be poised for a breakout season in 2022-2023.

Before Betting on Minnesota Golden Gophers, Check Out These Tips:


Monitor any injuries or suspensions

Before placing a bet, make sure to check whether any key players on the Minnesota Golden Gophers are injured or suspended. These factors can have a big impact on the team’s performance and may influence your betting decision.


Consider the odds

Finally, consider the odds being offered by the sportsbook for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Are they offering favorable odds that make it worth placing a bet? Make sure to compare the odds across different sportsbooks to find the best value.


Analyze the team’s recent performance

Before placing a bet, take a look at how the Minnesota Golden Gophers have been performing in recent games. Check their win-loss record, their performance against other teams in their conference, and their overall statistics such as points per game and shooting percentage.

Evaluate the opposing team

Before placing a bet on the Minnesota Golden Gophers, analyze their opponents. Consider their strengths and weaknesses, recent performance, and how they match up against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This information can help you make more informed betting decisions.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Basketball History

The men’s basketball program at the University of Minnesota has enjoyed some success, but that comes with a couple of disclaimers. First of all, many of their most successful years relative to league and regional rivals occurred early in the 1900s, when the program won more than half of its regular-season conference titles.

Additionally, resurgent periods in the 1970s and 1990s were eventually marred by NCAA sanctions passed down due to a variety of indiscretions. In the midst of one of those eras, the Golden Gophers were the primary culprits in a brutal brawl against Ohio State that put another stain on the program.

Long before all of that, a man named Louis Cooke guided the program from its inception in the mid-1890s through 1924. His teams claimed five Big Ten titles and the 1902, 1903, and 1919 teams were retroactively awarded national championships.

There was another Big Ten crown in 1937, but, since then, the team has finished first in the league only three times and it has never won the conference tournament.

There were some solid squads in the 1950s under Ozzie Cowles, who had a .612 winning percentage in his 11 seasons, but the 1960s produced only three teams with winning records and four different head coaches patrolled the sidelines between 1967 and 1972.

The last of those men was Bill Musselman, who would later be the first head coach in Minnesota Timberwolves history. His first unit in 1971-72 featured future NBA standout Jim Brewer and eventual baseball hall-of-famer Dave Winfield. It was a formidable squad that held opponents to just 58.0 points per game, and it had a reputation as a tough-as-nails team.

Unfortunately, that toughness turned to terror one night in January against Ohio State, who led late in a game at Minnesota’s Williams Arena. After a hard foul on a Buckeyes player, mayhem broke loose and several on the Ohio State side were attacked by Golden Gophers players, fans and even the mascot.

The melee sent multiple Buckeyes to the hospital and many have claimed they never recovered mentally from that incident, spurred on in part by Musselman declaring the game to be the biggest in program history. Two Minnesota players were suspended for the rest of the season and missed out on the team’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The following year the Gophers were even better, ranking in the top 10 all season. However, they fell short of the Big Ten crown and were left with an NIT berth that ended in the quarterfinals.

Musselman resigned after two more seasons and was attached to several indiscretions, including giving money to players and allegedly attempting to strike another. Following his departure, an NCAA investigation unearthed more than 100 violations in Musselman’s four years, and the program was barred from postseason play for two years.

The 1981-82 team, featuring 7-3 Randy Breuer among several future NBAers, helped pull the program out of the ashes with a run to the Big Ten title and a win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Jimmy Dutcher would last just 3½ more seasons before resigning over the school’s decision to forfeit a game in the wake of rape charges against three of the players, another in a long line of dark chapters.

Clem Haskins took over in 1986-87 and would soon construct some of the best teams in program history. But as with everything surrounding this team, it was marred by scandal, this time with a massive academic fraud issue.

Before that came to surface, Haskins led both the 1988-89 and 1989-90 teams on Cinderella runs in the NCAA Tournament. Although NCAAB odds were against them, an 11th-seeded team reached the Sweet 16 in the first of those years and a 6th-seeded squad made it to the Elite Eight the following year.

There were two more Big Dance appearances in 1994 and 1995 before Haskins’ team put it all together in 1996-97. Minnesota Golden Gophers team stats that season displayed a unit that dominated inside, ranking in the top 10 in the country in rebounds and two-point shots, as well as assists and steals. It claimed the Big Ten by four games over and rolled over its first two opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

After a double-overtime win against Clemson to reach the Elite Eight, Minnesota knocked off second-seeded UCLA to make it to the Final Four, the school’s first and only visit. A loss to a loaded Kentucky team ended the run in the national semifinals.

Two years later, as the Gophers were about to begin another NCAA Tournament appearance, the details of the academic fraud became exposed. Several players involved were suspended before the team lost to Gonzaga and Haskins was dismissed after the season.

Eventually, the NCAA forced the team to vacate all results from the 1993-94 season through the 1998-99 campaign, creating a massive hole in the program’s history. There have been six NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT title under five different head coaches ever since, with Tubby Smith and Richard Pitino – son of Rick – the most notable figures in that time frame, but the team has rarely been a contender.

After Pitino suffered through back-to-back losing seasons amid the COVID years, Ben Johnson -a local kid who was a star at De La Salle High School in Minneapolis- took over before the 2021-22 season. His first squad opened 10-1 before falling on hard times, going 4-16 in the Big Ten.

Early betting tips suggest the Golden Gophers will have long odds next season and be at or near the bottom of the Big Ten again, as a rebuild continues.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Basketball FAQs

What is the highest win total in Minnesota Golden Gophers program history?

Although it isn’t recognized in an official capacity due to NCAA violations, the 1996-97 team won 31 games in a Final Four run. The most wins in a season not marked by vacated victories are 25, accomplished in 2013-14.

What was the worst season in Minnesota Golden Gophers program history?

A few teams very early in Minnesota’s history had worse winning percentages than the 2015-16 squad, but none had more losses. That team was 8-23 and went 2-16 in Big Ten play.

Who is the greatest player in Minnesota Golden Gophers program history?

There’s a good debate to be had here but we’re going with Mychal Thompson, who was a four-year star who averaged over 20 points per game in each of his last three seasons. Thompson was an All-Big Ten first-team performer in each of those campaigns and was an All-American twice. He remains second on the school’s all-time list in both points and rebounds.

Drafted first overall in 1978, Thompson enjoyed a standout NBA career that included back-to-back championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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