Champaign, Ill. - No need for some lengthy blog post.

You all understand the stakes.

If the Gophers lose at Illinois Saturday afternoon, their extremely slim chances of earning an NCAA tournament at-large berth will be ruined.

In that scenario, they'd have to win the Big Ten tourney title to get a bid. Tough task for a team that's won just three games away from Williams Arena this season.

Winning out and getting to the Big Ten tourney title game, however, could be enough to secure an at-large berth.

No room for error.

Forget the history. The Gophers can beat the Illini.

But they could've/should've won games against Michigan State, Purdue, Indiana, etc. They haven't proven that they can finish.

I think this game will be decided in the first 10 minutes.

We'll either see a Gophers team that's willing to come out tough against an opponent they haven't beaten on the road since 1996 or we'll see a squad that's run out of fight.

Double-digit win for the Illini or close victory for the Gophers?

Prediction: The cycle is broken. Minnesota 66, Illinois 64