In a way, this feels just like the first game of the season, at Illinois. In the league standings, the Gophers are seventh. Wisconsin is two. Home court or not, the Gophers were never really expected to win this one. But after fighting back from a big deficit and forcing overtime, it simply feels like a major missed opportunity. With the game on the line, the Gophers didn't make the shots they needed to, hit the free throws they needed to or harness the aggressiveness they needed to have. In the end, they wasted a great comeback and a very impressive game from freshman Andre Hollins – and most of all, lost the opportunity to notch a resume-building win. It was a chance to give the Gophers a win against a team that is definitely going to the tournament – and a chance to give the committee another reason to maybe pick Minnesota to join them. Instead, the road ahead only looks tougher. Some other notes from tonight's 68-61 overtime loss: · Andre Hollins played very well, especially down the stretch, much like the Gophers' last overtime game – against Illinois at home. He scored nine points in the critical 16-2 run that yanked the Gophers back into the game and forced overtime. Coach Tubby Smith hinted afterward that he could play the freshman more in the future. · Being that Hollins is indeed still a freshman, he had one critical hiccup. After Wisconsin missed its final shot, Smith ran a play designed to have Hollins score by driving to the basket. But his rushed shot with 4 seconds left missed the hoop, and Austin Hollins' second attempt wasn't much better. From one perspective, it cost the Gophers the game; from another, they would never be there in the first place if not for Andre Hollins. · Including those two, the Gophers missed five consecutive shots spanning into overtime, and Rodney Williams clanked the teams' only two free-throw attempts. · The Gophers fouled seven times in the final four minutes of overtime – including five in the last minute – and the Badgers went 13-14 from the line. · Joe Coleman – who is clearly getting scouted more these days – had his third consecutive scoreless game. Rodney Williams had 16 points, but only two rebounds. Ralph Sampson III had seven rebounds, but just four points. I wouldn't be shocked if Smith decides to shake up the lineup down the stretch.· As a reminder, the Gophers have six games remaining – four more against current ranked teams. The Gophers will realistically need to go 4-2 over that stretch to break .500 and make the tournament, which would mean beating two teams out of ranked Ohio State, Wisconsin (on the road next time), Indiana and Michigan State.