Today's game vs. New Orleans tips at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3. Listen on the radio with 1500-a.m.
After the biggest stretch of the season, the Gophers move from the Maui Invitational and Florida State to a stretch that features just three games in 21 days, starting today at Williams Arena.
The slate, which begins with New Orleans today, superficially looks like the easiest stretch of the year this far, with games against South Dakota State and Nebraska-Omaha after matchups against the likes of Syracuse and FSU.
But the key, coach Richard Pitino said, will be for the team to remain focused in the midst of such a flimsy schedule.
"We're kind of approaching – and I know it sounds funny – a difficult time for us over the next month, just because there are a lot of challenges," Pitino said. "You have an emotional game against Florida State at home, certainly a very good opponent, great program. And then you've got finals coming up, you've got a long time between each game, no big name opponents, doesn't mean we can't lose these games, and certainly can. But mentally, more than anything, we've got to have the right mindset going in to tomorrow as well as for the rest of the month.
"We could certainly lose to anybody, I think we showed that with Chaminade, we were down 9 at the half."
The Gophers were able to maintain focus in similar situations this year, like against Wofford with Maui on the horizon, and – eventually – against Chaminade despite the disappointment of playing in the 7th/8th place game. But this, Pitino said, is a little different because the Gophers just experienced the season's current high.
"People are pumping you up," the coach said. "When they see the players on campus, I'm sure they're giving them a little bit more love than what they normally get. We've got to embrace the underdog mentality, we cannot have any ego whatever.
