The Beavers are on a 10-1-1 roll, while Minnesota, 9-2-1 in is past 12, is tied for the Big Ten lead. Both could join Minnesota State and UMD as NCAA men's tournament qualifiers.
Gymnast Shane Wiskus, wrestler Gable Steveson and two more University of Minnesota athletes are juggling college meets, coursework and Olympic qualifying. Others have chosen a different path.
Minnesota will be represented by Bemidji State and Minnesota State Mankato in a revived Central Collegiate Hockey Association, which will begin play in the 2021-22 season.
Virginia is in danger of being the first defending NCAA men's basketball champion to miss the tournament since Connecticut in 2015. The team is on the bubble, according to most NCAA tournament bracketologists.
The Big Ten reportedly submitted a proposal to the NCAA supporting a one-time transfer exemption that would allow athletes in every sport to change schools without sitting out a year.
With only two freshmen among the 20 finalists for the Wooden Award, that says something about the lack of high-profile first-year stars dominating college basketball this season.
Will St. Thomas be able to to jump directly to Division I without a pit stop at Division II? This interim period has created a weird dynamic in courting the next wave of players.