What will it take for the Gophers to make the tournament?

Looking at the Gophers non-conference schedule, and the Big Ten this year, Minnesota probably needs at least nine wins to make the NCAA tournament, and a few signature wins would really help.

Last year, if you'll remember, Minnesota had wins over five ranked teams: Memphis, Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin and then top-ranked Indiana. Slipping into the Big Dance with eight conference wins made since – half of them were against teams in the national top 25!

This year, it's a bit of a different story. Four games into the league slate, the Gophers don't have any victories against ranked opponents (at this time last year, they'd already collected three). Although taking a team like No. 5 Michigan State to overtime at Breslin Center is nice, it will be quickly glossed over in March.

However, the Gophers have three more very good opportunities to clinch their first signature win in the next week, with the upcoming schedule looking pretty meaty:

Thurs: vs. Ohio State

Sunday: at Iowa

1-2: vs. Wisconsin

1-22: at Nebraska

2-1: vs. Northwestern

2-5: at Purdue

2-8: vs. Indiana

2-13: at Wisconsin

2-19: vs. Illinois

2-22: at Ohio State

2-25: vs. Iowa

3-1: at Michigan

3-8: vs. Penn State

Would it be enough to push Minnesota into the NCAA tournament? Probably, but the Gophers wouldn't be too far off the bubble.