Despite win streak, Gophers not yet considered a NCAA tourney team

Upcoming games against Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State and Wisconsin are huge opportunities for Minnesota.

It's clear that Minnesota needs statement wins to catch the eye of the bracketologists because despite a 12-3 record and seven straights wins they aren't yet considered an NCAA Tournament team. 

Evidence is easily seen in the latest 68-team NCAA Tournament projection from ESPN's Joe Lunardi, who has six teams from the Big Ten in his field of 68. He has Purdue as a No. 1 seed, Illinois and Wisconsin in as No. 3 seeds, Michigan State as a No. 7, Ohio State as a No. 8 and Northwestern as a No. 11. 

Minnesota is 77th in the KenPom rankings, which are a strong identifier of tournament-caliber teams. There are eight Big Ten teams ahead of the Gophers in the KenPom, including Michigan (69th) and Iowa (53rd), neither of whom are in Lunardi's tournament field. 

The Gophers beat Michigan on Jan. 4 and face Iowa on Monday, Jan. 15. Before the Iowa game, the Gophers have a date Thursday night inside Assembly Hall against the Indiana Hoosiers, who are 93rd in the KenPom rankings. 

Florida, Nebraska, Virginia and TCU are the "first four out" in Lunardi's bracket. Florida is 10-4 with close losses to Virginia, Baylor, Wake Forest and Kentucky. The Gophers beat Nebraska, though the Cornhuskers have a win over Purdue to bolster their resume. 

Virginia has four losses and all four were by double digits. TCU is 11-3 and they almost won at Kansas last weekend, falling 83-81 to the No. 2 team in the country. 

The Gophers will have chances to make statements in the near future, not only against Indiana and Iowa, but also Jan. 18 when they go to the Breslin Center to face surging Michigan State, followed by a Jan. 23 border battle against the Wisconsin Badgers. 

Column: It's time for fans to get behind the Gophers men's basketball team

Minnesota guard Elijah Hawkins (0) and forward Parker Fox (23) celebrate during the second half against IUPUI on Dec. 12, 2023, at Williams Arena in Minneapolis :: Matt Krohn / USA TODAY Sports