Your 8-0 Gophers are receiving votes in the latest top 25s. It isn't much to be receiving 2 votes in both the AP and USA Today polls but it is a start. And I fully expect that we'll be in that top 25 soon enough.
Ultimately being ranked is meaningless and being among the best 32 in mid March is what matters most. And the RPI factors heavily into the at large equation, in this case the Gophers are sitting at #19 (can be found here at statsheet.com), this IS good and worth noting. Top 25 is cool but RPI is what matters.
- Basketball has tipped off in high schools around the country. We get to watch Royce White and Rodney Williams all season but don't about the other incoming freshman. Justin Cobbs has begun his season 3-1 helping to lead his team to 5th place in the 16 team opening tournament. Scores can be found here.
- The MN Daily did a nice article on the financial situation of Gopher athletics. I've always thought Maturi did a nice job controlling the Gopher budget. Obviously times are tough and that is hitting universities hard. But the budget is "self sustaining" as the 2007-08 budget brought in $65 million and spent $62.
- A local family took a trip to the Hollidazzle parade and got a pic of Tubby taking part in the festivities.
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Here is Rittenberg's first take on the Gophers' matchup with Kansas. He accurately (obvious however) that these teams went from opposite ends of the college football spectrum a year ago to finding some common ground at the Insight Bowl.
- ESPN' Big 12 blogger, Tim Griffin, also went with a banal lede pointing out the Gopher's recent debacle at the Insight Bowl. But he does give us this little nugget...
It will also bear watching to see if Kansas can protect Reesing after ranking 92nd in sacks allowed. Minnesota has one of the Big Ten's premier pass rushers in fifth-year senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, who ranks among the top 20 nationally in both sacks and tackles for losses.