If you're anything like me, you can't wait to see Ralph Sampson III and the new look Gophers in action when the basketball season starts in September. Well, we now officially know who the Gophers will play, when and where thanks to a release from the UofM communications staff this afternoon.
A couple quick notes.
The non-conference schedule is weak as it was last year. The Gophers do face Louisville on a neutral site, but other than that and an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game with Virginia at The Barn, the non-conference slate should be a cakewalk.
Because of that relatively soft slate, and assuming the Gophers don't beat Louisville, Tubby Smith's new team will likely need to win 10 or more games in the conference to justify an NCAA Tournament bid.
Because of the unbalanced Big Ten schedule, the Gophers only play Purdue and Iowa once. The Gophers get a good draw here, playing Purdue at home and Iowa on the road. Purdue is my early season favorite to win the conference, so this certainly bodes well for the Gophers.
Here's my quick breakdown of the schedule
Friday, November14
Concordia-St. Paul (NABC Classic) -- WIN
Saturday, November 15
Bowling Green (NABC Classic) -- WIN
Sunday, November16
Georgia State (NABC Classic) -- WIN
Saturday, November 22
At Colorado State --- WIN
Wednesday, November 26
Eastern Washington ---- WIN
Saturday, November 29
North Dakota State ---- WIN
Tuesday, December 2
Virginia -- ACC/Big Ten Challenge -- WIN
Saturday, December 6
Cornell ----- WIN
Wednesday, December 10
South Dakota State ----- WIN
Saturday, December 20
Louisville (Stadium Shootout at University of Phoenix Stadium) --- LOSS
Tuesday, December 23
Southeastern Louisiana --- WIN
Sunday, December 28
High Point ----- WIN
Wednesday, December 31
Michigan State ---- LOSS
Saturday, January 3
Ohio State ---- WIN
Thursday, January 8
At Iowa ----- WIN
Sunday, January 11
Penn State ---- WIN
Thursday, January 15
At Wisconsin ----- LOSS
Sunday, January 18
At Northwestern ---- WIN
Thursday January 22 ---- WIN
Purdue
Sunday, January 26
At Indiana ---- WIN
Wednesday, January 29
Illinois ----- WIN
Wednesday February 4
At Michigan State ---- LOSS
Saturday, February 7
At Ohio State ---- LOSS
Tuesday, February 10
Indiana ---- WIN
Saturday, February 14
At Penn State ---- WIN
Thursday, February 19
At Michigan ---- WIN
Sunday, February 22
Northwestern ---- WIN
Thursday, February 26
At Illinois ---- LOSS
Wednesday, March 4
Wisconsin ---- LOSS
Sat .or Sun. March 7 or 8
Michigan ----- WIN
WAY TOO EARLY PREDICATION: 23-7 (12-6)
What's your prediction?