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Minnesota beat Northwestern 51-46 to continue on their season. The Gophers next face Ohio State.
How was the game you ask?
Tonight's Minnesota-Northwestern game in the Big Ten Tournament was the first Division I game in 8 years in which both teams shot:
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) March 11, 2021
Under 40% on field goals
Under 30% on three-pointers
Under 45% on free throws
The last such game was Maryland-Miami on 1/13/2013.
Yeah.
Look, I hate the Big Ten Tournament. I hate all conference tournaments. I find the notion that a team who was generally heinous during the regular season should get into the NCAA Tournament despicable. For low-major conferences or one bid leagues, it strikes me as even more unfair. I am aware that fairness is seldom the criteria utilized in major college athletics, but on this point it should be.
I mention that I hate conference tournaments to illustrate that I do not believe the Gophers should have played tonight. However, the fundamental principle that I will always hold is that my day is always better when Minnesota wins a game than when Minnesota loses. I am highly skeptical that the Gophers will extend their tournament run past Thursday, but I will root for them to do so anyway.