Stunning Turnaround Sparks Postseason Hopes
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball team has transformed from Big Ten afterthought to postseason contender in a remarkable mid-season resurgence. After starting 0-6 in conference play, Ben Johnson’s squad has won six of its last nine games – including historic road sweeps at UCLA and USC – to climb into 11th place in the conference standings (14-12 overall, 6-9 Big Ten).
The Garcia Effect
Forward Dawson Garcia has been instrumental in Minnesota’s revival, averaging 21.8 points over his last 10 games. His 32-point second-half explosion against UCLA fueled a 64-61 comeback victory on February 18. “When Dawson gets rolling like that, it changes everything for us,” said senior guard Lu’Cye Patterson.
Critical Home Stretch
The Gophers face make-or-break games against Penn State (Saturday) and Northwestern (Tuesday) at Williams Arena:
- Currently tied with USC/Indiana at 6-9 in conference
- Need two wins to secure Big Ten Tournament berth (top 15 qualify)
- Could climb as high as 7th with strong finish
Coach Johnson’s Perspective
“Our early schedule hardened us. Now we’re seeing the payoff of that tough stretch,” Johnson told WCCO Radio. “This group never lost confidence even when everyone counted them out.”
With four regular season games remaining before the March 8-16 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, Minnesota controls its destiny:
| Remaining Schedule | Key Stat |
|---|---|
| vs Penn State (Feb 22) | Gophers -3.5 favorites |
| vs Northwestern (Feb 25) | Home record: 10-6 |
| @ Nebraska (March 1) | Road sweep potential |
| vs Wisconsin (March 4) | Rivalry game implications |
