University of Minnesota Athletics
MBB: Gophers Head to The Big Dance in Charlotte
3/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GOPHERS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Minnesota is making its ninth overall NCAA Tournament (including vacated games) and its first since 1999. However, the Gophers’ appearances in 1994, '95, '97 and '99 were later vacated due to NCAA violations. Officially, the Gophers are 7-4 in Tournament games. This is the second time that Minnesota has been granted a No. 8 seed (1995).
MINNESOTA vs. Iowa State Matchup
Although located just four hours apart driving distance, Minnesota and Iowa State travel to Charlotte, N.C. to face each other in the NCAA Tournament first round. This is the 27th meeting overall between the border rivals but the first since 1992. Minnesota leads the all-time series 17-9 but the Cyclones have won the last two meetings (1991 and 1992). The series was regularly played in the 1960s, playing seven of eight years between 1963 and 1971.
MINNESOTA vs. POTENTIAL SECOND ROUND FOES
The Gophers are 1-3 all-time against North Carolina. The last time the teams met was 1993 when the Tar Heels defeated the Gophers 90-76 (game was later vacated.) Minnesota’s only series win came in 1980, a 76-60 victory at the Winston Tire Classic in Los Angeles. Minnesota has never faced the No. 16 play-in games teams, Alabama A&M and Oakland.
MINNESOTA vs. SYRACUSE REGION TEAMS
Minnesota has played 11 of the 17 teams in the Syracuse Region of the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Obviously, the Gophers have played Wisconsin (181 times) more than any other team in the bracket. Overall, Minnesota is 126-103 against teams in the Region (including vacated games.)
