University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Set for 2006 NCAA Championships This Weekend
5/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Regional Field
LSU (22-11) was upset in the first round of the SEC Tournament, falling 4-2 to 12th- seeded Mississippi State. Miami (18-4) is ranked ninth in the nation after losing to Virginia in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. Manhattan (16-4) defeated Marist to capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Minnesota, LSU and Miami each received one of 33 at-large bids.
In the NCAAs
This is Minnesota’s 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 13 years and its 18th overall. Minnesota has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen three times (1996-98-2000). Head Coach David Geatz has led the Golden Gophers to 13 of their 18 NCAA appearances.
Against the NCAA Field
Minnesota has faced 14 teams that will appear in the NCAA Championship this weekend. The Golden Gophers have a 4-11 record against teams in the tournament. Minnesota opened the season with a 1-8 mark vs. eventual NCAA Tournament teams, but have gone 3-3 to finish the dual season. The Golden Gophers own wins over No. 19 Texas A&M, No. 37 SMU, No. 39 Michigan and No. 45 Penn State.
Jottings
This Saturday’s dual vs. LSU will mark Head Coach David Geatz’s 650th all-time career dual. Geatz has announced that he will resign his position at the conclusion of the 2005 -06 season.
Three Golden Gopher juniors - Brian Lipinski, Andres Osorio and Sion Wilkins - on the current roster have made previous appearances in the NCAA Championships with the Maroon and Gold.
Minnesota has gone 5-12 vs. ranked teams this season (based on the rankings at the time of the respective meeting).
Minnesota holds a 2-5 all-time record against LSU. In the last meeting (1987), the Tigers defeated the Golden Gophers, 5-2. Minnesota downed LSU, 5-3, during the 1986 season. The Golden Gophers are 0-7 all-time against Miami. In the last meeting, the Hurricanes upended the Maroon and Gold, 4-1, in the 2001 NCAA Regional. Minnesota has never faced Manhattan.
