University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, March 24
Indianapolis, IN
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
NCAA Championships
Players Mentioned
Sprint Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke/Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Preview: Gopher Men Set for 2021 NCAA Championships
3/23/2021 10:55:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This week's 2021 NCAA Championships will mark the end to a unique 2020-21 season for the Minnesota men's swimming and diving program. One swimmer and one diver will be headed to the big dance for the Maroon and Gold, and they will compete from Friday to Saturday.
As was also true for the women's championships last week, no fans will be permitted to attend the event in order to maintain social distancing standards and ensure the health and safety of all competing student-athletes, coaches and essential staff.
WHEN/HOW TO TUNE IN
As no fans are to be permitted in the venue, the entirety of the championships will be streamed via ESPN3, of which a link can be found above. Each stream will only appear on ESPN3 once the event has begun.
The exact dates and start times of each day of competition can be found below.
2021 NCAA Championships (Greensboro, N.C.)
Wednesday, March 24: 5:00 p.m. CT (finals)
Thursday, March 25: 9:00 a.m. CT (prelims)
Thursday, March 25: 5 p.m. CT (finals)
Friday, March 26: 9 a.m. CT (prelims)
Friday, March 26: 5 p.m. CT (finals)
Saturday, March 27: 9 a.m. CT (prelims)
Saturday, March 27: 5 p.m. CT (finals)
Saturday, March 27: 8 p.m. CT (trophy ceremony)
WHO'S IN
Two Gophers will compete for Minnesota at the 2021 NCAA Championships, one in the diving well and the other in the pool. Junior breaststroke phenom Max McHugh (100 breast, 200 breast) will take on the swimming side of things, while sophomore diving standout Jake Butler (3m) will hold things down in the diving well.
Butler managed to punch his ticket just over a week ago at the 2021 NCAA Zone D Diving Championships when he placed fifth in the three-meter (708.05), while McHugh knew he'd be dancing after earning his bid back in January at Minnesota's first tri-dual of the season versus Wisconsin and Purdue.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Below is a full breakdown of the dates of Minnesota's events and the respective student-athletes competing in them, along with their season bests in each event.
Friday, March 26
3-meter Diving // Jake Butler (379.55)
100 Breaststroke // Max McHugh (50.19)
Saturday, March 27
200 Breaststroke // Max McHugh (1:50.93)
WHAT IT TOOK
In what has been one of the most unique years of competition in Minnesota history, the path to the NCAAs for both student-athletes has, remarkably, been relatively standard.
Butler's bid clinching performance came at the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships on March 11, when the Seal Beach, Calif. native finished fifth in the three-meter board with a 12-dive score of 708.05.
McHugh qualified for the nation's top meet as soon as he possibly could by registering an NCAA 'A' cut in the 100 breast in his first performance of the season, a tri-dual against Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Purdue. In that performance, the Sturgeon Bay, Wis. native touched the wall in a time of 50.65, which at that time stood as the fastest time in the nation.
He'd best that performance three more times throughout the season before registering his season best at 50.19 during the preliminary session of the 2021 Big Ten Championships. The same meet was where McHugh clinched his second NCAA 'A' cut of the year in the 200 breast, touching in a championship winning time of 1:50.93.
McHugh will enter NCAAs with the fastest seed in the 100 breast and second-fastest seed in the 200 breast.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
As was previously mentioned, McHugh's season best time in the 100 breast was a historically fast one, coming in as the fifth fastest time in history. Throughout the season, however, McHugh has been historically fast in a number of ways.
In the four opportunities McHugh has had to competitively swim the 100 breast throughout the 2020-21 season, each time has been faster than his 2020 season best (50.67), which also sat as the fastest time of its season. His times of 50.63, 50.55, 50.19 and 50.59 sit as the top-four fastest performances of any collegiate athlete this season.
His season best time of 50.19 at Big Tens put McHugh's name onto a number of records, including the Big Ten Championship Meet record, Minnesota Team record, McCorkle Aquatic Center record and fifth-fastest time in history.
As impressive as he has been throughout his junior campaign in the shorter of the two individual breaststroke events, McHugh's most historical performance of the season actually came as a split of the 200 medley relay. At the Big Ten Championships, McHugh logged an incredible breaststroke split of 22.40 during the Gopher's 200 medley relay heat, the fastest split in NCAA history.
Though he won't be able to top his 50 breaststroke split at this year's NCAAs as Minnesota's 200 medley relay team failed to qualify, he'll look to cap off what has been nothing short of the most impressive Gopher season to date with more record setting times in both of the individual events.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Before they were ultimately canceled, three Gopher men had been invited to the 2020 NCAA Championships, two of whom were McHugh and Butler. While McHugh received his bid to the 2021 Championships in the same events as one year ago, Butler has switched springboard events from the one-meter at last year's NCAAs to the three-meter this season. Now, with their sights set on their respective events in the upcoming week, both will look to finish what they started one year ago.
In their paths back to the big dance, both McHugh and Butler are actually in the midst of what has statistically been their best collegiate seasons to date, as both have registered at least one personal best performance in their main events throughout the season. McHugh has dropped his personal best in the 100 breast to 50.19, reflecting the fifth fastest performance in history and the new Minnesota team record, while Butler managed to up his six-dive personal best scores in both the one-meter (379.55) and three-meter (412.50).
Apart from the 2020 NCAA Championships, McHugh will have even more unfinished business to settle on the national stage. In his freshman season, McHugh's 2019 NCAA Championship performances fell just short of where the breaststroke phenom had his eyes set as he brought home silver in both of the individual breaststroke events. With his next chance at the national title just days away, there is no question that McHugh will have a score to settle.
NCAA HISTORY
In the Gopher's last appearance at the nation's top meet in 2019, Minnesota brought home a 19th place finish overall behind strong performances from a number of student-athletes, including a pair of top-four finishes from the likes of McHugh and Gopher great Bowen Becker.
- Two Gophers will represent Minnesota at the 2021 NCAA Championships later this week in Greensboro, N.C.
- NC State will serve as the host of the event, which will take place at the Greensboro Aquatic Center from March 24-27.
- The Gophers recorded a 19th place finish (84 pts) in their last NCAA Championships appearance in 2019.
- Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This week's 2021 NCAA Championships will mark the end to a unique 2020-21 season for the Minnesota men's swimming and diving program. One swimmer and one diver will be headed to the big dance for the Maroon and Gold, and they will compete from Friday to Saturday.
As was also true for the women's championships last week, no fans will be permitted to attend the event in order to maintain social distancing standards and ensure the health and safety of all competing student-athletes, coaches and essential staff.
WHEN/HOW TO TUNE IN
As no fans are to be permitted in the venue, the entirety of the championships will be streamed via ESPN3, of which a link can be found above. Each stream will only appear on ESPN3 once the event has begun.
The exact dates and start times of each day of competition can be found below.
2021 NCAA Championships (Greensboro, N.C.)
Wednesday, March 24: 5:00 p.m. CT (finals)
Thursday, March 25: 9:00 a.m. CT (prelims)
Thursday, March 25: 5 p.m. CT (finals)
Friday, March 26: 9 a.m. CT (prelims)
Friday, March 26: 5 p.m. CT (finals)
Saturday, March 27: 9 a.m. CT (prelims)
Saturday, March 27: 5 p.m. CT (finals)
Saturday, March 27: 8 p.m. CT (trophy ceremony)
WHO'S IN
Two Gophers will compete for Minnesota at the 2021 NCAA Championships, one in the diving well and the other in the pool. Junior breaststroke phenom Max McHugh (100 breast, 200 breast) will take on the swimming side of things, while sophomore diving standout Jake Butler (3m) will hold things down in the diving well.
Butler managed to punch his ticket just over a week ago at the 2021 NCAA Zone D Diving Championships when he placed fifth in the three-meter (708.05), while McHugh knew he'd be dancing after earning his bid back in January at Minnesota's first tri-dual of the season versus Wisconsin and Purdue.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Below is a full breakdown of the dates of Minnesota's events and the respective student-athletes competing in them, along with their season bests in each event.
Friday, March 26
3-meter Diving // Jake Butler (379.55)
100 Breaststroke // Max McHugh (50.19)
Saturday, March 27
200 Breaststroke // Max McHugh (1:50.93)
WHAT IT TOOK
In what has been one of the most unique years of competition in Minnesota history, the path to the NCAAs for both student-athletes has, remarkably, been relatively standard.
Butler's bid clinching performance came at the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships on March 11, when the Seal Beach, Calif. native finished fifth in the three-meter board with a 12-dive score of 708.05.
McHugh qualified for the nation's top meet as soon as he possibly could by registering an NCAA 'A' cut in the 100 breast in his first performance of the season, a tri-dual against Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Purdue. In that performance, the Sturgeon Bay, Wis. native touched the wall in a time of 50.65, which at that time stood as the fastest time in the nation.
He'd best that performance three more times throughout the season before registering his season best at 50.19 during the preliminary session of the 2021 Big Ten Championships. The same meet was where McHugh clinched his second NCAA 'A' cut of the year in the 200 breast, touching in a championship winning time of 1:50.93.
McHugh will enter NCAAs with the fastest seed in the 100 breast and second-fastest seed in the 200 breast.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
As was previously mentioned, McHugh's season best time in the 100 breast was a historically fast one, coming in as the fifth fastest time in history. Throughout the season, however, McHugh has been historically fast in a number of ways.
In the four opportunities McHugh has had to competitively swim the 100 breast throughout the 2020-21 season, each time has been faster than his 2020 season best (50.67), which also sat as the fastest time of its season. His times of 50.63, 50.55, 50.19 and 50.59 sit as the top-four fastest performances of any collegiate athlete this season.
His season best time of 50.19 at Big Tens put McHugh's name onto a number of records, including the Big Ten Championship Meet record, Minnesota Team record, McCorkle Aquatic Center record and fifth-fastest time in history.
As impressive as he has been throughout his junior campaign in the shorter of the two individual breaststroke events, McHugh's most historical performance of the season actually came as a split of the 200 medley relay. At the Big Ten Championships, McHugh logged an incredible breaststroke split of 22.40 during the Gopher's 200 medley relay heat, the fastest split in NCAA history.
Though he won't be able to top his 50 breaststroke split at this year's NCAAs as Minnesota's 200 medley relay team failed to qualify, he'll look to cap off what has been nothing short of the most impressive Gopher season to date with more record setting times in both of the individual events.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Before they were ultimately canceled, three Gopher men had been invited to the 2020 NCAA Championships, two of whom were McHugh and Butler. While McHugh received his bid to the 2021 Championships in the same events as one year ago, Butler has switched springboard events from the one-meter at last year's NCAAs to the three-meter this season. Now, with their sights set on their respective events in the upcoming week, both will look to finish what they started one year ago.
In their paths back to the big dance, both McHugh and Butler are actually in the midst of what has statistically been their best collegiate seasons to date, as both have registered at least one personal best performance in their main events throughout the season. McHugh has dropped his personal best in the 100 breast to 50.19, reflecting the fifth fastest performance in history and the new Minnesota team record, while Butler managed to up his six-dive personal best scores in both the one-meter (379.55) and three-meter (412.50).
Apart from the 2020 NCAA Championships, McHugh will have even more unfinished business to settle on the national stage. In his freshman season, McHugh's 2019 NCAA Championship performances fell just short of where the breaststroke phenom had his eyes set as he brought home silver in both of the individual breaststroke events. With his next chance at the national title just days away, there is no question that McHugh will have a score to settle.
NCAA HISTORY
In the Gopher's last appearance at the nation's top meet in 2019, Minnesota brought home a 19th place finish overall behind strong performances from a number of student-athletes, including a pair of top-four finishes from the likes of McHugh and Gopher great Bowen Becker.
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