University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Selected to Compete in the College Basketball Crown
3/16/2026 4:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota men's basketball program is one of eight teams selected to participate in the College Basketball Crown (CBC), April 1-5 in Las Vegas. Minnesota will face Baylor on April 1 at 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will be played at MGM Grand Garden Arena and televised on FS1.
Now in its second year, the College Basketball Crown features an eight-team, seven-game format with four quarterfinals, two semifinals and a championship game. Quarterfinals will be held April 1-2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, while semifinals will be held on April 4 at T-Mobile Arena. Teams that advance to the championship game play on April 5 at 4:30 p.m. CT.
The CBC announcement was held during FS1's "First Things First" by LaPhonso Ellis earlier today.
Founded by AEG and FOX Sports, the College Basketball Crown airs live on FOX and FS1. Tickets can be purchased exclusively via Vivid Seats, the Official Ticketing Provider and Founding Partner of the College Basketball Crown.
"We're excited to have the opportunity to play in the College Basketball Crown," head coach Niko Medved said. "Our team has worked incredibly hard this year, and we're looking forward to extending our season and attending such a first-class event."
Minnesota and Rutgers represent the Big Ten in the eight-team CBC, while Baylor, Colorado and West Virginia will represent the Big 12. Creighton will join the Crown from the Big East, while Stanford represents the ACC and Oklahoma will represent the SEC.
The Golden Gophers enter the Crown with a 15-17 record. Minnesota went 8-12 in Big Ten action to finish 11th in the league standings. The Big Ten sent nine teams to the NCAA Tournament and two to the CBC.
The Minnesota vs. Baylor matchup will be the first meeting between the teams in school history.
The 2026 season marks Minnesota's first appearance in the CBC and first postseason action since 2024, when the Gophers were selected for the National Invitation Tournament. Minnesota defeated Butler that season and fell to NIT runner-up Indiana State that season.
This marks the second year of the College Basketball Crown, the first with an eight-team field. The Nebraska Cornhuskers won the inaugural CBC event in Las Vegas last season in a two-week, 16-team field.
All-American and NBA veteran Jim Jackson calls the action throughout the tournament, pairing with FOX Sports' lead college basketball announcer Gus Johnson for the semifinals and championship matchup on FOX, with play-by-play announcer Tim Brando on the call for the quarterfinals on FS1. Allison Williams serves as sideline reporter for the quarterfinals, while Kristina Pink joins for the semifinals and championship.
The studio team provides bridge show, pregame, and postgame coverage throughout the tournament. FOX Sports' studio coverage is anchored by hosts Rob Stone and Mike Hill, with insight and analysis from LaPhonso Ellis, Casey Jacobsen and Donny Marshall.
Schedule: Date (Venue, TV)
April 1 Quarterfinal Games (MGM Grand Garden Arena, FS1)
Oklahoma vs. Colorado 7 p.m. CT
Minnesota vs. Baylor 9:30 p.m. CT
April 2 Quarterfinal Games (MGM Grand Grand Garden Arena, FS1)
Stanford vs. West Virginia 7 p.m. CT
Rutgers vs. Creighton 9:30 p.m. CT
April 4 Semifinal Games (T Mobile Arena, FOX)
12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. CT
April 5 Championship Game (T Mobile Arena, FOX)
4:30 p.m. CT
Now in its second year, the College Basketball Crown features an eight-team, seven-game format with four quarterfinals, two semifinals and a championship game. Quarterfinals will be held April 1-2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, while semifinals will be held on April 4 at T-Mobile Arena. Teams that advance to the championship game play on April 5 at 4:30 p.m. CT.
The CBC announcement was held during FS1's "First Things First" by LaPhonso Ellis earlier today.
Founded by AEG and FOX Sports, the College Basketball Crown airs live on FOX and FS1. Tickets can be purchased exclusively via Vivid Seats, the Official Ticketing Provider and Founding Partner of the College Basketball Crown.
"We're excited to have the opportunity to play in the College Basketball Crown," head coach Niko Medved said. "Our team has worked incredibly hard this year, and we're looking forward to extending our season and attending such a first-class event."
Minnesota and Rutgers represent the Big Ten in the eight-team CBC, while Baylor, Colorado and West Virginia will represent the Big 12. Creighton will join the Crown from the Big East, while Stanford represents the ACC and Oklahoma will represent the SEC.
The Golden Gophers enter the Crown with a 15-17 record. Minnesota went 8-12 in Big Ten action to finish 11th in the league standings. The Big Ten sent nine teams to the NCAA Tournament and two to the CBC.
The Minnesota vs. Baylor matchup will be the first meeting between the teams in school history.
The 2026 season marks Minnesota's first appearance in the CBC and first postseason action since 2024, when the Gophers were selected for the National Invitation Tournament. Minnesota defeated Butler that season and fell to NIT runner-up Indiana State that season.
This marks the second year of the College Basketball Crown, the first with an eight-team field. The Nebraska Cornhuskers won the inaugural CBC event in Las Vegas last season in a two-week, 16-team field.
All-American and NBA veteran Jim Jackson calls the action throughout the tournament, pairing with FOX Sports' lead college basketball announcer Gus Johnson for the semifinals and championship matchup on FOX, with play-by-play announcer Tim Brando on the call for the quarterfinals on FS1. Allison Williams serves as sideline reporter for the quarterfinals, while Kristina Pink joins for the semifinals and championship.
The studio team provides bridge show, pregame, and postgame coverage throughout the tournament. FOX Sports' studio coverage is anchored by hosts Rob Stone and Mike Hill, with insight and analysis from LaPhonso Ellis, Casey Jacobsen and Donny Marshall.
Schedule: Date (Venue, TV)
April 1 Quarterfinal Games (MGM Grand Garden Arena, FS1)
Oklahoma vs. Colorado 7 p.m. CT
Minnesota vs. Baylor 9:30 p.m. CT
April 2 Quarterfinal Games (MGM Grand Grand Garden Arena, FS1)
Stanford vs. West Virginia 7 p.m. CT
Rutgers vs. Creighton 9:30 p.m. CT
April 4 Semifinal Games (T Mobile Arena, FOX)
12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. CT
April 5 Championship Game (T Mobile Arena, FOX)
4:30 p.m. CT
Highlights: Gophers 67, Rutgers 72
Wednesday, March 11
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Tuesday, March 10
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Tuesday, March 10
Highlights: Gophers 67, Northwestern 66
Saturday, March 07