#4 Minnesota Golden Gophers vs #13 Green Bay Phoenix NCAA Tournament First Round Preview

The Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first tie since 2018 and is hosting the First and Second Rounds at Williams Arena for the first time since 2005 this weekend. First up is a matchup against the #13 seeded Green Bay Phoenix at 5 PM on ESPNU. If the Gophers advance, they would face the winner of #5 Ole Miss against #12 Gonzaga on Sunday in the Second Round.

But Green Bay should be a formidable opponent having been a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament over the last 30 years. Green Bay will be making their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance dating back to 1993, while the Gophers are in the Big Dance for only the 11th time in program history this weekend. The Gophers completed the regular season with a 22-8 record and a 13-5 record in Big Ten play.

They were the #4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and dropped their opener to Ohio State. But, they Gophers had done enough in the regular season to remain on the 4 seed line when the NCAA announced the brackets last Sunday and got the honor to host the First and Second Rounds at Williams Arena for the first time since 2005. The Gophers in 2005 would win both games as the #3 seed defeating St.

Francis in the opening round before toppling Virginia in the second round to make it to the Sweet Sixteen. There the Gophers run ended with a loss to #2 seed Baylor in Tempe, Arizona. To make a similar run and spend next weekend in Sacramento, the Gopher are going to need to do what got them here successfully.