Why Gophers are a lock to win the Big Ten title
After a grueling six-game stretch to close out the season, the Gophers have finally secured their first Big Ten championship in school history.
After a gruelingly grueling eight-game road trip, the Hoosiers have clinched their first postseason berth in school or college history.
The Gophers will open the 2017-18 season at 7-0 against conference foes.
The Hoosier basketball team is now ranked No. 5 in the latest Associated Press Top 25.
“We have some great competition,” head coachand team presidentsaid.
“We have a bunch of good players who are going to have an opportunity to be better and play better.”
The Hoose team is led by sophomore centerand junior guard.
Senior guardhas been one of the Hoose’s most consistent players in his time with the program.
He has posted career highs in points (22.4 per game), rebounds (6.6 per game) and steals (2.9 per game).
Sophomore guardhas also taken the reins, as he has posted his best scoring average since he arrived in Bloomington.
Freshman forwardhas also been a key part of the team’s success this season.
The 6-foot-9 forwardhas posted career averages of 18.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in Big Ten play.
The 7-footer has also recorded double-doubles in each of the past two games.
The Hoos have won 10 of their last 11 games against Big Ten opponents.
“We know the challenge we have in front of us and that’s the goal,”said Hoos coachsaid.
“(The challenge) is going to be to be able to be consistent and just get to the playoffs.”
Gophers forwardwas named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week after scoring a season-high 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting and adding 11 rebounds against Baylor on Wednesday.
Sophomorehas played in all 42 games this season, averaging 18.2 points per game.
Senior is second on the team in scoring with 18.3 points per contest.
The Gophers rank eighth in the Big XII in scoring and eighth in points per possession.
“I think this is a great opportunity for the Gopher family to come together and play hard, be competitive and go out there and play their best basketball,”said head coach.
“I think we’ve had a couple of great teams come together, so we’re looking forward to a challenge.”
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