The Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball team concluded their regular season with a disappointing 75-52 loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers on March 5, 2023. Despite the setback, the Gophers earned a No. 12 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, where they will face No. 5 seed Illinois in the first round on March 8. The game against Rutgers saw the Gophers struggle both offensively and defensively, allowing the Scarlet Knights to dominate the court. Rutgers guard Cam Spencer was a standout with 20 points, while the Gophers’ leading scorer was Dawson Garcia, who finished the game with 12 points. Postgame, Gophers coach Ben Johnson expressed disappointment: “We just didn’t compete at the level we needed to, especially defensively. Rutgers played their game, and we were just not able to keep up.” The regular season record of the Gophers now stands at 9 wins and 20 losses. The team hopes to utilize this experience as a springboard for improvement in the tournament. Meanwhile, Rutgers will enter the Big Ten Tournament on a high note, having secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament with their eighth win in the last 10 games. They finished the regular season with a record of 19-12 and will face the winner of the Michigan vs. Michigan State matchup in the next round of the tournament.
Gophers Men’s Basketball Ends Regular Season with Loss at Rutgers, Secures No. 12 Seed in Big Ten Tournament
