The Gophers moved up to No. 13 in the Associated Press top-25 poll Monday — their highest ranking in Tubby Smith’s six years with the team.

But the head coach said he doesn’t pay much attention to rankings. 

Before this season, the Gophers hadn’t been ranked since January 2011.

Minnesota will look to avoid a drop in the polls Tuesday against North Dakota State at Williams Arena.

If birthdays mean anything, Andre Hollins should be poised for a good night against NDSU.

Hollins turns 20 on Tuesday and will try to mimic teammate Austin Hollins, who scored a career-high 20 points Nov. 9, a day after his 21st birthday.

The Gophers (10-1) are going for their seventh win in a row over the Bison (8-2). Then they’ll take a 10-day break mandated by the University’s academic policy of no athletics contests during finals. 

The Gophers are already 1-0 against Summit League teams after defeating South Dakota State last week.

NDSU lost its second game of the season to another Big Ten team, top-ranked Indiana, by 26 points. 

Another redshirt in the works?

Smith said he will make an announcement “very soon” about possibly redshirting freshman guard Wally Ellenson. 

Ellenson broke his left hand in practice Oct. 30 after his shooting hand got caught in a teammate’s jersey during a rebounding drill. 

“We’re probably going to make [a decision Monday night],” Smith said. “We’re going to visit with his parents and make a decision.”

Smith decided to redshirt the Gophers’ other freshman, forward Charles Buggs, last month.