The Gophers men’s basketball fell at home again, this time to their border rival University of Wisconsin.
After the loss to the Badgers, Minnesota moved to 15-15 on the season and 7-12 in the conference. The Gophers are currently tied with five teams for the final spot in the Big Ten tournament with one game remaining.
Even after a fifth straight home loss, Minnesota head coach Ben Johnson expressed gratitude for the grit and determination of the team’s senior class.
“They’ve given everything that we’ve asked for, through good and bad,” Johnson said. “Sometimes that’s not the easiest thing to do, but those guys have done it.”
Before the game, fans applauded Minnesota’s 10 seniors as they were recognized during an on-court ceremony.
“The thing I’m most proud of is from the beginning to the end of the year, all of the seniors have contributed in their own way,” Johnson said.
Forward Parker Fox is a senior class anomaly as this season marked his eighth college basketball season.
Fox grew up in Mahtomedi, Minnesota as a die-hard Gophers fan.
After transferring from Northern State in 2021, Fox suffered back-to-back season-ending injuries, forcing him to sit out his first two seasons as a Gopher.
“Coming back for my eighth year and counting it as my fifth year playing was just a no-brainer once I really sat down and thought about it,” Fox said.
Johnson said Fox was one of the first people he called after becoming head coach.
“It’s kind of cool that he’s a guy that has been with me the whole time,” Johnson said. “It’s gonna be a little bit weird to not see him in the building.”
Gophers versus No. 12 Wisconsin
The Badgers quickly took control of the first half with 16 points in the paint and 18 rebounds.
Earlier in the season, Minnesota entered halftime against Wisconsin on the road with a one-point lead, but Minnesota went into halftime down six on Wednesday.
After a slow second-half start, Minnesota guard Brennan Rigsby made two free throws to tie the game with just over 11 minutes remaining.
Less than a minute later, the Barn roared with excitement as a 3-point shot from Minnesota guard Lu’Cye Patterson gave the Gophers a 53-51 lead.
After Patterson’s 3-point shot, Wisconsin responded with a 19-9 scoring run to beat the Gophers, 74-67.
Minnesota’s bench players were crucial in keeping the game close, scoring 29 of the team’s 67 points.
Forward Frank Mitchell finished with an 11-rebound double-double and led the team in rebounds. Rigsby’s 18 points led the team in scoring for a second straight game.
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell tallied his ninth 20+ point game of the season and led the Badgers with 25 points on Wednesday.
Rigsby said his coaches helped to build his confidence before he stepped on the court.
“Bringing energy to the team and to the crowd is everything,” Rigsby said.
Fouls and free throws were a deciding factor in the loss. Minnesota shot 8-15 from the free-throw line while Wisconsin shot 21-24.
Minnesota is currently 11th in the Big Ten, and winning against Rutgers would guarantee them a spot in the Big Ten tournament. If they lose, they still have a chance but will need a loss from either University of Southern California (USC), Northwestern or Nebraska.
“Managing to get a win on Sunday would build a lot of momentum,” said Patterson. “We play better on the road anyway.”
The Gophers finish the regular season on the road against Rutgers on March 9.
