Men's Basketball

For the last two seasons, Minnesota's men's basketball team has gathered to watch the NCAA Tournament selection show only to find their bubble burst.

Whether it's a big gust of wind for a sailboat or being unable to stop moving on an icy Minnesota ground, momentum plays a large role in how far you go - and where you end up.

Prior to Saturday's men's basketball game against Minnesota at Williams Arena, Purdue coach Gene Keady wrote two messages to his team on its locker room board: have a fast start and play with a high energy level.

All season long, Minnesota men's basketball coach Dan Monson has stressed two "F" words with his players: focus and fun.

Sitting with one conference win and staring up at the rest of the Big Ten, Minnesota's men's basketball team knew it would likely take a perfectly executed game to sideswipe conference contender Michigan State on Saturday afternoon.

Since Jeff Hagen joined Minnesota's men's basketball team three years ago, the Gophers have always been in the hunt for the Big Ten title in early February.

During his postgame press conference Sunday afternoon, Illinois coach Bruce Weber said he noticed Minnesota's men's basketball team reaches a point in the second half where it loses confidence - and, ultimately, the game.