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Sports
MPR News Staff

Minnesota Gophers basketball teams earn berths in NIT, WNIT

A basketball player shoots the ball above two defenders
Minnesota's Dawson Garcia shoots the ball against two Michigan State defenders in the second half of a second-round game at the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on March 14.
David Berding | Getty Images

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Updated: 8:30 p.m.

The University of Minnesota men’s and women’s basketball teams are heading to the postseason, with berths in the National Invitation Tournament and Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

The men will open NIT play at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Indianapolis, taking on home team Butler. The women received a first-round bye in the WNIT; they’ll face the winner of a matchup between Pacific and Cal Poly.

The Gopher men and Butler enter their tournament game with matching season records of 18-14. The winner of Tuesday’s game will advance to a second-round match-up next weekend.

“We’re really excited to be invited into the prestigious NIT,” Gophers coach Ben Johnson said in a news release after the field was announced Sunday. “It’s a great opportunity for our team to continue to build, grow, get better and compete. Our guys are excited and looking forward to preparing for it this week. It’s the next great step for our program, and we’re ready to get back on the court.”

The postseason berth comes after the Gophers finished last season with a 9-22 record.

It’s the first time the Minnesota men’s team has played in the NIT since 2014, when the Gophers won the tournament. Minnesota is 3-1 all-time against Butler, entering Tuesday’s game.

A basketball player drives to the basket
Minnesota's Amaya Battle (right) attempts to drive to the basket against Laila Phelia of Michigan during the second half of a Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament second-round game at Target Center in Minneapolis on March 7.
Aaron J. Thornton | Getty Images

For the Gopher women, their opening WNIT game will be in the second round, which starts Saturday. The exact date and other details are yet to be announced.

It’ll be the seventh appearance in the tournament for Minnesota (16-15), which improved from an 11-19 record last season.

“We are excited to continue to compete and grow as a team,” Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said in a news release. “This year we have had some incredible moments, faced adversity, but through it all we have continued to develop and improve. Getting the opportunity to be a part of the WNIT is a great honor and we are ready to get back on the court later this week.”