Gophers' Basketball Gets Big Win Over North Carolina: Hold Your Enthusiasm!

The Gophers men's basketball team has made it to the finals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

With a signature upset-win over eighth ranked North Carolina on Friday night the Gophers will face the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Championship.

Many people are excited about this year's squad.

With Trevor Mbakwe finally making his Minnesota debut this year, and the rumored reinstatement of suspended point guard Devoe Joseph after the Gophers return from Puerto Rico, Tubby Smith appears to have his best squad in this his fourth year at Minnesota.

Whether the Gophers win or lose to the Mountaineers they can be pretty much assured of cracking the top 25 ranking. 

Everything is golden in Gopher country—or is it?

Smith has led the Gophers to three consecutive 20-win seasons in his first three years.

The program appears to going in the right direction, making the NCAA Tournament last two years.

 Here's a look back over the recent past, and what we can expect in 2010.

Twenty Wins Appears To Be the Norm for Tubby Smith

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

24 Mar 1995: TULSA UNIVERSITY COACH TUBBY SMITH WATCHES HIS TEAM IN ACTION FROM THE SIDELINES DURING THEIR 76-51 LOSS TO UMASS IN THE NCAA EAST REGIONALS AT THE MEADOWLANDS ARENA IN EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

In 16 of his 18 seasons of coaching Tubby Smith has won at least 20 games.

The only two seasons he has not accomplished this milestone were his first two as the coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. 

This trend will continue for the Golden Gophers in the 2010-2011 season.

Early Season Upsets On Neutral Site Are Not Uncommon

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MILWAUKEE - MARCH 19: Ralph Sampson III #50 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers looks to pass the ball against the Xavier Musketeers during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Bradley Center on March 19, 2010 in Milwaukee, Wis

This will be the third year in a row that Tubby Smith and the Golden Gophers have upset a top 10 ranked opponent on a neutral site.

In 2008 the Gophers defeated ninth ranked Louisville in the Stadium Shootout in Glendale, Arizona. 

Last season they defeated then 10th ranked Butler in the 76 Classic in Anaheim, California. 

With the victory over eighth ranked North Carolina, this is the biggest non-conference win for Smith and the Gophers since he took over in 2007.

Finding Success in the Big Ten Tournament

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 14: Guard Evan Turner #21 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates by kissing the Big Ten tournament championship trophy after winning the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament 90-61 over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Conseco Fieldhouse

Along with the three consecutive 20 win seasons for Tubby Smith and the Gophers, there has been a modicum of success in the Big Ten tournament.

Smith has guided the Gophers to a 6-3 record in the Big Ten post season in three seasons.

Compare that to a 4-7 record in the seven seasons preceding Coach Smith. 

Last season he had the Gophers on the brink of winning the tournament and an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.

They lost to Ohio State in the championship game after wins over Penn State, Purdue and Michigan State.

Tubby Smith Still Searching for First Postseason Victory in Minnesota

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MILWAUKEE - MARCH 19: Devoe Joseph #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers drives the ball against the Xavier Musketeers during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Bradley Center on March 19, 2010 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Pho

Although Tubby Smith has the Gophers playing competitively, and there has been an improvement in the Big Ten Tournament, he has yet to win a game in a post-season national tournament.

To his credit Coach Smith has led the Golden Gophers to a national tournament berth in each of his three previous seasons. 

In his first season as coach, Minnesota lost to Maryland at home in the first round of the NIT. 

Each of the next two seasons the Gophers would make the NCAA field of 64—and in both cases make a first round exit to Texas and Xavier. 

Smith needs to get this program to the next level and win at least one game in the NCAA tournament.

Early Season Upsets and Tubby Smith's Record Against Ranked Teams

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Kalin Lucas #1 of the Michigan State Spartans moves the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indian

Along with the three signature wins on neutral sites early in the season, Tubby Smith has had plenty opportunities to face ranked teams in the Big Ten. 

In the three years as the Minnesota basketball coach, Tubby Smith has an 8-17 record against ranked teams.

If Smith and the Gophers have any aspirations of a Big Ten Championship and a deep run in the NCAA tournament,  this needs to starting tipping in the other direction.

Facing the Big Ten's Best

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MADISON, WI - JANUARY 15: Blake Hoffarber #24 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers moves against Tim Jarmusz #24 of the Wisconsin Badgers on January 15, 2009 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Minnesota defeated Wisconsin 78-74 in overtime. (Photo by Jo

With the win over the North Carolina Tar Heels the Minnesota Golden Gophers have almost assured themselves of cracking the top 25 ranking.

Currently there are five Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25.

Michigan State is no. 2, Ohio State no. 4, Illinois no. 13, Purdue no. 14, and Wisconsin is no. 25. 

Since the 2000 season Minnesota is 25-67 against these five teams, a .280 winning percentage.

Since 2007 when Tubby Smith took over the Gophers they are 10-21, only slight improvement with a .323 winning percentage.

The only team Smith has a winning record against are the Wisconsin Badgers at 3-2.

If this is the best team Smith has had in Minnesota he will get eight chances to face these five teams starting with Wisconsin on December 28th.

The Best Is Yet To Come?

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Al Nolen #0 of the Minnesota Gophers drives against T.J. Campbell #44 of the Portland Pilots at the 76 Classic at Anaheim Convention Center on November 27, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

This season brings the return of senior point guard Al Nolen after being suspended the second half of last season.

This allowed current suspended point guard, Devoe Joseph a chance to play significant minutes and develop into a go-to player. Once Joseph rejoins the Gophers, the team will have two capable point guards to lead and control the offense. 

With the long anticipated debut of Trevor Mbakwe in maroon and gold, this appears to be the best team under Tubby Smith's tutelage.

The rotation of the big three of Mbakwe, Ralph Sampson III, and Colton Iverson looks to provide the most low post presence in years.

Mbakwe looks capable of providing a physical dominance the Gophers need to compete for a Big Ten Title.

Sampson, like his father, appears to be more of a finesse player, and Iverson is a typcial blue collar lunch bucket player that will throw his body around, diving for loose balls. 

Include the contribution of sophomore forward Rodney Williams, who has scored at least six points in each of the past three games, and the Gophers seemed stacked in the front court.

So What Does It All Mean?

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Head coach Tubby Smith of the Minnesota Golden Gophers reacts to a play against the Michigan State Spartans during their quarterfinal game in the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2010 in Indi

Tubby Smith has faced some criticism for the inability to sign bigger names to the Minnesota program.

The downside of signing the best talent in the nation is that they don't stick around much longer than a year or two at most.

The Gophers have shown some improvement every year.

It's an easy bet Minnesota will win 20 plus games again this season.

The Big Ten seems stacked this year, and a Big Ten title looks to still be out of the reach of Smith and the Gophers.

They will make the NCAA tournament for the third year.

I see them at 23-6 heading into the Big Ten tournament where they will get at least one win. 

A seven to 10 seed in the NCAA seems likely.

If the team can stay intact they should get their first post-season victory in a national tournament this season for Coach Smith.