Minnesota Gophers Stun No. 10 Michigan State in Emotional Upset Victory
In a heartwarming and long-awaited moment, the Minnesota Gophers basketball team erupted in celebration after securing a stunning upset victory over the 10th-ranked Michigan State Spartans. The scene in the locker room was one of pure elation, as head coach Niko Medved entered with exuberant energy, only to be met with a brief, stone-faced silence from his players—a playful ruse that quickly dissolved into a joyous water-dousing ceremony.
Ending a Painful Skid with a Signature Win
This triumph was particularly sweet for the Gophers, who had endured seven consecutive losses, many of them agonizingly close. The team had suffered three defeats by three points or less during this skid, including heartbreaking buzzer-beater losses to Wisconsin and Penn State. In five of those games, Minnesota held a tie or lead in the final minute of regulation, making this breakthrough victory all the more significant.
"We've got unbelievably high character guys. I just keep telling them, 'You can't get tired of doing the right thing. You can't get tired of getting better,'" Medved emphasized. "There's proof that the process works. It's up to them. They buy in."
A Season of Notable Upsets Under Medved's Leadership
With this win, the Gophers (11-12, 4-8 Big Ten) have now defeated three ranked Big Ten opponents in Medved's inaugural season. Previous victories came against Indiana on December 3 and Iowa on January 6, each prompting a court storming by the modest Williams Arena crowd. This latest upset marks Minnesota's first win over a top-10 team in the AP poll in over five years, a milestone that has injected renewed belief into the program.
"It kind of reassures us that what we're doing is good, it's right," said leading scorer Cade Tyson. "We've just got to stay consistent and not get too high or too low no matter what the circumstance is."
Overcoming Adversity and Statistical Anomalies
The Gophers' victory was achieved against considerable odds. According to statistics researcher Opta, Minnesota became the only NCAA Division I team in the last 30 seasons to win a game despite recording no bench points, facing a double-digit rebounding margin deficit, and allowing 50-plus points in the second half. Historically, the previous 25 teams meeting those criteria lost by an average of nearly 22 points.
Injuries have severely depleted Minnesota's depth, reducing them to just two usable reserves. Key players like forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Cade Tyson have been forced to play extensive minutes, yet they have performed at an all-conference level. Role players such as Langston Reynolds, who stepped up after a season-ending knee injury to starting point guard Chansey Willis, provided inspiring leadership and held his own against Spartans star Jeremy Fears. Contributions from Isaac Asuma and Bobby Durkin were also crucial in this hard-fought win.
Building a Foundation for Future Success
Despite the challenges, Medved remains passionately committed to revitalizing the program he once supported as a fan and served as a student manager. "I just refuse to say that we can't build this thing back. College basketball matters in the Twin Cities. It really does. It's our job to make it matter," he declared after the Iowa game.
The road to relevance is undoubtedly long. All three court-storming wins this season occurred in front of announced crowds under 9,000 fans, representing about 60% capacity of the 98-year-old Williams Arena. The Gophers also face the tall task of posting a winning record in conference play, a feat accomplished only once in the last two decades.
However, the schedule offers some optimism. Minnesota has only one regular-season game remaining against a team in the top six of the current Big Ten standings—a daunting trip to face No. 2 Michigan. Four games are against the bottom five teams: Maryland, Oregon, Rutgers, and Northwestern, who collectively held a 7-49 record in Big Ten play entering Thursday's games.
"They just keep coming back with a great spirit, so what you want from them is you want them to be rewarded. What does that do? It creates belief," Medved reflected. "I hope for us that we're creating belief with those guys and we're creating belief in our program that, 'Hey, we're on the right track. We're doing the right things. Our culture is good.' If we keep staying with it and keep going, we can win this way."
For the Minnesota Gophers, this victory over Michigan State is more than just a win—it's a beacon of hope and a testament to the resilience and character of a team determined to climb back to prominence in college basketball.
