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Gophers 101 — a Minnesota Gophers Podcast
Gophers 101 — a Minnesota Gophers Podcast
Author: SKOR North | Hubbard Radio
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Gophers 101 hosts Ross Brendel, Manny Hill and Thor Nystrom are long-suffering, dedicated followers of Minnesota Gophers football, basketball, hockey and more! Each week, they dive into the latest Minnesota Gophers news, topics, and discussions from around Dinkytown, the Big Ten and college athletics. Gophers 101 is your go-to place for fun and informative Minnesota Gophers discussion and Minnesota Gophers news. Row the Boat, Ski U Mah, and Go Gophers! A SKOR North production.
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The Wisconsin Badgers lost in the NCAA Championship on Saturday night to Denver in hockey. As a Gophers fan, is it okay to celebrate Wisconsin’s “failure” even if our favorite team has been done playing for over a month? Can the Gophers be in the national championship next year under Brett Larson? Is Cade Tyson going to be drafted in the upcoming NBA Draft? Finally, the Spring Game is just days away. Ross and Manny dive deep into Minnesota Golden Gophers athletics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What a day in college basketball. Not only was last night the national championship game, but North Carolina has a new head coach in NBA champion Michael Malone. Ross and Manny lay out why they like the move for North Carolina but also what the move means for college athletics and the Minnesota Gophers. The boys also get into the overall health of the revenue making sports at the University of Minnesota and look at next year’s Gophers men’s hoops roster with the return of this year’s core to next year’s team. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers have exited the NCAA Women’s Tournament after falling to UCLA this past Friday night. What’s next for women’s hoops at the University of Minnesota? Can the Gophers eventually become a woman’s powerhouse in college basketball? The Cinderella story is a rarity in the women’s game, and it appears to be a thing of the past in the men’s game. Is it gone forever? Finally, happy College Basketball Crown week to those who celebrate across college basketball. 😊 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers announced on Tuesday that they have a brand-new men’s hockey coach in Brett Larson from St. Cloud State University. Despite a recent dry spell at SCSU is he actually the best man for the job? How soon will Brett need to win a National Championship with the Minnesota Gophers before he is on the hot seat? The Gopher woman also has a brand-new coach in Greg “Boom” May. We know his expectation will be to win not just one, but many National Championships. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SKOR North continues to mourn the loss of our friend and coworker Jessi Pierce along with her three adorable children. Ross starts the show by sharing his thoughts on Jessi and her family, before moving onto something she cared deeply about. Woman’s athletics. Ross and Manny break down the Gophers victory over Ole Miss to move onto the Women’s NCAA Sweet 16! Why is advancing to the Sweet 16 so important and what does it represent? Can the Gophers beat UCLA? Plus, we get Manny’s thoughts on big changes with both men’s and women’s hockey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The University of Minnesota and men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko announced on Wednesday that they have mutually agreed to part ways. This comes on the heels of the announcement that Brad Frost will not return to the women’s program. What is going on with the hockey programs at the University of Minnesota and what type of coach will the Minnesota Gophers be looking for to lead their men’s program starting next season? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Both the men’s and women’s Gopher basketball teams are off to postseason play. The Minnesota Gopher women will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament as a 4 seed beginning on Friday when they take on Green Bay. The Gopher men will play in the second annual College Basketball Crown with their first game on April 1st against the Baylor Bears. Ross Brendel and Manny Hill discuss both teams’ postseason participation and look back at the 2014 NIT Champion Minnesota Golden Gophers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers completed their first regular season under Niko Medved last night with a nail-biting win over Northwestern to finish 8-12 and in 11th place in the conference. Ross Brendel and Manny Hill attempt to give Niko Medved and the Gophers a letter grade on year one as they head towards the Big Ten tournament and possible further postseason play in the CROWN or NIT. The Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s team now awaits their fate after an early exit in their conference tournament. Will they host in the first and second rounds? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team continues to build momentum and success in year one of Niko Medved after Saturday’s big win at The Barn over UCLA. The Minnesota Gophers are in the mix for The Crown tournament and maybe even the NIT should they so choose. The Gophers appear to be building towards a possible NCAA Tournament appearance next year. Can they get it done? Plus, the Gopher woman still have a chance to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Ross Brendel and Manny Hill are back for Gophers 101.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What a day for USA Men’s Hockey including former Minnesota Gophers Brock Faber and Jackson LaCombe who are now proud owners of Olympic gold medals after USA defeated Canada in the gold medal game. How about Gophers women’s hoops? They may end up hosting opening round play of the NCAA Tournament with a few more big wins. Finally, props to the men who have now won back-to-back games for the first time in nearly 2 months.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Big Ten has circulated an internal document that supports a 24-team college football playoff format. When is enough enough when it comes to the number of teams in the CFP? What would expansion mean for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Big Ten? Manny and Ross discuss. The Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball team is a near lock for the NCAA tournament while the men continue to limp to the finish line. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Minnesota Gophers head football coach P.J. Fleck will have a brand-new amended contract later this week that will increase bonus potential and retention bonuses along with the introduction of a new “management bonus.” Ross Brendel and Manny Hill discuss the amended contract and why it does or does not matter. The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team picked up a BIG win this week over #10 Michigan State. Will the Gophers build upon that win and finish the season strong? Finally, will the University of Minnesota ever stop kicking the can down the road on Williams Arena and potential arena updates and upgrades? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers officially know when and where they will play their opponents in the 2026 football season. Will their Minnesota Gophers improve upon last season 7-5 regular season? The Gophers men’s hoops squad enters the back half of their regular season schedule today. What does success look like the rest of the season? Finally, do fans really want to move on from Bob Motzko as the Gopher men’s hockey head coach? That seems very kneejerk to Ross and Manny. 3:15 – Looking at the Minnesota Gophers 2026 football schedule20:41 – 10 games left for Gophers men’s hoops. What does success look like the rest of the way? 28:03 – Time to move on from Bob Motzko? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team continued their biggest slide so far of the 2025/2026 season as losers of now five games in a row after falling to Nebraska on Saturday. The Gophers do continue to play hard and competitive, so that’s a good thing. How does year one of Niko Medved rank in comparison to year one of Ben Johnson with the Gophers. Finally, what are some of our favorite Minnesota Gophers upset wins in recent memory…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tough week for the Minnesota Gophers basketball squad with a buzzer beating loss to the Wisconsin Badgers and a 10-point loss on the road at Illinois. The Gophers are now on a 3-game losing streak and the depth issue appears to be rearing its ugly head. How good can the 2025-2026 Minnesota Gophers still be and do results even matter? Ross Brendel and Manny Hill also welcome back former Minnesota Gophers Offensive Coordinator Matt Limegrover and play a little Manny Mania!0:00 – Good BUT heartbreaking week for the Minnesota Gophers. 6:07 – Wins are still on the schedule for these Gophers9:15 – Depth is still a BIG issue. 14:28 – Judge the rest of the season on looks, not results. 21:05 – Welcome back to Dinkytown Matt Limegrover. Mo Ibrahim and Isaac Fruechte too.26:08 – Manny Mania. Ross quizzes Manny on a random Gophers hoops team. Tubby Smith talk tooSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers suffered a tough loss on Friday night to USC but overall, there is a lot to like early on in Big Ten Conference play from these Minnesota Golden Gophers. Cade Tyson is awesome. Isaac Asuma is developing into a legit Big Ten player. The Minnesota Gophers are winning basketball games and competing at a high level! Ross Brendel and Manny Hill break down what they like and what they don’t like thus far in the Gophers basketball season and lay out where they think the program might be heading under Niko Medved. They also discuss the upcoming college football national championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes. 1:55 – It was a good week for the Minnesota Gophers by beating Iowa and competing with USC.6:03 – What we like and what we don’t like about this Minnesota Gophers basketball team… Isacc Asuma is developing and turning into a threat.13:03 – Worried about the Minnesota Gophers depth. 17:27 – Breaking down the schedule over the next few weeks. 22:40 – The Gophers should play in a postseason tournament this year.30:42 – Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers national championship preview.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What a nice win for the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team this past Saturday night in Evanston against Northwestern! Is the Minnesota Gophers early season Big Ten success sustainable? Just how good of a player is Cade Tyson and can the Gophers increase their depth during the season? For the football team, Koi Perich has entered the transfer portal. If he’s not back in 2026, is it all doom and gloom? 0:45 – Minnesota Gophers are above .500 in conference play!4:45 – Minnesota Gophers will need more depth to compete in the long run.7:58 – How can Gophers build the program? 12:35 – How good is Cade Tyson?19:15 – Koi Perich has entered the transfer portal. Will he be back in 2026? 24:56 – Who is coming back to the Minnesota Gophers football team?28:45 – Let’s fix college athletics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers beat New Mexico in the 2025 Rate Bowl by a final of 20-17. P.J. Fleck is now 7-0 in bowl games at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Gophers finish the season with at least 8 wins for the fourth time in five years. The Minnesota Gophers were led offensively by Jalen Smith who had 6 catches for 64 yards with two great TD receptions. In postgame, star defensive lineman Anthony Smith announced that he is returning to the Minnesota Gophers in 2026.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Minnesota Gophers will look to move to 7-0 under P.J. Fleck in bowl games on Friday when they take on the New Mexico Lobos in the Rate Bowl. Who will win the game and why? What matchups favor the Minnesota Gophers and what matchups are a cause for concern? Thor Nystrom and Ross Brendel preview the game, look at Gophers in the pros and provide some thoughts on the college football playoff. 1:30 – Thor says the wrong team is favored. It should be New Mexico.4:00 – Why New Mexico can win.7:30 – Logan Loya may have a say if the Gophers win. 10:15 – Matchups that favor the Minnesota Gophers and matchups that are a cause for concern17:35 – The Rate Bowl could be a very close game21:00 – What Gopher exceeded expectations and who didn’t meet them in 2025?23:53 – Darius Taylor should return to school and wait on the NFL.28:55 – Thoughts on optouts and transfers.37:10 – College football playoff talkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In honor of the Minnesota Gophers appearance in this years Rate Bowl, Ross Brendel and Manny Hill rate their belief in P.J. Fleck, Niko Medved and Bob Motzko in leading their respective programs. The boys also take a look at the Minnesota Gophers basketball team as they near conference play and provide their thoughts on the upcoming Rate Bowl. 2:06 – The boys rate Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck, Niko Medved and Bob Motzko.13:43 – Gophers men’s hoops prepare for conference play.18:50 – Minnesota Gophers vs New Mexico in the Rate BowlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.




