Are the Gophers an NCAA Tournament team in Year 2 under Dawn Plitzuweit?

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team is in the middle of a rare in-season week off.

The Gophers got a 74-61 win at Purdue on Wednesday, and host Washington next Wednesday night at Williams Arena. It’s given Dawn Plitzuweit and the players a rare chance to work on fundamentals and skill development, something that is tough to work on in-season.

"What’s important for us now is we have a chance to work on us for a couple of days. We need to capitalize on those days.," Plitzuweit told reporters on Friday.

Are the Gophers an NCAA Tournament team?

Why you should care:

The Gophers are just in Year 2 under Plitzuweit, but they’re already trending towards hearing their name called on Selection Sunday. Minnesota is 20-8 on the season, including 8-8 in Big Ten play with just two games left before the Big Ten Tournament.

Does Plitzuweit believe the Gophers have a NCAA Tournament resume?

"All we can do right now is play to the best of our ability moving forward. We don’t have any control over what’s transpired. Do I believe that our young ladies have battled and put themselves in a really good position? I really do," Plitzuweit said. "All we can control is what we do moving forward."

The Gophers are currently 12th in the Big Ten with two games left, but a late season run can get them in the right position. Minnesota has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, the most recent being in 2018.

Senior Night on Wednesday

The schedule::

Minnesota closes out its home schedule next Wednesday against Washington. It will be the final game at Williams Arena for four players – Alexsia Rose, Maggie Czinano, Annika Stewart and Jordan Brooks. Sophie Hart is also a senior, but has been granted an extra year of eligibility and said on the FOX 9 Gopher Coaches Show after the surprise, she will return.