#0: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -1). I feel bad not doing last Week's survey before the U. beat Colgate -- then-third-ranked Colgate -- Friday. Nevertheless, they beat the Raiders again -- and remember that the Gophers were playing in Colgate. This impressive road sweep (I can't remember the last one of these they've had) pushed them up the poll from fifth to third, and until they play the WCHA powers again (which they won't until December), they'll have to ride on this. They get the top spot this screening Week, and hell, I'll put them at 0.
In the meantime, they visit Bemidji St. for two this weekend.
#-1: Gopher football (Last Week: -3). It helps to be on the weaker side of the B1G. But by pulling away from Maryland at Huntington Saturday, 34-16, they are now tied with Iowa in the Big Ten West Division, and they have won three in a row, and they are now one Win away from being bowl-eligible. That Bowling Green Loss still stings, and just reaching a bowl should be something that's expected by now. But things could be a lot worse with this team right now. And they should handle Northwestern in Evanston Saturday.
#-2: Timberwolves (Last Week: -2). So after they beat The Bastard Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at Target Center, they lost the rematch on Monday (even though they mounted a spirited comeback to end the Third Quarter). Head Coach Chris Finch and, surprisingly, Anthony Edwards said they had to do a better job of passing the ball. Cool. Good luck changing your fortunes around Wednesday against the defending world champion Milwaukee Bucks.
And they did. It got hairy at the end, but they held off Milwaukee, in Milwaukee, 113-108. I never thought they would be able to pull that off. But they won a Game they had no business winning, and even though it's early, they're 3-1. Moreover, I am beginning to come around on Ant. Let's see what more he is capable of.
This Week they begin a four-Game homestand with contests vs. Denver, Orlando, and The Bastard Buffalo Braves.
#-3: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -5). They beat then-sixth-ranked Ohio St. in four Sets at Maturi Sunday, then swept lowly Indiana in Bloomington Wednesday. But I can't get over the club's sweep, at home, at the hands of then-#14 Penn St. Friday. It's been readily apparent they don't have a championship squad this Year, but you couldn't win even one Set against a program you aspire to be?
In the latest poll out Monday (so before the Win over Indiana), the Gophers actually rose a spot from 12 to 11. So, a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and that's it? That sounds fair.
A pivotal Week: Hosting #6 Nebraska Saturday, then a revenge Game for the Buckeyes (now ranked ninth) as they host the U. Thursday.
#-4: Wild (Last Week: 0). I have to say something about the Seattle Kraken, the expansion team in the National Hockey League. First, God help them if there is even anything close to a racist incident involving the franchise because then everybody would all them the Seattle Krakers. It's right there, people.
Second, it's unbelievable to me that ESPN, holding rights to the NHL for the first time in 17 Years, has gone all in on showcasing the Kraken. This is their first Year. They have no track record. They have no stars. And yet the, well, fellatio The Worldwide Leader is performing on this virgin group is bizarre and downright distasteful. Why are they promoting Seattle like they're America's Team? Is it because they want to get in on the next Las Vegas Golden Knights if they pop in their charter Year to reach the Stanley Cup Final? (I'm picking them to get all the way there, by the way ... losing to Zach Parise and the New York Islanders at the end.) Is it the newness of the club they're attracted to? Because other squads have identities and track records that the casual fan might want to follow instead. But no, says ESPN; let's follow the shiny object and slurp all over the Kraken instead.
Oh, by the way, Seattle beat the Mild last/Thursday night in Seattle, and it wasn't even close: 4-1. I am watching this space for a theory I developed after they cut Ryan Suter and lost Carson Soucy to the Krak in the Expansion Draft: Their Defense, long a hallmark of this organization, is going to be a lot leakier this Year, and so if the Mild win, they'll have to win, like, 5-4. That would require Kirill Kaprizov to score, and even though he has been productive in helping his teammates score, including a great Assist to Ryan Hartman for the team's only Goal last/Thursday night, he isn't scoring yet.
The Loss in Seattle makes them 2-2 this screening Week; their first loss of the season was a 5-2 blowout at home Sunday to Nashville, while they beat Anaheim in Overtime Saturday and outlasted the Canucks in Vancouver Tuesday, both by 3-2 scores. Things lighten up this Week: They're in Colorado Saturday, then host Ottawa Tuesday.
#-5: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -6). This squad has time to turn it around, but this is a bad home-and-home sweep at the hands of Minnesota-Duluth over the weekend. They are now 3-3 and beginning conference play this weekend with a pair at home versus Notre Dame, and they still can't seem to defend. That's been a defining trait of Bob Motzko's career, and that could continue to stymie the resurrection of this program.
#-6: United FC (Last Week: Positive Numbers). Don't want to sound like a broken record, but after this Week I am back to not quite understanding the #HeathOut fervor. I once again didn't think the Loons were a prime contender to win it all, despite what some others said before the Year began. And while Wednesday's 2-1 loss at the Vancouver Whitecaps was a devastating one in at least a putative and analytical standpoint (FiveThirtyEight said MNUFC's playoff chances dropped from 69% to 43% after that defeat), the 'Caps are fighting alongside the Loons for a postseason birth and they were on the road, playing a sport that has as bad as a home-pitch advantage than basketball. I could see them losing, which is what I am saying.
Saturday's 1-all Draw against LAFC at home is the opportunity that was lost, in my opinion. Laugh-See also is fighting for the playoffs, but at this time of the Year, you have to take all the Points you can when at home. And they were playing behind after the 33rd Minute Goal from Cristian Arango. Ozzie Alonso's clean-up Goal was great -- losing at home would have ended this season -- but now they are on the outside looking in, with two Games left, when the clubs MNUFC is fighting don't have too many obstacles in their way to sewing up the playoff spots they're in right now.
Halloween afternoon they host Sporting Kansas City. They have to win this one. Unfortunately they're facing one of the hottest sides in MLS. Good luck. (I have time to watch this Match. I think I have just talked myself out of going.)
#-Infinity: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -7). Well, shit. They were in a mostly win-and-you're-in situation going into Sunday's regular season finale vs. Nebraska at home, and the Cornhuskers were already eliminated from tournament (Big Ten, and thus NCAA) play. And I am confused that this XI turned in probably their worst performance of the Year, losing 2-0 on Goals scored three Minutes apart in the First Half.
So, after finishing their non-conference schedule both undefeated and without allowing a Goal, they finish league play with four Wins and six Losses. They do not make the B1G Tournament, so there's no way they'll make the NCAAs, and therefore their season is over.
Well, this is Erin Chastain's first Year leading Minnesota, so this is her mulligan.
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