In this week's Big Ten, Big Moment, WCCO's Mark Freie take us back to a miracle win for the Gopher men's team in 2008.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team in-need of a miracle, trailing 58-57 to Indiana in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Big Ten Men's basketball tournament. Minnesota native Blake Hoffarber delivered.
"He'll turn, he'll launch it up, it's in the air.... Hoffarber has it, turns, throws it up, he hit it! Yes! Yes! Yes! Unbelievable!"
Those were the words (and screams) uttered by Mike Grimm and former Gopher Kevin Lynch who had the call of the game that day on WCCO Radio.
59-58 the final, as the Gophers upset the Hoosiers to advance to the semifinals with one of the most shocking wins in the team's history.
For Hoffarber, it was deja vu. The Hopkins native, playing in the 2005 Minnesota State Tournament, hit one of the craziest shots you'll ever see.
The shot came in the tournament final against Eastview High School, and his Hopkins team trailing by two in the last seconds. Hoffarber had a loose ball fall into his hands after he was knocked to the ground. While sitting on the floor of the Target Center, Hoffarber launched an 18-foot shot that went in, sending the game to a second overtime where the Royals eventually prevailed.
His shot won the 2005 Best Play ESPY Award. He was also featured on the Today Show in New York City with Matt Lauer, where he repeated the same shot from his seat again, for which the Today Show donated $10,000 to a charity in Florida in his name.
The Gophers will look to make a run in the 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball tournament that tips off March 13th at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.