"We've been having a lot of fun in this tournament."
That's Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit of the Gopher Women's Basketball team, speaking to WCCO's Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar on Wednesday ahead of their game against Belmont. The winner will be crowned the WBIT champion.
While it's not the NCAA Tournament, Plitzuweit says the new version of the NCAA's second-level tourney - now in its second season - has been a good thing for the women's game and gives teams like Minnesota a second chance to keep playing.
"We're excited about it, you know," Plitzuweit said. "Obviously disappointed we weren't in the NCAA Tournament. We're a bubble team, didn't get in, but turning this into something that is very positive for this team and also for our program moving forward."
For many teams, missing their shot at the Big Dance can be a disappointment they can't recover from. But Plitzuweit says her team's mindset was to make the most of their chances on the heels of a season that got a little derailed by injuries, especially to star guard Mara Braun who missed almost the entire year with a broken foot.
"Well, it's really a tribute to our young ladies because it's hard," she says. "I've been with teams that haven't approached the tournament in the way that this team has. And I think they're really excited about tonight. I'm sure probably a little nervous too, to some extent. Because this is kind of fun for them."
As for Belmont, a small private school from Nashville, it's only the second time they'll play Minnesota. The Gophers came out on top in a 2016 matchup at Williams Arena. Plitzuweit says the Bruins are a dangerous squad.
"We play a Belmont team who is one of those mid-major teams that is absolutely dangerous, because all five players shoot it from the arc at a really high level," she says. "And the kid who shoots the most for them is their starting post player. So that's just different than a lot of teams that we play against."
PREVIEW
Belmont Bruins (26-12, 17-6 MVC) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-11, 8-11 Big Ten)
Indianapolis; Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. (Central)
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota plays Belmont after Grace Grocholski scored 20 points in Minnesota's 66-52 win over the Florida Gators.
Minnesota is ninth in the Big Ten scoring 73.4 points while shooting 44.0% from the field.
Belmont is second in the MVC giving up 63.2 points while holding opponents to 38.4% shooting.
Minnesota averages 73.4 points, 10.2 more per game than the 63.2 Belmont allows. Belmont averages 8.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.8 more made shots on average than the 6.2 per game Minnesota gives up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Grocholski is scoring 13.5 points per game and averaging 5.0 rebounds for the Golden Gophers. Tori McKinney is averaging 1.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Jailyn Banks is averaging 12.8 points and 3.3 assists for the Bruins. Tuti Jones is averaging 11.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Gophers: 5-5, averaging 70.4 points, 30.8 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 5.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.1 points per game.
Bruins: 9-1, averaging 73.5 points, 37.2 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 41.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 60.7 points.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.