The Gophers women’s basketball teamis 8-2 and has the highest RPI of any Big Ten team. The U has climbed to No. 15 in the nation. That’s good because the NCAA selection committee uses the RPI to decide which teams to invite to its postseason playoff.

So what is RPI, I found this definition on RealTimeRPI.com:

A team’s RPI is a sum of three values: 25% of the team’s winning percentage, 50% of its opponents’ average winning percentage (strength of schedule), and 25% of its opponents’ opponents’ average winning percentage (opponents’ strength of schedule). Only results against teams which are in NCAA Division I are counted in all of these winning percentages.

What this all means, I guess, is that the Gophers have played a pretty strong preseason schedule and come out rather well.

Three concerns I still have about the team: depth — there is very little; foul trouble –someone on the team always seems to pick up two quick fouls, and inside shooting — it has not been very good under the basket which is good for building up offensive rebound stats, not good for breaking games open.

What’s your biggest concern about the Gophers?

The AP women’s basketball ratings came out and a quick, thorough look reveals the Gophers are nowhere to be found. Not even in the “others” category.

They were close to breaking into the top 25 one week this season, just two spots away. But that second lost at Virginia Tech really hurt them. It should have a little, but not this much. They should not be completely forgotten.

The Gophers lost by six points without their double-double center Ashley Ellis-Milan. She injured her shoulder in the first half and didn’t play the second. With her, Minnesota is 9-1 and rated, not 8-2 and ignored.

It’s hard to get too upset. Ratings don’t mean too much. And raters probably don’t read Gophers boxscores line for line like I do.

That said. Minnesota is off to a great start considering their hectic schedule and recent travels.

Coach Pam Borton gave her players two days off in a row — TWO — this week after the team returned from Charlotte, N.C. She said a while ago she did not want to overwork her team and she is sticking to her word.

The Gophers traveled to Hawaii and then the East Coast in a 12-day span and played five games, going 3-2. One game they lost against Virginia because they could not make free throws, the second they lost against Virginia Tech because Ellis-Milan was out.

They return to action vs. Utah at Williams Arena on Saturday. They should be well-rested and ready. Maybe a victory against the Utes (5-3) will impress the AP voters.

Utah was playing pretty well until getting routed 62-45 at Southern Cal on Monday. The Utes shot just 30.6 percent, were outrebounded 42-30, and their bench was outscored by USC reserves 23-2. Ouch.

Incidentally, a look at the AP Top 25 finds only two teams that have played as many games as the Gophers, 10 already. None have played more.

The teams who match the U in games are No. 3 Maryland, coached by you know who, at 10-0, and No. 5 North Carolina at 9-1.

Two other Big Ten teams, both with two losses,are in the Top 25 — No. 19 Ohio State is 6-2 and No. 23 Michigan State also is 6-2. But Minnesota has more wins and the highest RPI of any conference team and the most air miles in the conference probably.

Anybody else think the Gophers deserve at least a few votes — or should be in theTop 25? Or do you disagree?

After playing Utah, the Gophers are off for final exams until they play visiting Iowa State a few days before Christmas. So there is little chance they will move into the ratings any time soon.

Who has the best RPI in the Big Ten in women’s basketball? Umm. Maybe I should back up. RPI stands for ratings percentage index. It rates teams on their record and strength of schedule.

It’s very comforting to have a high RPI when the NCAA selection committee is picking at-large teams for its postseason tournament.

So who has the highest RPI? The Gophers. They are No. 35 in the land going into Sunday’s game at NC-Charlotte which they won to go 8-2.

Next in RPI are Iowa at No. 37, Michigan at No. 43, Michigan State at No. 45 and Ohio State at No. 53. If Ashley Ellis-Milan had not injured her shoulder in the first half of the U’s loss to Virginia Tech on Friday they probably would be 9-1 and ranked this week in the AP Top 25. Now, they probably will not unless a lot rated teams lost.

So how are the Gophers getting it done? Just think three.

Before Sunday, they were third in the Big Ten in scoring, averging 69.4 points. Incidentally, Minnesota is 69-0in the last 69 games it hasscored70 points.

To continue the three rant:

TheGophers are third in the Big Ten in three-point shooting, .374

third in rebounding, 45.8 per game

Emily Fox is the third leading scorer, averaging 18.3 points

Ashley Ellis-Milan is the third leading rebounder, averaging 8.8 rebounds.

How weird.

SUNDAY NUMBERS

A few thoughs on Sunday’s boxscore, an 80-66 victory at NC-Charlotte

* Five players in double figures. Great balance, but Brittany McCoy has to take a few more shots. She was just 1-for-4 in 18 minutes. She had four fouls, so maybe she got into early foul trouble again.

* Korinne Campebell can be a special player. She had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

* Free throw shooting may be improving. Team was 30 for 37, .811.

* Katie Ohm continues to provide offense off the bench. She had 14 points and made two three-pointers.

* There were only 1,109 people at this game.Bet the Gophers will be glad to get back to the Barn.

News from Hawaii sometimes travels slow to the mainland. I found out only Monday that two Gophers were named to the all-tournament team in the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic.

Emily Fox and Ashley Ellis-Milan were honored after the Gophers went 2-1 and took third place.

Fox,a junior guard, scored 18, 15 and 17 poits in the three games and, just as importantly, stayed out of foul trouble to play a lot of minutes. She also was 7-for-7 on free throws, and had 12 assists.

Ellis-Milan, a junior center, had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the first games, 16 points and 11 rebounds in the second, and 11 points and five rebounds in the third when her minutes were limited by foul trouble. Of her 28 rebounds, 12 were on the offensive end. She also had seven steals.

A third player also has to be mentioned. Reserve guard Katie Ohm, the team’s designated three-point shooter, also had a super tournament. She had 17 points, 12 and 11. In the first game, she made 5-of-5 three point shots and her only two-ponit attempt. For the tournament, she was 9-of-18 on threes and also had 12 rebounds, six in the second game and another six in the third.

With a short bench, the Gophers need that kind of production from Ohm.

The Gophers cranked up their defense and beat Hawaii 72-54 for third place on Sunday in the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic.

There were lots of good signs for the U:

* 15 steals, five by Brittany McCoy, four by Zoe Harper and three by Ashley Ellis-Milan … Hawaii committed a season-high 35 turnovers. The Gophers only 20.

* Leslie Knight, who has been struggling a bit on offense, had 16 points. She was 5-of-8 from the field, 6-of-6 fro the line. In one stretch, late in the first half and at the start of the second, the senior co-captain had 10 points in a row for the Gophers, including two three-point plays the old-fashioned way. A basket and a free throw.

* Katie Ohm played starter’s minutes, 30, because two other players were in foul trouble. She had 11 points and six rebounds.

Areas of concern:

* Foul trouble: Ashley Ellis-Milan’ streak of three consecutive double-double was stopped, partly because she only played 27 minutes. She had 11 points but only five rebounds. She also finished with four fouls.

Guard Brittany McCoy fouled out with 7:35 to play. She only played 14 minutes but, in one stretch in the second half, make three consecutive steals. She finished with four points, three assists and five steals.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Hartford beat Virginia 70-53 for the Rainbow Wahine title. Tournament MVP Danielle Hood led Hartford with 19 points. Virginia had beaten the Gophers in the semifinals and Minnesota will play another team from that state next.

Minnesota plays at Virginia Tech on Friday in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hokies (4-1) have lost only to Southern Cal. USC beat them 64-55.

The Gophers lost for the first time in women’s basketball on Saturday night, falling 73-62 to Virginia in the semifinals of the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine tournament in Honolulu.

They shot poorly in the last 10 minutes of the first half and were behind 35-21 at halftime. This was a Minnesota team that scored 55 points in the second half the night before against Kentucky.

The Gophers made several comebacks in the second half, but poor free throw shooting doomed them. They were 13 of 25 at the foul line. The Cavaliers were 21 of 28.

Bet I know what the Gophers will be working extra hard on in practice this week. Shooting free throws has been a season-long problem. They came into this game 90 of 132, or 58 percent on free throws. That’s seventh in the Big Ten. It’s hard to believe four teams are worse.

Maybe there is something about the background at the gym they played at. Because in the late semifinal game between Hawaii and Hartford, both those teams struggled to make a free throw, too.

Hartford beat Hawaii 76-63, which means the U will play ths host team at 7:20 tonight (CST) for third place.

Hawaii was 8 of 21 on free throws, Hartford 7 of 13.

Hartford won by getting 27 points off turnovers to Hawaii’s 15.

Ashley Ellis-Milan had her third double-double in a row to lead the Gophers against Virginia. She had 16 points, 13 in the second half, and 11 rebounds.

Emily Fox had 15 points, most of them late in the second half. And Katie Ohm, a reserve, had 12 points and six rebounds.

The other three starters — Brittany McCoy, Leslie Knight and Korinne Campbell — combined for just 11 points.

Today’s game will be the Gophers’ sixth in 10 days, the schedule may be taking a toll on a team only eight players deep.

The same team which struggled to make inside baskets on Tuesday against North Dakota State, turned in its best offensive performance of the season on Friday.

The Gophers, now 6-0,beat Kentucky 92-80 on the first day of the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classis in Honolulu. (No I wasn’t there, I listened to the game on ‘CCO.)

How do you score 55 points in a half? The Gophers shot 63 percent from the field. And Minnesota reached a season-high of 92 points by making 7-of-9 three-pointers.

Guard Katie Ohm, in 12 minutes as a reserve, was 5-of-5 on threes and had a career-high 17 points. Assistant coach Ted Riverso said Ohm has shot well from outside in practice and the coaches were waiting for her to have a breakout game. This was it.

But everybody chipped in. Four starters were in double figures: Emily Fox had 18 points, Ashley Ellis-Milan 16 points and 12 rebounds, Leslie Knight 15 points and Korinne Campbell 12 points.

Minnesota faces Virginia at 7:20 p.m. Saturday in the tournament semifinals. Virginia beat Texas 86-83 on Friday.

For the third game in a row, an opposing player had a monster game against the U. This time Samantha Mahoney of the Wildcats scored a career-high 29 points. Kentucky also shot a season-high 52.4 percent.

The Gophers shot 55 percent, outrebounded Kentucky 34-29 and got contributions from everyone.

Pam Borton was not happy with the Gophers’ defense afterward. Another concern is howMinnesota will hold up, playing three games in three days. The Gophers are basically eight players deep.

Ohm was amazing this first game, but she does not play that many minutes. Zoe Harper can spell somebody on the front-line. And Kay Silva is the lone backup at guard. Nobody else has played much.

One good omen: Fox, who has been in early foul trouble the past two games, did not pick up her second foul Friday until the last two minutes.

If the Gophers can beat Virginia Saturday, they should be favored in the title game. The bottom bracket, in which the U is in, looks much tougher. (I did a little Internet research on all the teams.)

Are people getting excited about the Gophers yet? If they can beat Virginia, another athletic team, it might be time to hop on the backwagon. What do you think?

I’vewatched coach Pam Borton’s women’s basketball team play three and one-halfgames this season.

First, I saw the Gophers play in an exhibition game against Minnesota State Mankato. Then I watched the U in real games against Western Carolina (first half only, had to cover a men’s hockey game across the street), Louisville and North Dakota State.

I still have a hard time figuring out how competitive the U is. The Gophersaresqueaking out wins again and again.

Are they just playing to the level of the competition? On Tuesday against NDSU, a three-point win, were the players’ minds in Hawaii already? Could be. Mine would be if I were in their shoes.

This is a team that might be better than the sum of its parts.The Gophers are led byEmily Fox, the guard who is smiling at the start of warm-ups,appearing so happy to be on the court.

But the last two gamesFox has been in early foul trouble and sat on the bench too much. Last night she had her first foul in 30 seconds. She also got a charge, attacking three players in front of her. Fox said after the game that she has to player smarter. Yes, she does. And why wasFox handling the ball so much with Brittany McCoy on the court?

McCoy, the other guard,seems to beplaying in Fox’s shadow. She is not looking to score enough.McCoy needs tobe a bigger part of the offense.

Up front, Ashley Ellis-Milan is a force inside, but sheneeds more work on finishing.Actually, most of the inside people do. I had nightmares last night after seeing all the bunnies the U missedagainst the Bison. One reason the Gophers had 28 offensive rebounds — that has to bea school record or close to it — is that there were so many to get.

Often the Gopherswould miss a close-rangeshot, get the rebound, then miss again.Rebound stats pile up quickly that way,but shooting percentagesfall.

Leslie Knight has show flashes atforward. She had eight assists against Louisville, usually finding teammates underneath from the high post. She is also rebounding well and finding lanes to drive for left-handed layups.But Knightalso makes a couple of mistakes every game a senior co-captain should not be making.

Asfor Korinne Campbell, shecan be a special player. She can rebound, block shots,pressure opponents, but other teams are sagging in whenCampbell has the ball on the outside. She needs to work on her outside shot more so opponents can’t dare her to take 15-footers.

It seems like these Gophers are a determined bunch, but Fox and McCoy have to stay out of foul trouble. And is there a defensive stopper on the team? Doesn’t seem like there is. Angel McCoughtry of Louisville had 39 points against the U, and Emily Moran of NDSU had 28. Wheredid Shannon Bolden go? That’s right, she graduated.

A hard-core group of 5,000fans are going to every game at the Barn. The U has an edge whenit plays there. Now the Gophersare on the road, in Hawaii, for three games this weekend. We will know a lot more real soon about these Gophers.

They are better than last season whenMinnesotafinished 17-16, buthow much better?What do you think?

“We had some defensive breakdowns,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said after a 74-69 loss to the Gophers. “We left some shooters open.

“We took a 10, 11 point lead and got caught up with scoring rather than keep doing what gor us that lead, doing things on defense.”

He said his Cardinals started both halves guarding extremely well — “they did not get an offensive rebound the first five, six minues — then a scoring mentality crept in.

“We were getting Angel [McCoughtry] shots in transition and out of our offense,” Walz said.

“We have to work on some things,” McCoughtry said. “When we get a lead, we can’t think we got the lead.”

In other words, play hard all the time.

“Angel is a marque player now,” Walz said. “We need a second and third offensive player to step up.”

Walz said he expected Fox, who had 23 points for the Gophers, to play well. “Fox is a great player,” he said. “She was a member of the Pan-Am, they would not tak her if she was a slouch. Her energy is contagious.

“She hit a big three in the corner [late in the game]. She is a solid player. I told my players Minnesota was a hard-working, solid team and, if we did not work 40 minutes, we would be in for a long day. Unfortunately, we play well for 36 minutes.”

I saw it, and I am still not sure how Pam Borton’s Gophers beat Louisville 74-69 on Sunday afternoon.

“Everybody made a play at the end,” U center Ashley Ellis-Milan said. “Especially Emily [Fox] and Brittany [McCoy]. I’m real proud of them.”

Minnesota did not look ready to play at the start. The Cardinals jumped to a 15-2 lead. The Gophers had six turnovers and made one of nine shots from the field. Angel McCoughtry, who would finish with 39 points, had seven of those 15 points. Emily Fox, her teammate on the U.S. team in the Pan-Am Games, had three misses for the Gophers and Korinne Campbell, whom Louisville sagged off when she got the ball outside, was one for four.

And the U also had a charge on their first possession by Leslie Knight.

“Louisville came out jumping in the first and second halves,” Ellis-Milan said, “and we need to come out jumping, too. … But we stayed together and slowly came back.”

A 10-2 Gophers run enabled the Gophers to pull within 26-22 but then Fox picked up her third foul with 4:24 left in the half and took a seat.

Campbell made a nice inside move to give the U its only lead of the first half at 29-28 with 3:03 left. The lead lasted for 17 seconds, then Brandie Radde buried a three for Louisville.

Campbell scored again from underneath early in the second half to put the Gophers ahead 36-35 but seconds later, Fox got her fourth foul with just 1:20 gone in the half. More bench time. Then 35 seconds later, Campbell picks up her third foul.

Chauntise Wright, the Cardinals center, scored inside to make it 37-36Louisville. That lead grew to 46-37. It was 62-50 when the Gophers outscored Louisville 24-7 the final 7 minutes, 12 seconds.

Who saw that coming? Be honest. Part of the problem was three Louisville starters by then had four fouls.

Ashley Ellis-Milan’s three-point play — on a basket and free throw with 7:12 on the clock — started Minnesota’s comeback.

At 6:03, forward Candyce Bingham fouled out for Louisville with 11 points.

Threes by Brittany McCoy, Fox and Fox gave the U a 66-all tie. And the 5,723 fans there starting whooping it up. The game had turned.

Fox said she never lost confidence. She told herteammates they would win. McCoughtry has an amazing game, Fox said, but the Gophers relied more on each other and won.

“It’s nice to come out of that game with a win,” U coach Pam Borton said. “A lof of times we played pretty sloppy and fueled their offense. … But we put together a great last six minutes. In the last 3-1/2 minutes, I am not sure they scored.”

Borton said the Gophers were outrebounded, shot only 19 of 28 at the foul line but did have balanced scoring.

The Subway Classic all-tournament team:

Minnesota: Emily Fox (MVP), Ashley Ellis-Milan.

Western Carolina: Brooke Johnson, Ashley Pellom.

Louisville: Angel McCoughtry, Patrika Barlow.