The Baylor Bears will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a postseason tournament game. This game is part of the NIT Tournament and will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 10:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on FS1.
Baylor comes into this game with a regular season record of 16-16 and a conference record of 6-13 in the Big 12. In their recent games, they lost to Arizona State by 4 points and Houston by 13 points but had a strong win against Utah by 26 points. Key players like Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou have shown strong performances in these games.
Minnesota finished their regular season with a 15-17 overall record and an 8-13 record in the Big Ten. Recently, they lost to Rutgers by 5 points and Indiana by 30 points, but they edged out Northwestern by 1 point. Cade Tyson and Bobby Durkin have been standout players for the Golden Gophers in these recent games.
Minnesota Preview
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are part of the Big Ten Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 15 wins and 17 losses. Their conference record was 8 wins and 13 losses. This shows they faced challenges in both conference and non-conference games.
In recent games, the Golden Gophers had mixed results. They lost to Rutgers Scarlet Knights by 5 points, with a score of 67-72. However, they won against Northwestern Wildcats by 1 point, with a score of 67-66. In another game, they lost to Indiana Hoosiers by 30 points, with a score of 47-77.
The team has some standout players. Cade Tyson scored 24 points against Rutgers and 21 points against Indiana. Bobby Durkin also contributed with 15 points against Rutgers and 12 points against Northwestern. Isaac Asuma scored 14 points and had 8 rebounds against Northwestern.
The Golden Gophers have some strengths and weaknesses in their stats. They average 70 points per game and have a field goal percentage of 46.0%. They are strong in assists, with 17.4 per game, ranking 25th. However, they struggle with rebounds, averaging 31 per game, which ranks 465th. Their free throw percentage is 70.0%, which ranks 335th.
Baylor Preview
The Baylor Bears are part of the Big 12 Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they played in the East Region. They won their first-round game against Mississippi State with a score of 75-72. However, they lost in the second round to Duke, 66-89.
During the 2026 regular season, the Bears had an overall record of 16-16. Their conference record was 6-13. They played several challenging games, including a close loss to Arizona State, 79-83. In that game, Cameron Carr scored 25 points.
In a recent home game against Utah, the Bears won 101-75. Tounde Yessoufou was a key player, scoring 26 points. The Bears had a strong shooting performance, making 61.5% of their field goals.
For the season, the Bears averaged 82.6 points per game. Cameron Carr was their top scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game. The team had some struggles on defense, ranking low in steals and blocks per game.
Statistical Breakdown for Minnesota vs Baylor
The game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Baylor Bears will likely be shaped by their offensive and defensive stats. Baylor scores more points per game and has a higher field goal percentage. Minnesota struggles with rebounds and free throw shooting. Baylor’s defense has issues with steals and blocks, which could give Minnesota chances to score. Key stats to watch include points per game, field goal percentage, and rebounds.
- Baylor Points Per Game: 82.6
- Minnesota Points Per Game: 70.0
- Baylor Field Goal Percentage: 47.9%
- Minnesota Field Goal Percentage: 46.0%
- Baylor Rebounds Per Game: 36.8
- Minnesota Rebounds Per Game: 31.0
- Baylor Steals Per Game: 6.6
- Minnesota Steals Per Game: 6.5
Betting Insights
The Baylor Bears and Minnesota Golden Gophers have different betting trends from last season. Baylor had a strong record as favorites, while Minnesota struggled both straight up and against the spread. These trends can help bettors make informed decisions. Below are the top five betting insights for this game.
- Baylor is 100% ATS in their last 3 games.
- Baylor is 85.7% SU as favorites.
- Minnesota is 0% ATS in their last 3 games.
- Minnesota is 8.3% ATS as favorites.
- Baylor is 36.4% ATS in all games.
Free Betting Prediction for Minnesota vs Baylor
The game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Baylor Bears will be interesting due to their contrasting styles. Baylor has a strong offense, averaging 82.6 points per game. Minnesota, on the other hand, averages 70 points per game. Baylor’s ability to score could be a key factor in the game.
Minnesota has struggled with rebounds and free throw shooting. These weaknesses might make it hard for them to keep up with Baylor. Baylor’s defense has some issues, but their scoring power could help them overcome these. Minnesota will need to capitalize on any defensive lapses by Baylor to stay competitive.
Considering the stats and recent performances, Baylor seems to have the edge. Their scoring ability and recent betting trends favor them. Minnesota will need a strong performance to challenge Baylor. The spread of -3.5 for Baylor looks favorable given their strengths.
- Our Free Prediction: Bears -3.5
