From 35th in the country, to a national powerhouse. After spending a dozen years under Dan Gable at Iowa, J Robinson made Minnesota a national powerhouse. But how was he able to do it? Go inside one of the nations most prominent programs.
Minnesota: Keepers Of The Flame (Episode 2)
Feb 17, 2016
From 34th at the NCAA tournament the year before he arrived, to 3rd in 1997. J Robinson had made Minnesota a top five program, but the job was not finished, there were still two more spots to climb. In 1998 the Gophers took another step closer to that goal finishing 2nd at the NCAA tournament, and were in prime position to make a run at the title the following year. In 1999, Minnesota won their first Big Ten title since 1959, and broke Iowa's 25 year streak of Big Ten titles, but could they replicate that performance at the national tournament? Two weeks later it all came down to Brock Lesnar. If he won in the NCAA finals, Minnesota won the team title. Could the Gophers finally break through?
