Minnesota and St. Thomas have both put the finishing touches on their 2026-27 rosters, which means we're at the part of the offseason where they're building their nonconference schedules. Will the state's only two Division I programs finally square off? An annual series is long overdue.

One of the biggest hurdles to clear in a potential in-state rivalry series is the location. Playing a double-header for the men's and women's teams at the Target Center feels like a no-brainer. If Minnesota doesn't like the idea of a neutral site game, I am sure St. Thomas wouldn't turn down an opportunity to play at the Barn.

The Gophers men's basketball team played 11 nonconference games last season. Five of those teams finished outside the top 300 in KenPom.com's final ratings. They had only three games against teams in the top-75.…