University of Minnesota sophomore guard Blake Hoffarber came away with a pair of awards during the inaugural Big Ten Network awards on June 20. His buzzer-beater against Indiana on Mar. 14 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament won the Best Finish Award and also the Play of the Year Award.

Hoffarber, who won an ESPY while in high school, averaged 8.4 points per game as a freshman in 2007-08 while shooting .436 (96-220) from the field and .427 (70-164) from behind the arc. His 70 three-point field goals made are the fourth-most in a season in Gopher history.

Minnesota wrapped up the 2007-08 regular season with a loss to the University of Maryland on Mar. 18 in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. This was the first postseason appearance for the Gophers since making the 2006 NIT Tournament.

The Gophers finished the season 20-14 overall and 8-10 in the Big Ten. The 11-game improvement in the win column from the 2006-07 season is the largest season turnaround in school history and is tied for the second-best turnaround in Division I. Also, the eight wins in conference play tied Purdue for the biggest conference turnaround.