USA Today ranks Centennial No. 10 in the country among girls high school basketball teams. The Blaine school is No. 1 in the newspaper’s rankings of teams in the Midwest.
Sophomore forward Damian Johnson, probably the Gophers’ most improved player, is an early choice for my All-Big Ten defensive team. The 6-7 forward is second on the Gophers in steals with 1.76 per game, plus he may deflect six or more basketballs in a game. Johnson ranks fifth in the Big Ten Conference in steals and Gopher freshman Al Nolen is first with 2.44 per game. Johnson had 14 steals in 28 games last season while averaging 1.4 rebounds and 1.6 points per game. This season those averages are: 4.5 and 7.1.
With the crowds increasing and the temperatures plummeting, how about opening the doors at Williams Arena 90 minutes before game time instead of one hour?
Rick Majerus, who had loyalists here promoting him for the Gophers job last year, coached his St. Louis team to a 49-20 loss earlier this month. The 20 points was the lowest in NCAA Division I basketball since the clock shot inception. When Majerus was at Utah he coached in the 1998 national championship game against Tubby Smith’s Kentucky team. Majerus is featured in a recent Sports Illustrated article that conveys his colorful (understatement) language, temper and also generous nature. Michael Doleac, who starred for Majerus at Utah and now is a reserve with the Timberwolves, describes Majerus as the best coach he’s played for, high school, college or pros.
Texas Tech’s Bobby Knight, who had his boosters too for the Gophers job, won his 900th career game recently, but didn’t express much pleasure about it at a news conference. How can a man have so much success and seem so unhappy?
Freshman Cole Aldrich isn’t starting but is contributing for No.3 ranked Kansas. The former McDonald’s All-American from Bloomington Jefferson has yet to start a game for the Jayhawks but is averaging 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
John Bell Wilson, the former Gopher basketball manager and official scorer, includes Portland’s Joel Przybilla among his friends. Wilson said the former Gopher center blends his skills and unselfishness with whatever players are on the floor. Przybilla’s numbers are modest, 4.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, but he’s an effective role player for the young Blazers who are among the NBA’s surprise teams.
It’s anyone’s guess what Pryzbilla’s assignment and whereabouts will be next season when 2007 NBA No. 1 draft choice Greg Oden rejoins the Blazers after missing this season with a micro fracture knee injury. Wilson said there are reports that Oden’s weight has increased to 290 pounds.
Former Minnesota Timberwovles center Dean Garrett, now living in the Minneapolis area, told Sports Headliners he wants to work for his old team. Garrett played with the Wolves from 1996-2002.