Although Rashad McCants is the Wolves’ second leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, his minutes are down from earlier in the season and so is his scoring average. Lately he’s reportedly had some problems with his right knee but still observers wonder about his inconsistent numbers and decision making. The third year shooting guard had a season and career high of 33 points earlier this season against Sacramento and a low of five on 1-15 shooting at Denver. He ranks 35th in the NBA in field goals per 48 minutes but sixth in the league in turnovers per 48 minutes. While he provides the Wolves much needed outside shooting, he is averaging 5.6 fouls a game per 48 minutes.
Harvey Mackay, the local New York Times best selling author, is working on a new book that will be published within five to six months. Mackay was a civic leader in the building of the Metrodome.
Rivals.com has the Gophers football recruiting class ranked No. 22 in the country. Ohio State, eighth, Michigan, 12th, and Illinois, 16th, are the only Big Ten Conference schools currently ranked ahead of Minnesota.
By mid-January viewers of the Gopher Web site, www.gophersports.com, can experience a “virtual” tour of the new TCF Bank Stadium, according to Phil Esten, associate athletics director. Esten said all the concrete giving the stadium exterior its structure will be in place by late next summer. The stadium opens in 2009.
The Gophers (6-1) play South Dakota State (3-5) tonight (Wednesday), starting at 8 p.m. in Williams Arena. The Gophers are 10-0 in the series. SDSU is led by sophomore forward Kai Williams, who is averaging 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 33 minutes per game. After tonight the Gophers have only one other non-conference game at home, December 22 against Santa Clara, before the Big Ten Conference season begins.
Ken Lien, chairman of the Mr. Basketball Committee, said prep football superstar Michael Floyd of Cretin-Derham Hall is “one of the top” basketball players in the state. The Mr./Miss Basketball awards banquet will be held on Sunday, April 27 at the Marriott Minneapolis West Hotel in St. Louis Park.
United States Tennis Association Northern Section president Jay Pfaender and executive director Mike Goldammer attended the recent Davis Cup matches in Portland, Oregon. USTA Northern would like to help promote Davis Cup matches here.
Gophers’ freshman forward Mike Hoeffel has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week after scoring two goals last Saturday in Minnesota’s 4-3 win over North Dakota. He came into the game with one goal in his first 17 career starts.
Macalester senior forward Tom Conboy and St. Thomas freshman guard Tyler Nicolai have been selected by the MIAC as co-athletes of the week for men’s basketball. Macalester sophomore center Ann Baltzer has been selected for women’s basketball while the men’s and women’s hockey choices were Bethel sophomore goaltender Aaron Damjanovich and St. Catherine sophomore forward Aryn Ball.
Five-game ticket packages are on sale for the 2008 Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five, March 20-22 at Xcel Energy Center. Prices range from $60 to $145 and can be purchased at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at (651) 989-5151 or online at www.ticketmaster.com <https://www.ticketmaster.com>. To charge by phone using Ticketmaster TDD/TTY, call: 800-359-2525. Single-game tickets for the tournament will go on sale Monday, March 10. Group tickets (12+) are available by calling 651-312-3486.