Author: David Shama

Royce White will meet with coach Tubby Smith next week to explore returning to the Gophers basketball program, according to White’s grandfather.  The older White told Sports Headliners he and his grandson will have a meeting with Smith but as of last night the date hadn’t been determined.

“We’re going to sit down with Tubby next week and have a conversation,” Frank White said.

Royce White was the state’s Mr. Basketball last year and his arrival at Minnesota as a McDonald’s All-American was highly anticipated but he dropped out of school a few weeks ago after never playing in a game during the 2009-10 season.  Smith disciplined him for incidents at the Mall of America and on the University of Minnesota campus.

What’s the specific purpose of next week’s meeting?  “To talk about possibilities of Royce getting back in school,” Frank White said.

Has his grandson changed his feelings about the University?  “…I think Royce has some concerns that don’t have anything to do with the basketball team,” Frank White said.  “I think he’s confused about some of the frustrations that he’s had with the (University) police department and maybe how he was treated in the laptop situation (on campus).  I don’t want to speak for him but I am sure that’s part of what he’s concerned about.”

White is a 6-7 freshman power forward that most observers agree would have helped the Gophers who are struggling through a below .500 season in the Big Ten Conference and appear to have little chance of making the NCAA tournament.

Multiple sources have said White excelled in academics during last semester at the University.  “Royce is a very smart kid,” his grandfather said. “Royce is not going to have any problems with education and learning.  Royce’s challenges might be a little bit more in terms of being disciplined enough to be organized and take care of business.

“I would hope that Royce really takes a look at what he’s lost this first year.  And what he loves, and who he associates with.  I think Royce would tell you that he’s learned from the mistakes he’s made.”

Attendance will be limited to 25,000 for the first ever baseball game at Target Field when the Gophers play Louisiana Tech beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 27.  Limiting attendance to about 15,000 under capacity will make it more manageable to use the game as a trial run for vendors and workers.  Only general admission tickets costing $2 each will be sold for the game with proceeds benefiting the Twins Community Fund.  Tickets will be available only at Target Field beginning at 8 a.m. on game day.

Stubhub.com listed tickets from $152 to $7,000 on Wednesday for the initial regular season game at Target Field on April 12 against Boston.

The New York Knicks have bought out the contract of former Wolves forward Brian Cardinal.  Cardinal, 32, told Sports Headliners he wants to continue playing and if another NBA team doesn’t sign him he would be eligible after 30 days to rejoin the Wolves if there is mutual interest.

The Timberwolves begin an aggressive season tickets marketing campaign for 2010-11 on March 1 with discounts up to 50 percent.  The Wolves have been losing money in recent years and a good guess is that owner Glen Taylor’s franchise will lose at least $10 million this season.  Management has decided it’s better to put more people in the seats at surprisingly steep discounts than not sell those tickets at all.

Basketball boss David Kahn said on the Ch. 45 TV broadcast of the Wolves game Sunday night that his rebuilding team probably won’t make the playoffs next season but hopes the win total will push past 30.

It’s obvious the coaching staff doesn’t want to commit even short term to a lineup offering heavy minutes to both Al Jefferson and Kevin Love at the same time.  Rather than have the two 6-10 power forwards on the floor, coach Kurt Rambis wants more size.  Playing either Ryan Hollins or Darko Milicic, both 7 foot centers, with Jefferson or Love provides better defense.

Milicic, the 24-year-old whom the Wolves acquired earlier this month form New York, has played intelligently and made his teammates better.  Those attributes are ones that rookie point guard Jonny Flynn can improve upon.

With 37-year-old Pat Williams a possibility for retirement, popular speculation is that the Vikings will pick Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams at No. 30 on the first round in the April NFL draft. He is about 6-2, 329 pounds (Pat Williams, 6-3, 317).

Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said earlier this week on NFL.com he thinks quarterback Brett Favre will return for another season.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the Minneapolis native and All-Pro wide receiver, has been traveling in China including a visit to the Great Wall (see photo).

Bloomington native and Kansas center Cole Aldrich was recognized earlier this week as the NCAA Academic Basketball All-American of the Year.  https://www2.kusports.com/news/2010/feb/24/kansas-aldrich-joins-elite-company/

Redshirt freshman Moses Alipate, the 6-5, 230 pound Gophers third string quarterback, will remain at that position in spring practice, coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners.  With Alipate’s size and athleticism he could likely play another position but Brewster’s plan is to develop long term depth and talent at quarterback.

Dave Dose (Glencoe-Silver Lake), Dennis Hale (Worthington) and Jim Reinhardt (Rushford-Peterson), all representing the high school division, along with Jim Dotseth from the citation division, will be inductees into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame at a banquet on Saturday, March 27 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The citation division recognizes contributions both off and on the football field.  Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.mshsca.org/Football/.

Gophers freshman defenseman Nick Leddy has eight points in the last 12 games after scoring one point in his first 11 games.  He missed nine games earlier this season because of a broken jaw.  Leddy was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week for his play against Colorado College last weekend that included two points and a goal on Saturday in a 7-4 Gophers win.

The Wild could boost its reputation for including former Gophers on the roster by signing New Jersey Devils defenseman Paul Martin who after this season will be an unrestricted free agent.  Martin reportedly earns at least $4 million on his current salary.

Student-athletes, parents, coaches and counselors are welcome to attend the Sports Family Forum on March 2 and 9 at the Colin Powell Center in south Minneapolis.  Sponsored by the Lewis Sports Foundation, the two sessions will address such subjects as recruiting strategies, academic requirements and NCAA rules.  More information, including cost, is available by calling 952-886-3399.