Tubby Smith’s team just might earn its first signature win of the season tonight in a quarterfinal Big Ten Conference Tournament game against No. 20 nationally ranked Indiana.  While the Gophers improved from 3-13 in the Big Ten Conference and 9-22 overall last year to 8-10 and 19-12 this season, Minnesota has yet to defeat a top 25 team at home or on the road.  After yesterday’s opening tournament win over Northwestern, a disappointing 55-52 performance, the Gophers are at least a decent bet to stun the Big Ten world by defeating the Hoosiers, 14-4 and 25-6 overall.

Minnesota is likely to play with more inspiration and sharpness against the Hoosiers. Why? Among the reasons is it’s not easy defeating another team three times in one season when there’s competitive balance between the two rosters.  Just look at yesterday’s game where the Gophers, who had twice defeated Northwestern by 19 and 20 points, were so ragged in the first half they trailed 34-21.  That’s a Northwestern team that was 1-17 during the regular season.

The Gophers forced Indiana into a night of turnovers (26) in Minneapolis during a January game and should have beaten the Hoosiers, instead losing 60-55.  Earlier this month, the Gophers were playing Indiana within two points with about six minutes to play when the Hoosiers opened up a lead and won 69-55.

Indiana has the conference player of the year in rugged forward D.J. White who helped lead the Hoosiers in offensive rebounding but otherwise they aren’t a physical team, the type that bothers the soft Gophers (see two losses to mediocre Illinois).  If the Gophers can minimize White’s inside scoring and rebounding, their chances of winning soar.

Go ahead and ponder, too, the Hoosiers psyche after the University asked head coach Kelvin Sampson to resign last month after alleged NCAA infractions.  Sampson’s departure didn’t sit well with Hoosier players and their play has been less than impressive since.  Indiana is 3-2 since Sampson left, suffering a 103-74 loss at Michigan State and losing in overtime to mediocre Penn State, 68-64.

For the Gophers to win, senior guard Lawrence McKenzie, a third team all-Big Ten pick, probably has to score about 20 points.  When McKenzie has been a closer, the Gophers have been at their best (see the road victory at Iowa State and home wins against Michigan and Ohio State).  He’s been seen making three pointers almost as far away as University Avenue and is the Gophers’ best hope to finish a game when a reliable point producer is needed.

The senior trio of McKenzie, forward Dan Coleman and center Spencer Tollackson has collectively been just okay this season.  No doubt two of the three will need to have big games for the Gophers to win tomorrow and advance to the conference semi-finals on Saturday.  Tollackson has struggled in March games this season with three points against Ohio State, zero at Indiana and nine at Illinois.  Yesterday against Northwestern he injured his left ankle early in the game and didn’t score.

Indiana has an advantage playing in Indianapolis but the Gophers could quiet the crowd with a sharp performance, plus it will be a whole lot easier playing in Indy than it was in Bloomington. The Hoosiers might be favored by six points or so for the 8 p.m. game (telecast on the Big Ten Network).

With the Gophers likely headed toward the NIT, this will be a final opportunity for a signature win.  Otherwise, as they say in baseball, it’s wait until next year.

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Look for Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman to answer the telephone if contacted about the Hoosiers’ coaching vacancy.  Indiana isn’t expected to contact coaching candidates to replace Sampson and interim coach Dan Dakich until after the Hoosiers finish post-season play in the NCAA tournament.

Wittman was a schoolboy star growing up in Indianapolis.  He played four seasons at Indiana where he was named the 1983 Big Ten Co-Player of the Year.  The Hoosiers won the 1981 national championship while he was there.  In 1996 he was named to the school’s silver anniversary team.

Saying it’s “my alma mater,” Wittman told Sports Headliners on Tuesday that if contacted by Indiana representatives he would try to provide suggestions.  He’s likely to listen to inquiries about his availability, too.

Wittman is a favorite of former Indiana coaching legend Bob Knight.  The two speak on a regular basis and there’s no doubt that many Indiana boosters want to see an IU alum take over as coach.  Wittman, who has been head coach here and several years ago with the Cleveland Cavs, has credentials that only a few Hoosier alums possess including Steve Alford at New Mexico, Mike Woodson with the Atlanta Hawks and Dakich who was an assistant to Sampson and Knight at IU, and also head coach at Bowling Green.

Meanwhile, Wittman will follow the CBS NCAA tournament selection show with interest on Sunday and not just to see where Indiana will be playing.  Son Ryan Wittman has made a big impression in two seasons at Cornell.  He was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year last season and now as a sophomore has made first team all conference. Cornell, Ivy League champs at a perfect 14-0 and 22-5 overall, will be in the NCAA tournament.

Ryan, who played at Eden Prairie and wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school, might have more than a few major college coaches second guessing themselves now.

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Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners the approximate capacity of the new ballpark opening in 2010 will be 40,000.  “We won’t know the exact capacity until after the ballpark opens,” he said.  “You won’t know until you get all the seats in and you do a seat count.  And obviously you have standing room, and you’ve got some clubs where there’s uncertainty on seats. …”

The Twins are airing a new TV commercial this week entitled “Park Center.” It features Twins reliever and Minnesota native Pat Neshek along with students from his former high school, Park Center High in Brooklyn Park. In the ad, he participates in a question and answer session with kids on a field trip for “Pat Neshek Day at the Dome,” but to his dismay, all of the questions are about a popular teammate.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Chad Henne, who was a four year starter at Michigan and impressive in post-season workouts, becomes a draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings who have a quarterback opening on the roster.

Admission will be free to the Gopher spring football game on Friday, April 25 in the Metrodome.  Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.

New owner Dean Johnson, the St. Paul native who makes his home in Brussels, is expected to attend the Minnesota Thunder’s home opener on May 4 at Griffin Stadium in St. Paul against Rochester.  Johnson, 52, the majority owner who took over the team late last summer, attended St. Paul Johnson High School and made his money in European commercial real estate development.

Tickets are available for the opener, although team officials expect a sellout at 6,300 capacity Griffin Stadium.  Thunder executive Peter Johns said there are 155,000 youth soccer players in the state, 95,000 in the metro area.  Soccer is the No. 1 youth participant sport in the state, he added.

How much of a down season is this for Gopher hockey?  Minnesota, a seventh seed, plays on the road for an opening WCHA playoff game for the first time since the 1999-2000 season when the Gophers face Minnesota State Mankato in a three game series starting tonight (Friday).  The Mavericks, a fourth seed, have historically been dominated by the Gophers, 25-2-5.  The last Minnesota State win was in 2003 in Mankato.  The Gophers are 15-14-9 overall this season, the Mavericks 18-14-4.

Gopher freshman goaltender Alex Kangas has started 14 consecutive games. Since becoming the starter, Kangas has a 1.86 goals against average and .930 save percentage, plus a 4-4-6 record.  For the season, he ranks 10th nationally with a 2.13 goals against average and 12th with a .923 save percentage. Both numbers rank second among all freshmen goaltenders behind Colorado College’s Richard Bachman.

Former Gopher guard Jordan Nuness was named to the all-North Central Conference basketball team announced earlier this week.  He completed his three year career at UMD by setting a school career record (241) and a single season record (100) for three point baskets.  He was fifth in NCC scoring at 16.4 points per game.

Amanda Behnke and Katie LaViolette from Concordia St. Paul were named to the first team of the 2008 Daktronics NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball All-North Central Region team as selected by sports information directors.  Behkne, a 6-2 senior center, is first team for the second consecutive season while LaViolette, a 5-9 point guard, was second team a year ago.  The two helped Concordia, 28-2, to its best start ever this season, 18-0, establishing the school record for longest winning streak before winning NSIC regular season and tournament championships, becoming the first team in league history to repeat with both titles.

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