Ricky Rubiocould bring a show time element here with his playmaking. “He’s one heck of a passer,” Fitch said. “He’s worth a ticket. He’ll put some people in the seats if you get him here.
“My biggest fear was this kid living in the snow. You got a warm weather youngster (from Spain). That Minneapolis weather will be the toughest thing that he’ll have to battle for awhile. …The guy can play.”
Only two Big Ten Conference players were among the 60 players taken in last week’s two rounds of drafting by NBA teams. Center B.J. Mullens from Ohio State was a first round pick at No. 22 by Dallas. Center Goran Sutan was the No. 20 pick by Utah on the second round.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale said Rubio and Jonny Flynn, both point guards, can’t play together and will get a “coach fired.” He also predicted Stephen Curry, who was drafted at No. 7 by Golden State after the Wolves selected Rubio and Flynn at 5 and 6, will be the NBA Rookie of the Year.
Lindy’s Big Ten Preview magazine includes a college football all-decade team that lists Minnesota’s Greg Eslinger as the first team center. The magazine also has a top 50 ranking of college seniors for next year’s NFL draft with Gophers’ wide receiver Eric Decker at No. 44.
Decker is first team on the publication’s all-Big Ten offense. Gophers’ cornerback Traye Simmons is first team defense. Quarterback Adam Weber is the publication’s choice for “most accurate passer” and “strongest arm” in the conference. Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State is the first team quarterback, Juice Williams of Illinois the second.
On Friday when Nick Leddy was picked at No. 16 by the Wild and Jordan Schroeder at No. 22 by Vancouver it was the fourth time in six years the Gophers had two players selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. The Gophers have had 10 first-round picks since 2004 and eight players selected in the first round in the past four years. They also had two players selected in the first round in 2007 and 2004, and four first-round picks in 2006. Leddy and Schroeder were among the first three American-born players chosen in the draft.
Fifty-one Americans were selected during last weekend’s NHL draft including 14 in the first two rounds. Leddy, who played for Eden Prairie High School last season, was the first American drafted.
Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth hockey in the state, has a redesigned website to improve communications, www.minnesotahockey.org. Beginning with the 2009-10 season, members will be able to post photos, stories, game summaries and more. With over 60,000 registered players and coaches, Minnesota is the largest state governing body for hockey in the United States.
Five MIAC baseball players have been named to the nine-man American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division III Midwest Region Gold Glove team. Carleton pitcher Ethan Guevin, St. Thomas shortstop Roy Larson, St. Thomas third baseman Dan Leslie, Bethel outfielder Tim Oesterlin and St. Thomas second baseman Louie Salmen were selected. The award honors the best defensive player at his position in the Midwest Region. Guevin and Leslie were also named to the national ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team in May.