Gopher associate athletics director Marc Ryan e-mailed with news about the NCAA Final Four: “The NCAA has made the decision to go to a raised floor for the Final Four starting in 2009. The main reason is to improve the sightlines, and they referenced ‘The Barn’ (Williams Arena) as an example. They even asked us where we get our stools from that the coaches use to sit up on the floor since that…will be needed as well once this is implemented.”
If the Gophers participate in the NIT it will be a first for coach Tubby Smith. In 17 seasons of coaching Smith has never had a team in that post-season tournament. He’s coached 14 consecutive NCAA tournament teams.
Johan Santana is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated. The headline: “Happy Days, Johan Santana Lifts the Mets Without Throwing a Pitch.”
The verbal commitment of Bloomington Jefferson junior quarterback Moses Alipate to the Gophers is interesting not only because he’s regarded by many as the state’s best prep player in the junior class. His commitment may give Minnesota momentum and more success with some of the state’s other top recruits. Holding Minnesota kids home is an issue for the Gophers. Also, Alipate is of Polynesian descent and his commitment could bring other Polynesians here. The last 10 years has seen an influx of talented Polynesians at college football programs, particularly western schools. His father Tuineau played for Washington State and later was a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings issued a one sentence press release on Wednesday regarding the release of controversial safety Dwight Smith.
Three Minnesota Wild players will make fan appearances and sign autographs during the next few days. Brent Burns is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. tonight (Friday) at Coburn’s, 225 33rd Street West in Hastings. Niklas Backstrom is booked from 6 to 7 p.m. tonight at Festival Foods, 2218 Bunker Lake Blvd. Northwest in Andover. Mark Parrish is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. at Best Buy, 12905 Elm Creek Boulevard North in Maple Grove.
Gigi Marvin of the Gophers leads the WCHA in overall scoring with 44 points. Earlier this week she was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season.
The Gopher men’s hockey team, 12-13-7, and hoping to improve its offensive production, hosts Wisconsin tonight and tomorrow night. Minnesota has 10 goals in the last eight games. The last time Minnesota scored fewer goals in an eight-game period was during January of 1930. Goalie Alex Kangas has been outstanding. In his last 11 games he has 1.75 goals against average and .935 save percentage. For the season Kangas ranks 13th nationally with a 2.14 goals against average and 12th with a .923 save percentage. Both of those numbers rank second among all freshmen goaltenders. Colorado College’s Richard Bachman ranks first.
St. Thomas’ Tom Hodgson was named MIAC men’s Coach of the Year and women’s Co-Coach of the Year after Saturday’s conference swimming and diving meet. It was the second consecutive time Hodgson has won the women’s award. Hodgson’s athletes won four MIAC races and broke 14 of a possible 38 school records in swimming events this year, 13 of those at the MIAC meet.