The North Dakota team the Gophers play tonight at Xcel Energy Center in a WCHA Final Five game is 11-2-1 in its last 13 games. The Sioux are led in scoring by sophomore and All-WCHA third team selection Brock Nelson who had two goals in the Final Five win over St. Cloud State yesterday.
Jim Dutcher, the former Gophers coach, follows the San Diego State basketball team where his son Brian is an assistant head coach. The Aztecs play a first round Midwest Regional NCAA Tournament game today against North Carolina State. Jim said San Diego State’s basketball history includes winning 14 of the last 15 overtime games, and the Aztecs are 70-0 in games when leading with five minutes to play.
The Aztecs have one of the best high school recruits in the country coming to San Diegon ext season in Winston Shepard from Findlay Prep in Las Vegas.
Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien told Sports Headliners there is so much parity among Mr. Basketball candidates the list is at eight right now when usually there’s a final five by mid-March.
Center fielder Denard Span played in a major league career low 70 games with the Twins last season, mostly because of concussion and headache problems. Span, the team’s leadoff hitter, ranks No. 5 for best on-base percentage (.361) among American League outfielders since 2008.
The Twins have to be hoping third baseman Danny Valencia provides much needed power in the lineup. The 6-2, 218-pound Valencia hit 15 home runs in his first full major league season last year. He and reserve first baseman Chris Parmelee lead the club in spring training home runs with two each.
The St. Thomas women’s basketball team and Gustavus women’s hockey team play Division III national championship semifinal games tonight. The Tommies (30-1) play Illinois Wesleyan (26-5) in Holland, Michigan. The Gusties (24-2-2) play Norwich(26-2-1) in Rochester, New York.