Golden Nugz 3.4.10

So Gopher basketball is a mess right now, but Marcus Fuller has a nice article on incoming center Elliott Eliason.  He is, as you may recall from Nebraska and has led his team to state. 

Eliason, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound center from Chadron High School in Nebraska, has been a dominant force inside this year while averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks a game. He had 27 points and 12 rebounds to help his team win the C1-6 district title on Tuesday night.

Another big man can never hurt, even with Iverson and Sampson back for the next two years.  Apparently Eliason is already planning on redshirting.

The Gophers have seen some improvement from sophomore center Ralph Sampson III this season. But fellow second-year player Colton Iverson has been slower to develop. Even if Eliason was able to help inside next season, he said he still plans to redshirt right now.

"I have a lot to learn, obviously, and they have a lot to teach me," he said. "It's coach (Tubby) Smith and the coaching staff's decision. I'm not going to say how I compare to (Sampson and Iverson). I really don't know. I have no idea. Everyone wants to play, but I don't know the situation."

Maybe this will be a better pick up than most of us assumed when we first heard of his commitment.  I love the idea of him redshirting and getting plenty of time to develop and mature.

• This has been a very rough start for Gopher baseball.  They now sit with a record of 2-4 after losing to Wisconsin-Milwaukee yesterday.  They now are getting ready for the DQ Classic this weekend.
• I like this article by a Wisconsin student.  He rips AP voters and their preseason ballots.  At least he gives nod to Minnesota as a reasonable top 25 back in October.  But can you really fault for some of the ballots cast before a game has yet to be played?  Nobody can accurately predict how well new freshmen will perform or how accurately predict how team chemistry will change over the course of an offseason.  Michigan is a perfect example.  They made the NCAA Tourney last year, even won a game.  They returned their best players but have had an awful season.
• Back to Gopher baseball and the DQ Classic.  This is a great event, I've attended in the past.  It is laid back, you are seeing quality baseball, free parking behind and FREE TICKETS AT LOCAL DQ'S!  If you don't have anything important you should head out and watch Gopher baseball.
• Rittenberg over at his ESPN Big Ten Blog is continuing his series of Big Ten game-day traditions.  He finally reached Minnesota. Did he miss anything?