Golden Nugz 01.27.12

ESPN's Myron Medcalf has a very good profile on Royce White. The former Gopher beat writer is profiling the former Gopher and his struggles with anxiety.

Unlike most athletes, White's anxiety disorder has been a constant challenge, one he's learned to manage with professional help and medication.

"I'm never at 100 percent because my anxiety is going to take me down 25 percent before the game starts," he said. "Before the game, I'm still feeling sick to my stomach because I want us to win so bad that my adrenaline is getting going before the game even starts. It's hard to do it in front of 20,000 people. But I've trained my mind to deal with it."

He doesn't always escape the tension.

He wakes up three to four times every night. Sometimes, he spends an hour in Hoiberg's office discussing a dilemma. He makes middle-of-the-night phone calls to his mother just to clear his head.

It is a very interesting read and helps to gain some insight into the enigmatic kid.

• Another great ESPN profile on Illinois's Meyers Leonard and what he has had to deal with. Leonard's issues are more about the incredible responsibility on his broad shoulders for taking care of his family. I bring this profile up only because we will be playing Leonard and the Illini on Saturday.
  
• I'm sure you heard that Tom Izzo won his 400th game on Wed night.
• The Minnesota D1 hockey programs have come up with a Minnesota Cup which is a tournament of Minnesota teams that will begin next year. I'm not a huge hockey guy, but this is a great idea.
• Speaking of Gopher Hockey, will the Gophers ever be able to solve their Friday night problems? Nick Bjugstad thinks so, but of course he is going to think so.