INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 18-13; 9-7 in Big Ten (6th) Postseason: Lost to Richmond 67-66 in second round of NIT. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Rickert 14.2 Rebs: Rickert 5.2 Assists: Burleson 4.2 FG: Holman 55.4% 3pt: Rickert 36.9% FT: Bauer 35.1% 01-02 Stats: Minnesota | Big Ten KEY LOSSES Dusty Rychart | 13.1 ppg Travarus Bennett | 9.5 ppg Kerwin Fleming | 7.1 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Kevin Burleson | Senior G | Ben Johnson | Junior C | Jerry Holman | Senior F | Michael Bauer | Junior F | Rick Rickert | Soph Player to Watch Rick Rickert Sophomore Forward Big Ten's freshman of the year is a Playboy (All-American) this year. DATE TO REMEMBER Dec. 22 A matchup against Oregon's Luke and Luke Show of guards Ridnour and Jackson should give the Gophers a pretty good idea of where they are. If the Gophers -- who didn't win a road non-conference game last season -- can win at McArthur Court against a team that advanced to the Elite Eight, it will be a good sign. .

 

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

Just over three years ago, Dan Monson arrived in Minneapolis charged with cleaning up the mess that was the Golden Gophers basketball program. Academic fraud under former coach Clem Haskins led to sanctions which included scholarship and recruiting limitations and shame for the school. After a rocky first season and two consecutive trips to the NIT, the Gophers appear on the verge of their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the scandal broke. Much of the optimism stems from a Minnesota front line that is tall, athletic and difficult to defend. Sophomore Rick Rickert has the ability to score inside and out. Senior Jerry Holman is a long shot blocker with crazy amounts of athleticism. Michael Bauer can play either power forward or small forward and is a good outside shooter. Add improved 6-11 center Jeff Hagen to the mix along with wings Moe Hargrow, Stan Gaines and Steve Esselink an the Gophers can run a lot of bodies at opponents. In the backcourt, Ben Johnson is eligible this season after transferring from Northwestern and sitting out. His presence should help senior point guard Kevin Burleson, who has had stretches of inconsistency as a Gopher. While this team doesn't have as much talent as the 1997 team that advanced to the Final Four, there is as much optimism surrounding the Gophers as there as been since then.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Sure Rickert looks a bit on the thin size. Yes he's from Duluth, Minn., a town better known for producing hockey players. But the 6-11 sophomore is the real deal. He simply has a knack at putting the ball in the basket. He is a creative scorer inside and he also has the range to make the NBA three-pointer. Maybe the best thing about Rickert is that he was able to adjust and improve as his freshman season progressed.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The issue is the same as it was a year ago for the Gophers -- can they handle the ball. As good as Rickert is, he needs a point guard to help get him the ball. Last season, several of the Gophers late-game collapses were the direct result of poor guard play and a lot of the reason why Minnesota didn't reach the NCAA Tournament last season. Burleson needs to be improved this year for the Gophers to reach their potential.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
Minnesota should return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since losing to a Monson-coached Gonzaga team in 1999. The Gophers big and athletic front line will cause problems for opponents. Offense won't be a question for this Minnesota team and if it defends and rebounds, it has a chance to be a Big Ten title contender.