I was tempted to shift gears to talk about the "new-look" Timberwolves tonight. But the new guys haven't arrived yet and the fact that what's-his-name wasn't around to play for the Wolves, well, that's nothing new. Goodbye. Good luck. Good riddance. I can hardly wait to see how much the 76ers young nucleus, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, are going to improve now that they've got a new big-shot teammate.
Who gives a damn about the past. It's all about the future so, until Robert Covington and Dario Saric arrive, I'm going to keep my powder dry. For the record, the Wolves held on to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 120-113 as Karl Towns scored 25 points and added 21 rebounds and all 5 starters scored in double figures.
All 5 Minnesota Gopher men starters did the same led by freshman Gabe Kalxchuer's 19 points and the Gophers knocked off Utah 78-69.
But, returning to our intended Game of the Day, the defending MIAC champion Johnnies of St. John opened their season with a 95-54 rout of Minnesota-Morris. The Johnnies are primed for a repeat with 3 starters returning. They are:
• David Stokman, 6-2, Sr., G, Maple Lake. Scored 14 ppg last year, 32 in an NCAA tournament loss and 19 tonight.
• Jubie Alade, 6-4, Jr., Wing, Armstrong. Scored 11 ppg last year, 14 tonight.
• Lucas Walford, 6-8, Jr., P, New Prague. Scored 9 ppg with 9 boards last year, started with 10 and 8 tonight.
Oakley Baker, a 6-5, So., F, NRHEG, did not play last year but started with 11 points tonight.
The Johnnies had an off night shooting with 49% from the field, 48% on 3s and 81% from the line. OK, I'm kidding about that being an off night, but it is true that they shot 51% from the field last year as a team. The whole year, the whole team. 51%. No wonder they went 23-4.
The one thing the Johnnies will be looking to improve upon is their post-season. Bethany Lutheran of the UMAC shocked the Johnnies in Collegeville 102-92 in the 1st round of NCAA tournament play last year. So the Johnnies remain hungry. Anything less than an MIAC title will be a disappointment.
Player of the Day--David Stokman, St. John's 19 pts, and Gabe Kalscheur, Gophers, 19 pts
Team of the Day--St. John's
Coach of the Day--Pat McKenzie, St. John's
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