After last Wednesday’s win over Illinois, Gophers forward Miles Tarver hit three uncharacteristic long-range jump shots, but missed an easy layup. Tarver jokingly blamed the miss on some sort of injury.
“I think there is something wrong with my wrist,” Tarver said. “I must be paraplegic or something.”
Apparently Tarver’s excuse didn’t work with University Police.
According to the police report, Tarver was ticketed on Dec. 2 when a parking enforcement official discovered that the number on a handicap permit on a 1986 Cadillac Eldorado, which is owned by Tarver, was not issued to the car.
The report said the permit was reported stolen, and Tarver’s car was towed. University Police said they have been cracking down on the misuse of these permits, and one officer seized about 40 of the tags and several license plates during a one-month period last fall.
Tarver was fined $577 for parking in lot C-11, across the street from Williams Arena.
Gophers coach Clem Haskins said he has properly dealt with the issue. He added he was sorry the incident happened, but that it was handled in a professional manner.
When asked whether or not the incident was an embarrassment to the team or Tarver, Haskins said he didn’t think so.
“People make mistakes,” Haskins said. “Our president made a terrible mistake, and people talk an awful lot about that. I hope (Tarver) isn’t talked about like that, because (presidential indiscretion) is really an embarrassment.”
They don’t like Thursdays
NBC likes to call its Thursday night prime-time lineup “Must See TV,” and the No. 22 Gophers basketball team would like to spend Thursday, Mar. 4, watching the zany antics of the cast of “Friends” and “Frasier” instead of having to play a game on the first day of the Big Ten tournament.
The top five teams in the conference get a bye, and Saturday’s loss to Michigan hurt Minnesota’s chances of earning an extra day off.
At 14-6 (5-5 in the Big Ten), the Gophers are currently tied with Indiana for sixth place, with Purdue a half-game behind.
“That’s a goal of ours, to not have to play that Thursday,” Kyle Sanden said. “We have to win on the road right now, and we’ve got to find our niche away from home.”
Four of Minnesota’s remaining six regular season games are on the road, but with a 0-4 conference road record, things don’t look promising.
Where are they now?
Thursday night’s Timberwolves game against the Lakers will mark the return of former Gophers forward Sam Jacobson.
Jacobson and a handful of other former Gophers from the 1996-97 Final Four team are now playing in various professional leagues this season. Here’s a list of who is where and how they are doing:
Jacobson has yet to play for the Lakers. He is on a team which is loaded at the guard position and is having trouble finding playing time.
Former Big Ten MVP Bobby Jackson is, of course, playing with the Timberwolves. In the first two games he has averaged 7.5 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 2 assists per game.
John Thomas, co-captain of the Final Four team, has played in one of the Toronto Raptors’ first two games. Thomas scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in 17 minutes.
Center Trevor Winter, co-captain with Thomas, is currently on injured reserve for the Timberwolves. Winter will be out of commission for at least five games.
Courtney James, who left the University after running into legal and academic problems, is playing for the Fort Wayne Fury of the Continental Basketball Association.
James is averaging 8.4 ppg and 7 rpg. He is splitting playing time with former Fresno State player Avondre Jones, who is famous for wielding a samurai sword in an assault last year.
Former Gophers guard Mark Jones, who left the team after just one season in 1996 because of a lack of playing time, has also played for the Fury this season.
Big Ten MVP and beyond
Jackson attended the Gophers’ Wednesday night win over Illinois and gave a wave to the student section when they chanted his name.
Jackson, who sat next to coach Clem Haskins’ wife Yevette, said he thinks Quincy Lewis has already got the Big Ten MVP award locked up and suggested he might take home some even more prestigious hardware.
“Without a doubt,” Jackson said when asked if he thought Lewis deserved MVP consideration. “Quincy is playing as good as anyone, and he’s probably the best player in the nation right now.
“I don’t think anyone’s putting up the numbers he is right now. He’s doing it day in and day out. He should be a candidate for the Naismith Award.”
The Naismith Award is given out each year to college basketball’s best player.
Meanwhile, Jackson said he was honored when the students began chanting his name.
“That’s what I like about Minnesota; they don’t forget about their players, and the players don’t forget about them,” he said. “I’m happy to be back, and I’m proud of Minnesota.”