Minnesota basketball players Rick Rickert and Lindsay Whalen head the list of pre-season candidates for the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award.

The candidates were selected by a vote of a Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts. Members of the board were asked to name top male and female players who are most likely to be in contention for the award.

Hackler selected

innesota men’s swimmer Jeff Hackler has been selected to participate in the 2003 World University Games, announced by USA Swimming. Hackler will compete with USA Swimming in the orientation camp, May 1-4, and travel to South Korea for the World Games from August 11-27. Hackler will compete in the breaststroke on the U.S. Team.

Carlson honored

unior Andrew Carlson was named Big Ten Co-Runner of the Week announced by the Big Ten office. Carlson won the Jim Drews Invitational and led Minnesota to the team title, defeating defending conference champion Wisconsin.

This is the first time Carlson, a native of Fargo N.D., has received a runner of the week award.

Schauman competing

innesota senior golfer Wilhelm Schauman is competing for his native country of Sweden in the World Amateur Golf Championship at the Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this week. Every two years, teams of two to three golfers from more than 100 countries compete in the international amateur event for the Eisenhower Trophy.

After the opening round, Sweden was tied for eighth at even-par 144. They are seven strokes back from leader United States. Schauman began the competition with a round of 2-over-par 74 and is tied for 31st place.