Gophers' Reggie Lynch chasing history and shot-blocking records

Reggie Lynch probably should already be considered the best shot blocker in Gophers history.

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound senior center has 320 career blocks to lead all Division I active players and is nearly 100 ahead of Kevin McHale's Minnesota program career record. Lynch played his first two college seasons at Illinois State, so he'll have to wait a little longer to pass McHale.

But the Edina native is chasing the U career mark and other block records this season, including the Big Ten single-season mark of 161 set by Ohio State's Ken Johnson in 2000 and the NCAA Division I single-season mark of 207 set by Hall of Famer David Robinson at Navy in 1986.

Lynch currently leads the Big Ten and the nation in blocks per game (5.67) and total blocks (17) after three games. It's early, but he's on pace to finish the season with 187 blocks if he plays 30 more games, which includes the rest of the regular season and at least two postseason games. If the Gophers make runs in both the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament it might be possible for Lynch to catch Robinson's NCAA record. But again, it's still early.

Since his Minnesota debut last season, Lynch had a game with 11 blocks against Penn State and two nine-block performances against St. John's last year and in Wednesday's 107-81 win against Niagara.

"It was kind of like the Penn State game last year where they were gift wrapping the blocks for me," Lynch said. "Sometimes I can't control myself when they just hand it to me like that. So I had to give a little chuckle."

Lynch, who had 18 points, 12 rebounds, nine blocks and six assists in his last game, came one block away from the Gophers' first triple-double since Mychal Thompson's against Ohio State in 1976.

What are the chances Lynch comes close to a triple-double again? He's averaging 15 points and nine rebounds a game this season. So reaching that 10-block mark for the second time in his career is the more elusive goal.

A couple times Wednesday night, Lynch hustled out to the perimeter to swat away the ball. That helps increase his chances at blocking shots all over the court. It also helps that he hasn't fouled out this season. He had two fouls against Niagara in 30 minutes.

"He surprises guys by blocking jump shots," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. "They don't see it coming, because he's kind of got that quick burst."

Lynch broke the single-season U blocks record with 114 last season to win Big Ten defensive player of the year honors.

Pitino realized Lynch had a chance at making history Wednesday night, but he took him out of the game before he could get the triple-double late in the second half. Minnesota was winning big.