Seniors get day, want another

Basketball careers have flown by for three Gophers seniors. But with one home game to go, work remains.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: February 29, 2008 - 10:21 PM

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They've been to the NCAA tournament, and participated in one of the worst seasons in school history. They've played for multiple coaches. They've entertained Williams Arena sellout crowds, and watched the venue clear out in down years.

But through all of their trials, seniors Lawrence McKenzie, Dan Coleman and Spencer Tollackson have offered a fluctuating Gophers program a sense of stability in recent years. They'll play their last home game this afternoon against Ohio State,.

None of the seniors thought this day would come so soon.

Tollackson, a Chaska native and former Mr. Basketball, said he always wanted to play for the Gophers and never realized how quickly his "dream" career would come to an end. He recalled Friday some conversations he used to have with older players about the brevity of their college basketball careers.

"I remember sitting there as a freshman listening to [former Gophers] Jeff Hagen, Brent Lawson, Aaron Robinson saying, 'It comes faster than you think; don't take it for granted,' and you're just like 'oh whatever, I've got four years here,' " he said. "And now. I'm seriously talking to these younger guys being like 'this comes so fast.' ... It's definitely been a fun ride, but I can't believe how fast it's gone by."

Coleman, a Minneapolis native, didn't land at Minnesota right away. After a brief stop at Boston College, he sat out a year before joining the Gophers and becoming one of their top post players. Coleman has scored more than 1,000 points and grabbed more than 500 rebounds in his Gophers career.

He said he's proud of what he has accomplished so far, but it's too early to survey it in its entirety.

"In a couple of years, when things change and you sit back and probably digest it all, then I'll have a better answer [about my career], but right now, it's been a good experience; I've had a lot of fun," he said. "I've enjoyed Minnesota. [I] literally bleed maroon and gold. I'm glad I came home."

McKenzie was a star at Minneapolis Henry before joining the Oklahoma Sooners for his freshman season. But he transferred back during the 2005-06 season, and after sitting out for a year he has become a leader on the court and off of it.

Today, McKenzie and the rest of the Gophers face one of the toughest challenges of their careers: playing through their emotions for the Gophers against a Buckeyes team that throttled them in late January.

"Senior Night, it's going to be emotional," he said. "It's a big day. The last home game at the Barn. But, it's been a great time. It's been a great two years for me. It has been great, and I've had a lot of support."

He later added: "I definitely don't want it to end."

Tubby Smith has had a chance to coach numerous senior classes through his head coaching career. He said Minnesota's seniors stand out because of all of the adversity they've endured throughout their careers. Last season, former coach Dan Monson resigned seven games into the season. Jim Molinari took over for the rest of the year before Smith arrived.

"I'm very impressed and I'm very pleased with how they've handled this year," he said. "They've shown excellent leadership. They've done everything we've asked them to do."