Brewer got better of Foye in Metrodome match

Fifteen months ago, Randy Foye left the Metrodome floor limp while Corey Brewer danced and swung a T-shirt over his head in celebration after Florida defeated Villanova in a Minneapolis Regional final of the NCAA tournament.

On Thursday night, the Timberwolves' selection of Brewer with the seventh pick in the NBA draft reunited the two players.

"Kind of coincidence," Brewer said by telephone from New York later Thursday night. "We played against each other in the Elite Eight and we're going to be teammates now."

Foye was the seventh pick in the 2006 draft, three months after he delivered a 25-point, eight-rebound, two-steal afternoon that still wasn't enough to prevent Brewer, Al Horford, Joakim Noah and their Florida Gator teammates from reaching their first Final Four -- and the first of consecutive NCAA titles -- together.

On Thursday, Brewer -- a long, lanky defensive specialist with an expanding offensive game -- called Foye the best college player he ever faced.

"Randy Foye is the toughest player, just because his game is just nice, really good," he said. "He's got a nice stop-and-go move, a nice hesitation move. He can get off his shot any time he wants."

Gator No. 2

The Wolves wound up with two Florida Gators when they took reserve banger Chris Richard, a 6-9 forward, with their second-round pick (41st overall). Richard was not among the 120 players profiled in the NBA's media guide of draft prospects, but Wolves VP Kevin McHale said he was impressed with Richard's presence and workout at Target Center and by a story told him by Gators guard Taurean Green, whom the Wolves did not draft: Richard declined a starting spot at the Gators' traditional Senior Night because it was an important game.

"That tells you how selfless he is," McHale said. "Those Florida kids have a real feel for winning. He could have started literally for any team in the country."

Asked how similar Richard is to Craig Smith, last year's second-round pick, McHale said, "They're both big, strong, rugged guys, but they're different players."

Unexpected destination

McHale admitted he was a bit surprised Brewer was available when the team's seventh pick arrived. Surprised, really, that Milwaukee with the sixth pick just before him took Chinese forward Yi Jianlian, whose representatives very clearly told teams their client wanted to play in a big city with a large Chinese population.

"I was really surprised they took Yi," McHale said, "because they were getting the same faxes that we were getting."

Rumors?

McHale poked fun at rampant rumors that he is trying to trade Kevin Garnett, then let slip that he was working to get extra draft picks so he could have added lottery picks Horford and Noah to the two Gators he landed on Thursday.

"Those rumors are fed by you guys," he told reporters. "I have nothing to say on that. I actually got a charge out of most of the stuff. I'd say, 'Man, there's a lot of stuff going on in this league that I'm doing that I didn't know I was.' "

By the numbers

Brewer wore jersey No. 2 at Florida. That number is retired at Target Center in memory of the late Malik Sealy.

"I was hurt when I saw that No. 2 was retired," he said. "I guess I'll wear 22. Two plus two is 22."

The number 22 is available.

Historic picks

Brewer, Noah and Horford were the first three players from the same college team selected in the top 10 of an NBA draft. Actually, they were among the first nine: Horford at No. 3 by Atlanta and Noah at No. 9 by Chicago.

"We made history: That's never been done," Brewer said. "Being Gators, we're all about making history and setting records."

After the Wolves took Richard at 41, Green was taken by Portland at No. 52. It was the 10th time five players from the same team were taken in one draft. The record is six by UNLV in 1977.

Jerry Zgoda • jzgoda@startribune.com