The Gophers could be fielding even fewer players as they look to continue their non-conference schedule against Appalachian State on Tuesday. The team has done well in shorthanded situations thus far – and Tubby Smith hopes that trend will continue. Some notes from Monday's media access:
- Ralph Sampson III is expected to practice today but is still questionable for Tuesday's game as he continues to rehab a turned ankle. The center did not practice to full-contact yesterday (the team did mostly film work) and is still sore, although Smith said it looks like he's moving better and "the soreness is leaving."
- Andre Hollins turned his right ankle in Saturday's game, when he came down on a defender after trying to drive inside. I said 'Son, don't challenge the big men like that – you'll get hurt,' Smith said lightheartedly of the incident. Hollins didn't practice yesterday and is being monitored Monday. Smith hasn't decided yet whether he will play Tuesday.
- Smith continued to praise Rodney Williams highly, saying: "He's really becoming a complete player … He's leading us in the assist-turnover ratio, which is something he's never done; he's leading us in deflections which is something he's never done. So all those are telling me that he's maturing and growing up and understanding how he can best help the team. His rebounding has doubled.
- Smith said he and the coaching staff placed a big emphasis on ball handling in Sunday's practice after the Gophers had 18 turnovers on Saturday. "That's something – you may not believe it – but we do work on our ball handling a lot," he said. "Sometimes I don't believe it, especially after a game like Saturday."
- Williams said a lot of the feedback from the 360-degree dunk he executed on Saturday has been kids asking him when he'll actually do something new (Williams pulled off the same dunk in a game about two years ago). "I've got to get in the gym and start thinking of some stuff – I don't know what else to do on a fast-break that I know I'll make every time," said, acknowledging that if he had missed it he would have been in major trouble instead of getting No. 8 in ESPN's Top Ten plays of the day. "Oh yeah, I would have been No. 1 on not-top-10, so I'll take the No. 8," he said.
