Gophers senior Trevor Mbakwe has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason list, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Monday. Mbwake, a second team All-Big Ten performer as a junior, is one of 50 players chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball media members.
Mbakwe, who led Team USA in rebounding this summer at the World University Games, is coming off a junior season in which he topped the Big Ten Conference in rebounding at 10.5 rebounds per game.
Mbakwe also averaged a team-high 13.9 points per game to become the first Gopher player to average a double-double since Kris Humphries did so in the 2003-4 season.
The Wooden Award All America Team, consisting of the nation's top 10 players, will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament.
Tommies, Oles golfers win The St. Thomas men's team and the St. Olaf women's team won championships at the MIAC golf tournament, which was completed Monday at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids.
St. Thomas finished at 302 on Monday after shooting 302 on Saturday and 293 on Sunday. The 897 total was four strokes ahead of Gustavus Adolphus and five ahead of St. John's.
Tommies freshman Alex Kapraun and Justin Volling of the Oles finished in a tie for first at at 5-over 221, two strokes ahead of Andrew Oakes of Gustavus.
Final team scores were less tight in the women's tournament. St. Olaf finished at 939, 21 stokes ahead of second-place Gustavus. St. Benedict was third at 984.
