Oct. 24, 2000 SportsLine.com Reports

Big Ten Conference report

Gophers get four years probation

The Golden Gophers were placed on four years probation and stripped of five scholarships Tuesday, but they will be allowed to compete in postseason play.

Minnesota was hoping to avoid a postseason ban and its wish was fulfilled when the NCAA handed down a relatively light punishment for, what the NCAA termed, "academic fraud" and some of "the most serious" rules violations in two decades.

According to an NCAA news release obtained by the Associated Press, a postseason ban was "seriously considered."

Much of the reason for the light punishment was the steps Minnesota took to police itself. The NCAA lauded the Gophers for their internal investigation and comprehensive self-punishment, which included an offer to repay nearly all of their money earned by playing in the 1994, 1995, and 1997 NCAA Tournaments.

The NCAA ordered that team records from the NCAA Tournament and National Invitation Tournament -- and the tournament records of players who engaged in academic fraud from 1993-94 through 1998-99 -- be erased.

Ohnstad booted from team

Following a second DUI arrest that indicated a pattern of unacceptable behavior, senior guard Mitch Ohnstad has been dismissed from the team by coach Dan Monson.

Monson only recently learned that Ohnstad was arrested Aug. 20 on charges of drunken driving. Ohnstad also was arrested in March 1999 for the same charge.

"This doesn't have anything to do with NCAA violations," Monson said, referring to the ongoing NCAA investigation. "It isn't zero tolerance at all. It isn't one incident at all. The last thing I want people to think is that it's over this one incident. I hope I'm a coach who goes the other direction and gives players a second and third chance.

"This is a situation that hasn't gotten any better. There have been repeated talks with him about his social responsibility."

Ohnstad, a 6-foot-2 guard from Faribault, averaged 7.8 points in 28 games last season. He transferred from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo after his freshman season, and has no more eligibility remaining. He was expected to be a starter this season and become a significant contributor.

A Glance at 2001

There was the academic fraud scandal of last season that forced Clem Haskins off the Golden Gophers' sideline, followed by center Joel Przybilla leaving the program, and capped off by the NCAA handing down more punishment for the academic controversy.

The Golden Gophers will probably finish near the Big Ten's basement, although the roster is not entirely bereft of talent. Junior guard Terrance Simmons played well late in the season and sophomore forward Dusty Rychart is solid, although there is no go-to guy with Przybilla gone. Without him -- and with the scandal's cloud hanging over this program -- this is destined to be a sub-.500 team again.

The Coach

Dan Monson left Gonzaga and stepped into a storm of controversy. Though they looked solid early, Przybilla's departure helped the Golden Gophers fall apart late in the season as they lost their last seven games.

Monson is confident he can piece things back together, but he's got a most difficult task ahead of him.

Who'll Be Back

Depending upon your perspective, it is either good or bad that everyone returns. On one hand, there will be continuity. But on the flip side, there isn't a lot of talent outside of Simmons (11.1 ppg, 4.1 apg) and Rychart (11.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg), although freshman power forward Michael Bauer (5.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg in the first five games) returns from a medical redshirt.

Monson has a decent quartet of complementary players returning in freshman guard Kevin Burleson (8.8 ppg), junior swingman John-Blair Bickerstaff (7.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and freshman swingman Shane Schilling (6.2 ppg). Problem is, a few of them will start and all will be asked to provide more than they are realistically capable of.

Who'll Be Gone

Przybilla (14.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and Ohnstad leave, but Przybilla is an irreplaceable loss. With him, the Golden Gophers had postseason aspirations; without him, they were not even a mediocre team.

Key Newcomers

Monson landed one of the nation's top JuCo point guards, which should help stabilize the backcourt some.

PG Kerwin Fleming (6-3, 180, Jr.): A Chicago native who played at Kennedy-King Junior College, some saw him as the nation's top JUCO floor general. He can play both guards spots and is suited to the up-tempo style the Golden Gophers play.

Travarus Bennett (6-7, 205, Jr.): Bennett gives the Gophers something they badly need -- size and quickness. He can play any of the frontcourt positions as he did at Southwest Missouri State-West Plains Junior College. He's not a big-time scorer, but can come in and add immediate depth.