Williams invited to pre-draft workout

Mar 24, 2013; Austin, TX, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Rodney Williams (33) shoots against Florida Gators forward/center Erik Murphy (33) during the first half in the third round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Graduated forward Rodney Williams, was invited to a NBA pre-draft workout scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at Target Center. A graduate of Robbinsdale Cooper High School in Minneapolis, Williams was not one of the 63 players invited to the NBA Draft Combine that was held last week in Chicago.

Williams’ Gopher teammate, Trevor Mbakwe, was also invited to the pre-draft workout at Target Center, but he declined the invitation. Mbakwe was the only Gopher to participate in the NBA Combine.

All 30 teams are expected to be present at the workouts. And in addition to Williams, other notables that are expected to attend the workout include  Princeton, Minn. native Jared Berggren, who played four years for Wisconsin, and Brandon Paul of the Illinois Fighting Illini.

• The Gopher baseball team likely played the last games of their season last Friday in a double-header against Illinois and Nebraska, respectively, at Target Field in the Big Ten Tournament. Minnesota beat Illinois 3-1 but lost to Nebraska just a few hours later in an elimination game, 7-4. The NCAA Baseball Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, but the Gophers are not expected to make the field.
• The men’s track and field team will be sending seven individuals and the 4×400 relay team to the NCAA Championships next month in Oregon. Seniors Harun Abda and Travis Burkstrand qualified in the 800 meters. Wally Ellenson qualified in the high jump and Oladipo Fagbemi qualified in the triple jump. Micah Hegerle and Quentin Mege will compete in the hammer throw at nationals and John Simons qualified for the 1,500  meters. The team of Jacob Capek, Harun Abda, Goaner Deng, and Cameron Boy will compete in the 4×400 meter relay. The NCAA Championships will be held in Eugene, Ore from June 5-8.
• Junior Laura Docherty will be the only female Gopher to represent Minnesota at nationals. The St. Paul native qualified in the 5,000 meters.
• The kickoff time for Minnesota’s homecoming football game against Iowa was announced, as well as two road games against Michigan and Indiana. Kickoff for the 2013 homecoming game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 and will be broadcasted on ABC. Contests against Michigan (Oct. 5) and Indiana (Nov. 2) are also scheduled for 2:30 p.m. but the TV schedule for either game has not been set definitively.

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