Minnesota
BREAKING: Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert Wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace finally have some company.
After yet another dominant defensive season from Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, the “Stifle Tower” took home his fourth KIA NBA Defensive Player of the Year award Tuesday evening.
Gobert is now tied with Mutombo and Wallace for most DPOY’s won by a single player. Gobert also becomes the oldest player to win the award at 31 years old.
This past regular season, Gobert averaged 14 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.8 stocks per game, and improvement from the 2.2 he registered in the 2022-23 campaign. He was the anchor for a Timberwolves defense that blossomed into arguably the best defense in the NBA, as they finished the regular season with the best defensive efficiency in the league.
That defense was a big reason why Minnesota ended the regular season as the third seed in the Western Conference and why they’re currently up 2-0 on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.
In Minnesota’s first five playoff games this season, Gobert averaged 13.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.4 stocks per gam
Following Gobert in the voting count was budding San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who had an awfully impressive defensive campaign himself. He led the league in blocks per game during the regular season with 3.6 to go along with 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Even with his numbers, however, it was likely his team’s overall performance (and some advanced statistics) that put Gobert over the top.
The past 48 hours for Gobert have been hectic, yet filled with incredible accomplishments. After the Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Semis, Gobert missed Game 2 due to the birth of his first child.
Even without Gobert, Minnesota dominated Denver to steal home-court advantage in the series.
Now, he’s expected to return for Game 3 — with an extra accolade to his name.
A University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduate student has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the school.
According to a letter sent by the university to students, faculty and staff, the student was detained at an off-campus residence on Thursday.
“We are actively working to gather more details about this incident,” the letter said. “In cases like this, the University takes steps to ensure students are connected to internal resources and support, such as Student Legal Service and International Student and Scholar Services.”
The school says it had no prior knowledge of the incident and didn’t share any information with federal officials before the detainment happened.
The letter was signed by university president Rebecca Cunningham, Vice President for Student Affairs Calvin Phillips and Vice President for Equity and Diversity Mercedes Ramírez Fernández.
According to the university’s federal immigration policies, its public safety departments do not enforce federal immigration laws, and officers do not ask about an individual’s immigration status.
“As has been the University’s pledge over the years, we are fully committed to keeping all members of our community who are affected by immigration policies safe and well-informed so they can best navigate their responsibilities in compliance with law and policy,” the school said.
State Senator Doron Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, said in a written statement that he’s saddened and angered that the federal agency is operating around the university.
“Our campuses should be a safe place for all students, staff, and visitors,” Clark said.
This is a developing story. Stay with WCCO.com for more.
ST. PAUL (WJON News) — The influenza season is winding down in Minnesota, but it’s not over just yet.
The weekly update from the Minnesota Department of Health says there were 82 hospitalizations last week, down from 143 the week before. Over 7,300 people have been hospitalized with complications due to the flu this season.
The number of Minnesotans who have died with the flu is at 336, including two children.
There were no new school outbreaks last week after having two the week before, but there were six outbreaks in long-term care facilities with two the week before.
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FARGO – The goalies in Thursday’s first semifinal of the NCAA Fargo Regional men’s hockey tournament — Minnesota State Mankato’s Alex Tracy and Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky — entered the game with goals-against averages of 1.43 and 2.05, respectively. That suggested a tight, low-scoring game was coming, possibly one that required overtime.
That’s exactly what happened at Scheels Arena.
Grant Slukynsky, older brother of the goalie, scored 7:14 into the second overtime, giving top-seeded Western Michigan a 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed Minnesota State. Hampton Slukynsky made 29 saves as the Broncos (31-7-1) advanced to Saturday’s regional final against the winner of the Gophers vs. Massachusetts late semifinal.
Tracy was outstanding for the Mavericks (27-9-3), making 42 saves. He was at his best early in the second overtime, making three massive saves on the doorstep, denying Tim Washe twice and Iiro Hakkarainen once at 3:53.
Minnesota State got a tying goal in the third period from Kaden Bohlsen.
Neither team gained a territorial advantage in a physical first period until Mavericks defenseman Jordan Power was called for tripping at 4:34. The Broncos tested Tracy with four shots on goal during the power play, but the Richter Award finalist made a big save in tight on defenseman Joona Vaisanen as Minnesota State killed the penalty.
At 9:56 of the first, Tracy’s sliding save on Broncos center Zach Nehring kept the game scoreless. Slukynsky answered with a big save on Evan Murr at 17:28 on a deflected shot.
Western Michigan’s best shot to score in the first came with 16 seconds left when Tracy denied Alex Bump on a two-on-one. However, Adam Eisele was called for slashing on the play, giving the Broncos 1:44 of carryover power play to start the second period.
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