Ashley Suapaia is healthy and back to practice, and we've got her Off Topic for you today. Ashley is one of the four freshmen on the Minnesota volleyball team, and was one of two players I had yet to meet. But she has some interesting answers in here, and I think you should enjoy it. First, the bio:
 

 Apparently the Minnesota men's hockey team didn't need coach Don Lucia's vote to move up to the No. 1 team in the country. The Gophers jumped over Boston University today in the USCHO.com/CBS Sports Division I poll to reclaim the top spot for the first time since the 2006-2007 season. 
Lucia, who last week said he does not vote in the polls anymore, was right about one thing - early rankings mean only one thing, who hasn't lost yet. Minnesota is unbeaten through ten games this season and collected all 34 first-place votes. 

And let the foul game begin. Georgia State, with 1:17 left in the game has started fouling in hopes of catching the Gophers sleeping at the charity stripe. So far, the Gophers are 2-for-2.

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Well we've had some website issues but with 1:33 left in the game, Minnesota leads 54-47. Hoffarber has come off the bench and given the Gophers some offensive spark in the second half. Sampson has been playing better as well.

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Scores around the NCAA Notre Dame 1 Michigan State 0 final; Illinois 1 Missouri 1 2OT; Duke 1 William & Mary 0 final; Boston College 4 Northeastern 0 final; Florida 2 UCF 0 final; Rutgers 1 Oklahoma State 0 final in PK shootout

There are a couple games left to play in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Auburn vs. Florida State is just getting underway. Texas vs. Portland and Kansas vs. Stanford will begin at 3 p.m. Virginia Wesleyan vs. Johns Hopkins will begin at 5 p.m.

From the get go, I’m in a terrible mood and have yet to get my computer back from Best Buy, so you’re pre-game notes are short, sweet and coming from my office. Here’s your morning headlines:

Pregame

The Gophers head into tonight's game vs. Bowling Green with their first win of the season over Concordia St. Paul. A solid 76-51 win, Minnesota was again lead by sophomore point guard Al Nolen and junior guard Lawrence Westbrook. Look for key contributions again tonight against Bowling Green.

The women's cross country team repeated as NCAA Midwest Region champs today in Stillwater, Okla.  Following a fourth place finish by Megan Duwell, all five of the Gophers scorers finished in the top 20.
Meanwhile, Hassan Mead and Chris Rombough finished first and second, respecitvely, to pace the men's program to a second place finish . 
Check online for an article later today. 

It's all over. On fourth and four from the 28, Adam Weber had the ball intercepted by Niles Brinkley and three kneel downs later, the Badgers won 35-32. Ultimately, Minnesota just made too many mistakes to win this game. Giving up two safeties and fumbling at the 10-yard line twice (both fumbles led to touchdowns) came back to haunt the Gophers. It seems only fitting...Camp Randall has haunted Minnesota for a long time, and it will for at least another two years since the Gophers host the Badgers next year. Perhaps TCF Bank Stadium will be cursed for Wisconsin...

Nolen the leader

Update: Tech simply owned the second period although the Huskies didn't have anything to show for it. In the third period, they wouldn't come away empty handed - scoring a pair of goals to push OT. Here are some important stats from the game:

-Alex Kangas gave up two goals on just four shots in the third period. Like I said earlier, he seems to play better the more action he sees. Unfortunately, he didn't get challenged much today.