A Weak Minnesota Could Boost Chapman’s Status

If there ever was a time for Chapman College to embark on a journey into the Big Ten--and come out intact--the time is now.

The Panthers play at the University of Minnesota tonight. You might ask, why?

Why not?

Chapman has nothing to lose, except the game, of course. Although Minnesota is a team in transition, it still is a Division I school. And it does play in the Big Ten. If Chapman should make the game close, it’s a moral victory. If it should win . . . well, don’t count on it.

The game is a fruition of Panther Coach Kevin Wilson’s dream. Wilson, an assistant at Minnesota to Bill Musselman from 1971-75, came to Chapman in April, 1984, and has wanted to play this game from Day One.

Since the game was arranged, there have been several developments in the Gopher basketball program. And few were good.

Last January, Minnesota’s Mitch Lee, Kevin Smith and George Williams were charged with rape in Madison, Wis. A jury later found them innocent. But in the aftermath, Coach Jim Dutcher resigned and interim coach Jimmy Williams was not retained.

The Gophers played most of the remainder of the Big Ten season with six players, finishing 5-13 in the conference, 15-16 overall.

Clem Haskins, who coached at Western Kentucky for six seasons, arrived in Minneapolis with the task of making do with one of the conference’s youngest and smallest teams.

After just three games--victories over North Dakota State and Eastern Michigan and a loss to Houston--it’s still too early to see if Haskins can work any miracles.

Sophomore forward Kelvin Smith, who started in the second half of last season, is averaging 20.0 points and 10.3 rebounds, both team highs. The other probable starters are junior forward Tim Hanson, freshman forward Richard Coffey, junior guard Kim Zurcher and senior forward Terence Woods.

The Panthers (4-4) lost Monday night to Hawaii Pacific, 90-82, after four straight victories.

Karl Tompkins leads Chapman in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (8.9).