Black-White graduation gaps among college bowl teams ‘shameful’

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Gaps between all student-athletes and non-athletes ‘scandalous’ First of a two-part column If academic success, especially by Black football players, were the prime criterion for post-season bowl consideration, there probably would be a lot fewer schools playing than the 80 schools selected for 40 bowls. The 2016-17 Bowl-bound College Football Teams report by The … [Read more...]

Black head coach grateful for his big break

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The percentage of Black head college basketball coaches, whether women or men, has never equaled or remotely come close to the percentages of Black players. For instance, Black females comprise 47 percent of women basketball players, but under eight percent of women’s basketball head coaches are Black. Only four percent are Black males. Bernard Scott is the only Black … [Read more...]

A rarity: Two sets of Black twin sisters compete at the Barn

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There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the 2016-17 school and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: freshmen basketball players Kehinde and Taiye Bello Conclusion of a two-part column There are 11 schools … [Read more...]

Three newcomers to Gophers women’s hoops score big

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There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the 2016-17 school and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players This week, three women’s basketball players: sophomore Kenisha Bell and freshmen Gadiva Hubbard and Jasmine Brunson  First of a … [Read more...]

Coach Richard Pitino on his Gophers

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Truth in disclosure: Since Tubby Smith was fired unfairly three years ago by Norwood Teague, the ex-Gophers athletic director, I felt so strongly about how bad that decision was that I stopped covering men's Gophers basketball. Last year was the worst year in school history at 8-22. Two weeks ago I ended my protest by covering the Gophers vs. Arkansas at Williams Arena. They … [Read more...]