The Gophers men’s basketball program has added to its backcourt in consecutive days.

Western Michigan point guard Chansey Willis committed to the U on Monday, following combo guard Langston Reynolds from Northern Colorado on Sunday.

Willis, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 assists in 24 games last season. He shot 43% from the field, 28% from 3-point range and 72% from the free-throw line.

Willis might have two years of eligibility remaining for Minnesota, following the start of his college career at Saginaw Valley State (Division II) as a freshman and Henry Ford College (a junior college) as a sophomore. Within the last year, current college players have not had years spent at junior college count against their NCAA eligibility.

A Detroit native, Willis was Michigan’s state Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022.

The Gophers now have four scholarship spots still available for next season.

— Andy Greder

Gophers grappler earns Hall of Fame honors

Former Minnesota wrestler Jacob Volkmann has been named one of 16 inductees into the 2025 Class of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Hall of Fame.

Volkmann was a four-time state entrant with Ottertail Central High School, and won three state championships: 1997 (140 lbs. AA), 1998 (145 A), and 1999 (152 A). He finished with a prep record of 162-18 and was named Mr. Minnesota wrestler in 1999.

Volkmann continued his wrestling career at the University of Minnesota under Gophers head coach J Robinson where he was a four-time national qualifier and an integral part of the 2001 and 2002 national championship teams. He is one of 28 wrestlers in program history to become at least a three-time All-American, placing third in 2003 at 165 and fourth at both 174 pounds in 2001 and 165 pounds in 2004.

In his senior season he won the Big Ten title at 165 pounds and was named the Big Ten Championships Outstanding Wrestler.

His overall college record was 127-36. He remains 11th in the Gopher record books for both career wins and career pins (34).

In 2008, Volkmann won the FILA World Wrestle title at 74 kilos and finished second in 2009.

Gophers golfers wrap up Hawkeye Invitational

The University of Minnesota men’s golf team concluded the final round of the Hawkeye Invitational at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Gophers finished the 54-hole tournament with a score of 15-over par (292-290-297–879).

Freshman Jack Crousore earned his third straight top-20 finish. Crousore tied for 19th place with a score of 4-over par (74-70-76).

NHL

Russian star Demidov to debut with Canadiens

Ivan Demidov is set to make his anticipated NHL debut.

The 19-year-old Russian forward is expected to take the Bell Centre ice when the Montreal Canadiens host the Chicago Blackhawks with a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

Demidov was the No. 5 pick in last year’s NHL draft. He led his Russian club, SKA Saint Petersburg, in scoring with 49 points in 65 games this season, setting a Kontinental Hockey League record for under-20 players despite having inconsistent ice time.

Canadiens fans watched from afar while Demidov continued his impressive play in Russia. They’ve been buzzing with even more excitement since his arrival.

Oilers rule Ekholm out for first-round playof series

Mattias Ekholm will not be available for the Edmonton Oilers’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, coach Kris Knoblauch said.

The defenseman returned to action Friday in Edmonton’s 4-2 win over visiting San Jose after a seven-game absence because of an undisclosed injury. But he left the game when he aggravated the ailment after playing a couple of shifts.

Ekholm, a 34-year-old Swede, has nine goals and 24 assists in 65 games this season.

Devils’ Cotter banned until playoffs for hit

New Jersey Devils forward Paul Cotter has been suspended for his team’s final two games of the regular season for his illegal check to the head that injured New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.

Cotter, who had no prior history of supplemental discipline, will forfeit $8,073 in salary but not miss any of the first round of the playoffs.

Pelech was bloodied and angry after the left shoulder-to-head hit by Cotter during the teams’ game Sunday.

NFL

3-time All-Pro CB Peterson retires

Three-time All-Pro Patrick Peterson, 34, announced his retirement as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the first 10 of his 13 NFL seasons as one of the league’s elite cornerbacks.

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 draft out of LSU, Peterson was a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first eight seasons.

He was also a special teams standout early in his career, returning four punts for touchdowns as a rookie, which tied an NFL record.

Peterson also played two seasons with Minnesota and one with Pittsburgh.

He finished his career with 652 tackles and 36 interceptions — including at least one in all 13 seasons.

college football

Colorado retiring numbers of Sanders, Hunter

Colorado will retire the numbers of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter on Saturday before the team’s spring game.

Sanders’ No. 2 and Hunter’s No. 12 are set to become the fifth and sixth numbers retired by the Buffaloes.

The dynamic tandem join the company of quarterback/halfback Byron White, (No. 24), guard/linebacker Joe Romig (No. 67), quarterback/tailback Bobby Anderson (No. 11 ) and the late Rashaan Salaam (No. 19). Hunter, who played both wide receiver and cornerback, is coming off a Heisman Trophy campaign. Sanders broke many of the program’s passing records in leading the Colorado offense.

— From news services