Blake Hoffarber's knee should be fine

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said he expects point guard Blake Hoffarber's sore left knee to be fine for the Golden Gophers' game against Illinois on Thursday.

Smith spoke to reporters during the Big Ten teleconference Monday. Hoffarber is receiving treatment on the bursa sac behind his left knee, the coach said. Hoffarber limped through the second half of Sunday's loss to top-ranked Ohio State with a brace on his knee.

Hoffarber leads the Gophers with 14.2 points per game. But he is playing out of position, having moved from his natural shooting guard to point guard to take over for the injured Al Nolen.

Smith said Hoffarber is "carrying a major load" and may be getting worn down by all the minutes he has been playing.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe