5 things to know about Timberwolves center Cole Aldrich

By Sam Nygaard | Oct 9, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Cole Aldrich #45 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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13 March 2010: Kansas Jayhawks center Cole Aldrich (45) cuts off part of the net after the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship Final. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 72-64 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Moffett/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images) /

#2 – National Champion

Cole Aldrich enjoyed his fair share of success during his three years playing for Bill Self at national powerhouse Kansas. During his freshman year, Aldrich and the Jayhawks were national champions.

Although Aldrich wasn’t a starter during his freshman year due to multiple future NBA draft picks playing in the Jayhawks’ front court, he still made an impact off the bench. In the Final Four vs. North Carolina, Aldrich tallied seven points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in 16 minutes of action. See his highlights as Kansas rolled past the Tar Heels here:

After that game, Kansas went on to defeat future NBA MVP Derrick Rose and his Memphis Tigers during the national title game. While much of that Kansas team moved on to the NBA draft (including Aldrich’s future Timberwolves teammate, Brandon Rush), Cole Aldrich stayed in Lawrence for a couple more years and expanded his role from a bench player to an integral part of the Jayhawks team.

In 2009, Cole Aldrich returned to the NCAA tournament and recorded the first triple-double in the history of Kansas University basketball. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, and then he was named as a second-team All-American during the 2010 season.

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