I thought I was joking a few weeks ago when I said, after Al Jefferson’s injured his, Randy Wittman had just named Mark Madsen the starting center for the rest of the season.

Well, I guess not.

“Mad Dog” is your starting center tonight in the Wolves’ preseason opener at Milwaukee. He anchors a starting five that includes Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson.

Wittman said he plans to play Jefferson, back from that sprained knee ligament earlier than expected, between 20 and 24 minutes, depending on his conditioning.

Wittman calls Madsen’s starting spot earned from his conscientious play during training camp.

Brian Cardinal won’t play because of a calf injury. Calvin Booth and Jason Collins did not make the trip, which the Wolves made by chartered aircraft Monday afternoon after holding a morning practice at Target Center.

Collins is expected to travel to Los Angeles Tuesday to see his doctor for a check-up on his elbow, which is recovering from surgery after that golf-cart accident last month. Collins still is expected out until after the Oct. 29 regular-season opener.

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