Since 2000 the Gophers have four 10th place finishes in the Big Ten Conference and twice have been ninth. Only once did Minnesota place among the top five men’s basketball teams in the league.
But the latest Minnesota model is the best since the 1996-1997 group that went to the Final Four after winning the conference championship. The 2012 group is a 15-1 team (3-0 in the Big Ten) with experienced talent in the right positions and a balance of skills. With nonconference wins over nationally regarded teams and league victories over top 20 Michigan State and Illinois, Minnesota has earned its No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
Gophers coach Tubby Smith said earlier this week he has a team that’s not dependent on one or two players. “Anybody can step up at any time. We have a lot of players we can go to. A lot of weapons this year.”
The Gophers’ 84-67 win against Illinois on Wednesday night was one of the most impressive Minnesota road “W’s” in years. Sophomore point guard Andre Hollins’ emergence as a floor leader and clutch time shooter is a big reason why Minnesota has transformed itself from a mediocre team (10th place last season but strong NIT run) to a contender for the conference title.
No team can think league championship without an exceptional point guard, and having a dominant inside player is almost as important. Senior center Trevor Mbakwe’s decision to return to school and play after his ACL injury has provided a shot blocking, rebounding and inside scoring terror who at times is a man playing against boys.
Junior shooting guard Austin Hollins is the team’s best perimeter defender and perhaps most consistent three-point shooter. Senior forward Rodney Williams is the second rebounding and shot blocking force, and his extraordinary jumping ability results in dunks that energize the Gophers’ offense.
When sophomore forward Joe Coleman has some of his best games, he boosts the Gophers’ performance level even higher. His hustle on Wednesday night resulted in several fast break dunks and he scored a career-high 29 points including timely baskets in the last 10 minutes.
The Gophers didn’t use their bench players for more than limited minutes on Wednesday night. There’s such a gap in talent and experience that it’s become evident when the Gophers play the better teams in the conference the starters each need to be in the game for 30 minutes-plus.
And the better teams are on the schedule now. The Gophers are in a stretch where they play No. 12 Illinois, No. 5 Indiana (tomorrow in Bloomington) and No. 2 Michigan (next Thursday at home). If that weren’t enough, three of the Gophers’ next four games are on the road (Indiana, Northwestern and Wisconsin).
So far, so good.
Worth Noting
National Signing Day (Letter of Intent) for high school football players is February 6. Minnesota is competing for players being pursued by schools from top conferences. Gophers coach Jerry Kill knows it’s difficult to obtain commitments from those players, but the opinion here is Minnesota will become more and more successful at recruiting. Kill and staff are experienced recruiters who have solid character and are well liked.
Kill is back on the road recruiting today after attending a football coaching convention in Nashville earlier in the week. In one aspect or another recruiting is a 365 days a year project, the coach said. “It all comes down to players. You gotta have (talented) players.”
The relationships Kill has formed in 30 years of coaching, including with high school coaches, is a foundation of his recruiting. He said people understand the kind of program he operates. “Life is all about relationships.”
The Gophers have verbal commitments from high school players who they will try to keep committed until signing day. Kill said the staff is also recruiting players who haven’t verbally committed, plus walk-ons.
Junior college football players can sign Letter of Intent commitments before high school players. Kansas has signed nine junior college players and has verbal commitments from seven more, according to Rivals.com.
The Timberwolves, who play at New Orleans tonight, are 8-0 this season when they score 100 or more points.
Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio, still playing less than half of the minutes in each game, had eight assists in a win over the Hawks Tuesday night and seven in a loss to the Thunder on Wednesday evening. Rubio, who averaged 8.2 assists per game as a rookie last season, played a season high 22 minutes against the Thunder as he continues his comeback from an ACL injury.
Saint John’s basketball coach Jim Smith needs four wins to become the 19th coach in college basketball history (all divisions) to attain 750 career victories (746-530 record). He is tied with Phog Allen for 19th all-time.
Smith’s team plays at St. Thomas tomorrow in a 3:05 p.m. game to be televised on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45. The Tommies are ranked No. 2 in the nation by D3hoops.com but lost twice to the Johnnies last season.
The St. Thomas First Friday Speaker Series has Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix scheduled for Friday, March 1 at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. LaCroix’s responsibilities include marketing the new downtown Minneapolis stadium the Vikings will play in starting in 2016. Pre-registration for the lunch and program must be made by February 22. More information is available at the St. Thomas Alumni Association Website or by calling 651-962-6430.
The Vikings finished the 2012 season with only 15 players on the 53-man roster who were with the club in 2009: Jared Allen, Jasper Brinkley, Fred Evans, Chad Greenway, Letroy Guion, Erin Henderson, Chris Kluwe, Phil Loadholt, Cullen Loeffler, Adrian Peterson, Brian Robison, Jamarca Sanford, John Sullivan, Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield.
Sportsmedianews.com reported on Wednesday that Sports Illustrated pro football writer Peter King chose Adrian Peterson as NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Peterson and Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning are King’s Co-Comeback Players of the Year. King chose John Schneider, a St. Thomas graduate and now the Seahawks general manager, as Executive of the Year.