Author: David Shama

In an interview with Sports Headliners on Monday, former NHL player and executive Lou Nanne evaluated the Minnesota Wild and talked about players who have surprised him this season.  “This is the best team they’ve ever had,” Nanne said.  “They’ve got more depth.  They’ve got more skill, and they’re more physical, so all around they’re a better team.”

The Wild are in first place in the Northwest Division and rank fourth among Western Conference teams in points (tied with Anaheim).  Nanne said that’s about what he expected before the season started.  “If their goaltending stays real consistent the rest of the way, they should be able to hold on to first place in their division and be about fourth in their conference,” the former Minnesota North Stars player and president said.

With the regular season ending April 6, Nanne was asked what fans can watch for to evaluate the team.  The Wild aren’t as “good” in goals-against as in the past, he said.  The team needs to score more goals than it gives up and the margin between the two can be indicative of how effectively Minnesota is playing, he explained.

Surprises?  Nanne said the “best surprise” has been that star forward Marian Gaborik has been “healthy most of the year.”  He also mentioned other players including defenseman Brent Burns, and forwards Aaron Voros and James Sheppard.

Nanne said about Burns: “He’s probably been a surprise in the fact that he’s made such a huge jump from last year, not from the playoffs but during the regular season to how he is now.  He’s been terrific.  A big help offensively to the defensemen.

“And Voros coming up and making the team and doing what he does has been a pleasant surprise, I am sure.  He’s given them some physical-ness on the third line and fourth line.  He and (Todd) Fedoruk coming in there make the Wild harder to play against.

“And Sheppard has been a great young addition to the hockey team.  He looks like he’s going to be an excellent hockey player and have a great career.”

With more than a month to go in the season, Burns already has career highs in goals, assists and points.  Voros, acquired from New Jersey last March, has played in 42 games in his first season with the Wild.  The 6-3, 205-pound Voros and the 6-2, 240-pound Fedoruk are two physical forwards.  Sheppard, the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft, is the Wild’s youngest player at 19 but has shown goal scoring ability in his first season with Minnesota.

Williams Arena, built in 1928, is 80 years old this year.  It’s the oldest basketball facility in the Big Ten Conference by a few decades and one of the most historic college arenas in the country.  Gopher coach Tubby Smith generated conversation late last year when he told a writer for the New York Times that he wanted a new building.

In an interview with Sports Headliners last week athletics director Joel Maturi said that today’s college basketball is all about recruiting and he believes his coach was responding to a question about attracting players to Minnesota.  Anyone who has seen an empty Williams Arena, including Maturi and Smith, know the facility is about as appealing as a $1,000 car on the budget lot. “When you come in here and it’s filled, and it’s electric, and they’ve got the raised floor, it’s about as exciting…a place as there is in college basketball,” Maturi said.

He acknowledged that given its age, Williams Arena will eventually need to be significantly remodeled or replaced but that day isn’t likely to come any time soon, probably not during the tours of duty by Maturi and Smith.  “I am not so sure Tubby even believes he’s ever going to play in a different arena here,” Maturi said.  “I think his first priority is a practice facility and I think that is a realistic expectation.  And we’re hopeful that we can find a way to make something like that happen in the near future.”

The Gophers practice in Williams Arena.  Smith wants a separate practice facility similar to what many other schools have.  Such a venue would be more practical than the antiquated practice set up at Williams Arena and more impressive to potential recruits.

Williams Arena was remodeled in the 1990s.  Chair backs and private suites were added. Total seating has been reduced over the years to the present capacity of 14,625.  Maturi said further enhancements are pretty much nil, mentioning that corridors can’t be widened or restrooms added.

A question was asked about whether the athletic department might look at lowering the floor as a means of improving sightlines and adding seats.  Maturi and others cherish the building’s elevated playing floor and that signature element “isn’t going away” as long as he’s athletics director.

Maturi thinks Williams Arena has enough seats, although there are seven venues in the conference with larger capacities.  The Gophers have traditionally grossed more dollars than bigger arenas because of higher ticket prices and fewer students buying tickets.  “We’ll keep filling it (Williams Arena) with Tubby here,” Maturi said.

Torii Hunter was featured in the Sunday Los Angeles Times.  Hunter, the former Twin who signed a five year, $90 million off-season deal with the Angels, grew up in poverty and had a father addicted to cocaine, according to the Times.  Hunter now has a home with 11 bathrooms.

Guard Steve Hutchinson, running back Adrian Peterson and defensive tackle Kevin Williams were named to the Sporting News all-pro team.  Peterson was also the publication’s near unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year.  Selections are made through voting by pro personnel directors.

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said assistant Tim Cross has been selected by rivals.com as the No. 1 recruiting assistant coach in the Big Ten Conference and No. 8 in the country.

Sports Illustrated didn’t include the Wild’s Marian Gaborik among its Western Conference all-star wings, instead choosing Jarome Iginla of the Flames and Henrik Zetterberg of the Red Wings.

Hobey Baker Memorial Award ballots go out to Division I hockey coaches next week and the top 10 candidates for the 2008 award will be announced on March 22. The winner will be announced April 11 during the NCAA Frozen Four championships in Denver and televised live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time.  The award annually honors college hockey’s top player.  More information is available at www.hobeybaker.com.

Randy Foye started his first game of the season last night as the Timberwolves easily defeated Philadelphia 104-88.  He and regular point guard Sebastian Telfair started at the guard positions. “I wanted to see him (Foye) and Basie together a little bit more,” coach Randy Wittman said. “I can get them together with more minutes starting them together than I can bringing them off the bench. …”  Foye scored 13 points and Witman predicted the two guards will start again tomorrow night (Thursday) against San Antonio at Target Center. The Spurs have won eight of the last nine against the Wolves.

St. Paul is being labeled as “Tournament City USA” with Xcel Energy Center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium playing host to six athletic tournaments over five weeks, starting with last weekend through March 22.

Former pro Tracy Austin is coming to town in early May to help promote tennis, according to a local source.

Sophomore forward Craig Heiman had the third highest scoring game in school history with 36 points on Saturday night, leading Concordia University (St. Paul) to a 79-61 win at Upper Iowa University.  The performance moved him within 94 points of Brian Jamros’ single season school record of 529 points.