Author: David Shama

No one has been more of a victim from the Timberwolves’ seven guards traffic jam than Bracey Wright, the 22- year-old 2005 second round draft choice from Indiana.   He has played in two games for a total of five minutes since January 22.                

The return of 2005 No. 1 draft choice Rashad McCants from injury  has reduced Wright’s minutes (minimal anyway).  Wright has played in 14 games this season, averaging 8:30 minutes per appearance, only five times playing more than 10 minutes.  He is averaging 2.9 points per game.

Wright’s best stretch of game action was from late December through January 21.  He played sparingly, but at least was on court for most games.  During that 11 game period he sometimes showed the scoring ability (particularly with his outside shooting) that attracted the Wolves to him when they drafted him as a 20- year-old player.  He made 36% of his three point shots and 38% of his other shots in the 11 games, plus six steals. 

Wright was encouraged and not surprised by his play during that period, the best opportunity he’s had with the Wolves (he only played in six games last season after spending most of his time in the NBA Development League).   “I am a confident player by nature,” he said.  “I believe in what I can do, but just going out there and actually doing it boosts your confidence a little bit more. …Things I worked on paid off in the game.   It just let’s me know I am moving in the right direction.”

He said he’s received no explanation about why he’s not playing but you just “roll with the punches.”  Frustrating?  “It has been but I look at myself as a valuable player, a valuable guard so I think I can play. …But it is what it is and we’ve got eight guards on the team and the staff chooses who they feel gives them the best opportunity to win each and every night so my number just hasn’t been called.”

Wright will be a free agent after this season and is taking a “we’ll see” approach to his future in Minneapolis. “Once the season is over my agent and I will sit down and we’ll go from there.  I really don’t know. I don’t know the plans that they have for me here. …”

Sid Hartman’s birthday is Thursday and he will be 87, according to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. 

Here’s one man’s guess as to the Twins starting rotation by June 1:  Johan Santana, Boof Bonser, Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey. 

Could the impasse over acquisition of the Rapid Park land for the new Twins stadium be solved by Hennepin County paying the land owners about $13 million and giving development rights to property elsewhere owned by the county?   

Reception problems:  KSTP Radio, the new Twins station, doesn’t have a clear signal in our Eden Prairie home and a friend reports the same problem in his west Bloomington office. 

When ex-Detroit Lion Charlie Sanders is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer more than 20 of his former University of Minnesota teammates are expected to attend, according to Dr. John Williams.  Sanders was a star tight end on the Gophers’ 1967 Big Ten Conference championship team.  Williams, a Gopher teammate who also excelled in the NFL and played in three Super Bowls, is a dentist in north Minneapolis.   

Gopher recruits Blake Hoffarber of Hopkins and Al Nolen, Jr. of Patrick Henry are among 20 Minnesota Mr. Basketball award candidates.  Kansas recruit Cole Aldrich of Bloomington Jefferson is also on the list.  There are five finalists for the Miss Basketball of Minnesota award: Kachine Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret’s; Alyssa Karel, Cretin-Derham Hall; Macie Michelson, Marshall; Angel Robinson, St. Paul Central; Janessa Wolff, Park Rapids Area.

Sources with knowledge about the University of Minnesota basketball coaching search have been saying school officials are setting an April 1 deadline for selecting a head coach but Athletic Director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners earlier this week the time frame has some flexibility.  Maturi, though, made it clear he wants and expects to have a coach hired by some time in April, likely earlier in the month than later.  

That timeline will allow Minnesota to act with expediency when reviewing candidates.  Minnesota needs to move on its preferred candidate before another school hires that coach.   

Maturi doesn’t want to wait a long time on a candidate who might indicate an interest, then change his mind, leaving the Gophers without a solid second choice.  The timeline seems problematic for hiring an NBA coach such as Flip Saunders. 

“I would allow a professional coach to coach out the year but I don’t know how I could not announce the professional coach being our coach prior to some time in early April,” Maturi said. …“Because if I don’t have a coach by let’s just say…April 15, what are you going to be thinking? Why didn’t I hire coach Smith, coach Jones or coach so-and-so by that time?  There won’t be a lot of easy answers.”  

Saunders, the public’s runaway favorite for the job, has more than two years remaining on his contract to coach the Detroit Pistons and his team will be a popular pick to advance out of the Eastern Conference playoffs to the NBA finals.  The Pistons’ regular season doesn’t even end until April 18.  

 “I can’t see how it’s going to work,” said a source with close ties to the basketball program.  Another source said Saunders’ dream is “to win an NBA championship” and while the former Gopher player and assistant coach has long talked about coaching a college team, the timing isn’t right to leave the NBA. 

The vision of a Saunders led Gopher program provides fans with an adrenaline rush.  His hire would be expected to sell out Williams Arena for the entire 2007-2008 season.  Long term his presence would mean millions of additional dollars for the University in basketball and fund raising revenues.  He brings instant credibility nationally and locally.  News of his hiring could be a lead story on ESPN SportsCenter. 

A Saunders staff might include interim Gopher coach Jim Molinari, former Gopher and Chicago Bull Trent Tucker, and Brian Dutcher, a top recruiter and assistant for Steve Fisher first at Michigan and now at San Diego State.  “That staff puts you on the national map,” a source said.   

Maturi was asked if a high profile coach is more desirable rather than an unknown such as Tim Brewster who he hired as Gopher football coach.

“Yes, on the front end,” he answered.  “I don’t know if Tim Brewster would be accepted on the basketball end and that’s certainly not a knock on Tim Brewster because we’re excited to have him. …In saying that, I do believe I need to make a long term decision.  I can’t be fearful of hiring another Tim Brewster. … I can’t be impatient and not hire who I believe is the best long term person for Minnesota.”