Author: David Shama

Anyone who knows basketball understands success is predicated on effective point guard play.  No question the performance of Timberwolves’ point guards Mike James and Randy Foye will determine whether the team makes the playoffs this year for the first time since 2004. 

So far neither James nor Foye have consistently played like point guards who can transform the Wolves from their malaise of .500 basketball.  The Wolves’ play during the first half of the season has been characterized by losing close games, not winning against inferior teams and inconsistent team performance.  A careless pass, a misguided dribble, even stepping out of bounds at a game determining moment has too often defined the Wolves’ point guards.  A problem, too, is that neither James nor Foye has inspired much praise as a defender. 

Evidence of the team’s frustrations with losing close games is dramatized by the record since Randy Wittman became coach on January 23.  The Wolves are 2-5 under Wittman with four losses by three points or less. 

The opportunity remains for James and Foye to make the Wolves better.   But will it happen? Although James was a coveted off-season free agent acquisition, talk is that Toronto, his former team, wanted to change him from a starter (he averaged 20.3 points, 5.8 assists last season) to a reserve.  As the Wolves’ starting point guard his play and statistics (11.1 points, 4.1 assists) have been mostly underwhelming and his star season with Toronto looks more like an aberration than a sign of results to come.   

Foye, the team’s No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, understandably plays at times like the rookie he is, making mistakes in judgment and execution that cause problems.  His stats (8.9 points, 2.5 assists per game) are somewhat impressive when compared with others in the NBA’s 2006-07 rookie class but they aren’t of the quality that will fast track the team to the playoffs.   

Neither James or Foye are highly creative playmakers, the kind of players who look like they will ever stir comparisons with Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, and, yes, former Timberwolf Stephon Marbury, the best Wolves point guard ever.  James or Foye can’t play with flash but by simply improving their shooting, setting up their teammates and providing solid leadership, including in game deciding moments, they can give the Wolves a better chance to win (example: see former Timberwolf Chauncey Billups in Detroit).

A USA Today feature last week on Tony Dungy described the Super Bowl coach’s temper problem as a youth in Jackson, Michigan.  As a student spectator at a University of Minnesota basketball game at Williams Arena, Dungy and Purdue coach Fred Schaus engaged in a surprising argument.  Dungy is now as highly regarded as a person as he is a coach. 

The Vikings hold the record for the fewest net yards gained in the Super Bowl, 119 against Pittsburgh in 1975.  Better known is that the Purple and Buffalo, both 0-4, have the worst Super Bowl records. 

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote the following last week:  “Several NFL people have expressed skepticism about whether Daunte Culpepper—whose decision-making and ability to make quick reads have been questioned—will be a good fit for Cam Cameron’s offense.”  (Note: Cameron is the Miami Dolphins new head coach who was an assistant with San Diego and once was head coach at the University of Indiana where his record was 18-37).    

General consensus now is the Timberwolves are enjoying the better of their trade with the Celtics last winter.  The Wolves have two players who became starters, Ricky Davis and Mark Blount, while the Celtics’ Wally Szczerbiak has missed time because of injury and since returning to the team has been a sub.  Davis and Blount, at 16.1 and 13.3 points per game, are the Wolves’ second and third leading scorers.   Szczerbiak averages 15.9 points per game. 

Former Gopher wide receiver Lewis Garrison refereed his first Division I basketball game late last month.  A college referee for eight years working in conferences such as the MIAC, Garrison officiated the Division I game in Fargo on January 28 between North Dakota State and Utah Valley State. 

While Flip Saunders is the best candidate for the University of Minnesota basketball coaching position, Mike Montgomery might be a superb second choice.   He built a powerful program at Stanford before taking an NBA job with the Golden State Warriors.   Although his record with the Warriors was mediocre and he was let go last year, he had sub-par players to coach with a franchise that historically is among the NBA’s worst. 

Montgomery was at Stanford for 18 seasons and is the school’s most successful coach ever.  His teams enjoyed top 10 rankings, won four Pacific 10 Conference championships and participated in the NCAA tournament 12 times.  His winning percentage of .702 is based on 393 wins, 167 losses. 

Minnesota Timberwolves center Mark Madsen played for Montgomery at Stanford.  Madsen’s enthusiasm was evident immediately when he talked to Sports Headliners about his former coach.  “I think Mike Montgomery would be an excellent candidate for the University of Minnesota job,” Madsen said.  “He’s a great recruiter.  He knows the X’s and O’s like the back of his hand, and he can communicate with people. …I think the U would be very smart to contact Mike Montgomery and see if they can open a dialogue.” 

Bring up Montgomery’s name and there is an assumption that he’s a “west coast guy” who wouldn’t be interested in Minneapolis.  Madsen, however, quickly disputes the suggestion that Montgomery, who grew up in southern California, wouldn’t want to move here. “This is a great place to be, too,” Madsen said.  “He knows that.  He likes Minnesota, he likes Minneapolis.”  Madsen also said Montgomery is a “family man” whose values are a good fit with the Midwest, and the coach’s wife, Sarah, has relatives in Minnesota. 

Montgomery’s ability to recruit and his contacts in both northern and southern California would be a major asset to the Gophers.  Madsen is confident that despite the difference in weather, his former coach could bring outstanding California prep players here.  At Stanford eight of his players became NBA first round draft choices and others had tryouts, an indication of the talent he recruited. 

Madsen said Montgomery sees all the elements that go into being an extraordinary coach and having a winning program.  Recruiting, teaching in practice, coaching in games, mentoring players as people (not just athletes) and working with the media are all Montgomery strengths.   

With his values and the wisdom that comes with being 59 years old, Montgomery isn’t going to be a win at all costs coach who breaks NCAA rules. Madsen said “coach Montgomery is not someone who is going to try to do things in a quick fix type of way. …” 

Both Minnesota and Stanford are schools emphasizing academics and integrity in athletics.  Minnesota basketball is down with two 10^th place finishes in the last three years in the Big Ten Conference. Madsen said Stanford basketball was low level, too, when Montgomery arrived. 

“You know the biggest thing about Mike that comes to my mind is Mike is a winner,” Madsen said.  “He went to Stanford when people were saying no one can win at Stanford.  And he took that program to the national level.   He took that program to the (NCAA) Final Four.”