Author: David Shama

Who are the five schools that may expand the conference to 16 teams?  In addition to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Missouri might leave the Big 12 for the Big Ten where the TV revenues will be richer.  The Midwest seems like a better fit geographically for Nebraska and Missouri than the Big 12 with its Texas roots.

The other two expansion teams may well be Rutgers and either Syracuse or Pittsburgh.  Rutgers has academic swagger and a much improved football product, and most importantly commands attention in nearby New York City with the area’s 19 to 20 million people.

Syracuse, particularly its men’s basketball team, is a college favorite in the state including New York City.  Rutgers and the Orange could make the Big Ten powerful in the New York-New Jersey TV market that is so important to advertisers.  Pittsburgh is an alternative, although the state of Pennsylvania already is pretty much Big Ten football territory because of Penn State.

Rutgers, Syracuse and Pitt, like Notre Dame, are all members of the Big East Conference.  It seems likely that the Big 12 and Big East must now consider major strategic planning in reaction to the Big Ten.

As for Notre Dame and Minnesota, the two schools could be aligned in the same division after expansion.  A West Division might look like this:  Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.  The East Division could be:  Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State, Rutgers and Syracuse/Pitt.

The expansion will set up a much anticipated conference championship game in football between the winners of the West and East Divisions.  The event will potentially put the conference even or ahead in popularity of any other similar games including the SEC title game.

There might be another benefit in football, too, and that is expansion of league games.  Instead of eight conference games per school each year the number might become nine or 10.  League games result in increased attendance, more TV viewership.  Translation: increased interest, more money.

Expanding to 16 teams perhaps could stir talk of a Big Ten hockey league.  With Notre Dame, the league hockey schools would also include Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan Sate, Ohio State and Wisconsin.  A six team league may seem small, but the National Hockey League once thrived with the same number of teams.

Whatever changes come out of Big Ten expansion, this much is probable: the league and other parts of American college athletics will look dramatically different.  And don’t count out a return of the Fighting Irish to the Gophers’ schedule.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi will be with basketball coach Tubby Smith tomorrow when the Jimmy Williams trial begins in front of Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu.  Maturi said he’s set aside the remainder of this week and all of next for the jury trial involving Williams’ contention that he was offered an assistant coaching job with the Gophers in 2007.

USA Today Sports Weekly lists the top prospects for the 2011 NFL draft in its May 5-11 issue.  Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi is No. 3 and Iowa linebacker Adrian Clayborn No. 4.  Other Big Ten players in the top 32 are Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones (No. 13), Penn State running back Evan Royster (No. 16) and Penn State center Stefen Wisniewski (No. 29).

ESPN.com’s simulated series between all-time Yankees and Red Sox teams resulted in New York winning in six games.  The players include several with local ties such as Red Sox legend Ted Williams who played minor league baseball in Minneapolis.  Also on the Red Sox roster are former Minneapolis minor leaguers Carl Yastrzemksi and Dick Radatz.  Former Twins David Ortiz and Luis Tiant are also on the Red Sox all-time team.  Former Twin Graig Nettles is on the Yankees roster as is Hibbing, Minnesota born Roger Maris. https://espn.go.com/new-york/rivalry/_/id/5167822/

Twins relief pitchers have a 2.16 ERA during the last eight home games.

Two months ago Roy Smalley had “no inkling” he would be in the restaurant business but “Smalley’s 87 Club” in Butler Square is drawing large crowds and media attention since opening earlier this year.  Smalley is a partner in the restaurant after being approached about using his name and fame as a member of the 1987 World Series champion Twins.  Located in the former Champp’s space, the restaurant is more than a sports bar, according to Smalley, who said the menu has gluten free items and includes fish and salads.  “The variety and quality has exceeded my expectations,” Smalley said.

KFAN’s Paul Allen, hoping to bring the Wolves good luck, will accompany club executive David Kahn to Secaucus, New Jersey for the May 18 NBA draft lottery.  The radio station talk host impressed Kahn by predicting Super Saver would win the Kentucky Derby.  At the time, Allen told Kahn that if his prediction came true he would like to bring the Wolves good fortune by attending the lottery to determine the draft order of NBA teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs.

Star Tribune and Canterbury Park handicapper Kevin Gorg said on KFAN yesterday that Super Saver may win the Triple Crown this spring.  The Preakness Stakes is Saturday, with the Belmont Stakes on June 5.  Canterbury Park opens its live racing season on Friday night.

Gophers baseball coach John Anderson is the speaker at tomorrow’s CORES luncheon in Bloomington.  CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, retired reporters, educators and sports fans.  Board members include former Henry High football coach Jim Dotseth and Gophers public address announcer Dick Jonckowski.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has three schools, Minnesota State, Winona State and St. Cloud State, among the 48 selected for the NCAA Division II baseball tournament. The NSIC schools are three of the six teams in the Central Region tournament that begins tomorrow in Farmington, New Mexico.  Minnesota State, the NSIC regular season and tournament champions, is the second seed, while Winona State is fourth and St. Cloud State sixth in the double elimination tournament.

Marta Radcliffe, a senior pitcher for St. Thomas from Lakeville, Minn., allowed one run, five hits and three walks while producing 23 strikeouts in 18 innings last weekend during the MIAC Softball Playoffs.  The Tommies won the tournament and Radcliffe was named tournament MVP.

Don’t expect Twins management to rush decisions about rookie catching sensation Wilson Ramos.  Fans and media started wondering about his future with the team after a few games this week when he replaced the injured Joe Mauer.

Ramos, who was recalled recently from Triple AAA Rochester, had seven hits in his first nine at bats in the big leagues.  That set off a frenzy about the young Venezuelan with observers speculating about his future after Mauer returns to the lineup.

General manager Bill Smith was noncommittal during an interview with Sports Headliners.  But that doesn’t mean he too isn’t impressed with Ramos.  “We love him,” Smith said.

There’s no doubt the 22-year-old is one of the organization’s best prospects (regardless of position) but Smith didn’t want to address whether the team will eventually option him back to Rochester.  Ramos was impressive during spring training with the Twins, including a long home run in the team’s final game in Florida.

Ask Smith about Ramos and he expresses satisfaction with the catcher’s skills behind the plate.  Ramos hit .317 with AA New Britain last season, but Smith doesn’t necessarily think batting .300 or better will be on the resume in the majors.  He does believe 20 home runs or more per season is possible.  “He’s a power hitter,” Smith said.

After five seasons in the minors and a nice spring training performance, some major league teams would have kept Ramos on their rosters.  But Smith wanted him to play every day rather than mostly be a reserve with the Twins.

The Rochester decision disappointed Ramos and might explain his .179 average while playing there.  When Mauer comes back, Ramos seems likely to ship out again but a more strategic matter is how the Twins will accommodate the two catchers in the future.

Mauer is among baseball’s most valuable players and is only 27 years old.  The Twins have rewarded him with a $184 million contract that begins next year.  Will the Twins consider moving Mauer or Ramos to another position?  Neither one is experienced at any other position.

Again, Smith didn’t want to speculate.  The Twins’ way is not to be too reactive and that approach won’t allow for much more now than to focus on a pennant race.

Catcher is a vital position in baseball and there’s a shortage of big leaguers who can contribute there.  In addition to Mauer and Ramos, the Twins have 27-year-old Jose Morales who hit .311 with the club last season and Drew Butera, a 26-year-old defensive catcher who is in his first season on the roster.  Morales has been injured and unable to play this season.

Smith has to not only like the team’s catching depth, but also the leverage it may provide in trade talks during the next off-season.