Author: David Shama

Williams Arena, the sentimental yet flawed home of Gophers basketball for 81 years, managed to avoid the scrap heap 20 years ago and it might still be around two decades from now but controversy will define its existence.  The University athletic department is spending $600,000 on a new floor this spring, the latest in millions of dollars in renovations that have been allocated to improve the building that’s one of the oldest college basketball facilities in the country.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi, 64, told Sports Headliners the “reality” is that the building will have to be replaced or significantly renovated 10 to 15 years into the future. “It won’t happen during my time,” he said.

When Rick Bay became Gophers athletic director in 1989 he consulted with Jim Dutcher who coached the Gophers basketball team for 11 seasons before resigning in 1986.  The two had become friends when both worked at the University of Michigan.

“When he came to town he wanted my take on the significance of Williams Arena,” Dutcher said.  “He knew that there was a lot of emotion attached to it and there were some expensive remodeling and updating (that) had to be done. …My view was I said, ‘It might be a good time, Rick, just to go for a brand new arena.’

“He knew the emotion attached to Williams Arena and he kind of hesitated about that, but I said that from a recruiting standpoint and updating your facilities there comes a time when the emotion of an old building gives way to a new facility whether it’s Carver-Hawkeye (Iowa), or the new arena at Ohio State, or the new arena at the Kohl Center in Madison.

“There comes a time when you have to step up and keep up with the competition.  If you’re going to put money into an old facility, now might be the time to consider that.  I don’t know how seriously he considered it but they went ahead and remodeled Williams Arena.”

Remodeling has included installing chair back seats, creating suites (“barn lofts”) and locker room renovation.  As part of the process to make the 81 year old building more functional and compliant with safety codes, seating capacity has been reduced by about 3,000 from what it was 30 years ago.

The arena isn’t as noisy now days.  Not only are there fewer fans but they are, on average, older than in the wild days of the 1970s when the place was jumpin’ even before tipoff.  The basketball product was in decline for years until Tubby Smith came two years ago and once in awhile now when the building is full and a Michigan State or Wisconsin is in town Williams Arena is a special place once again.

Long mentioned in the same breath with college basketball’s most historic facilities, Williams Arena is an intimate venue with a rarity seldom seen, a raised playing floor.  That playing surface is part of the building’s enigma.  A fall from the raised floor by a player poses a potential danger not present in other buildings, yet fans regard the floor as part of the building’s charm.  Spectators sitting down low and near the court, even those paying premium prices, can’t see part of the game when coaches and referees block their views.

The old building is quaint but it’s partially held in place by steel supports that obstruct the sightlines of spectators.  Those tickets are sold with advance notice that you will have a partial view, not exactly 21^st century marketing.

Concourses and restrooms are crowded, even for games with less than capacity crowds.  The old building is less charming when your bladder is about to burst and the bathroom line reminds you of gasoline rationing in the 1970s.

Then, too, the building is a recruiting liability with out of state player prospects when they look at it without fans on non-game days.  It’s pretty hard to relate to a facility that was built before their grandparents were born and by comparison must compete with the newer palaces of college basketball.

The recruiting formula will receive a lift when a new practice facility is built in the near future.  Maturi said costs and location haven’t been determined but it may be connected to Williams Arena where the Gophers not only play but practice.

Further into the future a new facility might replace Williams Arena.  Although totally new, it could have a retro Williams Arena design.  More seats, better sightlines, improved concourses, rest rooms and practice facilities.  A facility capable of generating more revenues for the athletic department while better serving the fans and basketball program.

Even 15 years into the future, though, Dutcher thinks the original Williams Arena, then almost 100 years, will still be around.  “…I think the alternative is the new practice facility,” he said.  “I think they’ve already decided to go that route, to build a nice building that has the practice facility, that has the coaches’ offices, probably academic counseling rooms for basketball players. …When a recruit comes on campus the showcase is probably going to be the new basketball building. The sideline is going to be Williams Arena with all the emotions and so forth. …”

Maturi will be in New York on Thursday where he is one of four nominees for Athletic Director of the Year, determined by a selection committee from SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily. The other nominees are Sandy Barbour (California), Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma) and Jeremy Foley (Florida).  Maturi’s profile has been enhanced by the realization of TCF Bank Stadium, the hiring of basketball coach Tubby Smith and the Gophers current No. 2 Director’s Cup ranking that measures total sports success of programs across the country.

A source reported to Sports Headliners that Minneapolis Community and Technical College has decided to eliminate its men’s and women’s basketball programs (the only two sports offered at the downtown school) effective after next season.  A permanent decision to eliminate the programs would leave the metro area with only one community college offering basketball, Anoka-Ramsey.

Basketball makes a difference in the lives of young people, both on and off the court.  In the men’s program at MCTC, two-thirds of the players since 1990 have gone on to play basketball at a four-year school, according to an e-mail from the source.  Two-thirds of those students then earn a bachelor’s degree.

New Timberwolves president David Kahn was articulate and impressive during his news conference last week.  Owner Glen Taylor expressed confidence in his new hire but also said Kahn might ultimately not be successful and could be terminated.

Taylor also said regardless of whether coach Kevin McHale remains with the franchise, he will “always have a friendship” with him.

Timberwolves TV analyst Jim Petersen told Sports Headliners last week he’s picking Denver and Cleveland in the NBA Finals, with the Cavs winning the series.

Hopkins senior Royce White was recently presented with the Mr. Basketball award in front of family and friends during an event at the Martin Luther King Center in St. Paul.  White said he plans to play on the team of former Wolves guard Troy Hudson in the Howard Pulley summer league.  Games start next month and although the league isn’t known for its defense, White said his team will be focused that way because he wants “to win.”

Best wishes to Bob Werness, former leader of the Mr. Basketball selection group, who is ill with cancer.  His wife Shirley also has cancer.

Joe Mauer homered in his third straight game for the first time in his career yesterday as the Twins lost 6-5 to Boston at the Metrodome.  He has hit 10 of his 11 home runs in his last 17 games.  This is the fifth time in club history that a player has hit 10-plus home runs in May.  Harmon Killebrew hit 12 in 1964, 11 in 1961 and 10 in 1970, while Justin Morneau had 10 in 2007.

Twins losing pitcher yesterday Francisco Liriano (2-6, 6.42 ERA) pitched only four innings for the second consecutive outing.  He has allowed five-plus earned runs five times in 10 starts.  His seven strikeouts were his second-most this season (nine on May 4 at Detroit).