Author: David Shama

Kevin Love told Sports Headliners on Sunday that despite the frustrations of his rookie season he doesn’t regret not staying at UCLA where last season as a freshman he was a first team All-American and led the Bruins to the Final Four.

“Nah, I never second guess myself, no matter what I do,” Love said.  “Even something as simple as whether it’s taking a jump shot, or going to the hole.  No, I feel like I made the right decision. Especially now.”

Love’s welcome to the NBA in early games included frequently having his shot blocked near the basket.  His medium range jump shot seemingly had stayed at UCLA where he also had success with three pointers.  Even free throws were often clank, not swish.  Defending bigger, more experienced players was a challenge, too.

But so far in 2009 his play has improved like a New Year’s resolution.  In games since the first of the year he is averaging 12.1 points and 10.1 rebounds, with several double-double games including 19 points and 15 rebounds on Sunday in a win over Chicago.  Love, who is averaging about 8.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, has helped the Wolves win 10 of 12 games in January.

The 20-year-old forward, who seems generously listed at 6-10, said his comfort in being a pro now versus earlier is much better.  Has he turned a page permanently in the New Year?

“I definitely hope so,” he said. “I felt like I hit the rookie wall a little bit early just trying to figure (out) everything.  One thing I can always do is rebound and play defense. …My confidence is high right now and hopefully I can keep it there.”

Love said his work ethic and desire to improve has been in place.  He’s been coming in to improve his basketball skills and body even on days off.  “I feel like hard work breeds confidence,” he said.

Love wants to finish his rookie season averaging a double-double in points and rebounds.  Talk with him about goals, though, and the conversation goes quickly to the team.  The Wolves have 16 wins after winning just 22 games all of last season.  “By the end of the season I think we can be very good,” he said.  “I am not going to put a number on how many games we’ll win.  By next season we’re gonna have a great group and we’re gonna know what we’re capable of.”

The words popular and coach almost seem like an oxymoron.  Not so, though, with Tubby Smith who almost two years into his assignment as Gopher basketball coach is still enjoying a honeymoon of popularity.

An admiring public nods its collective approval at Williams Arena and around town.  Students move their arms up and down in mock worship when Smith’s name is announced over the public address system prior to home games.  The fans, young and old, respond with enthusiastic applause usually reserved for star players, not coaches.

A friend called last week about a non-basketball subject, then closed his voice mail with this: “That Tubby, he’s really something.  Go Gophers!”

The Tubby phenomenon is mostly based on Smith’s prior coaching success at Kentucky (a national title and five conference championships) and the promise of similar results here.  It’s also fueled by the contrast between Smith and his failed predecessor Dan Monson who drove interest in the Gophers to lows not seen in about 40 years.

You can throw in another contributing factor.  Smith is a quality person who treats others with respect and consideration.  Ask the local media how many other coaches conduct their news conferences with such civility?  With Tubby you get a cordial “Good Evening,” or “I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”

Athletic Director Joel Maturi told KFAN’s Dan Barreiro last week that he considers Smith one of the “top five” coaches in the country.  He hopes other schools will pursue Smith because that means the Gophers are having success.  He guesses that Smith likes it here so well he won’t leave.

None of this is to predict that Smith’s honeymoon will continue indefinitely.  The popularity factor is predicated on team improvement, making the NCAA tournament and eventually winning championships.

Coaching with players Monson had recruited, the Gophers were 20-14 overall, 6-10 in the Big Ten Conference last season.  A sixth place finish in the conference bettered the ninth and 10^th place finishes of previous seasons.  This year’s team, with several Smith newcomers, is better (17-3 overall, ranked No. 24 in the country with a home game against Illinois tomorrow night).  But Smith will have to make these players better next season and prove that coming recruiting classes are good enough to make Minnesota a Big Ten power.

One day Smith might be a consensus choice as the best and most popular coach the Gophers have ever had.  He’s already being shown a lot of love.

The Wolves’ Kevin Love lives near Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi and coach Tubby Smith, and Love has attended a couple of basketball games at Williams Arena.

Wolves guard-forward Mike Miller might be the No. 1 advocate of ball movement among NBA players.  “When we’re moving the ball we’re a lot better team,” he said.  “We can compete with anybody when we move the ball.  When we keep the ball on one side of the floor and (are) stagnant, we’re easy to guard and it takes away from our offense, and our defense really.”

With Miller his unselfishness and focus on passing can almost seem selfish because he’s an outstanding shooter and scorer.  “Yeah, I’ll try to get more aggressive but at the same time it’s working,” he said.  “We’re winning games now so I am not going to change anything up right now.  I think I am going to continue playing the way I am playing.  If there are games I need to be more aggressive, I will be more aggressive. …”

Happy birthday to Wolves’ center Mark Madsen who is 33 today.

Larry Fitzgerald, Sr. was asked what his son, Larry, Jr., thinks about his Arizona team being a playoff underdog again.  The senior Fitzgerald said he never talks to junior “about negatives.”  The Cardinals are about a touchdown underdog to Pittsburgh in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The elder Fitzgerald, who offers sports commentary locally in print, radio and TV, is believed to be the only media person in Super Bowl history to have a son playing in the game.

KFAN’s Paul Allen told Sports Headliners he thinks the Steelers may win the game by about eight points.  He also said Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt has a reputation for trick plays and that could be part of the game plan.

Minneapolis, which hosted the 1992 Super Bowl, is likely to have another some day if a new Vikings’ stadium is approved.

Offensive right tackle Ryan Cook is probably the most likely Vikings starter to be replaced in 2009.

The 2009 and 2010 home Gopher football schedules have the best fan appeal of any within memory.  In 2009 the schedule includes Air Force, California, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan State.  The next season brings Southern California, Ohio State and Penn State to town.

The Minnesota chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for two awards, the distinguished Minnesotan and the courage award.  The first award recognizes “an outstanding person who has maintained a lifetime of interest in the game and who, over a long period of time, has exhibited enviable leadership qualities, strong character, and made a significant contribution to the betterment of football in Minnesota.”  The courage award “is given to an individual that has demonstrated the will to persevere through adversity, displaying strength and determination.”  Nominations can be e-mailed to:sean@nffmn.org

Local author Ross Bernstein said he is working on a Gopher football book that will be given away to fans at the opening game in TCF Bank Stadium on September 12.  The book will be a history about Gophers football and available for sale later this year.  Bernstein’s other projects include a book coming out this spring on former Gopher and St. Louis Park native Marc Trestman whose pro and college coaching experiences include leading Montreal to the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup game last year. More on Bernstein at www.bernsteinbooks.com

Interest continues in establishing the Metro Millers baseball franchise to play in the Northern League and be based in Burnsville.

Volleyball will be played tomorrow night at Target Center with local interest in Nicole Branagh, a University of Minnesota alum and former Olympian.  The AVP Johnsonville Hot Winter Nights Tour is billed as the most prominent national touring Pro Beach Volleyball series.