Author: David Shama

If Jim Dutcher is correct, the Gophers are headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.  Dutcher, the former Gopher coach and one of the smartest basketball authorities in this area, left the following voice mail message for Sports Headliners earlier this week:

“The Gophers go 11-7 in the Big Ten, 12-0 nonconference (and) 23 and 7 (overall).  They’re in (the tournament).  Can’t miss.”

Coach Tubby Smith’s team opened the Big Ten schedule last week by splitting two home games, losing to Michigan State and defeating Ohio State.  In the Michigan State game the Gophers were dominated by a team that’s ranked No. 8 in the country by Associated Press and deserves to be the conference title favorite.  But Minnesota, ranked 19^th  in the ESPN/USA Today poll and 22^nd by A.P., looked like an NCAA tournament team in beating Ohio State, showing a determined defense and interchangeable personnel in the 68-59 win.

Smith said his team improved after the first two league games and added this: “…There was a big learning curve after we lost to Michigan State.  We got a rude awakening and lesson in just how hard they have to play.”

The Gophers, with a 13-1 overall record, play their only game this season against Iowa tomorrow night in Iowa City.  Dutcher figures the Gophers will win against the Hawkeyes (1-1 in conference, 11-4 overall) and here’s how he projects Minnesota’s record versus other Big Ten teams:

The Gophers will be 2-0 against Indiana, Northwestern and Ohio State.  They will be 1-1 versus Illinois, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin.  Minnesota will be 0-2 against Michigan State and 0-1 versus Purdue, presumably the conference’s other best team.

As usual, every segment of the conference schedule will be challenging including the next four games with three of them on the road, at Iowa, Wisconsin (January 15) and Northwestern (January 18).  The next two home games are Penn State on January 11 and Purdue on January 22.

If the Gophers have only one or two losses by January 22, Williams Arena could be jumpin’ for the Purdue game more than at any time in the Smith era which began last season.

Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners on Monday that he was contacted by other schools last year about their football vacancies but declined to speak with their representatives because of his commitment to the Gophers.

The Gophers’ head coach is expected to receive a contract extension soon from athletic director Joel Maturi but Brewster declined to give details about the timing of an announcement and number of years to be added.  Noting that Maturi has “reached out” regarding the extension, Brewster said specifics are being reviewed.

Brewster, who coached Minnesota to a 7-5 regular season record in 2008 after being 1-11 the year before, agreed to a five year contract for about $1 million in compensation after succeeding Glen Mason as coach in January of 2007.  The Gophers were national news last fall after their surprising 7-1 start, but injuries and better opposition led to a 7-6 finish including an Insight Bowl loss to Kansas.

His usual enthusiasm and positive approach was evident on Monday.  He said it’s “imperative” that the Gophers make as much improvement in 2009 as they did last year.  Part of that process includes effective work by his assistants and Brewster is now evaluating the staff.

Yesterday came separate announcements that offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar and defensive coordinator Ted Roof have resigned.  News releases from the athletic department said Dunbar will “pursue other professional interests” while Roof will become defensive coordinator at Auburn.  By the time spring practice begins the Gophers figure to have their third different defensive coordinator and second offensive coordinator of the Brewster era.  No doubt everyone involved with the program will want more longevity from coordinators in the future.

Brewster spoke from Phoenix on Monday where he was waiting to attend the Fiesta Bowl, an opportunity to watch his son Nolan Brewster play for Texas against Ohio State.  The younger Brewster, a freshman, played on special teams and is a reserve strong safety.

After leaving Phoenix, Brewster was planning to spend the rest of the week recruiting in Los Angeles, Houston and Denver. “We gotta get us some guys,” he said.

Brewster plans to sign between 22 and 25 high school and junior college players.  The Gophers will have three or four scholarships to offer if the players who have already verbally committed for national signing day next month keep their pledges.

Those players are expected to do just that including all the in-state players who made verbal commitments.  Brewster is excited about sweeping the state recruiting except for one player (believed to be wide receiver Bryce McNeal of Breck).  The 2009 recruiting class will be “equal (to) if not better” than the nationally ranked top 20 class of last season, he said.  “We’re going to have an outstanding class every single year,” he added.

For next season Brewster will have a more experienced and talented team.  There were only three senior starters on the 2008 team (plus senior punter Justin Kucek and place kicker Joel Monroe) and the staff has been upgrading the talent pool since 2007.  A Website even has the Gophers (No. 18) ranked among the nation’s top 20 teams for next season (www.nationalchamps.net).

Brewster valued the 15 practices allowed for the bowl game and mentioned how helpful they were to the improvement of junior defensive end Cedric McKinley.  He played with a high motor in the bowl game producing four tackles and a team high two sacks.

In other news, Brewster said cornerback Marcus Sherels recently had successful surgery on the right shoulder he injured last fall.  He expects Sherels to participate in spring practice but not have contact.

Brewster’s boss before coming here, Mike Shanahan, was fired last month after the Broncos missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.  “He’s the best coach I’ve been around,” Brewster said.

Shanahan, who was once a Gopher assistant, wants to coach again, according to Brewster.  The 56-year-old Shanahan will be paid $21 million for the next three years by the Broncos if he doesn’t take another job and he won’t have to “rush” into another position, Brewster said.

Although the Gophers wore maroon jerseys and pants for their home uniforms late in the year, Brewster doesn’t consider that the team’s primary home uniform for next season.  Instead, the Gophers will mix maroon jerseys with gold pants.

The Big Ten Conference finished 1-6 in bowl games with Iowa the only winner, defeating South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

Adrian Peterson is a goal setter.  He wanted to lead the NFL in rushing last season and did with 1,760 yards.  In the Sporting News issue of January 5, Peterson admitted to thinking about the rushing title during the season, but the No. 1 goal is to help the Vikings to the Super Bowl.  Peterson’s teams never won a state championship in high school or national title in college.

While other storylines received more attention immediately after Sunday’s playoff loss to Philadelphia, the Vikings’ special teams drew notice by close observers.  Eagles’ punt returner DeSean Jackson had 109 yards on five punt returns.  This included a 62 yard run that set up a field goal in the first half.  A second half return of 30 yards didn’t lead to any points but the almost complete absence of initial tacklers near the sideline and Jackson was glaring.

Reggie Bush of New Orleans returned two punts for touchdowns in a Monday night game against the Vikings and almost had a third.

The Vikings were 11^th among 16 NFC teams in kickoff return average during the regular season at 22.4 and 12^th in punt return average at eight yards per return.  Peterson, replacing Maurice Hicks, was sent out to return the last kickoff of the day against the Eagles in the 26-14 loss.

Cal Clutterbuck, 21, leads all NHL rookies in hits with 132.  The 5-11, 195-pound wing joined the Wild in November and has played in 35 games.

Wild general manager Doug Risebrough said on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle on Sunday that he thinks both of the team’s goalies, Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding, will have to contribute for the team to make the playoffs.  Backstrom is fourth in the league in wins with 19 and tied for first in shutouts with five.  Harding has played in eight games, Backstrom, 33.

Former Wild goalie Manny Fernandez is second in the NHL in goals against average at 1.96 and lost to Minnesota last night 1-0.

Six MIAC schools are ranked in the top 100 of the fall Division III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings. Carleton leads in the standings among MIAC schools with 165 points (22nd place nationally).  St. Thomas in 45th place with 98 points is followed by Saint Benedict (67th place, 73 points), Augsburg and Concordia (both 72nd with 64 points each), and Saint John’s (83rd place, 55 points).  Points are based on performances in various men’s and women’s sports.