Gophers Basketball – Page 123 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Goal Drought Ongoing for the Wild

Posted on January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 by David Shama

Goal scoring is a Minnesota Wild problem that doesn’t get solved. It was a barstool and chat room topic a couple of years ago, and there it was again last spring after the Wild was swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Blackhawks. Minnesota scored just seven goals in the four games, once being shutout and in another game coming up with one goal.

And now in January the Wild has scored 23 goals in 13 games. So far during the 2015-2016 season only eight of the NHL’s 30 teams have scored fewer goals than Minnesota.

Wild fans fantasize about a trade for goal scoring help. General manager Chuck Fletcher and the rest of the NHL have until 3 p.m. (ET) February 29 to make deals. The Wild might pull off a move but league imposed salary cap restrictions enter into trade strategies and negotiations.

The Wild may want to trade so-so veterans and goal scorers Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. Pominville reportedly earns $5.5 million and Vanek $6.5 million. Fletcher has to make the numbers work in any trades involving the 33-year-old Pominville or 32-year-old Vanek—or other players on his roster.

The Wild has recessed for the NHL All-Star Game break. The Wild is 15 points behind the Central Division leading Blackhawks, 12 behind the Stars and 9 back of the Blues. After the All-Star break the club can’t count on the phenomenal goaltending play it had last winter when Devan Dubnyk made the Wild one of the NHL’s most successful teams prior to the playoffs.

With or without a trade in the next 30 days, coach Mike Yeo and his staff will have to develop more goal scoring with existing players. Whether it’s veterans, or disappointing younger skaters like Mikael Granlund, the Wild need to get better.

The club won only three of 13 games in January, with all the victories on the road. The next two games after the All-Star recess are away from Xcel Energy Center. Six of the next nine will be on the road, so maybe that’s an unexpected positive.

The Wild, with a record so far of 23-17-9, appears capable of making the playoffs but this is a franchise that historically can’t make a deep playoff run. That will be difficult to change until the Wild consistently score more goals.

Worth Noting

The Gophers’ Big Ten losing streak reaches nine consecutive games tonight if Minnesota loses to Purdue, a team that is among the favorites to win the conference championship. Minnesota players were emotionally low after letting a late game lead disappear and eventually losing in overtime to Illinois last Saturday night.

After the game Minnesota coach Richard Pitino was concerned about team emotions going forward. “It’s my job to get them back and get them ready to go,” he said. “Top 20 team (Purdue) in your building. You gotta keep fighting. That’s what we signed up for. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We’re close (to winning) and I think they (his players) see that.”

Sophomore point guard Nate Mason, who scored 19 points but couldn’t make a last second shot to win the Illinois game at the end of regulation, admitted there is a mental challenge getting ready for Purdue at home tonight. “It’s going to be difficult but we’ll respond,” he said on Saturday.

Minnesota prep basketball authority Ryan James labels Minnehaha Academy point guard Jalen Suggs the best eighth grader in the state, and some day a potential top 100 player nationally. Listed at 6-foot-1, Suggs’ skills include attacking defenses off the dribble.

The Timberwolves might be wise to place David Blatt—recently dismissed as Cavs coach—on their list of possible head coaching candidates for next season. Blatt, in his first NBA season, coached the Cavs to the 2015 NBA Finals. Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton should be on the Wolves’ radar, too. Sam Mitchell, the Wolves interim head guy, may get the job permanently but right now the best guess is owner Glen Taylor will wait until season’s end to decide.

After U.S. Bank Stadium opens this summer, look for the covered multipurpose facility to be continually in use with events ranging from Vikings football to hundreds of amateur baseball games to concerts. Luke Bryan is already scheduled for a first-ever August concert and a source told Sports Headliners U2 might play at the new Minneapolis stadium. Other event possibilities could include a monster truck pull and a pro wrestling extravaganza like the WWE’s SummerSlam. Although stadium and Minneapolis boosters were turned down for the 2020 College Football Playoff Championship Game, the same source said local interest remains for some day hosting the game.

In retrospect, the Vikings’ 2015 draft looks like one of the best in the NFL. First round selection cornerback Trae Waynes played just okay and remains a potential future starter, and later round choices Eric Kendricks (linebacker), Danielle Hunter (defensive end) and Stefon Diggs (wide receiver) made the PFWA’s All-Rookie team.

Thursday will be the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Vikings franchise—January 28, 1960.

Former Minnesota Wild president Tod Leiweke and ex-Vikings center Matt Birk are rising stars in executive positions for the NFL. If commissioner Roger Goodell were to retire in the next few years, the two might be on a list of candidates to replace him.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Committee has announced six inductees from three divisions for its MFCA Hall of Fame. The 2016 inductees will be enshrined in the MFCA Hall of Fame at the 52nd Annual Football Hall of Fame Banquet on April 2 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The inductees from the High School Division are Don Henderson, Triton; Bernie Litecky, Totino-Grace; Flint Motschenbacher, Detroit Lakes; and Leo Pohlkamp, Pierz. Bethel’s Steve Johnson from the College Division will also be inducted, as will Citation Division representative Rand Middleton from the West Central Tribune.

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Write It Down: Vikings 24, Seahawks 17

Posted on January 8, 2016January 8, 2016 by David Shama

Bob Lurtsema is a sage about the Vikings. Better listen to him when he predicts a win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Lurtsema, 73, played for the Vikings in their last outdoor playoff game when the temperature at kickoff was about 12 degrees. At Met Stadium on December 26, 1976 the Vikings beat the Los Angeles Rams 24-13 in the NFC Championship game and advanced to the Super Bowl.

This Sunday the 11-5 Vikings play the 10-6 Seattle Seahawks in one of four first round NFL playoff games. With temps around zero forecast for the outdoor game at TCF Bank Stadium, Lurtsema believes the Vikings have a home field advantage, just like they did almost 40 years ago against another West Coast team. The Rams weren’t used to anything like the cold weather they found in Minnesota. Lurtsema said “it was brutal” what the Rams experienced.

Lurtsema predicts a low scoring game this Sunday. The cold is likely to encourage running the football and the passing for both teams could focus on short routes. “It might be 24-17 at the max, Vikings,” Lurtsema said.

Before this season started the Vikings weren’t a popular choice to be in the playoffs. Their regular season record in 2014 was 7-9 (Lurtsema predicted 8-8). Last summer Lurtsema told Sports Headliners the Vikings’ final record in 2015 would be 10-6—and good enough to qualify for the playoffs.

The Seahawks dominated the Vikings last month in Minneapolis, winning 38-7. The lone score for the Vikings came on a Cordarrelle Patterson kickoff return for a touchdown. Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater passed for only 118 yards while Adrian Peterson rushed for just 18 yards.

The Seahawks’ defense and offense are formidable. Their defense gave up an NFL best 17.3 points per game. The offense is led by quarterback Russell Wilson who is one of the league’s most elusive and statistically impressive quarterbacks. In Seattle’s win over the Vikings he completed 21 of 27 passes while throwing three touchdown passes.

The Seahawks have played in the last two Super Bowls and are coming off a 41-7 win over the 13-3 Cardinals last Sunday. “Seattle is close to being the best,” Lurtsema said. “No doubt about it.”

But, according to Lurtsema, the Seahawks won’t be good enough to defeat the Vikings because of the weather, and because Minnesota’s “defense is playing better” than when the two teams last met. The Vikings’ defense gave up only 18.9 points per game this season, fifth best in the NFL, and was stellar last week in a 20-13 win over the Packers.

“We don’t make mental mistakes,” Lurtsema said. “It’s a lot like Bud Grant’s teams.”

Lurtsema raves about head coach Mike Zimmer’s defensive prowess and knows the coach won’t tolerate mistakes by his players, just like Grant for whom Lurtsema played. Lurtsema said avoiding mental errors is particularly crucial in playoff games where one or two mistakes can decide games.

Lurtsema believes Bridgewater and the offense will make enough plays to help Minnesota win. “Teddy will just play so much better,” Lurtsema said.

Worth Noting

Lurtsema is a believer in Bridgewater and brought up a game earlier this season when the Vikings quarterback saw the opposing team had 12 players on the field.

“That is a tremendous plus for a quarterback to have that type of awareness,” Lurtsema said. “That type of peripheral vision where he can actually tell, have everybody on the opposing defense accounted for (is impressive).”

The game on Sunday in Minneapolis will be televised nationally by NBC, with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya reporting. Collinsworth played in the second coldest temp ever recorded for an NFL game when his Bengals won the 1981 AFC Championship game against the Chargers. The temperature at kickoff in Cincinnati was -9 degrees (-59 degrees windchill). The famous 1967 “Ice Bowl” in Green Bay between the Packers and Cowboys had an NFL record low temp of -13.

The Twins will sort through their centerfield options in spring training because it’s uncertain 22-year-old Byron Buxton can win the position. Former Twins centerfielder Denard Span was a free agent until he signed this week with the Giants. He was probably too old and expensive for Minnesota management to consider. Span’s 32nd birthday is next month and while he has hit over .300 the last two seasons he had injuries in 2015.

Span was traded to the Nationals in 2012 for pitching prospect Alex Meyer who never has seized a prominent role with the Twins. Meyer, who turned 26 last Sunday, seems most likely to have a relief role if he makes the club.

No doubt a lot of Gophers boosters want to see the University of Minnesota explore job options with Jerry Kill. The popular ex-football coach will likely finalize his next career plans in the coming months.

New offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and offensive line coach Bart Miller will be introduced to the media today by Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys.

The Gophers, who have never won the Big Ten West Division title, could be a dark horse pick next fall but certainly not a favorite. Iowa, the 2015 West Division champ, returns seven players on offense and eight on defense.

Penn State has only been playing men’s major college hockey since 2012 but the Nittany Lions are No. 14 in the USCHO.com national poll. PSU, with a 12-3-3 record hosts the Gophers, 8-9-0, tonight and tomorrow afternoon for Big Ten Conference games. The Gophers aren’t in the USCHO.com poll of top 20 teams but St. Cloud State is No. 4, Minnesota State No. 18 and Minnesota Duluth No. 19. The Gophers lead the Big Ten standings with a 3-1 record while PSU is 2-0.

The Golden Gophers women’s basketball team had a special game last evening in a 106-75 win over the Illini. Rachel Banham scored 39 points and set a program 3-point record as Minnesota won at Illinois for the first time in six years. Banham made 10 of her 15 3-point attempts and her 39 points tied a career high. Minnesota (10-4, 2-1 Big Ten) tied the conference team record for 3-point field goals by converting 19. Coach Marlene Stollings‘ team made 50 percent of its field goal attempts, including 19 of 39 3-pointers (48.7 percent). Minnesota’s point total was its second-highest ever in a conference game.

Wednesday night’s Timberwolves-Nuggets score was more like what NBA teams produced in the 1950s before the league instituted the 24-second shot clock. The two teams combined for just 21 fourth quarter points in the Nuggets’ 78-74 win at Target Center. It was the seventh Wolves game in franchise history in which neither team reached 80 points, and the first since 2006.

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Vikings Told Playing for Rings Now

Posted on January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 by David Shama

Updates on the Vikings and Gophers basketball. …

Mike Zimmer refers to Teddy Bridgewater as a people pleaser. His second-year quarterback can certainly enhance that reputation Sunday in his first-ever playoff game.

Bridgewater said today that Zimmer told the team in a team meeting that the playoffs mean competing for trophies and rings. “Hearing that, let’s you know that it’s go time,” Bridgewater said. “I walked into the (Winter Park) facility this morning and the guys were locked in. Those guys had that intensity, that look in their eyes that they want to get it done.”

The Vikings, of course, hope they’re going to eventually advance to next month’s Super Bowl and win rings. No Viking will receive more media and fan scrutiny than the 23-year-old Bridgewater, who while known for his poise and quiet leadership, didn’t have a highlight performance last Sunday in Green Bay when Minnesota’s stellar defense deserved most of the praise for producing a 20-13 win and the NFC North Division title. Six of the Vikings’ points came on a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Captain Munnerlyn as they finished the regular season with an 11-5 record.

Teddy Bridgewater (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.)

In next Sunday’s home playoff game with the (10-6) Seahawks, Bridgewater will be expected to lead the offense. He completed 10 of 19 passes with an interception against the Packers. His passer rating was a season low 45.7. He was sacked three times and threw a left-handed interception. Late in the game he misfired on a handoff to Adrian Peterson, nearly resulting in a Packer recovery and potential rally to tie the game.

“He just wasn’t as sharp last night as he’s been these last three weeks,” Zimmer said on Monday. “I thought he moved in the pocket too much. He didn’t take some of the easy throws he had. He may be trying to do a little too much, I don’t know. I haven’t really talked to him yet. I’ll talk to him more this week. But he needs to play better.”

In a regular season 38-7 home loss to the Seahawks on December 6 things didn’t go so well for Bridgewater either. He had a 55.4 passer rating, and the Vikings’ only touchdown came on Cordarrelle Patterson’s 101-yard kickoff return. The offense produced only nine first downs, and 125 net yards including 31 rushing.

Bridgewater had his late regular season moments, though, including a 108 passer rating on the road against the Cardinals, a team that finished with a 13-3 record. And in another December game, against the Bears, he had career highs of four touchdown passes and a passer rating of 154.4.

Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes expects Bridgewater to handle the pressure of the playoffs. “Teddy is going to be the same Teddy. He’s going to be calm. He’s not going to be easy to rattle.

“He’s just going to go out there and play football. One thing I know about Teddy, he’s been doing this for awhile (high school, college and pros). So Teddy’s mentality (will be) just go in the game, and stay poised, and get the call, and make the right throw and make the right decision.”

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is one of many Vikings who have never been in the playoffs. His approach to Sunday’s game is to be poised and he expects the same from Bridgewater. “I think he’ll handle it better than anyone,” Thielen said. “He’s always calm and he’s always ready to play. He’s a leader on this team and he’s going to be ready.”

Zimmer has high expectations for his players including the soft-spoken quarterback. The coach has said Bridgewater is a “pleaser” and encourages him to speak his mind including about plays he may not like. “You can be pretty direct with him,” Zimmer said. “He understands when he screws up. …”

The Vikings priced available tickets for Sunday’s game in a range from $48 to $154, with the relatively inexpensive prices likely influenced by the expected game day cold temperature and windchill. Availability earlier in the week included lower level seats.

Because of the two-hour time difference, the Seahawks will fly into Minneapolis Friday. That will allow the Seahawks to better adjust from West Coast time to Midwest. Often NFL teams don’t arrive for an NFL game until the day before.

Official capacity for the Vikings’ new stadium will be 66,200. Earlier figures were in the 65,000 range but a Vikings official told Sports Headliners the 66,200 number has been finalized and will include suite ticket holders, but not standing-room only—with the front office uncertain whether they will offer the stand and watch option. …

Last night Gophers freshman forward Jordan Murphy, while playing only about half the game, had 7 rebounds and 9 points in Minnesota’s 86-77 loss at Penn State. Murphy had nine rebounds and 14 points in Minnesota’s Big Ten home opener last Saturday against Michigan State.

The 6-6, 230-pound Murphy ranks second among all Big Ten players at 8.5 rebounds per game (includes conference and nonconference schedules). Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whose Spartans are always among the best board teams in the nation, referred to Murphy as “a rebounding machine” and joked he wants to “steal him” from the Gophers.

“I like that kind of player,” Izzo said at his postgame news conference. “He’s tough, he’s aggressive.”

Most of the playing minutes on the Gophers are going to freshmen and sophomores including second-year center Bakary Konaté whose college offers included Louisville. He had 4 points and 2 rebounds last night after having 6 and 6 against Michigan State. The 6-11 native of Mali, who played 20 minutes last night, has potential and his development is vital for a Gophers team that lacks size both offensively and defensively.

“He’s put a lot of pressure on himself to become great this year,” said Gophers coach Richard Pitino. “Why I don’t know. We keep telling him, ‘Relax, it’s going to happen.’

“He works so hard everyday, every practice. I mean he works his butt off, and he wants it now like everybody does. I think he just needs to understand that if you continue to work like this, you’re going to be a really good player.”

The Gophers are 0-3 in the Big Ten and 6-9 overall. This is Pitino’s third season and most difficult start so far. Izzo acknowledged there’s “heat” on Pitino and the Gophers but he likes the talent of Minnesota’s young players. “They’re going to be good down the road, I believe that,” Izzo said.

“I understand fans are frustrated with us, but we’re young, and I hope they can stick with us,” Pitino said. “They’re (usually) really patient and they’re really supportive. …We’re going to be a really good team down the road for sure.”

Last week Izzo’s father Carl died at age 90. Earlier in 2015 Izzo lost his close friend Flip Saunders, the former Gophers guard and Timberwolves coach who died at 60. When Izzo was in town last week he spent time with Flip’s son Ryan Saunders.

“He only got 60 years out of his dad and I got 90 out of mine,” said Izzo who acknowledged the outpouring of support for him following his father’s death. “We’re all going to go through it (death). The only one that’s probably not going to die is Sid.”

Izzo was referring to 95-year-old Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman. At the news conference he teased Hartman when the local columnist and radio personality placed a 1980s style tape recorder in front of him. “I’ve still got a flip phone,” said Izzo who then wondered whether Hartman uses a rotary dial telephone.

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