Gophers Basketball – Page 144 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Allen Not Sack Master in 2013

Posted on December 6, 2013December 6, 2013 by David Shama

Coming into this season Vikings defensive end Jared Allen had the most sacks in the NFL dating back to 2004. That was Allen’s first season in the league after being a fourth round draft choice and the 12^th defensive end selected in 2004.

Allen has 123 career sacks going into Sunday’s game in Baltimore against the Ravens but only six have come this season. The 31-year-old Allen, who played his early pro years with the Chiefs and the last six seasons with the Vikings, is on pace with four games remaining in 2013 to finish with eight sacks, near his career low of 7.5 with Kansas City in 2006.

Eight sacks in 2013 would be behind last season’s total of 12 and way off from 2011 when Allen had 22, a Viking franchise best and nearly matching the NFL record of Michael Strahan at 22.5. Allen’s productivity, like the team’s 3-8-1 record, are sources of frustration for him.

“I’ve missed more sacks in my hands than I have in many years,” Allen told Sports Headliners. “I guess it would be one thing if I wasn’t getting there (to the quarterback). I watch the film and I am still moving well, playing well.”

Allen will be a free agent after this season and speculation is he won’t return to the Vikings. His age and high salary are expected to minimize interest by the Vikings who will likely be rebuilding the defense. Allen said he doesn’t have a plan to guide his decision on where he wants to play next season.

“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about factors. I am trying to give everything I’ve got to these remaining four games.”

Allen thought by now in his career the Vikings might have won a Super Bowl. But he discounts trying to select his next team based on offseason projections, pointing out the Chiefs, 2-14 last year, are 9-3 in 2013.

“Yeah, you definitely want to win. I think that’s the reason why we play. (But) I don’t think it’s possible to say, ‘Okay I think that’s the team that’s going to win the Super Bowl.’ Otherwise, we’d all get it right.”

Worth Noting

Allen’s longtime teammate, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, isn’t expected to return to the Vikings either. His high salary and age, 33, could make him expendable on a defense that may have several new starters next season.

The one starter on the defensive line who seems certain to return is defensive end Brian Robison who agreed to a new contract this fall. He admires Allen and Williams.

“They’re guys we look up to because they’re veteran guys who have been around the league. You look up to them for advice,” Robison told Sports Headliners. “No matter whether it be personal advice, whether it be how to play on the field. How to watch film, all that stuff. They’re invaluable to the things they bring to young players.”

Robison, 30, has consecutive sacks in the last three games and five in the last five. He has six for the season after a career high of 8.5 in 2012.

Adrian Peterson, with 1,208 yards, has more rushing yards than 10 NFL teams. The Vikings All-Pro runner leads the NFL in rushing.

The Gophers basketball team plays New Orleans tomorrow at Williams Arena and through nine games Minnesota has demonstrated hustle and toughness. Sophomore forward Joey King exemplifies those qualities.

King is playing with a plate in his right jaw after fracturing it in the game against Wofford on November 21. He didn’t miss the next game on November 25, though, and despite vomiting played with energy as the Gophers lost to top 10 ranked Syracuse in Hawaii.

King said he learned to “play through pain” last season as a freshman at Drake when he had a broken thumb. “I do my best to completely block out (pain),” he told Sports Headliners.

King credited strength and conditioning coach Shaun Brown and head coach Richard Pitino’s running style of play with helping him be in better physical shape than at Drake where he was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team.

On the court Pitino, the Gophers 31-year-old first year coach, is passionate with his players and sometimes doesn’t hold back his displeasure. “Anything he may say, it’s just to build you up and make you a better player,” King said.

The Gophers sophomore forward from Eagan is already a Pitino admirer. “We love him to death. He’s a great person and a great coach. He inspires us to go out and give our best.”

Outside expectations are for the Gophers, 7-2 in nonconference games, to finish toward the bottom of the Big Ten but the players expect success. “We really believe in ourselves,” King said. “We do everything we can to avoid negativity. Look to each other for support and that’s what gets us through things.”

Al Nuness, a former Gophers player and assistant coach, thinks Tre Jones, the eighth grade brother of Tyus Jones, is so talented he will be starting in the Apple Valley backcourt with his brother by late in the season. He also said Tre is a special competitor. “You get in his face, he will get right back in yours,” Nuness said.

Apple Valley plays Minnesota prep basketball powers DeLaSalle tomorrow night and Hopkins next Tuesday evening, with both games at the Hopkins Lindbergh Center. Then the Eagles play at home against national power Whitney Young next Thursday night in a game to be televised by ESPN2. The Chicago high school is led by Jahlil Okafor who will play with Tyus Jones at Duke next year.

Gophers defensive coordinator and acting head coach Tracy Claeys isn’t among the five finalists for the Frank Broyles Award recognizing the best assistant coach in the country. The finalists for the award, to be presented next Tuesday, are Rhett Lashley, Auburn; Philip Montgomery, Baylor; Pat Narduzzi, Michigan State; Kurt Roper, Duke; and Jeremy Pruitt, Florida State.

Concordia-St. Paul senior safety Mike Willett from Woodbury has been named a second team Capital One Academic All-America® by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The third year starting safety was one of Concordia’s top tacklers in 2013, averaging seven tackles per game after having 8.4 as a junior including a school record 20 in one game.

The Gophers hockey team (11-2-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) has seven players who have already been honored for their performances this fall by the conference including forward Seth Ambroz who had four goals last weekend in a pair of wins against Wisconsin.

The Saint John’s hockey team will make its first international trip when visiting Italy and Germany December 27 – January 4. The travel party will consist of head coach Doug Schueller, assistant coach Michael Palmiscno, and more than 30 student-athletes and 30 family and friends. The Johnnies will play four games on their trip.

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Gophers Hoops Schedule Needs a Fix

Posted on December 4, 2013December 4, 2013 by David Shama

Despite an 8:30 p.m. tipoff, wintry weather and losses in two of their last three games, the Gophers attracted their second largest home crowd of the nonconference season last night against Florida State. The announced attendance of 11,386 was no surprise because Florida State is by far the most attractive opponent on the early schedule.

The game was part of the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge and in alternate years that guarantees the Gophers will schedule a home nonconference game with more box office appeal than usual. But for many years now the nonconference schedule has been filled with the likes of Bethune-Cookman, Chicago State and Coastal Carolina, with “highlight” games against schools from the Dakotas.

With Gophers season ticket holders paying some of the higher prices in the country to watch college basketball, the interest of patrons should count for more. “Unfortunately it doesn’t but it should,” former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher told Sports Headliners.

This fall the Gophers haven’t been approaching sellouts in the 14,625 seat Williams Arena. Through Big Ten nonconference games as of last Sunday the Gophers had the third lowest average attendance in the 12-team league. Minnesota’s 10,974 average was better than only Northwestern and Penn State.

Most major conference basketball teams, the Gophers included, schedule weaker opponents in November and December to build up their records hoping to later qualify for the NCAA Tournament. That’s reality but Dutcher and others believe in a competitive sports market like Minneapolis there needs to be some balance in Minnesota’s schedule.

Dutcher’s teams played home and away games with Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville and Marquette. “We (also) played South Dakota State and North Dakota State, and some of those (teams), but we wanted to have some challenging home games. Recently, with Minnesota, the only challenging home games they’ve had are those they had to play, the ACC challenge.”

In recent years the Gophers have faced a few of the marquee names in college basketball on neutral courts — Duke, Louisville, North Carolina and Syracuse. It might be difficult to bring a school like that to Minneapolis but the new Vikings dome could be alluring enough with a big payday and national TV audience to make that happen in 2016 or beyond.

More doable would be a home nonleague schedule anchored by at least two major conference opponents (excluding an ACC team) who have name recognition even if they aren’t among the absolute elites of college basketball. An easy suggestion for part of the plan is to have either Iowa State or Marquette here every year. Playing those neighboring schools at home and away would add a lot of energy to the nonconference schedule.

Dutcher fondly remembers in 1978 and 1980 when his team beat Louisville at Williams Arena and also in Louisville. Playing big time schools excites fans and players. “Your players love it,” Dutcher said. “They want the challenge. They don’t want to beat Mount Whoever, that’s no thrill.”

When Tubby Smith coached the Gophers he didn’t bring top box office teams to Minneapolis. “You gotta decide if you’re trying to build a program or you’re trying to build a record,” Dutcher said. “If you’re trying to build a record you schedule soft. If you’re trying to build a program you accept some challenges.”

Last month came news the Gophers and Louisville are likely to play a game on an aircraft carrier next November. Matching Richard Pitino against his dad Rick Pitino is something Gophers fans have been anticipating for awhile. It’s just that the fan base hoped a game would land here.

Worth Noting

The largest nonconference attendance so far this season for the Gophers was for Pitino’s debut as coach, 12,957 on a Friday night last month against Lehigh.

Pitino impressed again last night with his coaching as a less talented Gophers team defeated Florida State 71-61. The passionate coach threw his jacket off in the second half, then later whipped his tie off, too.

Weather and logistics have been concerns with past games played on aircraft carriers. Dutcher said when San Diego State and Syracuse played last year it was so windy no three-point shots could be attempted. “I think the shine is off those games,” Dutcher said. “That show has left town.”

Dutcher’s son Brian is head coach in waiting at San Diego State where he is associate head coach for the Aztecs. Head coach Steve Fisher has led the Aztecs to a 97-0 record when leading with five minutes remaining in games.

Condolences to Twin Cities marketing authority Billy Robertson on the passing of his mother Gwen Robertson. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday in St. Paul at Lumen Christi Catholic Church with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and funeral service/mass from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

Jeff Jones, the Washburn four-star running back per Rivals.com, will make his official visit to the University of Minnesota Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Jones, who has verbally committed to the Gophers, will be picked up on campus Sunday morning by Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins and the two will attend the Mr. Football Banquet later that day.

Jenkins said Jones has accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious January 2 Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando. Jenkins is going to encourage Jones to finish all his official visits to schools before January 2 and Jones might announce his college choice at the Under Armour game.

Jones is one of 10 finalists for the Mr. Football award. The 2013 winner will be announced on Sunday, December 8 at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Tickets are $15 and can be ordered on the MFCA website (click on MFCA ad on this page). The banquet begins at noon.

There are multiple reasons the football Gophers look forward to playing in a bowl game including the social aspect. Spending time at a bowl game site means arriving days in advance and having more opportunity than usual for players to be together.

“It’s like a big vacation, just having fun with your teammates,” Gophers cornerback Brock Vereen said.

That fun can include playing video games and dancing. Asked about a favorite memory, Vereen said:

“Any of the locker room dance battles is definitely a highlight. There’s been many. Everybody on the team thinks they can dance but (defensive back) Jeremy Baltazar is definitely one of the best dancers on the team. He just wings it. I don’t think there is a name for some of the stuff he does.”

Quarterback Philip Nelson values the extra practices allowed as part of bowl game preparation. “I think that’s where you make big strides as a team so I am really excited to get those extra 15 practices,” said Nelson.

The Gophers will hear about their bowl destination next week. This week and next they concentrate on academics, strength training and conditioning. The coaches will be on the road recruiting.

Local sports author and motivational speaker Ross Bernstein is scheduled for presentations in Australia, Singapore and South Africa. Bernstein will be in Australia next month when the Australian Open is played. He plans to spend time in Australia with Minnesota native and doubles star Eric Butorac.

The Twin Cities Dunkers breakfast group has a Dunkers Fund that assists the athletic departments at Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools. Two years ago the fund awarded $32,500 to schools and this year over $70,000. Assistance has included monies for uniforms and equipment.

St. Paul Pioneer Press sportswriter Bruce Brothers retired last Friday. His assignments over the years included beat writer for the Wild.

Former Gophers and U.S. Olympic hockey trainer Gary Smith works for the Institute for Athletic Medicine. His assignments include being the athletic trainer for Eden Prairie High School teams.

The Swarm, the local professional box lacrosse franchise that starts its 10^th season in Rochester, New York on December 28, is partnering with Goldy’s Locker Room to sell merchandise and tickets at 10 locations.

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Gophers-Syracuse Connections Surprise

Posted on November 25, 2013November 25, 2013 by David Shama

The Gophers take their first look at a top 25 team today when they play No. 7 ranked Syracuse in the opening game for both teams in the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher told Sports Headliners he expects the Orange defense will target Minnesota’s Andre Hollins in the nationally televised game (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m. Minneapolis time). Hollins, known for his outside scoring, is the Big Ten’s third leading scorer at 18.8 points per game.

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim is one of the few coaches who uses a zone as his primary defense. “They’re going to favor toward Andre Hollins,” Dutcher said. “No question. Make sure they play up on him and play off on some of the other players. Minnesota’s team is kind of set up as a team that should do a good job of attacking a zone.”

The Gophers’ strength is guard play with long range shooters like Andre and Austin Hollins. Minnesota coach Richard Pitino is committed to outside shooting with an emphasis on three-point shots. Spaces to shoot threes can be plentiful against zone defenses and while the Gophers have made an okay .341 percent of their shots, they have also attempted 126 three-point shots, among the most in the Big Ten Conference this fall.

The Orange annually play “probably” the best zone defense in the country, according to Dutcher. Boeheim, who has been the Syracuse head coach since 1976, is a zone guru and while his knowledge is impressive so, too, are his players. They’re usually talented and most always there’s a lot of size on the roster including players with long arms who make the zone a difficult defense to score against.

Typically, teams playing zone defenses struggle with rebounding because players aren’t positioned to block out opponents as effectively as in man-to-man. This year’s 4-0 Syracuse team, though, is out-rebounding opponents 174-119. The Orange is outscoring a so far weak group of opponents, 74 to 58.5 points per game.

The Gophers lack size and depth among their front court players while Syracuse regulars include 280-pound Rakeem Christmas and 250-pound DaJuan Coleman. The two 6-9 players are averaging 4.3 and 6.8 rebounds per game. The team’s leading rebounder is 6-8 Jerami Grant at 8.0 per game. Baye Moussa Keita, 6-10, averages 5.5 and 6-8 C.J. Fair, the team’s leading scorer at 18 points per game, averages 5.5. And that’s not mentioning three other players on the roster who are 6-7 or taller.

Minnesota and Syracuse have played one previous game prior to this afternoon’s match-up. The Gophers upset the Orange in the 1990 Southeast Region Second Round of the NCAA Tournament and for the first time in school history advanced to the Elite Eight. It was a stunning loss for Syracuse, a team that was No. 1 rated nationally before the season and was led by forward Derrick Coleman who became the overall first pick in the 1990 NBA draft.

Boeheim built his early success at Syracuse with several outstanding players including Leo Rautins, a 6-8 Canadian known as the “white Magic Johnson” because of his guard-like passing and dribbling skills. Rautins played for the Gophers as a freshman during the 1978-79 season. He was part of a national No. 1 rated freshman class recruited by Dutcher, but the Toronto native wasn’t happy at Minnesota.

“You never had to go to class. I wanted to go to school,” Rautins said in the Boeheim biography Color Him Orange.

Rautins wanted to be enrolled in CLA but the University wouldn’t admit him and instead placed him in General College where he was forced to take “remedial classes,” according to Dutcher. “I didn’t think he belonged in General College but that was where he was admitted to, so he was frustrated from day one.”

Dutcher said the other source of frustration was on the court because the Gophers had so many talented guards. “I don’t think he got the amount of floor time that he would have liked to have gotten,” Dutcher explained.

In the biography Boeheim credits Rautins with some big moments for the Orange but by leaving the Gophers he missed out on Minnesota’s 1982 Big Ten championship. Contributors to that Gophers team included Rautins guard rivals Trent Tucker and Darryl Mitchell.

The biography also includes Rick Pitino, the father of the Gophers coach. The older Pitino was the first assistant Boehiem hired when he became Syracuse’s head coach. The book recalled that Pitino was newly married and had just carried his wife over the threshold in a New York hotel when Boeheim contacted him by telephone to set up an interview.

Pitino tried to put off the meeting but Boeheim insisted on coming to the hotel. Pitino relented and told his wife he would return to their hotel room within 30 minutes. “And we went down about 7 o’clock,” Pitino said in Color Him Orange. “I came up a quarter to ten. And every half hour I was calling my wife to tell her I was to going to wrap it up. And every half hour I kept telling him, ‘Jim, all I want to do is get back upstairs.’ …”

Boeheim, who turned 69 on November 17, still hasn’t wrapped up his career and gives no indication of doing so. He is Mr. Syracuse, having played for the Orange as a starting guard in the early 1960s, then becoming a Syracuse assistant and leading the program for almost four decades as head coach. He has won a national championship, coached 27 NCAA tournament teams, never had a losing season and has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Along the way his relationship continued with Rick Pitino who became a close friend, according to the biography. In 1994 Pitino hosted a Kentucky Derby party in Lexington. It was there that a recently divorced Boeheim met one of Pitino’s guests, Juli Greene. “They were like two teenagers in love,” Pitino said in the book.

Boeheim and Greene later married and now have three children. Today in Hawaii Boeheim might think of his connections to the Pitino family, but don’t expect him to give the Gophers any “honeymoon” treatment.

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