Gophers Basketball – Page 146 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Austin Hollins Gives Gophers B- Grade

Posted on January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 by David Shama

The Gophers, 11-2 in nonconference games, begin their Big Ten schedule tomorrow night against Michigan, 8-4. Two months ago this looked like a game Minnesota was unlikely to win but the Gophers impressed during the nonconference schedule while the Wolverines, a preseason top 10 choice, are without center Mitch McGary, the 6-10, 255-pound potential All-American forward-center who has back problems.

The Gophers surprised with their performance during November and December. Preseason predictions had the Gophers, who lack size, skills and depth in the frontcourt, finishing near the bottom of the Big Ten. But during the nonconference the Gophers played to their strengths including harassing defense, three point shooting, fast breaks, maximum effort from players and making good use of their talented backcourt personnel. The focus was evident to new coach Richard Pitino who said “no eggs were laid mentally” during the nonconference schedule.

The Gophers won all their games at home including a Big Ten/ACC Challenge win over Florida State. In the Gophers’ only road game they defeated a now 10-4 Richmond team at Richmond. The Spiders also have an overtime loss at Wake Forest and 10 point neutral court loss to North Carolina. In neutral court games in Hawaii the Gophers put a scare into now No. 2 ranked Syracuse, and also lost to Arkansas, and defeated Chaminade during the Maui Invitational.

Guard and captain Austin Hollins said confidence is “very high” as the Gophers get ready to open their conference season with home games tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon with Purdue. How does he grade the Gophers so far?

“I would say like a B minus,” Hollins answered. “We can get a lot better, and this is just the beginning. We’ve got a long season ahead of us, the Big Ten season, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Gophers 6-11 junior center Elliott Eliason has been the MVP in the front court. Among Big Ten players during nonconference games he ranked second in blocked shots at 2.3 per game and fourth in rebounds per game at 8.2.

Eliason has observed the progress of a roster that only has a few returning players with experience who produced in past seasons. “We’ve come a long ways from the summer,” he said. “We didn’t know coach Pitino. It’s a new everything (including philosophy and style of play). You kind of have a little chip on your shoulder when you’re picked ninth in the Big Ten. (But) we handled our business in the nonconference pretty well and now we need to handle our business in the Big Ten. We’ve got two tough tests at home right away.”

The Gophers use a lot of energy with their max effort style of play, running and jumping at both ends of the court. To be successful in the Big Ten, Eliason said Minnesota will typically need eight or nine players to contribute each game. Those contributions could range from chasing down loose balls to making free throws.

“We’re gonna have to have it. It’s what it’s going to take to be successful,” said Eliason. “Every guy is gonna have to give something every night.”

Eliason knows from previous seasons how important it is to win at home. “It’s so hard to play on the road. Every time you get a road win it’s gravy.”

Former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher has been impressed with Pitino’s coaching. “For this team to be 11-2, I think Pitino has really managed the team well. He’s not bullheaded. He’ll do whatever he has to do to get the win. Change defenses, change lineups. I think it’s encouraging.”

Dutcher predicts the Gophers will finish seventh in the Big Ten. If so, that will compare favorably with last season’s more talented team that tied for seventh in the league standings.

Dutcher believes Michigan State is the Big Ten’s best team and he also predicts Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois will finish ahead of the Gophers. Michigan State “played the best schedule” among Big Ten teams during the nonconference season and has talented starters. “Their history (as a program) is they get better,” Dutcher said. In a league game yesterday, MSU defeated Penn State.

Dutcher likes Ohio State’s quickness and conference best defense giving up 54 points per game during the nonleague schedule. The Buckeyes were 13-0 during a soft nonconference schedule before defeating Purdue on the road yesterday in their Big Ten opener. “They really didn’t play anybody,” Dutcher said.

“Wisconsin is the surprise team,” Dutcher said. “They graduated four starters and here they are again.” The Badgers have impressive nonleague wins including over Florida, and Dutcher said sophomore forward Sam Dekker is the league’s best player so far.

“Iowa is close to the most talented team in the league,” Dutcher said. “I think Iowa can be good.” The Hawkeyes defeated Nebraska in their Big Ten opener yesterday.

Michigan sophomore guard Nik Stauskas is making 47 percent of his three point shots. He typifies a Michigan offense that emphasizes three pointers. Although the Wolverines don’t have McGary, Michigan’s front court depth eases the transition, Dutcher said.

Illinois gave up only 60.6 points per game during the nonconference schedule, tied with Wisconsin for second best in the league. The Illini scoring is led by junior guard Rayvonte Rice who averaged 18.2 points in nonconference games. Illinois defeated Indiana yesterday in a Big Ten opening game.

Ohio State is ranked No. 3 in the country, Wisconsin No. 4 and Michigan State No. 5. Iowa is No. 22 in the Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the USA Today coaches poll.

Worth Noting

Washburn running back Jeff Jones has received a scholarship offer this week from the University of Florida. Jones, a four-star recruit who has a soft verbal commitment to the Gophers, has been practicing in the Orlando area for the Under Armour All-America Game, a national prep all-star game to be played tomorrow on ESPN.

“Jeff Jones was offered by Florida as a result of all his hard work down here the last couple days,” Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins told Sports Headliners. “I guess he’s just been tearing it up from what I heard.”

Tommy Davis, a former all-conference guard for Dutcher who played on Minnesota’s 1982 Big Ten championship team, was in town last weekend. Davis played pro basketball in France until he was 40 and now coaches in Bordeaux. Davis is now a French and American citizen. “He speaks and writes and is fluent in French,” Dutcher said.

In his final game of the season Vikings rookie wide receiver and kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson left fans with a can’t wait attitude for 2014. Patterson scored the team’s only touchdowns in the 14-13 win over the Lions including a spectacular club record 50 yard run, the longest ever by a Vikings receiver. He also added 51 yards to his season total for kickoff returns setting another team record. For the year Patterson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including one for an NFL record 109 yards, and totaled 1,393 return yards.

The Vikings Greg Jennings, an NFL wide receiver for eight seasons, has a nickname for Patterson. “I call him The Special. Special people do special things and you see it every time you get the ball in his hands. He’s a highlight reel waiting to happen.

“I’ve seen a lot of players come through this league and I can’t say I’ve seen one that has been more explosive. There may be some that have been as special but he’s right there with them.”

Vikings reserve quarterback Josh Freeman is a free agent in 2014. He told Sports Headliners in coming weeks he will work on physical conditioning and “evaluate the situation” regarding where he to play in 2014.

The Vikings 5-10-1 record this season means they will have the No. 8 pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Locally there will be support to choose dynamic Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel who is an underclassman but is expected to enter the draft. His scrambling is reminiscent of Vikings Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin play in bowl games today. Only Wisconsin is favored to win, but a couple of victories today would provide a boost to the Big Ten’s sagging football reputation. For years the conference has disappointed in postseason games and in 2013 Minnesota and Michigan have already lost. Maryland and Rutgers, two programs that join the Big Ten next fall, have also been defeated in bowl games.

Ex-Becker High School tight end Matt Veldman moved up from the Lions practice squad last week and played on special teams in Detroit’s loss to the Vikings on Sunday at Mall of America Field. A former captain and tight end at North Dakota State, Veldman is the 76^th former player from the Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game to play or coach in the NFL.

Mike Tyson holds a news conference tomorrow afternoon in Minneapolis to enhance interest in the ESPN Friday Night Fights event at Target Center January 3. The evening’s 12-round main event will be an IBF Super Featherweight Championship fight between champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) from Brooklyn versus No. 1-ranked and undefeated challenger Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs) from Miami.

The card includes several Minnesotans and features a 10-round televised semi-final non-title bout between USBA Middleweight Champion Caleb “Golden” Truax (23-1, 4 KOs) from Osseo against Ossie The Ghanaian Gladiator Duran (28-11-2, 11 KOs) from Patterson, New Jersey. A crowd of about 4,000 is expected to produce one of the largest ticket revenues in local boxing in a decade.

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Vereen: Bowl Game a ‘Priority’ for U

Posted on December 26, 2013December 26, 2013 by David Shama

The Gophers arrived in Houston for the Texas Bowl two days before Syracuse. To Gophers senior cornerback Brock Vereen, getting to the host city six days before the game demonstrates coach Jerry Kill’s intent to be prepared.

“There’s no other way to describe it — (that’s) coach Kill,” Vereen said last week.

Teams at bowl games can lack focus. Players become distracted by mild weather, recreational activities and meeting new people.

“We’re not talking about what night life we’re gonna do, or what restaurant we’re gonna go eat at,” Vereen said last Friday. “We’re all talking about the game. It’s good to know that’s still the priority.”

Former Gophers center Ray Hitchcock played in two bowl games. “You want to be ready to play,” said Hitchcock, now a Gophers radio analyst. “You have to be prepared, especially in the first quarter. Some teams come out with a lot of energy.”

The 8-4 Gophers are expected to win tomorrow night’s Texas Bowl that will be televised nationally by ESPN starting at 5 p.m. Minneapolis time. Vereen said winning a ninth time in 2013, “sending the seniors” home with a victory in their last game and gaining momentum for the program in 2014 are reasons the Gophers want to defeat 6-6 Syracuse. “We’re going down to win the game,” Vereen said.

“I do expect them (the Gophers) to win,” Hitchcock said. “I know the practices have been good. I think we’re the better team, with better personnel. I know it’s all business (in Houston). They’re not down there sightseeing.”

The game seems to fit the program’s “brick-by-brick” philosophy. While the Gophers best record since 2003 brought them near an invitation to a more prestigious bowl game in Arizona or Florida, the trip to Houston matches them against an opponent less formidable than Minnesota would have seen in those places.

The Gophers were in Houston last December and lost to Texas Tech when the game was the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Gophers can show tomorrow night they can win in Houston, stopping a five game postseason losing streak and winning nine games for the first time since 2003.

Worth Noting

The site for last year’s game and the one tomorrow night is Reliant Stadium, home to the NFL’s Texans. The facility has FieldTurf and three types of grass fields that can be used for playing surfaces.

Gophers deputy athletic director David Benedict said Minnesota played on FieldTurf last year but will play on one of the grass fields tomorrow night. The game will be the fourth this year when the Gophers played on a grass surface. The other sites were New Mexico State, Northwestern and Michigan State.

The Gophers sold approximately 3,100 tickets to last year’s bowl in Houston but Benedict said the 2013 total will be higher. Among the fans will be University of Minnesota students who paid $200 each to be bused to Houston and enjoy the bowl game experience including meals. Benedict said three buses of students are travelling. For their money students also receive 2014 Gophers season tickets.

Former Gophers football players and also ex-Iowa and Vikings coach Jerry Burns are expected to attend a lunch tomorrow (Friday) in Edina to recognize the December 26 birthday of Murray Warmath. The former Gophers national championship coach died in 2011 at age 98. Wamath would have been 101 today.

The Gophers basketball team plays Texas Corpus Christi at Williams Arena on Saturday night. Senior guard Malik Smith, although not a starter, scored a Minnesota career high 19 points in the last game, a December 20, 92-79 win over Nebraska-Omaha.

Smith has scored 15 points or more in four of the last six games. He’s also shown proficiency for long range shooting, making 16 of this last 34 three point attempts.

Smith doesn’t hesitate to launch shots further back from the three point line than most players will attempt. “Honestly, I think I can shoot from a step inside the half court line without like really forcing a shot,” he said.

The Vikings play their last game ever at Mall of America Field on Sunday against the Lions. At halftime the organization will unveil the remaining two “Top 10 Moments at Mall of America Field.” A short post-game ceremony featuring a highlight video and remarks from several Vikings legends will officially close the building. Former Vikings Matt Birk and Robert Smith, along with Adrian Peterson and Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant are expected to address the crowd.

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Xmas, a Time to Celebrate Oldest Laker

Posted on December 20, 2013December 20, 2013 by David Shama

Sixty-five years ago this Christmas John Kundla was in his first season of coaching the Minneapolis Lakers. Neither he nor the basketball community had any assurance the Lakers would win a world championship a few months later, and with his direction capture four more by the mid-1950s.

In December of 1948 Kundla might have been sitting near a Christmas tree wondering what he got himself into. Pro basketball was in its pioneer days back then with some franchises located in places like Rochester, New York and often ignored by the public even in big cities like Boston.

Kundla had given up the head coaching job at the College of St. Thomas to become the Lakers first coach. Sid Hartman, who is still writing a daily newspaper column and voicing his opinions on the radio in Minneapolis, was the Lakers general manager in the late 1940s and a persistent admirer of Kundla, who didn’t think the new franchise could be successful. Kundla said no twice to Hartman’s job offers before finally “consenting” to become the Lakers coach.

Kundla couldn’t refuse the money. Hartman offered a salary of $6,000.00. At St. Thomas Kundla earned $3,000.00.

A few days after Kundla joined the Lakers, Hartman signed 6-10 center George Mikan. The big man initially said no to Hartman, but after he finally accepted a contract the most important player was on board to bring Minneapolis world championships in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954.

Mikan was named Mr. Basketball for the first half of the 20th century. During his career the powerful center averaged 23.1 points and 9.5 rebounds. Mikan was so dominant that the width of the free throw lanes on the courts were widened so he couldn’t position himself close to the basket without being whistled for a three-second violation.

During the 1948-49 season Mikan averaged 28.3 points per game. The Lakers defeated Washington four games to two in a seven game series to win the first of their world titles. “I was thrilled,” Kundla told Sports Headliners this week. “Mikan was terrific.”

Mikan was popular among his teammates, and not just because of his dominance on the court and good-natured personality. Years ago basketball teams travelled by rail and train stations had pay toilets, but Mikan’s long arms allowed him to reach over the top of the doors and open them. He and his teammates didn’t have to pay 15 cents when they wanted to relieve themselves.

After the 1948-49 season the Lakers added power forward Vern Mikkelsen and guard Slater Martin to a roster that already included Mikan and small forward Jim Pollard. All four are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“I had a lot of luck,” Kundla said. “I was fortunate to get ballplayers that jelled as a team.”

Kundla and Mikkelsen, who passed away earlier this fall, were enshrined together in 1995. “That was the biggest thrill of all (going in with Mikkelsen). We were great friends,” Kundla said.

Kundla was raised and coached during a time when many coaches lived by the rule of “my way or the highway,” but he was different. Kundla loved his players and treated them with respect.

Ray Meyer, Mikan’s coach at DePaul, praised Kundla this way in the 1995 Hall of Fame printed program: “Coach Kundla was a coach’s coach. Players loved and respected him. He coached in a soft manner. …”

Kundla modeled his demeanor and basketball style, including the fast break, after his college coach at the University of Minnesota, Dave MacMillan. But that didn’t mean defense wasn’t important, too. “Defense was where we (the Lakers) shined the best,” Kundla said about his championship teams.

There was an NBA coach Kundla didn’t care much for, Boston’s Red Auerbach who lost a lot of games before acquiring the great Bill Russell. Auerbach, who later turned the Celtics into an NBA dynasty in the 1950s and 1960s, was known for his feisty ways and arrogance. Kundla recalled league meetings where Auerbach’s “lousy cigar” would permeate the room with smoke. “He had a lot of guts,” Kundla said.

Kundla is 97 years old now and makes his home in an assisted living facility in northeast Minneapolis. He lives only six blocks away from the apartment building that was his home when he signed his first contract with the Lakers.

Although Kundla can get around with the assistance of a walker, he spends most of his time in a wheelchair. His small apartment at the MainStreet Lodge includes basketball memorabilia. There is a celebration photo of Mikan and other Lakers lifting him on their shoulders. There is also basketball memorabilia about his grandchildren, Isaiah Dahlman from Michigan State, Noah Dahlman from Wofford and Rebekah Dahlman at Vanderbilt.

The two grandsons have used up their college eligibilities but Rebekah is only a freshman at Vandy after a great career at Braham High School that included being named 2013 Minnesota Miss Basketball. “She receives a scholarship worth $50,000 per year,” Kundla said. “Can you believe that?”

Kundla, who will enjoy a visit from family on Christmas Day, said he “counts my blessings everyday.” A former “gym teacher,” he has long been devoted to physical fitness and regularly rides a stationary bicycle. He has had three hip operations, wears a hearing aid and admits his eyesight is failing, but his spirits and smile are bright.

“I look like a million but I am 97,” Kundla laughed.

Kundla coached the Gophers in the late 1950s and 1960s but couldn’t put together consistent winning teams over the years. After that he worked for many years in recreation sports at the University. His coaching career also included DeLaSalle High School.

But for all his travels, it is the Lakers and those five championships that define his career journey. Requests to sign old Lakers photos still come frequently in the mail to his residence. He gladly obliges and even had a recent request from France.

On Tuesday about 100 people attended a Christmas party at the MainStreet Lodge. Kundla was surprised at how many people remembered the Lakers and wanted to talk about the franchise that left Minneapolis for Los Angeles in 1960.

The reminiscing makes Kundla think about what he almost missed out on because he was reluctant to become the Lakers coach. “If it wasn’t for Sid I wouldn’t have coached the Lakers. I give him a lot of credit.”

Mikan, Mikkelsen, Pollard and Martin have all passed away. Only a few individuals associated with those Minneapolis championship teams are still around. Kundla is the oldest survivor including Hartman who will be 94 in March.

Merry Christmas, coach.

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