Gophers Basketball – Page 160 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikes Receivers ‘Huge Disappointment’

Posted on November 26, 2012November 26, 2012 by David Shama

If the Vikings (6-5) are going to qualify for the playoffs they will need much more production from their pass receivers than Minnesota had yesterday in a 28-10 loss to the Bears in Chicago.

The receivers, led by Jerome Simpson’s three drops, couldn’t catch numerous passes. The Vikings had 159 yards in passing offense while rushing for 114 yards. The offense converted on only 37 percent of third down plays (33 percent on fourth downs). The team played without injured wide receiver Percy Harvin who has been the most effective Viking this season making longer receptions.

“I put this loss on the receiving corps not making enough plays down the field,” said Dean Dalton, the former Vikings assistant coach who now has an NFL show on Sirius Satellite Radio. “In a passing league, if you don’t have that threat you become one dimensional no matter how great Adrian Peterson is.”

Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder completed 22 of 43 passes and threw one touchdown pass and one interception. His stats probably looked worse than how he performed. “I think Christian Ponder made reasonably good decisions today,” Dalton said. “The receiving corps has been a huge disappointment (this season) because they haven’t been able to make explosive plays. They (the Vikings) have got to find a way to get production out of the vertical passing game. Peterson can (then) be even more productive.”

Simpson’s first drop yesterday came in the opening quarter. On a third down and four yards to go he couldn’t catch a ball that would have sustained a drive, and the Vikings then settled for a field goal.

Simpson, an offseason free-agent acquisition, has caught just 12 passes for 138 yards and no touchdowns in seven games this season. “He’s a leader of the clubhouse,” Dalton said. “This kid has great speed. He has great athleticism. We have not seen that productivity, that consistency (needed).”

Tight end John Carlson (a more costly 2012 free-agent acquisition) and wide receivers Stephen Burton and Michael Jenkins also dropped balls yesterday. The best receivers were tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver Jarius Wright who combined for 12 receptions and 104 yards.

Dalton said the Vikings “defense can be outstanding” and the “rushing game excellent” but the downfield threat in the passing game has to emerge in the team’s remaining games. He also said receivers coach George Stewart is “outstanding” but the players have to execute better including the most basic of fundamentals like looking the ball into their hands.

Yesterday the Vikings did give up 28 points but the Bears sometimes only had to move the ball short distances to score. The defense, Dalton said, was also on the field too long because the offense couldn’t sustain drives.

With five regular season games still on the schedule, the offense, including Ponder and the receiver corps, will have some make-good opportunities including next Sunday in Green Bay against the Packers.

Worth Noting

Dalton’s son Devon Dalton plays the tuba in the Auburn marching band. Dalton is a season ticket holder for Tigers’ home football games and said it was hardly a secret this fall that head coach Gene Chizik was going to be let go despite winning the national championship only two years ago. Dalton was amused recalling some band members were promoting his name as Chizik’s successor. “They’ll find a southern fella,” Dalton said.

An NFL college scouting executive told Sports Headliners he doesn’t think Gophers senior MarQueis Gray will be drafted by an NFL team. The 6-4, 250-pound Gray is unlikely to have a professional opportunity to play quarterback but might get a free agent look as an H-back, or tight end, according to the authority.

He projects 50 or more underclassmen leaving school early for the 2013 NFL Draft. He said defensive tackle has the potential to be a particularly deep position.

Here are Sports Headliners’ final Big Ten football power rankings: Ohio State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois.

Look for the Gophers coaches, with the players off this week before beginning preparations for their bowl game, to emphasize recruiting including junior college prospects.

John Revere, father of Twins outfielder Ben Revere, has been named Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association among schools in the Football Championship Subdivision. He is the running backs coach at Eastern Kentucky.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association will announce its 2012 Mr. Football winner on December 9. The 10 finalists are Marley Allison, Edina; Jake Disterhaupt, Moose Lake-Willow River; Chase Morlock, Moorhead; James Onwualu, Cretin-Derham Hall; Noah Scarver, Washburn; Shaun Schindler, Hutchinson; Bridgeport Tusler, Osseo; Brett Watercott, Becker;Jake Wieneke, Maple Grove; Alex Wood, Lakeville North.

Noel Mazzone, who was an assistant coach for the Gophers from 1992-1994, is in his first season as offensive coordinator at UCLA and is being credited with the Bruins’ turn-around season that includes a Pac-12 South Division championship. UCLA plays at Stanford for the Pac-12 championship on Friday night.

John Gagliardi, who retired earlier this month as the winningest college football coach of all time, has seen his Saint John’s teams struggle the last few seasons but as recently as 2007 was the Liberty Mutual Division III College Coach of the Year.

The Gophers basketball team plays at Florida State (4-1) tomorrow night on ESPN2 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge series. The Seminoles are a potential top 25 team led by senior Michael Snaer who is making almost 41 percent of his three point shots and could be one of the nation’s best shooting guards. The game starts at 6:15 p.m. Minneapolis time.

Minnesota (6-1) won fifth place in the Battle 4 Atlantis with an opening game loss to top 10 ranked Duke and victories over Memphis and Stanford. Minnesota’s good fortune against Stanford included more than Andre Hollins being fouled on a desperation shot from near mid-court at game’s end, and then converting three free throws for a 66-63 victory. Maverick Ahanmisi, Hollins’ backup at point guard and a 5.4 points per game scorer, came off the bench in the first half to make five free throws by throwing his body into the Cardinal defense and drawing fouls.

Apple Valley High School’s Tyus Jones is one of only two juniors included on the preseason prep All-American team announced earlier this month by USA Today High School Sports. Jones is one of three point guards on the 10-player roster. The Eagles open their season on December 4 at St. Louis Park High School.

Former Timberwolves assistant coach Eric Musselman is now an assistant at Arizona State.

Gophers baseball coach John Anderson said his team has 38 games scheduled for next year, with 22 at the Metrodome and 16 at the new Siebert Field including the opener on April 5. The $7.2 million facility will seat about 1,500 fans.

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Can Gophers Scare Dukies?

Posted on November 20, 2012November 21, 2012 by David Shama

Will the 4-0 Gophers scare top 10 ranked Duke enough on Thursday to pull off an upset?

At first it might seem a stretch to think the unranked Gophers could defeat the Associated Press No. 5 ranked team in the country, but maybe not. The game will be played on a neutral court, part of the Battle4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. Minnesota, under head coach Tubby Smith, has defeated other nationally revered programs during past nonconference schedules—Louisville in 2008 and North Carolina in 2010.

The blueprint for a Gophers win Thursday is probably forcing Duke (3-0) out of its offense with Minnesota pressuring Blue Devil players in both full and half court situations. The Gophers are capable of playing intimidating defense, trapping dribblers, forcing them away from the basket and blocking shots attempted inside the lane. The defense can create turnovers, potentially leading to dunks and other easy Minnesota baskets.

In two exhibitions and four nonconference games the Gophers have at times shown they know how to execute the blueprint. It’s a plan that works because of the exceptional athleticism, length and jumping ability of Minnesota’s players. The individual parts sometimes add up to an octopus-like whole with Gophers swarming all over the court creating havoc.

And all that physical talent can result in easy baskets for the Gophers when running the offense too. The team’s inside offense with forwards Rodney Williams, Trevor Mbakwe, Joe Coleman and center Elliott Eliason can result in a dunk-a-thon and other easy baskets. Scoring has been made easier this year by the steady outside shooting of guard Austin Hollins (another rangy defensive player) and the playmaking of guard Andre Hollins.

A snapshot of the Gophers’ M.O. in their four nonconference wins so far was their first half performance against Toledo. Minnesota led 48-22 at halftime against the Rockets, a team considered a contender to win the West Division in the Mid-American Conference.

After the game Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk, a Minnesota-Duluth grad, told Sports Headliners how impressed he was with Minnesota including the Gophers’ dominant first half performance: “We probably played scared, tentative in the first half. …”

What frightened the Rockets about the Gophers? “I think their length and I think their athletic ability, and just how fast they are in transition,” Kowalczyk said. “They are a very good basketball team.

“I’ve seen Minnesota play for several years, and this is the best team I think Tubby has had. They’re really good defensively. Their guards can really shoot the ball. …”

Kowalczyk said the Gophers belong in the top 25 rankings and he wouldn’t be surprised if they could play with any team in America. Can they defeat Duke?

“I think they can,” Kowalczyk said. “Certainly can talent wise.”

Austin Hollins, who scored 10 of the Gophers first 15 points against Toledo and was credited by Kowalczyk with shutting down the Rockets’ point guard, said he expects Minnesota to win every game and Duke is no different. He too believes Minnesota’s length and athleticism defines this team. “I would be a little scared going up against us,” Hollins told Sports Headliners.

Beating the Blue Devils will not be a stroll on a Caribbean beach. Duke already has a win over top 10 ranked and defending national champion Kentucky. The Blue Devils rely on experienced upperclassmen including seniors Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, all of whom averaged double figure scoring last season. And then there’s legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski who has won four national championships and last summer led the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal.

Duke will try to pressure the Gophers into turnovers like Minnesota committed on Sunday night in a 73-57 win over a competitive Richmond team. The Gophers had 11 turnovers in the first 4:44 of the game and the Spiders made 10 steals.

Minnesota’s inconsistency on offense is something Kowalczyk observed. “I think they obviously have to get a little bit more disciplined offensively. Certainly defensively they create a lot of havoc. They can really rebound the ball (at) both ends. They’re so good in transition. If they need any work, it’s probably in their half court execution but this time of year everybody knows your defense should be ahead of your offense at this point in time.”

The Blue Devils have so much resume it’s easy to think the Gophers won’t win but Minnesota is motivated after suffering a run of injuries in recent seasons, having consecutive 6-12 seasons in the Big Ten and not making the NCAA tournament.

“You win a big game like that, you know what you’re capable of, definitely,” Coleman said.

“That’s a good basketball team (Minnesota),” Kowalczyk said. “They will have a very good season at some point here. I’d say fairly soon (they will) get some national respect.”

Play with anybody in the country? “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Kowalczyk said.

Worth Noting

The Gophers-Duke game on Thanksgiving begins at 2:30 p.m. Minneapolis time and will be televised by AXS TV (channel 420 on Comcast). The earlier Battle 4 Atlantis game on Thursday between Missouri and Stanford will also be on AXS TV. Night games between Memphis-VCU and Louisville-Northern Iowa will be on NBC Sports Network.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith talking earlier this month about the willingness of his players to dive for loose balls on the court: “Even our big guys getting on the floor. ….That’s impressive and important that guys are diving for loose balls, saving balls (for) one another. That tells me about the teamwork that we have right now.”

Gophers with size include 6-8 Trevor Mbakwe, 6-7 Rodney Williams and 6-11 Elliott Eliason but the biggest player on the roster is 6-10, 295-pound forward-center Maurice Walker. His minutes have been more limited than the other three as he works his way back from a season of inactivity during 2011-12. Walker told Sports Headliners Smith wants him to lose “seven to 10 pounds.”

Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said Gophers sophomore guard Joe Coleman is “the most underrated player in the Big Ten.” The 6-4 Coleman has become a regular this season, making a difference in Minnesota’s full court pressure, chasing loose balls, driving to the basket and shooting better outside. Coleman is averaging 10 points per game after last season’s 5.8.

After watching the football Gophers lose 38-14 to Nebraska last Saturday, I couldn’t remember a more dismal performance by Minnesota’s pass receivers. Focus, effort and discipline appeared absent on too many plays.

Minnesota (6-5 overall, 2-5 in the Big Ten) should be about a touchdown underdog against Michigan State (5-6, 2-5) on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. The guess here is the Gophers have about a 30 percent chance of winning the game, playing against a much more talented Spartans roster. Four of the MSU losses are by a total of 10 points.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill said today 21 of his players are on the injured list. Certain not to play on Saturday is defensive tackle Roland Johnson who tore his ACL at practice last week in a noncontact situation. Because of physical concerns about his players, Kill said practice will focus on developing “fresh legs” for Saturday’s game.

After seeing reserves MarQueis Gray and Max Shortell in the same backfield late in the Nebraska game, the Spartans are probably preparing to face three different Gophers’ quarterbacks on Saturday. Philip Nelson, the No. 1 quarterback since October 20, may start but don’t be surprised to see Gray at quarterback, a senior playing his last game at home.

Expect an announcement on the site for the Gophers’ bowl appearance shortly after the Big Ten championship game on December 1.

Undefeated St. Thomas (11-0) plays Elmhurst College(10-1) in a second round Division III football game starting at noon Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul. Tommies coach Glenn Caruso said Elmhurst is in the playoffs for the first time in school history but playing with a lot of confidence after defeating previously unbeaten Coe.

He said Elmhurst has an experienced team, particularly on defense. The Blue Jays have 5-6, 170 running back Scottie Williams, a 1,928 yards rusher. Caruso said Elmhurst’s running game is focused inside, not on the perimeter. “They run the ball like the Steelers,” Caruso said.

The Tommies coach admires the resolve of his team. Players wear bracelets with the word “family”—an acronym for “forget about me, I love you.”

Caruso, who has had three consecutive undefeated regular seasons, said his Tommies are “winning the war of attrition.” St. Thomas graduated five All-Americans off last season’s team and some observers had lower expectations for the Tommies in 2012 even before injuries hit the team hard. “This is as cohesive a unit (team) as we’ve ever had,” Caruso said.

Caruso said on offense his top six receivers, two leading runners and two starting tackles are all freshmen.

The MIAC’s other football playoff team is Bethel (9-2) and a 24-23 winner over Concordia-Chicago last Saturday. Bethel plays at Wisconsin-Oshkosh (11-0) on Saturday.

Baseball’s winter meetings will be December 3-6 in Nashville. News of a Twins trade that includes a move or two to improve the pitching staff could surface about that time.

The annual TwinsFest will be January 25-27, 2013 at the Metrodome.

Gophers baseball coach John Anderson said players and staff laid 4,000 square feet of sod earlier this month for the new Siebert Field, and tomorrow a final 500 feet or so will be put in place for the on campus facility that will seat 1,500 and cost about $7.2 million. The sod efforts of players and staff will save about $8,000.00.

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‘Superman’ Inspires, Breaks Record

Posted on November 12, 2012November 12, 2012 by David Shama

Maybe it was fate that Adrian Peterson broke a Vikings’ rushing record yesterday against the Lions.

The All-Pro running back went over 1,000 yards for the fifth time in a season and broke a tie with Robert Smith for the franchise record of most 1,000 yard seasons. Peterson ran for 171 yards in a 34-24 win over the Lions, including a 61-yard touchdown run. It was the fourth consecutive game that Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher, has totaled over 100 yards this season.

Peterson, now in his sixth pro season, is a clear choice as the franchise’s best running back ever. He plays in a division, the NFC North, that has three other franchises with legendary running backs. During their eras Barry Sanders (Lions), Walter Payton and Gale Sayers (Bears), and Jim Taylor (Packers) were superstar runners. Sanders is regarded by some historians as the greatest running back of all-time.

At 27 years old and healthy again after last season’s ACL injury, Peterson is on track to join Sanders, Payton and Taylor in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After yesterday’s win, Peterson’s teammates talked about him like he’s already a legend.

Yes, they described him as the “best back in the league” but the praise went beyond that. “Adrian is kind of a Superman,” left guard Charlie Johnson said. “He’s a freak. You would never think that an injury like that would happen to him. But it happened, and the way he fought back, it is inspiring to us.”

Peterson has been playing since the opening game of the season despite the brutal injury he suffered. He’s his old self running with power, making superlative cuts and possessing the straightaway speed to race past secondary defenders.

“He’s pretty darn good, huh? Best back in the league right now,” center John Sullivan said. “Those all-time discussions (best runner ever) are always going to be debatable. What he’s doing—especially in a pass happy league—is fantastic.”

Johnson agrees there’s no lasting impacting from the ACL injury. “He’s unbelievable. I really don’t think you can tell if he got hurt or not. It’s just the way that he’s running, and seeing the field well. It’s fun to block (for him).”

Johnson said Peterson’s ordeal of suffering the injury and then coming back so dramatically to reclaim his spot as the NFL’s premier running back set an example for the other Vikings. “He means a lot. For him to get hurt last year and for him to attack his rehab the way he did, that gets our attention. That the guy…had a major knee injury and he’s back way ahead of when everybody thought he was, that makes you work hard. It makes the whole locker room want to work hard and get better every day seeing that.”

The Vikings have a bye next week and for now they can celebrate being 6-4, ending a two-game losing streak. There were contributions from many Vikings on both offense and defense yesterday in beating the Lions (4-5) in a key division game but the main donor was No. 28.

Four of the Vikings’ six remaining games are on the road. Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix said small numbers of tickets are still available for the team’s last two home games, December 9 versus the Bears and December 30 against the Packers. Both games will sellout. Information on tickets: www.vikings.com.

Gophers, Wolves & Other Notes

The Gophers are bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 with their 17-3 win over Illinois on Saturday, winning the game with a reshuffled offensive line and using several true freshmen including quarterback Philip Nelson who had a difficult day facing Illini blitzes that seemed to have him and his receivers off balance.

Nelson passed for 78 yards. It didn’t help that two of his most reliable receivers, A.J. Barker and Derrick Engel, were injured and didn’t play.

Coach Jerry Kill has been shuffling personnel on the offensive line all season including having to replace starting left tackle Ed Olson and left guard Tommy Olson. At Illinois, injuries forced the Gophers to play three different centers.

In addition to Nelson, the Gophers received significant minutes from these true freshmen: defensive tackle Scott Ekpe, defensive end Alex Keith, wide receiver Andre McDonald, tight end Lincoln Plsek and running back Rodrick Williams.

Much of the Timberwolves’ fast start this season can be attributed to the team’s defensive play. The Wolves, despite a run of injuries that has sidelined multiple players, have a 4-2 record. They rank fifth among NBA teams in fewest points given up per game, 89.5, and third best in lowest field goal percentage allowed, .415.

But on Friday night before the Wolves earned their fourth win of the season, forward Andrei Kirilenko told Sports Headliners there’s much potential for improvement. “I still think we’re far from playing great defense but I think we’re doing a very good job in the mental effort. Everybody (is) trying to play defense. A lot of things when you play on defense, comes from the state of mind. …”

Kirilenko is a former all-NBA defense first and second team selection. He said it can take years for teams to maximize their defensive effectiveness as they learn assignments, how to help each other and develop the required work ethic.

Kirilenko said his wife, former Russian pop singer Marina Masha Lopatova, is living with him in Minnesota. Can Kirilenko sing? “I can sing in the shower,” he said.

The Wolves other Russian player, 23-year-old rookie guard Alexey Shved, has improved his English in the last few months. “I tell them you’re in America now, you have to speak English,” teammate Chase Budinger joked.

Budinger suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee on Saturday night against the Bulls in Chicago. Surgery will be scheduled later this week.

The November 12 issue of Sports Illustrated includes the magazine’s annual college basketball preview. The Gophers are ranked No. 31 in the country and forecast to earn a win in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana is No. 1, with two other Big Ten Conference schools in the top 10, No. 6 Michigan and No. 7 Ohio State.

The magazine includes former St. Cloud Tech High School guard Nate Wolters among its three players who are potential “game changers”—players from lesser known schools that could make a big impact this season. S.I. reports the South Dakota State point guard is a potential NBA draft choice, and last season accounted for 27.2 percent of his team’s field goals and 33 percent of the free throws.

The NHL lockout could end soon as players feel the pressure of continued lost paychecks. Meanwhile, players from the Wild work out at rinks in Edina, Orono and Wayzata knowing they have to be in shape and keep their skills sharp, or they will be at a competitive disadvantage if training camp and the season starts. It’s presumed NHL training camps will last only seven to 14 days.

The 2013 NHL Winter Classic scheduled for Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor has been cancelled but look for the site to host the game in 2014. The 2015 game? It’s worth a bet Target Field will be the site.

Gophers hockey reunions are planned for February 23 and March 2 recognizing the 10^th anniversary of the 2003 national championship team and the 30^th anniversary of the 1983 WCHA title team. The Gophers athletic department is inviting former team members, coaches and staff to receptions prior to Minnesota’s home games on those dates with Minnesota-Duluth and Denver. There will also be on-ice recognition of the anniversary teams during the games.

Twins president Dave St. Peter will speak at the Minnesota Minute Men Holiday Event on December 3 at Jax Café. The Minute Men welcome prospective new members at the 6 to 8 p.m. event that will include complimentary beverages and appetizers. RSVP at www.minnesotaminutemen.com.

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