Gophers Basketball – Page 33 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wolves Owner: KAT Return Not Imminent

Posted on February 1, 2023 by David Shama

All-NBA Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t played in a game for the Timberwolves since November 28 because of a severe right calf strain. The Timberwolves have 29 regular season games remaining and are intensely competing for favorable playoff positioning and home court advantage.

Initially there was thought that the Wolves’ forward-center, who was averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 21 games, could return in January. Team owner Glen Taylor talked with Towns Monday and the 27-year-old veteran implied it will be another couple of weeks before he is ready to play.

Towns was named All-NBA Third team after last season when he averaged 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. “It can’t be soon enough for me,” Taylor told Sports Headliners about a KAT return.

Jordan McLaughlin, a key reserve at point guard, hasn’t played in a regular season game since December 9 because of a left calf injury. Taylor spoke to McLaughlin on Monday and the 26-year-old hopes to be back “within a week.”

McLaughlin’s return apparently will be prior to KAT’s. “That’s what my understanding would be,” Taylor said.

The Wolves expect a sellout crowd tonight at Target Center to watch their game against the Warriors. Taylor said both attendance and TV viewership are on the upswing in the New Year as the Wolves play better basketball.

The Wolves, 27-26, are eighth in the Western Conference ultra-competitive positioning for the playoffs that can change nightly. The Warriors, 26-24, are fifth in the standings.

Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are expected to take over the majority share of ownership in the Wolves and WNBA Lynx in less than 12 months. The two men are on an installment plan to purchase the teams from Taylor.

Although Lore and Rodriguez exercised in writing their option for a second payment in December, Taylor said payment won’t be made until March 28. “They requested that they could delay (from a December 31 payment date)…and I had written them back and said I’ll accept their new date.”

Does Taylor expect the ownership sale for $1.5 billion to eventually take place? “Yes, I do,” he answered.

Remembering Ken Lien of Minnesota Mr. Basketball

The Minnesota basketball community lost a pioneer last week when Ken Lien, 72, passed away from blood cancer after being in hospice since November. The longtime Bloomington resident loved basketball and for 40 years owned and chaired the Minnesota Mr. Basketball program, among the oldest such programs in the country annually recognizing the best prep player in the state.

”Outside of his love for his family, he loved going to a basketball game in any gym in the state and knowing probably half the people in the gym,” his son Jon wrote via email. “He truly had a love and passion for giving players opportunities through coaching, summer programs, and with Mr. Basketball.”

Ken was a fan of this column and a friend for many years. Two weeks ago, I texted this: “Ken, thinking about you and grateful for our friendship. We enjoyed a lot of conversations, storytelling, and exchange of information. The Sid (Hartman) stories were favorites. Those darn Gophers just can’t revive the glory days. Thank you for helping me with my column, my friend!”

Ken would have turned 73 on February 17, a birthday date he shared with wife Mary Kay. He also liked to remind others that the February 17 birthday club included basketball legend Michael Jordan and former Vikings coach Denny Green.

Heartfelt condolences to Mary Kay, sons Eric and Jon, and other family members. A memorial event will be held Monday at the Washburn-McReavy Bloomington Chapel with visitation at 10 a.m., services at 11 a.m. and lunch afterward.

Worth Noting

Wishing the best for Mike Wilkinson, who is battling pneumonia. He is the author of the coach Murray Warmath biography, The Autumn Warrior.

The No. 1 ranked Gopher men’s hockey team has played in front of five consecutive home sellout crowds. Minnesota is second in the nation in attendance, averaging 8,980 per game and is behind only North Dakota’s 11,325.

Among Division I programs, the Gophers were third nationally in home attendance last season averaging 7,913, while trailing North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Two groups that support local sports, the Twin Cities Dunkers and the Capital Club, ironically both have programs next Wednesday. At Interlachen Country Club Dunkers members will hear from University of St. Thomas sports leaders, including athletic director Phil Esten and multiple coaches as the Tommies progress in their second school year of Division I sports.

The Capital Club, meeting at Mendakota Country Club, will hear from five local women sports executives sharing their insights and success stories: Wendy Williams Blackshaw, Minnesota Sports and Events CEO & president; Meka Morris, Minnesota Twins executive vice president and chief revenue officer; Lara Juras, Minnesota Vikings executive vice president and chief people & culture officer; Carin Anderson, Minnesota Wild senior vice president; and Andrea Yoch, president and co-founder of Minnesota Aurora FC.

Happy 54^th birthday today to former Gopher basketball player Walter Bond.

The University of Minnesota announced today that as part of her world tour, Beyoncé will perform July 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Deacon’s Lodge near Brainerd is the choice for Minnesota’s top public golf course on the Men’s Journal list of the best in each of the 50 states. Best Golf Courses in America: The Top Courses in Every State (mensjournal.com)

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Vikings’ ‘D’ May Revive vs. Inept Colts

Posted on December 15, 2022December 15, 2022 by David Shama

It will be a bad look if the Vikings’ defense struggles again Saturday. The defensive unit and coordinator Ed Donatell will be scrutinized for their performance at U.S. Bank Stadium against a Colts offense that has been mostly inept this season.

The 4-8-1 Colts average just 16.1 points per game, ranking No. 31 among 32 teams. They have the most turnovers in the NFL at 26. Quarterback Matt Ryan has a passer rating of 84 after throwing 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

The Colts should be a welcome site to Donatell and his unit after their recent five-game nosedive. In that stretch the Vikings have given up 30.4 points per game and an average of 460.6 yards. Worse news is that the 10-3 Vikings are 3-2 in those last five games. Ryan rarely throws for 400 yards but if he does Saturday the Vikings could lose again.

At least among the public there is a lack of confidence in Donatell. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Donatell will call plays tomorrow. Asked earlier in the week if he would consider changing coaching assignments and play callers on gameday, O’Connell said, “You’re always looking at things that you think might be a possible answer to help the guys play better and be more consistent, but as of right now, no, not something I’m considering.”

The “as of right now” comment draws attention. It raises questions about Donatell, particularly with another defensive veteran on the staff in Mike Pettine, assistant head coach. Last year as a senior defensive assistant he helped the Bears improve to an overall No. 6 ranking in total defense. Before that he had success as the Packers’ defensive coordinator. He has 28 years of high school, college and professional experience.

Donatell and the defense are definitely on the collective hot seat for the Vikings who have scored 312 points this season and given up 313. Maybe facing Ryan can help get things turned around but in the last five games the Vikings have allowed the likes of Mike White (369) and Mac Jones (382) to pass for over 300 yards each.

Worth Noting

Did you know Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins is the only NFL QB with 3,000-plus passing yards and 20-plus touchdown passes in each of the past eight seasons?

Former Vikings wide receiver Nate Burleson will provide analysis on Saturday’s NFL Network game between Minnesota and the Colts. The game will also be seen locally on KSTP.

Nate is the younger brother of Kevin Burleson, the former Gopher basketball guard and ex-Timberwolves assistant coach. Kevin is head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.

The Vikings-Patriots game and two other NFL games televised on Thanksgiving had an average minute audience of 44.1 million viewers, per NFL Communications.

There’s a lot of deserved hype about Gophers’ basketball recruit Dennis Evans from Riverside, California because of his defensive prowess but he is very raw offensively, a reality that may have given other college programs pause in pursuing the 7-foot-1 center.

This year’s Gophers, 5-6 and 0-2 in Big Ten games, have myriad issues including guard play. Tre Holloman, the freshman point guard at Michigan State from Minneapolis, could have helped. Holloman isn’t starting but has played in all 11 games, totaling 111 minutes and has made just two turnovers.

Second-year coach Ben Johnson’s team is struggling, looking dysfunctional at times and right now Minnesota is a favorite to finish last in the Big Ten for a second consecutive season. The Gophers are No. 244 in the NCAA net rankings of men’s Division I NCAA teams.

At least publicly, it seems like the buzz around the program is looking toward the 2023-2024 season when another hyped recruit, guard Cameron Christie from Rolling Hills, Illinois, shows up—but there are too many things that can happen between now and next fall to forecast a big turnaround for the program.

Sending best wishes to Jimmy Williams, the former Gophers basketball assistant coach and ace recruiter for Bill Musselman and Jim Dutcher, who has advanced Parkinson’s and is living in Tampa.

For a Name, Image and Likeness deal, men’s basketball players from Baylor and Gonzaga were paid by event organizers to promote their neutral site game in Sioux Falls earlier this month. Players received $8,000 each, per a Sports Headliners source.

Not saying it’s certain but don’t be surprised if Karl-Anthony Towns‘ calf injury doesn’t allow a return to Timberwolves game action until February.

It looks like a modest number of Gophers fans will attend the December 29 Pinstripe Bowl in New York City at Yankee Stadium. Reporters will be stationed in the open-air press box. Accuweather.com forecasts a cloudy day with a high of 36 on December 29.

Lou Nanne has been watching Sammy Walker since the now Wild forward was a pre-teenager. He told KFAN’s Dan Barreiro this week that Walker might be the fastest player on the team and he likes the former Gopher’s future but wants to see checking improvement.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said next year’s salary cap may rise by only $1 million per year next year. If so, that could put a player like the Wild’s Matt Dumba, reportedly at about $6 million next year, on the spot regarding his future in Minnesota.

The Gopher wrestling team, with no matches now until January 1 at the Southern Scuffle, is 7-0 and has moved up to No. 9 nationally in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll. The top five ranked teams are Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State, Arizona State and Michigan.

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PAT Misses May Catch up to Vikings

Posted on November 20, 2022November 20, 2022 by David Shama

The 8-1 Vikings have won four of their games by four points or fewer. “Close shaves” are commonplace in the ultra-competitive NFL and there is reason for concern with kicker Greg Joseph.

Joseph missed four extra points last season and already has that many in 2022. His four misses are tops in the NFL, per Lineups.com. He has failed to convert an extra point in almost half the games so far including last Sunday against the Bills when the Vikings needed overtime to win.

A missed extra point can change the strategy of a game, forcing a team to deviate from preferred options and sometimes compounding a bad situation with poor choices. Missed PATs can also change a season or playoff success. How unfortunate for the Vikings if during this so far magical season things went south in the playoffs with a missed conversion that blocked their postseason path.

Joseph has been okay on field goal attempts, making 72.1 percent. He is a perfect 12 of 12 between 20 and 49 yards but just one of six from beyond 50. He has been mediocre on touchbacks, with 55.3 percent of his kicks not being returned.

Meanwhile the Raiders’ Daniel Carlson, the former 2018 Vikings fifth round draft choice who coach Mike Zimmer became impatient with after just two regular games and released, is a perfect 18 of 18 on field goals including five from 50 yards or more. He has missed one extra point.

Joseph, 28, signed with the Vikings as a free agent in the 2021 offseason and has made multiple NFL stops including game appearances with the Browns and Titans. He told Sports Headliners earlier this fall he hopes to keep playing well into his 30s: “Oh, I feel like I’m only gonna get better and better and stronger and stronger, which is exciting. I keep trying to reset my ceiling every year. So yeah, just excited. …”

Long snapper Andrew DePaola said he and Joseph and holder Ryan Wright are good friends. They will go out to dinner together, golf or shoot paint ball guns. Any miscues on the field are felt by all three, DePaola told Sports Headliners. “…It’s tough when things don’t work out the way you want them to,” he said.

DePaola also said Joseph has the following mental approach: “not too high, not too low, just try to stay in the middle and do our jobs the best we can.”

Vikings leader and safety Harrison Smith said teammates are supportive of Joseph, regardless of results. Smith also said, “Kickers, you don’t want to mess with them too much. Let them do their thing but definitely let them know we have their back.”

Worth Noting

Vikings left guard Ezra Cleveland talking about second year left tackle Christian Darrisaw moving toward the NFL elite at his position. “For sure, with the way he works and the way he has been playing. If he is not already there, then he is on his way.”

Cleveland said with the Vikings playing Sunday and then again on Thursday, players will need to start their recovery process sooner than in a normal week. Instead of Monday, body work will start Sunday night after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Cowboys and in preparation for the Thanksgiving evening home game with the Patriots.

Cleveland said growing up his mom prepared corn beef and cabbage for Thanksgiving dinner. Last year he smoked his first turkey and probably will prepare another this week for his girlfriend and dad. “May be out-source the pie…or something. I don’t know how to make pie.”

Tight end T.J. Hockenson played against the Cowboys earlier this season before the Lions traded him to Minnesota. He said that familiarity with scheme and personnel could be helpful. He caught four passes for 48 yards in his team’s 24-6 loss to the Cowboys.

Smith said the feeling around this year’s team is unique to what he’s experienced before in his 11 years with the Vikings. “We feel good about what it takes to win when the time comes. It doesn’t mean we can’t play better, different spots here and there. …”

Smith on 32-year-old cornerback Patrick Peterson who had two interceptions and three solo tackles against the Bills: “He is running around like he’s a young kid. Looks explosive and springy and just ready for action.”

Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber on Twitter writing about his old team: “One very noticeable trait to this Vikings team is no matter what happens, there is no flinch… especially on defense. It’s all about lining up and playing the next play no matter what. Incredible.”

Golfweek.com reports Kirk Cousins and his wife have purchased a golf course in western Michigan near Holland. He and Julie have a home in the area, are familiar with the course and know the previous owners, per a November 10 online story in the Holland Sentinel.

Glenn Caruso (photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

Congratulations to St. Thomas for winning the Pioneer League football championship with a 8-0 conference record. The Tommies won a league championship in just their second year as an FCS program with about two-thirds of their 22 starters being Minnesota natives.

Tommies coach Glenn Caruso, who has led a remarkable transition from Division III to Division I, wowed a CORES lunch crowd earlier this month with his authenticity and commitment to his players. He wants his student-athletes to have different experiences and that’s why the Tommies will play a home-and-home against Harvard starting next year in Boston, with a return date in 2029 in St. Paul.

Caruso said wife Rachel has been cancer free now for five years.

Condolences to the family and many friends of legendary University of St. Thomas and Cretin Derham-Hall baseball coach Dennis Denning, 76, who passed away last week. St. Thomas men’s basketball coach John Tauer wrote this on Facebook: “Six state titles and two national titles pale in comparison to the indelible impact he had on all of us. He taught us to ‘Dare to be Great’ and it remains one of our program mantras.”

“The Amazing Hondo”, the popular magician and former St. Paul athlete, is among the many mourning the loss of Dennis. He emailed to share the news his former Winona State basketball coach Les Wothke and Dennis both passed away last Wednesday. Wothke, 83, took Winona to the NAIA finals in 1973 and 1975 and later was head coach at Army. “Losing two legendary coaches on the same day is something I shall never forget,” Hondo wrote.

Early season home results: Tauer’s Tommies defeated (on November 11) St. Francis of Brooklyn, 84-48, two days after the Gophers beat them, 72-54. Down the road a game between the two Minnesota Division I programs seems likely.

Don’t hold your breath, though, for a renewal of the St. Thomas and St. John’s football rivalry. FCS teams can’t play Division III opponents.

As of Friday, Ben Johnson’s Gophers had made .543 percent of their free throws in four games, ranking No. 339 in the country.

Tip of the cap to the Twins new uniforms with clean looks and various offerings. Just in time for holiday shopping.

The Athletics latest NHL power rankings have the Devils No. 1, the second-season Kraken No. 12 and the Wild No. 17 among 32 teams.

Dick Jonckowski emcees the Minnesota Old Timers Hockey Luncheon at Mancini’s Char House tomorrow (Monday, November 21). Former North Star and media hockey authority Tom Reid will be the main speaker.

Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury turns 38 November 28, while Golden Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck has his 42nd birthday November 29.

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