Gophers Basketball – Page 7 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Kevin O’Connell’s Leverage for New Contract Rock Solid

Posted on December 9, 2024December 9, 2024 by David Shama

With the 11-2 Vikings experiencing a potentially historic season, it is apparent head coach Kevin O’Connell has substantially increased his leverage for future contract negotiations. His initial deal, agreed to in 2022 when he was named the franchise’s 10^th head coach, ends after the 2025 season and is estimated to pay him about $5 million annually.

Ownership is expected to soon offer O’Connell a new contract, and perhaps has even done so. While the likelihood is considerable the two parties will strike a deal prior to next season, O’Connell’s impressive three seasons in Minnesota are so admired he could choose the ultimate power play of letting his contract expire and allow bidding from other teams.

The admiration among fans, media and NFL people is widespread and can even take an unexpected direction. Recently Kayln Kahler, from ESPN, wrote the dysfunctional Bears franchise, having fired their head coach earlier this fall, should consider a trade for O’Connell. Such a trade, including multiple future first round draft choices, will fall on deaf ears at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Ownership and staff have learned O’Connell is the “secret sauce” the Vikings and other NFL teams covet. He is loved in the organization, including the locker room, for the way he carries himself and treats others. He has created an environment and culture that should be the envy of other franchises.

In his first season (2022) the Vikings went a surprising 13-4 during the regular season. They were an amazing 11-4 in one-score wins, an NFL record.

In 2023 the Vikings’ season was derailed by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury and they finished with a 7-10 record. Despite having to navigate through a franchise record four starting quarterbacks, the Vikings ranked fifth in the league in passing yards per game (256.4).

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Predicted to win about six games this season—partly because of uncertainty at quarterback with Cousins leaving as a free agent to play for the Falcons—O’Connell and his staff have stunned the football world with the performance of Sam Darnold. The former journeyman quarterback has been “born again” in Minnesota and will earn a lot more next season than the one-year deal of $10 million the Vikings are paying him, and that has everything to do with their “quarterback whisperer” coach.

O’Connell has been on target in so many ways that have paid off for the team including his selection of assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has “bouquets” thrown his way every week for his creativity and overall work. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown is in his first season working for O’Connell and has been impressive, too. It’s likely both men will have offers sooner or later to become head coaches.

O’Connell’s overall record (all with the Vikings) is 31-17, including one playoff loss. His winning percentage of .645 is the best in franchise history, surpassing that of legendary Bud Grant (.607) over 18 seasons. O’Connell is 24-9 in one-possession games as a head coach, the third best winning percentage (.727) in NFL history in one-score contests (minimum 25 games).

Not only does O’Connell have a superlative resume, but he also has a potentially long coaching career ahead. He doesn’t turn 40 years old until next year.

Speculation earlier this fall was the Wilf ownership group might offer him $10 million per year, but that appears too far under market value. More than doubling his salary to $12 million to $15 million seems appropriate. Contract length also has him in the “driver’s seat” with seven years or longer a possibility. Clearly ownership wants him to be the man in charge for the foreseeable future.

According to Sportico.com, the 10 highest paid NFL coaches annually are: Andy Reid, $20 million; Sean Payton, $18 million; Jim Harbaugh, $16 million; Mike Tomlin, $16 million; Sean McVay, $15 million; Kyle Shanahan, $14 million; John Harbaugh, $12 million; Dan Campbell, $11 million; Sean McDermott, $11 million; Mike Macdonald, $9 million.

Worth Noting

Darnold made history in yesterday’s 42-21 win over the Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. He is the ninth quarterback in NFL history and first since Aaron Rodgers in 2019 to have at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a completion percentage of 75-or-higher and a passer rating of 155-or-higher with no picks in a game.

After the game O’Connell offered his admiration of Cousins including the veteran quarterback’s character. “I love him as a person. I think he’s a great human being, great father, great husband. He stands for so many great things that I always really valued.”

According to Statista.com last June, at $294.17 million Cousins ranks No. 6 in all-time cumulative career earnings among NFL players. Rodgers, $380.66 million, was No. 1 ahead of Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and Cousins.

Former Viking and Minnesota native Adam Thielen, age 34, had nine receptions for 102 yards in the Panthers’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles yesterday. With a total of 8,063 career receiving yards, he is the fourth undrafted player in the common-draft era (dating back to 1967) with at least 8,000 career receiving yards. He joins Antonio Gates (11,841 receiving yards), Rod Smith (11,389) and Wes Welker (9,924).

The veteran wide receiver has 25 career games with at least 100 receiving yards. He joins Smith (30 games) and Welker (28) as the only undrafted players since 1967 with 25 career games with 100 or more receiving yards.

If there is a change in Golden Gophers basketball head coaches after this season, St. Thomas’ John Tauer should be a level one candidate. Tauer, whose Tommies won the 2016 NCAA Division III national title, has his D1 team at No. 113 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Net Rankings. Minnesota is No. 163.

Meanwhile the women Gophers are No. 37 in the women’s rankings under second-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Minnesota is off to a 10-1 start and roster building strategy includes awareness of Minnesota and Wisconsin natives playing elsewhere who may want to transfer closer to home.

Jamal Abu-Shamala, the former Golden Gophers basketball player from Shakopee, has the volunteer honor of being Head Coach of the Twin Cities Dunkers in 2025. In that role he will arrange speakers for the organization that started 1948.

The Gophers have a 2025 football season tickets sales campaign going on with prices starting at $310. Public season ticket sales the last two years have been in the 23,000 to 25,000 range.

The Gophers had one year in the 1980s when they reported 56,000 season tickets while playing in the Metrodome.

The talented Gopher men’s hockey is coming off shutout home wins against Michigan Friday and Saturday night. Minnesota goalies Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere, with defensive help, shut out the Wolverines on consecutive nights for the first time in more than 80 years.

“Our D-corps is our strength right now and really I mean they’re elite,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said after his No. 4 ranked team swept the No. 6 Wolverines.

The Gophers, 15-2-1 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten this season, are 32-10-1 in conference home games since the start of 2021.

The Wild’s fast start to the season includes being tied for the league lead with the Jets and Capitals in total points at 40. The way it looks now, unless the team has an incredible run of injuries sidelining key players, Minnesota can be mediocre the rest of the way and still make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

Football coach Glen Caruso’s St. Thomas signing class for 2025 includes Beau Thielen from Eagan, a 4.5-star long snapper recruit. He drew interest in the recruitment process from FBS and FCS schools.

Al Worthington, who pitched for the 1955 Junior World Series champion Minneapolis Millers in 1955 and later was a standout for the Twins, will be 96 in February.

He is on the 2025 ballot for the Twins Hall of Fame. Fans can vote for 2025 candidates and/or use a write-in option. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

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Underdog Gophers with One Big Edge on No. 4 PSU

Posted on November 21, 2024November 21, 2024 by David Shama

Temperatures will be in the 30s when the Golden Gophers play their final home game of the season Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium against No. 4 ranked Penn State. The cold fact is the Nittany Lions are expected to win by at least 12 points.

Minnesota’s record is 6-4 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten games. PSU is 9-1 and 6-1.

The Nittany Lions roster is stacked with stud players, and it shows in their team statistics. PSU ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten in total offense per game, No. 3 in defense.

Minnesota is No. 14 and No. 5 in the 18-team Big Ten.

If you’re a Gopher fan looking for optimism while anticipating what could be a dreary November day for both weather and results on the field, then consider one factor where Minnesota has an edge. The Gophers are coming off a bye week and the benefits that offers.

Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer offered a perspective on not having played a game since the November 9 loss to Rutgers on the road. “Playing Big Ten football is no joke. I think anybody can see that; where your body is getting worn down week in and week out. … (With the bye) getting in the weight room. Getting in the treatment room, spending as much time with your body as you can. But also, just decompressing for a second.”

Brosmer, playing his first and only season for the Gophers after transferring from FCS New Hampshire, has been a head-turner for the program. His 67.1 completion percentage is on track to set single season and career records for Minnesota. With a passer grade of 86.5 from Pro Football Focus, he ranks No. 11 among FBS quarterbacks.

Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Another playmaker Minnesota will count on Saturday attempting to pull off a huge upset is running back Darius Taylor. His numbers include ranking third in the Big Ten in total touchdowns with 11. An elite runner out of the backfield and pass receiver in space, he ranks sixth in Big Ten all-purpose yards per game with 109.33 and points, 7.3.

Taylor has not been 100 percent physically in recent games. Brosmer was asked how his teammate looked during the schedule bye. “He’s moving great. He’s a healthy Darius. I am excited to see him run Saturday.”

The other benefit of the bye week is coaches have the opportunity to self-evaluate and extra time to prepare for the opponent. Regarding the former, Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. said: “(Opportunity to)…look at what we need to improve on. I think we achieved that.”

The Gophers had a bye in the schedule after an October 12 win at UCLA. Two weeks later playing at home, Minnesota took it to Maryland with an impressive 48-23 victory over the Terps. The 25-point margin of victory is the largest for Minnesota in Big Ten play this season.

Penn State has had two byes, with the first coming only two games into the season. The second was between October 12 and 26. Since then the Nittany Lions have played four consecutive games including a rugged 13-10 loss to No. 2 ranked Ohio State.

Conclusion? The Gophers should be the better rested, healthier and more prepared team.

The winner of Saturday’s game will take home the Governor’s Victory Bell. It’s the most recent of Minnesota’s rivalry trophies having begun in 1993 with the initiative of Pennsylvania acting governor Mark Singel and Minnesota’s Arne Carlson. The latter has long been a Gopher football fan and first followed the program back in its glory days long ago.

The Gophers have four active trophy games including Floyd of Rosedale with Iowa, the Little Brown Jug, Michigan; and Paul Bunyan’s Axe, Wisconsin. That’s more than any other college football program in the country.

Minnesota, which claims seven national titles, has a glorious past with its many successes and rivalries. The Gophers hope to add a chapter Saturday and say “bye, bye” to the Nittany Lions.

PERICH, OTHR U ATHLETES CONNECT ON NIL WITH EX-GOPHER

KLN Family Brands is a Minnesota-based company now developing ties with University of Minnesota athletes including freshman football star Koi Perich. The company has Name, Image and Likeness deals with Perich, and women’s basketball player Mara Braun, gymnast Mya Hooten and baseball player Noah Rooney.

KLN’s CEO is former Golden Gopher baseball outfielder Charlie Nelson who set the school record for career stolen bases with 93 about 30 years ago. “I am a Gopher. Always will be,” Nelson said in expressing his passion for the University of Minnesota.

Nelson’s company is making an initial entry into NIL partnerships, with work led by Patrick Klinger’s Agile Marketing company in St. Paul. The athletes promote KLN products but there’s more to it than that. They learn about giving back to community causes, something that is a core value at KLN. The way Nelson phrases it is “trying to create a philanthropic mindset.”

“It’s been a nice thing thus far,” Nelson said about working with the four athletes. “It’s small deals but I think it means something to them, and it means something to us.”

Perich is a Big Ten leader in interceptions and punt returns, and he has earned national recognition early in his career as first-year player. He is promoting KLN’s NutriSource Pet Foods and the “B.A.R.K. Buddies” Facility Dog Program at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital and Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. He visited the hospital Monday where he interacted with patients and learned more about the program that uses trained facility dogs to help calm children during their hospital stays.

Braun has endorsed KLN’s Spot Dog Training facility in Rockford. Among the services is training dogs to go home with military vets and enhance their well-being.

In addition to NutriSource, Gopher athletes are endorsing two other KLN consumer brands: Sweet Chaos Popcorn and Wiley Wallaby Licorice. “They’re all excited to represent us,” Nelson said about the athletes. “I think they appreciate that we’re giving back to organizations like Masonic.”

Perich is the headliner among the four athletes because of his performance and the notoriety of football. His deal with KLN, which includes using social media for promotion, goes until February 1 but could extend further.

“Honestly, I think it’s kind of a little bit of see how it goes,” Nelson said. “But so far, so good. He seems like a good young man, and he’s embraced our initiatives, and that’s a big part of it for us.”

What also could be on the horizon for KLN is hooking up with students at the U who aren’t athletes. Nelson is interested in exploring other young people and their endeavors. “We don’t think NIL deals should only be specific to student-athletes,” he said.

It doesn’t take long for a listener to understand Nelson cares about people in a variety of ways including providing quality products and creating jobs. He’s proud that NutriSource buys ingredients from local farmers and growers. And that the NutriSource product focuses on providing all-important gut health to the dogs and cats who consume it. NutriSource is made in Perham while canned wet pet food, along with treats for dogs and cats, is produced in Delano.

Nelson played for legendary baseball coach John Anderson who retired earlier this year. At Perham High School he participated in baseball, basketball, football, and track and field. “I had a busy letterman’s jacket,” he quipped.

Nelson said he had some “growing up” to do after he arrived at the U. He credited Anderson for being a major influence on him.

That contributed to his loyalty to Gopher baseball, other sports at the U and how he feels about the state. “Minnesota will always be home,’” he said.

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Garcia Big Ten Scoring Title? U Teammates May Hold Key

Posted on November 19, 2024November 19, 2024 by David Shama

The Golden Gophers’ Dawson Garcia enters tonight’s home game averaging 25.5 points per game for his 3-1 team. His average through four games is the Big Ten’s best.

Garcia, a senior, plays for a team that has struggled to score points and may do so all season. The 6-foot-11 center-power forward has scored 102 of Minnesota’s 158 points this season. The next closest scorer to him is guard Lu’Cye Patterson with 34.

Dawson Garcia photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

If the Savage, Minnesota native from Prior Lake High School wins the league scoring title after the 2025 season he will be the first Gopher to do so since Kris Humphries in 2024. Humphries, a high school All-American at Hopkins High School, led the Big Ten in both scoring at 21 points per game and rebounds, 9.5 (stats are league games only). He was the first freshman in league history to accomplish that.

Other Gophers who have won conference scoring titles dating back to 1948 are: Tom Kondla, Quincy Lewis, and Mychal Thompson (twice), per Sports-reference.com.

Will Garcia join the list? Probably not, according to a former major college basketball coach who spoke with Sports Headliners on condition of anonymity.

“It’s going to be hard. He’s going to face a double, triple team every game.”

The former coach is implying if Garcia’s teammates can consistently make shots and cause foes to pay for double and triple teaming Minnesota’s star, it’s a lot more likely Garcia can win the league scoring title (based on regular season conference and nonconference games).

The source is certainly an admirer of Garcia who averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. Garcia was second-team All-Big Ten as selected by the media and is now on national watch lists for postseason awards.

“He’s really a great player,” the former college head and assistant coach said. “He’s worth the price of admission.”

Garcia, listed at 234 pounds, is averaging a team-best 7.3 rebounds. He is unselfish and a good passer. He can score inside and out, including a pro range three-point shot. He’s making an impressive 57.1 percent of his threes.

“He’s (going to be) a pro player,” said the source. “He absolutely has NBA potential.”

Garcia’s mobility with and without the basketball fits the flexibility of today’s NBA that emphasizes position-less players who can handle the ball. A question about his pro future potential might be development of his lower body strength.

The Gophers have a rebuilt roster after a breakthrough 9-11 Big Ten record in 2023-2024 that followed two last place conference finishes under head coach Ben Johnson. Garcia is one of only two returning starters and Minnesota is a popular choice to finish near the bottom of the league standings.

“It’s going to be a struggle,” the former coach said about the team’s season outlook.

Minnesota plays its fourth nonconference game tonight against 3-2 Cleveland State. The Gophers, averaging a modest 64.5 points per game against so-so competition, are fortunate to have Garcia who initially spurned his hometown team coming out of high school and played at both Marquette and North Carolina.

With Name, Image and Likeness money reportedly involved, the Gophers lost two of their better starters via the transfer portal after last season. Point guard Elijah Hawkins is at Texas Tech and center Pharrel Payne plays for Texas A&M.

It’s believed Garcia is making six-figures via NIL at Minnesota, but he could have commanded more if not for his loyalty to the Gophers and his family.

Worth Noting

Hawkins has played in two of four games at Texas Tech, average 8.5 points per game and has a total of 16 assists. Another Red Raiders guard is Hopkins alum Kerwin Walton who started his college career at North Carolina. He made 47.8 percent of his three-point shots last season.

Payne’s playing time in four games has ranged between 17 and 24 minutes. He is averaging 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 82 total minutes.

Another transfer from last year’s team, forward Joshua Ola-Joseph who was a key reserve, is averaging 11.3 minutes in four games at Cal. He is 0-6 on three-point shots and is averaging 4.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds.

Great news for the University of Minnesota football and volleyball programs, per Derek Burns from Dinkytown Athletes, the official Name, Image and Likeness collective of Gopher athletics. DA recently concluded its “million-dollar match campaign” with Mark Pearson’s Twin Cities-based financial services company, Nepsis.

“We did hit our number and went over slightly,” Burns told Sports Headliners Monday. Nepsis matched dollar for dollar donations, new memberships or upgraded memberships to DA through November 10.

While the DA president didn’t specify a dollar total, he said this was the most successful campaign ever for the collective which officially launched in September of 2022. DA will now target a similar campaign for February and March to benefit athletes in winter sports.

Funding success is pivotal, Burns said, when Gopher programs approach the time they and other schools across the country compete for athletes in the transfer portal. Within a few weeks, for example, football and volleyball players will be making decisions on whether to enter the transfer portal and, if so, where to go. NIL resources will also be timely for retention of athletes.

The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, who is second among NHL players in points with 31, makes $9 million. Although he is playing at a league MVP level, his contract value doesn’t rank in the league’s top 30 highest paid players.

Kaprizov and goalie Filip Gustavsson, whose 2.08 goals against average is best in the league, are unrestricted free agents after the 2025-2026 season. Gustavsson is playing with a $4.1 million deal this season and next. Kaprizov’s contract remains at $9 million next season.

The Lions defeated the Jaguars 52-6 last Sunday, after the Vikings beat the Jags, 12-7 the week prior. The 9-1 Lions, who lead the 7-2 Vikings in the race to win the NFC North, have scored 35 points or more three times in their first 10 games. The only other clubs to do that since the late 1960s are the 1969 Vikings and 1973 Falcons.

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