Gophers Basketball – Page 87 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Coffey Potential First Round Pick

Posted on June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 by David Shama

Nobody is talking about Amir Coffey right now but a basketball authority told Sports Headliners that a year from now the former Minnesota Mr. Basketball could be a first round selection in the NBA Draft.

Tonight’s 2018 NBA Draft prompts interest locally because the Timberwolves have the No. 20 selection in the first round. Gary Trent Jr., who played at Apple Valley High School and for Duke last winter, is another storyline to follow this evening. But a year from now this community might be focused on Coffey who will have played three seasons for the Golden Gophers and is blessed to have both the height and skills that potentially translate to an NBA career.

“There is no question he could be a first rounder,” said a former Big Ten coach who asked that his name not be used. “I would say if he has a decent season (next winter) he could a mid-first round, or even lottery pick.”

The 6-foot-8 Coffey projects as either a small forward or shooting guard in the pros. His talent package includes athleticism, ball handling, passing, driving, shooting and defending. He is also an unselfish player who cares more about winning than his statistics.

Coffey, though, hasn’t weighed much more than 200 pounds during his Gopher career. He is working to become stronger. “My biggest concern (for Coffey to become better) is his physical strength, and ability to hit the three consistently,” the source said.

A shoulder injury in January caused Coffey to miss most of Minnesota’s Big Ten games during his sophomore season. His stats for all games last season included being second on the team in assists at 3.3 per game, and third in both scoring average and rebounding, 14 points and 4.1 rebounds. His three point field goal percentage was .368 and he made .475 percent of all his shots.

Coffey photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletic Communications

If Coffey had been healthy he might have experienced the kind of season that validated testing the pros’ interest in him entering the draft this spring. Next season he could certainly be the Gophers’ best player and most multiskilled individual. With point guard Nate Mason having graduated, the Gopher coaching staff could utilize Coffey as a point forward and playmaker.

In that role Coffey could distribute the ball to Minnesota’s best low post scorer, forward Jordan Murphy, or pass to one-on-one specialist Isaiah Washington, allowing Washington to slash to the basket, or shoot from the corner. Coffey could also drive with the ball and set up teammates, or choose to shoot either long range or closer to the basket.

“If he (Coffey) gets stronger and improves his shooting he could be a real surprise to people because he is smart and passes the ball extremely well,” the ex-coach said. “His whole thing is staying healthy and getting stronger.”

Murphy will be a senior next season and at 6-6 and 250-pounds is one of the better rebounders and low post scorers in college basketball. The authority quoted here said Murphy is “a hell of a college player,” but may not have enough variety of skills to be drafted or make an NBA roster as a free agent.

The former coach believes Murphy projects as a short power forward in the pros. Murphy probably lacks the quickness to play small forward and defend. His inconsistent outside shooting, ball handling and passing skills are causes for concern, too.

Murphy has been All-Big Ten at Minnesota and so, too, was Mason who won’t be drafted tonight by an NBA team. Mason could receive a free agent invite from one of the league’s 32 teams to play on a summer league team. Scouts likely see him as a player who at 6-foot-2 is undersized to play point guard and has more of a shoot first, pass second mentality.

As for Trent, he might be drafted in the first round or slip to the second. Nbadraft.net projected in its mock draft yesterday that Trent will be chosen at No. 28 in the first round by the Warriors.

The Warriors could be an ideal fit for the 6-foot-6 Trent who is an extraordinary outside shooter (he set a Duke freshman record for three pointers with 97). The NBA champion Warriors rely on the accurate three-point shooting of guard Klay Thompson to help balance their offense but Thompson becomes a free agent after next season. Whether the Warriors can or choose to give Thompson a rich deal is the subject of considerable speculation.

Do the Warriors think they could draft a cheaper version of Thompson in Trent, who might help them immediately or in a year or two? Trent’s NBA career could very much be tied to being employed by a team that needs outside shooting because he isn’t highly praised for his ball handling, passing and defense.

Trent seems similar to former Robbinsdale Cooper star Rashad Vaughn but he has to hope for a better career with the pros. Vaughn, about the same height and weight as Trent, was known for his long range shooting in 2015 when the Bucks selected him in the first round. Vaughn competed one season at UNLV, just as Trent played only his freshman year at Duke. Vaughn struggled to establish himself with the Bucks and other NBA teams, and is no longer in the league.

Nbadraft.net projected the Timberwolves will choose Oregon freshman shooting guard Troy Brown at No. 20. The website also predicted Minnesota will select another shooting guard in the second round, taking Kentucky freshman Hamidou Diallo at No. 48.

Tom Thibodeau said on WCCO Radio yesterday morning the Wolves aren’t committed to drafting for a specific position but he indicated interest in “wings”—the position Brown and Diallo can likely play. Asked about the possibility of a trade for the pick, the Wolves’ coach and president of basketball operations answered “absolutely.”

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Mauer Future Looks More Uncertain

Posted on June 6, 2018June 6, 2018 by David Shama

Go ahead and speculate whether Joe Mauer’s latest battle with concussion symptoms will be a major or perhaps deciding factor in whether he continues to play professional baseball after this season.

Mauer hasn’t played for the Twins since May 18. A history with concussion symptoms is a part of his storyline as a major league player. Mauer’s well-publicized concussion in 2013 led to his switching from catcher to first base. He is and was more valuable to the Twins behind the plate, but he is less likely to sustain blows to the head playing first base.

The three-time American League batting champion hasn’t been the same hitter in recent years that he was earlier in his career. In the last four seasons (starting with 2014) Mauer has hit for averages of .277, .265, .261 and .305. In the four years prior to that (beginning with 2010) his averages were .327, .287, .314 and .324.

Dating back to high school who knows how many other concussions Mauer may have experienced in athletics? Mauer’s wife Maddie has a background in nursing and it’s a good guess her medical expertise has her more concerned about Joe’s health than many spouses would be. The Mauers have young children and concerns about having a healthy dad could play into any future decisions regarding Joe’s playing career.

Mauer is 35 and will be a free agent after this season. Known to be wise with his money, Mauer is finishing up the $184 million deal he and the Twins agreed to starting with the 2011 season. He doesn’t need to continue playing for the money and could be uninterested in what the Twins or other clubs might offer for his services in 2019 and beyond.

If Mauer wants to continue his career would the Twins offer any more than $6 million per year for two or three seasons? Does the front office really want him to return? The Twins already have at least two Mauer successors at first base in Miguel Sano and Logan Morrison. The club doesn’t need Mauer at the box office as was the case several years ago when the Minnesota native was one of baseball’s big names and the franchise was moving from the Metrodome to Target Field.

Does Mauer have the passion to continue playing? The Twins don’t look like a World Series contender anytime soon. Playing on the biggest of stages might motivate a Mauer return but perhaps only with the Twins if they were a strong postseason contender. He has played his entire big league career in his home state. With a loaded bank account, history of concussions and a young family, would Mauer really want to play elsewhere?

It’s going to be an interesting period for Mauer between now and next year.

Worth Noting

Minnesotan Tyler Simmons, along with two other amateurs and professional Jason Dufner, won the Pro-Am part of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio last week. Simmons, an insurance executive who lives in suburban Minneapolis, shot an 88 at the famed Muirfield Village Golf Club while Dufner had a 71. Playing best ball, Simmons and his partners shot 13 under par for the one day 18-hole tournament.

Dufner told the group the course rough was U.S. Open-style difficult and “the greens faster than Augusta,” the site of the Masters. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” said the 42-year-old Simmons who is a seven handicapper and plays at the Windsong Farm Golf Club in Maple Plain.

Mike Zimmer, who turned 62 yesterday, is the second oldest head coach in Vikings’ history. Jerry Burns was 64 in 1991, his last year as head coach.

Golden Gophers head football coach P.J. Fleck attended Vikings practice on Tuesday. Fleck had new Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins speak to the Gophers awhile ago.

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, who visited with Fleck yesterday at practice, has now gone from being undrafted in 2013 to No. 36 on the top 100 list of NFL players as voted on by his peers.

Individuals with Minnesota connections being considered for 2019 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame include Blake Elliott (Saint John’s), Ross Fortier (MSU-Moorhead) and Marcus Harris (Wyoming);

The baseball Gophers might not have junior All-American shortstop Terrin Vavra if the University of Wisconsin had a baseball program. Vavra, from Menomonie, Wisconsin, could be the best player in the Big Ten Conference. The Badgers eliminated baseball in 1991 because of budget concerns and longtime athletic director Barry Alvarez apparently has no interest in reviving it, even though Wisconsin is the only program in the Big Ten not playing the sport.

Gopher basketball coach Richard Pitino writing in his blog about Brock Stull, his Wisconsin-Milwaukee transfer guard: “Brock Stull is exactly what we needed to add with our last scholarship in the spring. He’s a Big Ten-ready guard right now. I watched a lot of film on Brock when we recruited him. I was extremely impressed when he put up 23 points versus a future Final Four team, Loyola-Chicago, in conference play. He’s tough, versatile and plays the right way.”

Blake James, the Coon Rapids, Minnesota native who has been the athletic director at Miami since 2013, recently was given a long-term contract extension with the Hurricanes, according to online reports.

There will be horse racing buzz this week when Justify tries to become a Triple Crown winner in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Trying to win for the third time since early May, the three-year-old could become the first Triple Crown winner since 2015 and only the second since 1978. Advance wagering for the Belmont starts Thursday at Canterbury Park.

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Battle for Fans Tight in Twin Cities

Posted on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 by David Shama

On a gorgeous Sunday yesterday we got a reminder about our crowded sports marketplace. The Twins and United played outdoors, while the Lynx opened their season indoors at Target Center.

The Golden Gophers and our seven pro teams (add in the Saints, Timberwolves, Vikings and Wild) often butt heads on the same day. The winners are Minnesota sports fans who have a plethora of professional and Gopher teams to follow in a society that thrives on choices and variety in everything from autos to wieners.

This area’s sports smorgasbord is among the most diverse in the nation. We also rank at the top with our lineup of (mostly) modern venues: Allianz Field, CHS Field, Target Center, Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium, 3M Arena at Mariucci, U.S. Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Xcel Energy Center.

Ask the business side leaders of Minneapolis-St. Paul teams how they view all the competition from one another, and then get ready for a politically correct answer. They will tell you how great it is to have a rich sports landscape and that all the teams can be successful financially. The stock answers will include how they cheer for each other and wish for success by all.

Kumbaya? Maybe.

Truth is, if you eliminated several of the teams, popularity and box office success would increase for at least some organizations. Last Sunday the Twins drew 28,577 fans and the Lynx attracted 13,002, according to the Star Tribune. Despite playing in spectacular weather against border rival Milwaukee, the Twins missed a sellout by about 10,000 customers. The Lynx, in a seaon opener celebrating last year’s WNBA title and playing a top team in the Sparks, had over 6,000 seats that went unsold. The United reported a sellout audience of 23,117 at its temporary home at TCF Bank Stadium.

At 3.5 million, this is one of the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the country and that large population helps to support all of our entertainment options, but imagine if neither the Twins, nor the Lynx, or United, had box office competition in the spring and summer. What if the Gophers didn’t have to battle the Vikings, Timberwolves and Wild for football, basketball and hockey customers?

Some operations get hurt in this crowded sports marketplace that includes a battle not just to sell tickets but also to generate revenues from suites, sponsorships, venue and broadcast advertisers, concessions and merchandising. Despite four WNBA titles in seven years, the Lynx work hard to sell tickets including in the playoffs. The Timberwolves and Gophers, even with infrequent successes, have histories of disappointing their fans. Support for these teams can be iffy and conditional.

You can add the Twins to that list. They and MLB also face the problems of inclement weather, lengthy games and slow pace of play.

The Vikings win any and all popularity contests here. With a winning team and fabulous venue in U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings can withstand any number of competitors for the sports dollar in this marketplace. The NFL, despite its infamous reputation for head trauma, remains at the top of the American sports kingdom including in Minneapolis.

The Wild has produced competitive teams but little to cheer about in the playoffs. The organization, though, excels at customer relations and is in sync with the rabid hockey market in Minnesota. Hockey fans have a special passion for their sport and the Wild has never seriously broken the bond with its fanbase.

It’s niche loyalty that serves the Saints, too. The local independent baseball franchise’s shtick has branded the Saints as entertainment first, winning second. Comedian Bill Murray is an owner and there seemingly is no end to the gimmicks in the organization’s marketing plan. The Saints do it right, including dividing up their CHS Field seat allotment into thirds for season tickets, groups and individual sales.

Saints games are family friendly and tickets inexpensive compared with many of the offerings in this market. Affordable pricing is part of the United’s strategy, also. The second-year Minnesota MLS franchise is aiming to fill its stadium with what executives see as an unfilled opportunity to satisfy the existing and growing soccer interest in the state.

Part of what’s fueled the population growth in this area is an increasing immigrant population. Many of those newcomers love the “world’s sport”—soccer. A lot of immigrants are young and like other Minnesota millennials have grown up playing soccer.

Millennials, though, are an elusive target for some sport marketers. Baseball, football and golf all want to score with millenials who have a reputation for short attention spans. Ask a millennial if he watched a Twins game, or even the Vikings, and a predictable answer is he opted for a 25-second video recap.

For now at least there isn’t any downsizing in this busy sports marketplace that includes the Minnesota Whitecaps, the women’s pro hockey franchise that has been around since 2004. Leaders announced last week the Whitecaps are joining the National Women’s Hockey League. That’s the highest level of American women’s professional hockey, so we’re big league in that, too.

Expansion of the sports menu appears likely with Minneapolis-St. Paul trading the 3M Championship senior golf tournament for a PGA Tour event starting in 2019. More competition for the sports dollar locally but another option for the consumer.

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