Golden Gophers – Page 378 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

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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A&M’s Sumlin Didn’t Pursue U

Posted on November 16, 2012 by David Shama

On the college football beat including the Gophers:

Kevin Sumlin is the biggest name in college football coaching this week after his Texas A&M team upset undefeated and No. 1 ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa last Saturday. Although Sumlin has Minnesota and Big Ten connections, the first-year A&M head coach reportedly wasn’t interested in coaching the Gophers before Minnesota hired Jerry Kill in December of 2010.

A trusted source with knowledge about Sumlin told Sports Headliners the then University of Houston coach didn’t want to be considered as a replacement for Gophers coach Tim Brewster. The source didn’t offer an explanation but it’s believed Sumlin was waiting for a head coaching opportunity at a program better positioned to win on the national stage.

Sumlin played college football at Purdue and his assistant coaching positions included five seasons with the Gophers, working for head coaches Jim Wacker and Glen Mason from 1993 to 1997. Sumlin met his wife Charlene in Minnesota, and now they have four children.

At Houston, Sumlin became the first African-American head coach of a major college football program in the state of Texas. In four seasons at Houston, Sumlin developed a reputation as an offensive wiz while leading the Cougars to a 35-17 record and three bowl games. Twice he was a finalist for national coach of the year before taking the A&M job where the Aggies are in their first season playing in the SEC. Texas A&M, 8-2, is No. 8 in the BCS rankings after defeating Alabama, 29-24.

The No. 1 team in the BCS rankings is Kansas State. The amazing history of Wildcats football under 73-year-old coach Bill Snyder should be a source of encouragement to Gophers fans that have seen Minnesota absent from national prominence since the 1960s.

Snyder’s record at Kansas State is 169-82-1 and in several weeks he could have the Wildcats playing in their first national championship game. His first season as Kansas State coach was in 1989 and in the previous 27 games the Wildcats were 0-26-1. From 1938-1988 Kansas State won only 130 games, an average of about 2.5 wins per season. For decades the Wildcats were quickly mentioned in any discussion of college football’s worst programs.

Snyder, who had been an assistant coach for Hayden Fry at Iowa before taking the Kansas State job, retired after the 2005 season only to become head coach again in 2009.

Gophers freshman quarterback Philip Nelson said “nobody expects” Minnesota, 6-4 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten games, to win tomorrow’s game in Lincoln against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers, 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, could finish the season after two more league games as Legends Division champions, advance to the conference championship game and eventually land in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.

If that weren’t enough incentive to win, Nebraska has 29 seniors to be recognized tomorrow in the team’s last home game for 2012. And legendary former coach Tom Osborne, who is retiring as athletic director on January 1, 2013, will be honored at the game.

But Nelson said the Gophers, who defeated Illinois last Saturday for their first conference road win since 2010, are gaining confidence. “I think it’s a confidence builder knowing that we could go into somebody else’s place and pull out a victory. This is something (at Nebraska) where nobody expects us to win this game, and we’re back to where we always have been (underdog). It’s something that this team has to prove some people wrong…and in a big game like this we feel like we can surprise some people on the road.”

Nelson said the Illini “were catching on” to some of the Gophers’ offensive hand signals. The Gophers adjusted in mid-game but for awhile there was some confusion among Minnesota players, according to Nelson. “We have to switch up some things from game to game so film doesn’t give away too much what we’re trying to do,” he said.

Because of injuries, Zac Epping was the only center available to the Gophers in last Saturday’s game. Kill said earlier in the week a non-center will be taught the position to backup Epping. The major adjustment for a novice?

“Just being consistent, always getting the ball perfectly back there (on the snap) wherever it needs to be,” Epping said.

Worth Noting

Tartan High School defensive back Keelon Brookins, perhaps the best Division I senior prospect in the state, signed his letter of intent this week to attend Wisconsin. Brookins emailed he will be enrolled and attending classes in Madison in January.

The Gophers, 6-4, have only one win over a team with a better than .500 record—a victory against Division I FCS New Hampshire (8-2). Minnesota’s other wins are over UNLV (2-9), Western Michigan (4-7), Syracuse (5-5), Purdue (4-6) and Illinois (2-8). Syracuse impressively defeated then No. 9 ranked Louisville last Saturday, 45-26.

The Vikings, 6-4, have six games remaining on the regular season schedule (two games each against the Bears and Packers, plus games with the Texans and Rams). In their first 10 games the Vikings have played nine different teams (twice defeating the Lions), and those clubs have a combined record of 39-43-1. Minnesota’s remaining opponents have a total record of 24-11-1.

The Vikings are playing three of the top six teams in espn.com’s NFL power rankings starting November 25 versus the Bears (7-2) in Chicago, and ending against the Packers (6-3) on December 30 in Minneapolis. The Bears are No. 3 in the rankings, the Packers No. 6. The Vikings play in Houston on December 23 versus the No. 1 ranked Texans (8-1). The Rams (3-5-1) are ranked No. 23.

The Richmond Spiders, the Gophers basketball opponents at home on Sunday night, are 3-0 with nonconference wins over Liberty, UNCW and Hampton. Although the Spiders are off to their best start since 2006-2007, they look like another warm-up game for 3-0 Minnesota before next Thursday’s test against nationally ranked Duke (2-0) in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas.

The college basketball issue of Athlon Sports now on newsstands includes a list of the top 25 coaches in the country. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is No. 1 and other Big Ten coaches included are No. 9 Bo Ryan (Wisconsin), No. 14 Thad Matta (Ohio State), No. 17 Tom Crean (Indiana), No. 18 John Beilein (Michigan) and No. 24 Matt Painter (Purdue).

Kevin Love’s annual coat drive started earlier this week and continues until December 12. Partnering with the Salvation Army and Comcast, the public is invited to donate new and “gently used coats” at the Target Center box office, or at several Comcast service centers in the metro area. Coat donations can also be made on December 1 at the Best Buy in Inver Grove Heights when the Wolves’ All-Star forward will make an appearance and pose for photos. Call the store in late November for exact times.

There will be some grumbling coming from Mariucci Arena if the Gophers don’t sweep the Badgers tonight and tomorrow evening. Wisconsin, 1-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the WCHA, is off to a slow start and reportedly will be without the injured Mark Zengerle, a top point producer. Minnesota, ranked No. 3 in the nation in two different polls, is 6-2-1 and 3-2-1.

Wisconsin is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Badgers hockey this season. The Badgers have won six national championships. The Gophers, who started playing hockey in 1921, have five titles. However, the NCAA’s major college hockey tournament didn’t begin until 1948, according to wikipedia.org.

St. Thomas has 10 fall or winter teams included in top 25 rankings. Football is No. 3 and 4 in the two national polls; volleyball is No. 8; and women’s and men’s golf are both ranked in coaches’ polls. Women’s basketball is No. 3; women’s hockey No. 10; men’s hockey No. 12; men’s basketball No. 11; men’s swimming and diving is No. 18 and women’s S&D No. 23.

Dick Jonckowski, the Shakopee-based banquet emcee and public address announcer for Gophers basketball and baseball, was inducted recently into the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. At the induction Jonckowski quipped: “Here’s a man who needs no introduction.”

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U Will Schedule BCS Teams

Posted on November 14, 2012November 14, 2012 by David Shama

Norwood Teague told Sports Headliners the Gophers want to schedule BCS opponents for nonconference games, but not for several years.

The Gophers’ new athletic director cancelled games with North Carolina for 2013 and 2014 earlier this fall. Now Minnesota doesn’t have a BCS opponent on the nonconference schedule until 2018 when Oregon State is scheduled to play in Minneapolis.

Teague and football coach Jerry Kill aren’t saying never to scheduling BCS non-conference foes—schools from the six conferences of the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC . “Oh, yeah,” Teague said. “We want to do that.”

The decision to exit from the North Carolina series and make the nonconference lineup of games in 2013 and 2014 more winnable was based on a belief by athletic department leaders that the Gophers program needs time to become more competitive.

The Gophers were 4-0 during non-conference games this season and without all four wins (three against non-BCS opponents) the program would still not be bowl eligible. Minnesota is 6-4 after earning its second Big Ten win last Saturday against Illinois but without its non-conference sweep, the Gophers would have to be hoping for a sixth win and bowl eligibility in their last two games—underdog assignments versus Nebraska and Michigan State.

Six wins and a bowl game can help a program in recruiting, and Kill highly values the extra 15 practices allowed to prepare his team for the post-season. Those bonus practices can be like a second spring practice, particularly helpful for a young roster of players like the Gophers.

Teague emphasized that in a difficult Big Ten, having a favorable nonleague schedule is a plus. “It’s where we are now (in scheduling philosophy),” he said. “I am not saying we’re going to be there in five years but it’s where we are now (needing nonleague wins).”

Teague acknowledged an outpouring of disappointment by fans about cancellation of the North Carolina series. Fans, including season ticket holders, have long been frustrated by the lack of BCS teams on Minnesota’s non-conference schedules. There’s no arguing that for many season ticket holders having the likes of Western Illinois and San Jose State as early games in 2013 detracts from the value of their purchases. Other nonconference home opponents on future schedules include Eastern Illinois, Middle Tennessee State and Indiana State.

“If I was a fan and we cancelled the North Carolina series, I would be frustrated too,” Teague said. “…It’s something Jerry felt like we needed to do and I wanted to support him and I agreed with him after we analyzed it.

“I can’t tell you how much we analyzed this over June and July. We met about it constantly. We ruminated on it constantly and decided to go ahead and do it.”

The Gophers Athletic Department paid $800,000 to North Carolina to cancel the games and the decision left Minnesota scrambling to fill open dates in 2013 and 2014 (Minnesota will likely play at New Mexico State on September 7, 2013). The $800,000 was a significant part of the public criticism.

Would Teague make the same decision again?

“I would. I regret that it struck such a chord with our fans, and I don’t want to anger anyone for reasons that seemed like we’re looking at it in a flippant way. The money is one thing. It’s a lot of money and it could be seen as being used for better and more needy situations.

“But it is an investment for the future. We’re trying to get momentum in the program. The Big Ten is tough. …”

Vikings Stadium & Other Notes

A construction management firm for the new Vikings stadium could be chosen within the next 30 days, according to Lester Bagley. The Vikings vice president of public affairs said the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will issue a request for proposal, and a firm will be selected before year’s end.

That company will determine the cost of potential retractable features for the stadium. Retractable options for cost analysis are expected to include a moving roof, and doors that open to the stadium plaza.

Bagley said ground for the new stadium is likely to be broken next September. Although the facility will be built on the Metrodome site, the Vikings will be able to play the entire 2013 season at Mall of America Field. Before the expected new stadium opening in 2016, the Vikings will play some games at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings are close to announcing completion of an agreement with the University of Minnesota.

Bagley said details regarding the Gophers’ stadium include placement of heating coils beneath the playing field and expanding seating capacity (currently 50,805). The Vikings have more season ticket holders than TCF’s present capacity, and because the team plays more than a month after the Gophers’ season ends there are “weatherization” issues with the stadium, according to Bagley.

The Vikings don’t play again until Sunday, November 25 in Chicago against the Bears. Some players will use the bye week break to leave town including linebacker Chad Greenway who will be in his native South Dakota hunting pheasants.

Vikings reserve quarterback Joe Webb turns 26 today.

Although the Gophers’ bowl destination won’t be decided for awhile, an athletic department spokesman speculated the destination could be the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas in Houston on December 28, with Minnesota playing Iowa State, TCU or West Virginia from the Big 12 Conference.

With his team down to one healthy center, Gophers coach Jerry Kill said yesterday his staff will need to teach someone to be a backup to starter Zac Epping for Saturday’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln.

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

Tickets for the St. Thomas Division III home football playoff game against St.Norbert College on Saturday go on sale starting at 10:30 a.m. that day at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $4 for students. The game isn’t expected to sell out. The Tommies are 10-0 while the Green Knights are 8-2.

Bethel (8-2) is a second MIAC team advancing to the playoffs, and plays in Chicago on Saturday against Concordia-Chicago (10-0).

The Timberwolves, 5-2 and off to their best start since 2001-2002, didn’t have a player among the NBA’s top 25 for points, rebounds, assists or minutes through league games as of Monday. The Wolves, undefeated at home in three games, play the Bobcats at Target Center tonight.

Former Gophers center Colton Iverson had 18 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes playing for Colorado State last week in the Rams’ opening game, a 72-65 win over Montana. The 6-10 Iverson is wearing jersey No. 45, the same number he had at Minnesota.

Rams coach Larry Eustachy praised Iverson in the college basketball issue of Athlon Sports now on newsstands. “Colton changes the whole team. He’s in a small pool of players around the country that have his size, his intelligence and his feel for the game. He passes the test.”

Former Gophers basketball player Keith Young emailed he has completed his first book of poetry. “This is a twenty year hobby that I have decided to turn into a business venture,” he wrote. Poems from an Unexpected Source is about “family, friendship, sports, hope and life.” yeltd@sbcglobal.net.

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