NCAA – Page 105 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Sano Absence May Impact Division Race

Posted on March 20, 2019March 20, 2019 by David Shama

Enjoy a Wednesday notes column leading off with the Twins, and including basketball and football newsmakers.

The Twins start playing meaningful games next week when the regular season begins, and they are a popular pick to finish second in the mediocre AL Central Division. The more optimistic fans and media were thinking division title during the offseason, but now maybe less so with puzzling slugger Miguel Sano not expected in the lineup until May.

The Indians have won three consecutive division championships and while the roster doesn’t look as formidable as in the past, the club is anchored by probably baseball’s best starting staff. Those starters could lead the way to 90+ wins, while the Twins are a smart choice to win 80 to 85.

Sano told Sports Headliners a few years ago he might be capable of producing Miguel Cabrera type hitting numbers. “I can be better than Cabrera, I think,” he said in the summer of 2015. Sano, though, isn’t even close to matching the numbers of the future Tigers’ Hall of Famer. The Twins’ third baseman began his MLB career in 2014 and his play has been characterized as much by injuries as production at the plate.

The 6-foot-4 Sano, with a .199 batting average, didn’t even come close to hitting his weight (260) last season. He is out until possibly the time of his 26th birthday on May 11. Sano, whose latest problem is with his heel, tantalized the Twins in 2017 with his 28 home runs and 77 RBI. His presence in the lineup from the beginning of this season would have added confidence to those predicting a first Twins division championship since 2010.

It will be interesting to see how the Twins’ pitching staff develops including the late innings situation. Perhaps the club will not have an ace closer, instead using a few different relief pitchers in that role.

Minnesota’s regular season and home opener against the Indians will be played late afternoon on Thursday of next week, with Accuweather.com predicting a day time high of 56 degrees. The three-game series with the Indians also has scheduled day time dates at Target Field on March 30 and 31 when temps are predicted to be in the 40’s.

On opening day the club is giving away Twins puffer vests to the first 30,000 fans. Former Twin and AL MVP Justin Morneau will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, with Minneapolis song writer and performer Sean Tillman (aka Har Mar Superstar) singing the National Anthem.

As of this morning on the Twins’ ticket website, there were tickets available for the opener ranging in cost from $17 to $31.

There were rumors last week junior Gophers forward Michael Hurt will transfer to the college destination of his superstar brother Matthew Hurt, a senior at Rochester John Marshall. The possibility was mentioned to me months ago but I chose not to write about the speculation.

Michael would be eligible to play next season with his brother who has yet to announce his college choice, and could be destined to the NBA in another year via the 2020 league draft. Michael is a three-year reserve who this season is averaging 1.7 points per game and is 1 of 13 on three point field goal attempts. If he were to leave Minnesota, that presumably opens up a scholarship for the Gophers who have multiple roster needs for next season and should be shopping for junior college help.

Matthew, 6-foot-9, is so skilled he can excel at multiple positions. The bluebloods of college basketball, including Duke and North Carolina, would welcome the five-star recruit, and perhaps his brother—allowing the twosome to play one year together.

It will be a major surprise if Matthew isn’t announced as the state’s Mr. Basketball winner at the Timberwolves game on March 26. Hurt, who averaged about 37 points per game this season, won’t be in attendance because he will play among the nation’s elite players at the March 27 McDonald’s All-American Game in Atlanta.

A member of John Marshall’s varsity since eighth grade, Hurt has closed out his high school career never having played in the state tournament. Lakeville North has blocked Marshall’s path to the state tournament by winning seven consecutive times in the section finals.

Among the favorites to win the Class 4A Tournament this week is Hopkins with star center-power forward Zeke Nnjai. He is committed to Arizona for next season but if Wildcats coach Sean Miller leaves the program speculation will start about Nnjai’s college destination.

The Gophers, in search of a point guard all season, could have filled that opening two years ago by successfully recruiting Champlin Park’s McKinley Wright, who as a sophomore at Colorado has been named first team All-Pac-12. He also was an honorable mention choice for the league’s all-defensive team.

CBS lead sportscaster Jim Nantz, who will be here for the Minneapolis Final Four, gave a shout-out to 99-year-old Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman on last Saturday’s telecast of the Minnesota-Michigan Big Ten Tournament game, and he told the listening audience he will speak to the Twin Cities Dunkers when he is town. The downtown-Minneapolis based Dunkers dates back to 1948 and Hartman has been a member since 1965.

Purdue, who the Gophers defeated twice in March, is an upset pick to make a run in the NCAA Tournament including a prediction by Seth Davis the Boilermakers will advance to the Minneapolis Final Four. Davis, the CBS in-studio college hoops analyst, is the son of Lanny Davis, the well-known lawyer and TV political commentator.

Steve Erban and Paul Dillion are among Gophers fans expected in Des Moines tomorrow for Minnesota’s NCAA Tournament game against Louisville. Erban emailed that the two are the only people who have seen every Gopher NCAA Tournament game dating back to 1989.

Gophers’ athletic director Mark Coyle said on the WCCO Radio Sports Huddle show last Sunday that about $130 million out of the $166 million targeted cost has been raised for the new Athlete’s Village on campus.

Gophers head football coach P.J. Fleck, new North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz, and former Vikings Matt Birk and Ben Leber are headline speakers at next week’s MFCA Football Clinic at the DoubleTree in St. Louis Park. More than 30 speakers and over 50 sessions are scheduled for the March 28-30 clinic. More at mnfootballcoaches.com

Karl-Anthony Towns had his 47th double-double of the season last night when he scored 26 points and got 21 rebounds in the Timberwolves’ loss to the Warriors at Target Center.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer hosts his first Mike Zimmer Golf Classic at Bearpath Golf and Country Club in Eden Prairie on Monday, May 13. The event is part of the Mike Zimmer Foundation. Hole sponsorships starting at a $1,000 are available. More at Mikezimmerfoundation.org.

Looks like Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman were right about quarterback Case Keenum who they let walk as a free agent last year. The Broncos, who signed Keenum in 2018, traded him to the Redskins earlier this month and now have turned to another veteran, Joe Flacco, as their quarterback leader. Keenum is with his fourth team in four years.

Ex-Gopher Phil Nelson, who received a lot of media and fan attention last month for a no-look pass, has completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 513 yards, and thrown three touchdown passes and three interceptions, quarterbacking the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football, according to noextrapoints.com.

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U NCAA Tourney Run Looks Unlikely

Posted on March 18, 2019March 18, 2019 by David Shama

Golden Gophers players and fans are understandably excited about the team earning an invitation yesterday to the NCAA Tournament, but it will probably be a “short dance” for coach Richard Pitino’s team.

After 34 games, including many against quality opposition, there are no more secrets about this club. Before the season a lot of media didn’t think the sixth edition of the Pitino era was talented enough to qualify for the “Big Dance,” but the Gophers mostly rode the twosome of forward Jordan Murphy and guard Amir Coffey to several successes including defeating nationally ranked Purdue twice this month.

Coffey at No. 7 in points per game and Murphy at No. 11 are among Big Ten’s best scoring combos. Only Indiana’s Romeo Langford at No. 6 and Juwan Morgan at No. 9 are a higher scoring duo in the Big Ten.

Coffey saved his best for last this season, averaging 23.8 points per game in helping Minnesota win four of its last six games. He is a multi-skilled player who offensively gives the Gophers outside and inside scoring, including in the deciding moments of games. “His skill set is off the charts,” said CBS analyst Grant Hill during Saturday’s Minnesota-Michigan game in the Big Ten Tournament.

Coffey is averaging 16.3 points per game, while Murphy is at 14.9. Few college players are better inside scorers than Murphy who consistently bulls his way to the basket. Without Murphy’s Big Ten leading rebounding, the Gophers could not have come close to putting together a 21-13 season. That record earned the Gophers an NCAA Tournament assignment to play Thursday in Des Moines against Louisville in a East Region game.

Minnesota is likely to struggle in the tournament, though, because there isn’t enough talent and experience on the roster to complement Coffey and Murphy. The Gophers went a combined 3-8 against the Big Ten’s five best teams (over .500 records in league play). They were 2-1 against Purdue, split two games with Wisconsin and finished 0-1 versus Michigan State, 0-2 against Maryland and 0-3 in matchups with Michigan.

In every Gopher game, it’s an unknown as to which player—if anyone—steps up and complements Coffey and Murphy. Sometimes it’s been freshman starting center Daniel Oturu, who has the talent to some day be All-Big Ten like Coffey and Murphy. Fellow freshman guard Gabe Kalscheur shows promise offensively and defensively, but inconsistent shooting is a problem. That’s true, too, of senior guard Dupree McBrayer.

The better teams, the ones who advance far in the tournament field, don’t struggle to score points, including three pointers. At 5.2 made three pointers per game, few teams have found shooting beyond the arc any more challenging than Minnesota. Opponents are averaging 6.7 three pointers converted and have 50 more makes than the Gophers.

Bench help?

Pitino has been using fewer reserves in recent weeks. Those subs usually are in for limited minutes to provide short amounts of rest for the starters. They play hard and contribute in subtle ways, but their scoring production is limited. In Minnesota’s 75-73 Big Ten Tournament upset of Purdue on Friday, the bench players produced zero points, while Murphy and Coffey combined for 48 points.

Maybe the Gophers can make a Cinderella run in the tourney but their resume doesn’t support that prediction. As a No. 10 seed they are underdogs against Louisville. If Minnesota wins Thursday, East No. 2 seed Michigan State (ouch) likely awaits the Gophers on Saturday.

Worth Noting

The Gophers are one of eight Big Ten teams invited to the NCAA Tournament. The total is the most in Big Ten history.

Brian Cosgriff, 58, added a seventh girls state tournament title Saturday night as part of his 20 year coaching career at Hopkins, and he told Sports Headliners last week he plans to continue coaching for awhile. His roster is loaded with returnees—14 of 18 players back for next season including daughter Brooke Cosgriff.

Four of five starters return including point guard Paige Bueckers who could turn out to be the best prep player nationally in the class of 2020. Bueckers plays unselfishly on the court, and has given her time to organize a series of free basketball clinics for youth.

Sid Hartman, whose 99th birthday was last Friday, got his first by-lined story in Minneapolis newspapers on November 1, 1944, per his book Sid Hartman’s Great Minnesota Sports Memories. Before going to work as a journalist for the Minneapolis Times for $11.50 per week, Hartman’s previous newspaper work was in high school at Minneapolis North. Still now writing multiple columns per week in Minneapolis, he wrote his first column for the Times on September 13, 1945.

Governor Tim Walz, MLS commissioner Don Garber, the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul and other dignitaries are scheduled to speak this afternoon at the Minnesota United’s ‘Scarf Raising’ ceremony to commemorate the opening of Allianz Field, the privately-financed soccer specific stadium in St. Paul. MNUFC’s home opener at Allianz Field, a nationally televised game on ESPN 2 against New York City FC, will be Saturday, April 13 starting at 4 p.m.

Have to wonder about ticket demand for tomorrow night’s Timberwolves game at Target Center against the defending NBA champion Warriors when Ticket King was promoting $29 tickets via email several days ago. The Wolves per game home attendance average of 14,981 ranks 29th out of 30 teams, per Espn.com.

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Gophers’ Coffey to Test NBA Interest

Posted on March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 by David Shama

Enjoy a mostly basketball notes column, and also offering a Minnesota United update and tribute to the late Bob Klas Sr.

Junior guard-forward Amir Coffey is having his best season for the Golden Gophers, leading the team in points per game at 16 (seventh best in the Big Ten). The versatile 6-foot-8 former Hopkins star has closed the season impressively scoring 31, 32 and 23 points in the last three regular season conference games.

Coffey, who ranks fifth in league games only with a scoring average of 17.6, was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week yesterday with Indiana’s Juwan Morgan. It was the second consecutive week he has won the honor. He had a career high-tying 32 points and eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in Minnesota’s upset win over No. 11 Purdue a week ago. He followed that up with 23 points, six assists, three rebounds and a steal at Maryland on Friday.

Coffey’s scoring and playmaking will be vital in determining whether Minnesota wins its opening Big Ten Tournament game Thursday against Penn State. With either an NCAA Tournament or NIT postseason invitation coming soon for the Gophers, Coffey will play at least a couple more games in a Minnesota uniform, but his career could be closing fast.

Amir’s father, Richard Coffey, told Sports Headliners yesterday that in the weeks ahead the two of them want to determine NBA interest. “He’s a junior, so why not? He’ll look at the process (feedback),” Richard said. “But right now we’re not even talking about those things. We’re just trying to get through the season. There will be plenty of time to have those discussions after the season is over.”

A college underclassman can receive information from the NBA about potential draft status without sacrificing remaining eligibility. Coffey knows he has room for improvement but he is regarded as one of the Big Ten’s best players. His length and versatile skill set allows him to play multiple positions and score inside and out. That projects well in the modern NBA game.

Next season the Gophers could be without four guards who are presently on the roster. Dupree McBrayer and Brock Stull are seniors, while Coffey could leave school early and sophomore Isaiah Washington has prompted speculation he will transfer after not being used in a game since February 24.

Record setting rebounder Jordan Murphy is also counting down his days as a Gopher. The senior will be remembered not only for finishing second all-time in career rebounds in the Big Ten, but also for his character. Gophers radio analyst Spencer Tollackson travels with the team and has a perspective on Murphy many others in the media do not.

“He’s a great kid, man, one of the best,” Tollackson told Sports Headliners. “He’s up there with Andre Hollins for me, as two of my favorite Gophers in the 10 years that I’ve been broadcasting.”

On the court Murphy couldn’t have achieved his Gophers records of most rebounds and double-doubles without a superb work ethic. “He never loafs,” Tollackson said. “Even on nights where he has been off, or not had great numbers, it’s not for lack of effort.”

The Wisconsin Badgers finished their Big Ten regular season Sunday with a win at Ohio State, and the victory secured fourth place in the conference standings. With an overall record of 22-9 and league mark of 14-6, the Badgers are a cinch to be invited to the NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin’s results of the last 20 years are in stark contrast to those of the Gophers. Dating back to the winter of 2000, only once have the Badgers not qualified for the “Big Dance,” and twice they have made it to the Final Four, per annual records on Wikipedia. During that period Wisconsin has won four conference titles and only twice finished lower than fourth place in the standings. Except for the 2017-18 season, Wisconsin has had winning overall and league records all those years.

Minnesota finished in seventh place this winter in the Big Ten with a 9-11 record, the 14th time the Gophers have been under .500 in the last 20 years. Coach Richard Pitino’s conference record in six years of regular season games is 40 wins, 70 losses.

Minnesota has won more than half of its Big Ten games only three times in the last 20 years, and the Gophers’ best finish in the conference standings has been fourth two times. The most recent over .500 success was two years ago with an 11-7 record. If the Gophers play in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, it will be their sixth appearance dating back to 2000.

Hopkins girls basketball coach Brian Cosgriff on junior point guard Paige Bueckers’ as yet unannounced potential college choice: “I think she has something in mind.”

Bueckers is among the elite young talents in the girls basketball world and is a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Her 29-0 Hopkins team plays its opening game in the state tournament tomorrow against Lakeville North at Williams Arena.

The 15 inductees into the Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame for 2019 are: Rocori coach Bob Brink; Bob Bruggers of Danube; New London-Spicer coach Mike Dreier; Norm Grow of Foley; Hal Haskins of Alexandria; Ronnie Henderson of Minneapolis Marshall University; Tracy Henderson of Minneapolis Patrick Henry; Kris Humphries of Hopkins; Aileen Just (Luther) of Rapidan; Coco Miller of Rochester Mayo; Kelly Miller of Rochester Mayo; Hopkins coach Kenny Novak Jr.; Minneapolis Marshall University coach Ed Prohofsky; Kelly Skalicky of Albany; and Bob Zender of Edina.

The inductees will be introduced to the crowd at halftime of the March 26 Timberwolves-Clippers game at Target Center. An inaugural class of 14 was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. More at Mnhsbaskteballhall.com

You can bet the Minnesota United organization is excited about the team’s 2-0 regular season start in the MLS. After two weeks the club has made history with franchise firsts in winning an MLS opener, consecutive road wins and shutting out an opponent on the road. Now in year three of MLS play, the Loons are over .500 for the first time.

The clubs has a league leader in Darwin Quintero who is tied for the most goals with two and is second in assists with three. He has been named to the MLS Team of the Week in the first two weeks of the season.

Condolences to family and friends of Bob Klas Sr. who passed away at age 91 in suburban St. Paul last week. Bob was a friend and inspiration to many including at the Tapemark Company in West St. Paul, an organization he helped build into a major entrepreneurial success.

For nearly 50 years Bob’s name was attached to the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am in the Twin Cities. The inspiration for the tournament was his daughter Frances Klas, who was born mentally retarded in 1951. Bob and wife Sandy Klas learned about organizations available to assist children like Frances, and they wanted to help raise awareness and funds for them.

To accomplish those goals, Bob started the tournament with Tapemark company partner Tom Cody and over the years the Pro-Am has raised millions of dollars to assist agencies serving Minnesotans with developmental disabilities. Bob’s legacy of business success and unselfish charity work will long be remembered.

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