NCAA – Page 137 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Yeo: Wild Need ‘Game 7’ Effort Now

Posted on May 4, 2015May 4, 2015 by David Shama

Weekend notes and opinions on the Wild, Vikings, Gophers and Twins.

Wild coach Mike Yeo doesn’t understate the importance of tomorrow night’s Game 3 against the Blackhawks at Xcel Energy Center. “We have to treat it like a Game 7 right now,” he said.

A frustrated Yeo made that comment at his news conference last night when the Wild fell behind the Blackhawks 2-0 in their second round Stanley Cup playoffs series. Yeo, talking on KFAN Radio from his Chicago news conference, expressed confidence in winning the series but even a casual fan knows the Wild will be all but ready to make summer vacation plans if the team trails 3-0 in the series after tomorrow night.

The Wild fell behind 2-0 against the Blackhawks the last two years and lost both series. Minnesota will need a much better performance tomorrow night than in Game 2 in Chicago. The Wild made too many mistakes including turnovers with the puck and produced one goal (Matt Dumba) during a 4-1 loss. The Wild weren’t sharp including a lax approach on defense.

“I think we were focused on (getting) the win and not focused on the things we need to do,” Yeo said.

The Wild scored three goals in Game 1 in Chicago as the Blackhawks won 4-3 on Friday night. Last evening the team’s playmakers were even less productive. Will there be lineup changes?

Yeo acknowledged he will review a lot of things today but it didn’t sound like personnel changes are forthcoming. “It wasn’t a personnel thing. It was a between the ears thing tonight.”

The Wild has played in 10 playoff series in franchise history and has a 2-8 record in opening games including five overtime Game 1 losses. The Wild has never won a playoff game in Chicago. The Wild’s 4-3 first game loss to the Blackhawks on Friday night was the first time Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk had lost when his team scored at least three goals. Dubnyk had been 22-0-1.

The Wild will host free pre-game parties for fans prior to home playoff games this week outside Gate 2 at Xcel Energy Center. The pre-game party for Game 3 tomorrow night will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday’s pre-game activities will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

NHL alums and Minnesota natives Dave Christian (Warroad), Ben Hankinson (Edina), Reed Larson (Minneapolis) and Dave Snuggerud (Minnetonka) will sign autographs tomorrow night at the party from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer’s commitment to defense was reinforced during the 2015 NFL Draft. The team’s first three selections were all defensive players, although the club has multiple personnel needs on offense.

First round draft choice Trae Waynes, along with third-year player Xavier Rhodes, gives the Vikings a potential pair of shutdown corners. When cornerbacks don’t need much support from teammates in pass coverage, the defense turns a weakness into a strength.

“You can do numerous things that allow you to attack offenses,” Zimmer said. “But when you have to help a guy or protect a guy—use some more of your guys than you really would like to—then it makes it more difficult.”

Waynes described Zimmer as a “DB guru.” Zimmer’s NFL experiences include being an assistant coach with the Cowboys where he coached all-time great cornerback Deion Sanders. “He coached up Deion, he coached up some other good corners, as well,” Waynes said. “If he can make me into half the player Deion Sanders is, I think we will be pretty good.”

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden raised a concern about Waynes Thursday night when he said the cornerback’s tackling sometimes is a “liability.” That’s a surprising comment since Waynes played for two defensive taskmasters at Michigan State, head coach Mark Dantonio and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi.

Waynes attended Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sports Headliners reader and Gophers football historian Dana Marshall e-mailed that Bradford’s football alums include Melvin Gordon III, a first round selection by the Chargers last week, and Alan “The Horse” Ameche who won the 1954 Heisman Trophy at Wisconsin and also played for the NFL’s Colts. Waynes and Gordon played together at Bradford.

Waynes is projected to receive a $11,567,500 deal from the Vikings, according to a Friday story on NFL compensation for first rounders by Jason Belzer of Forbes.com.

That was Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater announcing the ceremonial “riders up” prior to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Bridgewater was introduced to the crowd and NBC TV audience as the “former Louisville quarterback”—no mention of the Vikings.

Sports Illustrated’s April 20 NFL Draft issue projected ex-Gopher Maxx Williams as the first tight end being taken in the draft, with the Broncos choosing him at No. 28 in the first round. Reality is he was the first tight end selected but the Ravens chose him at No. 23 in the second round, the 55th overall pick. Although Williams’ pass catching is reminiscent of Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, he was targeted with some concerns on his Nfl.com/draft profile page including the need for additional strength, and “limited feel and instincts as a move blocker.”

Williams is likely to receive guaranteed money from the Ravens but as a second round draft choice he will get a lot less (perhaps a $2 million-plus deal) than the projected $7,746,750 that Forbes.com expects the No. 28 pick selection (guard Laken Tomlinson) to earn. Tomlinson played at Duke and was drafted by the Lions.

The Gophers had four players drafted—the most in one year since 2006. In addition to Williams, linebacker Damien Wilson was selected in the fourth round by the Cowboys, while running back David Cobb and safety Cedric Thompson were fifth round choices of the Titans and Dolphins. The 1950 NFL Draft was the last time Minnesota had four players selected in the first five rounds. Among Big Ten schools, the Gophers and Michigan State with four each had the most players selected during the first five rounds of the 2015 draft.

Congratulations to organizers of the 8th Annual Minnesota Football Honors event held last night at the Hilton Minneapolis. The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame recognized many Minnesotans for their high school, college and professional achievements. Among those honored were former Saint John’s coach John Gagliardi and members of his 1965 NAIA national championship team. Vikings award winners recognized were Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings Children’s Fund Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year; Chad Greenway, Community Man of the Year; Everson Griffen, Defensive Player of the Year; and Andrew Sendejo, Special Teams Player of the Year. The Gophers David Cobb was honored with the Bobby Bell College Impact Player Award. For a list of award winners, including scholar-athletes, visit Minnesotafootballhonors.com.

Whether Florida pursues Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino probably comes down to if the Gators can interest bigger names in their opening, and what athletic director Jeremy Foley thinks of Pitino based on the young coach’s work in Gainesville a few years ago as an assistant to Billy Donovan who has moved on to coach the NBA’s Thunder.

Coming off the departure of five seniors and a 6-12 Big Ten record last season, the Gophers now are an early choice to finish at or near the bottom of the conference standings in 2016. The roster is in transition and lots of names are on Pitino’s recruiting list, but know this for sure: he needs to reverse the trend of Minnesota’s best preps playing elsewhere. That’s code for landing Amir Coffey from Hopkins High School in 2016 and Gary Trent, Jr. from Apple Valley in 2017.

The Twins top prospect, outfielder Byron Buxton, is hitting better now at Double A Chattanooga. His average is at .287 and he is batting .432 in his last 10 games. He has struggled with hitting certain types of pitches this spring but remains likely to one day be the Twins center fielder.

The Twins have won four consecutive games to go one game over .500 with a 13-12 record. The starting pitchers have a record of 4-0 with a 2.91 ERA in their last six starts.

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50% of Coach Kill’s Time Spent Recruiting

Posted on April 16, 2015April 16, 2015 by David Shama

Gophers football notes.

The Gophers coaches finished spring practice last Saturday and won’t be engaged in formal practices on the field with players until August, but this is a busy time with various tasks including recruiting. The NCAA allows college football assistants to be on the road recruiting now and head coaches like the Gophers Jerry Kill can recruit via telephone during this period of the spring.

Kill told Sports Headliners recruiting is a 365 days activity, and he and his staff spend 50 percent of their collective time each year in that process including evaluation and contact with potential Gophers. He said the football office receives approximately 5,500 e-mails annually regarding recommended prospects.

From all their research the staff has to figure out who they want as players and who will accept Gophers scholarships. Multiple players each year also agree to walk-on without a scholarship. Kill has eventually rewarded some walk-ons with scholarships.

The Gophers have several verbal commitments for the class of 2016 but much more work remains before high school players can sign National Letters of Intent next winter. “Right now in recruiting, it’s a critical time,” Kill said.

Kill’s staff will be visiting areas of the country where high school players have spring practices. That aids the evaluation process but spring practices don’t go on in Minnesota so Kill’s summer camps are vital to the evaluation process, and possible scholarship offers.

The Gophers coaches evaluated existing personnel on their roster yesterday morning. Sometimes after several weeks of spring practices players are moved to different positions, but not now. “We’re not moving anybody,” Kill said.

Kill’s health has gained attention during his time at Minnesota but the news is all good now. “I have been seizure free for 18 months,” he said.

The coach praises epilepsy special Dr. Brien Smith from Grand Rapids, Michigan for helping him. In addition to medication, Kill tries to walk every day and is diligent about eating at regular intervals.

Kill’s youngest daughter, Tasha, 24, will be married in Marion, Illinois on May 23 to Jason Hines.

The Gophers aren’t boasting but a visitor at spring practices developed the impression players and coaches might be thinking Minnesota will have one of the Big Ten’s best defenses next season. “I think there’s a very good chance,” Hank Ekpe told Sports Headliners. “We’ve been working hard all spring. We’ve been committed to what coach Kill is saying and what coach Tracy Claeys has been telling us. I think we’ll have a very good defense.”

Ekpe, a junior defensive end next season, was a force in the spring game last Saturday. His older brother Scott Ekpe, a senior in the fall, could replace the graduating Cameron Botticelli at starting defensive tackle. The Ekpes were starters together at Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas and could be regulars next fall, too.

Rodrick Williams, who will be a senior next season and likely the Gophers No. 1 running back going into August practices, is determined to maintain his weight at about 227 pounds after dropping 20 pounds since last season. He wants to avoid many carbohydrates. “…Like Little Debbie Snack Cakes,” Williams said, offering an example. “Too much bread, stuff like that.”

The 5-foot-11 Williams, who backed up David Cobb last year, said he’s faster than when he broke off late season touchdown runs against Nebraska and Missouri. “I still got my power. Little quicker, and I can move a little better, and I don’t get tired as quickly.”

The Big Ten Network announced this week there will be six Saturday night primetime football games including Minnesota at Iowa on November 14.

Worth Noting

Congratulations on another “great catch” by former Gophers and Vikings tight end Doug Kingsriter who is engaged to Kim Deason. Both are living in the Dallas area.

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame hosts its 8th Annual Minnesota Football Honors event May 3 at the Hilton Minneapolis. The event is open to the public and sponsored by the Vikings. The NFL club will announce its team awards for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Man of the Year, and Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

The following individuals will be presented awards by the Minnesota chapter: Tom Obarski, Concordia-St. Paul, Bob Stein Scholar-Athlete; David Cobb, Gophers, Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year; David and Janis Larson, Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan; retired coach Dick Hanson, Burnsville High School, John Gagliardi Legacy; Mike Max, WCCO radio & TV, Sid Hartman Media; Josh Benson, Hinckley-Finlayson, Courage; Garrett Gardner, St. Paul Central High School, Stacy Robinson Leadership; Nicole Dailey, University of Minnesota, Cheerleader.

Scholar-athlete award winners will be Trey Anderson, White Bear Lake Area High School; Tom Auger, St. Cloud Cathedral High School; Ben Ellefson, Hawley High School; Gunnar Grimsrud, Rochester Mayo High School; Ismael Kamara, Harding High School; Taylor Ottersetter, Mayer Lutheran High School; Ben Shoults, Maple Grove High School; John Solberg, Cambridge-Isanti High School; Mitchell Stangel, Crosby-Ironton High School.

The event includes a social hour starting at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards program. More at Minnesotafootballhonors.com.

The St. Thomas football team will take a 13-day trip to Italy this summer with stops in several cities including Rome and Naples. An NCAA foreign travel policy allows the trip and coach Glenn Caruso’s Tommies will have a special cultural experience and also play a game against Giaguaire Torino.

The Big Ten placed two teams in this year’s Final Four and the conference could be impressive next season too. Sports Illustrated writer Seth Davis issued his “Way-Too-Early College Basketball Top 25” April 8 and included six Big Ten teams: Maryland, No. 5; Michigan State, No. 8; Indiana, No. 9; Michigan, No. 16, Wisconsin, No. 17; Purdue, No. 19. Virginia was No. 1, and Iowa State, coached by former Timberwolves guard Fred Hoiberg, ranked No. 6.

Tonight’s opening Stanley Cup playoffs game for the Wild and Blues is historic. The two franchises have never played against each other in the playoffs, although the North Stars and St. Louis competed in nine series. The last of those series was in 1991 when coach Bob Gainey’s Stars defeated the Blues in Game Six behind two goals from Bobby Smith.

Women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings today announced the signing of 6-foot-1 forward Kynadi Johnson and 6-foot-3 center Karley Barnes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Gophers beginning next season. Johnson is a transfer from Butler Community College in Kansas and Barnes is a transfer from Tallahassee Community College in Florida.

The Minnesota State High School League kicks off a 100-year celebration Friday and Saturday at the State Speech Tournament at Lakeville North High School. The Minnesota State High School Athletic Association, the forerunner of the MSHL, began in April of 1916. Today the MSHL annually serves over 400 high schools, and more than 200,000 participants in 42 activities. The 100-year celebration will extend into 2016.

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Advice to Tyus Jones: Stay at Duke

Posted on April 10, 2015April 10, 2015 by David Shama

Bill Fitch coached the Celtics to a world championship and is among the winningest coaches in NBA history. His advice for Tyus Jones is stay at Duke and not declare for the NBA Draft as a college freshman.

The 2015 NBA Draft will be held June 25 and college underclassmen must declare for the draft at least 60 days prior. Jones—chosen the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after leading Duke to the NCAA title last Monday night—will in the days ahead counsel with family members and others about whether to leave college after one season.

Mock NBA drafts have Jones listed as a first round pick. Draftexpress.com projects the former Apple Valley High School point guard being selected No. 21. First round draft choices receive guaranteed money, and the NBA’s predetermined compensation scale results in the No. 21 pick receiving $1,210,000 as a rookie, according to Draftexpress.

Fitch, who coached the Gophers before a long NBA career that ended in 1998, still closely follows college and pro teams. He didn’t hesitate when asked about Jones’ future. “Mentally and physically he’s better off where he’s at (Duke),” Fitch told Sports Headliners.

Jones is only 18 years old and turns 19 in May. Although the Duke website lists him at 6-1, 190-pounds, he is probably smaller. Another year or two of college basketball won’t make him taller but a weight program can make the Blue Devils point guard stronger and eventually better equipped to deal with the grown men in the NBA, some of whom are nine inches taller and 100 pounds heavier. A strong and more mature body can also help any player deal with the physically demanding pro schedule of 82 games.

The mental challenges for Jones and other young players come both on and off the court. There’s a lot to learn about basketball, including a new system of X’s and Os, and adjusting to teammates, and probably sitting on the bench instead of starting. Off the court, there are the temptations of the NBA life that can include too many social interactions with the wrong kinds of people.

Fitch said Jones faces a backlog of NBA talent that the Minnesota teenager would have to compete with for playing time. He implied there are young players who are already waiting for court time, or guys starting that shouldn’t because they’re not ready. His advice for Jones is don’t get caught up in grabbing the NBA money too soon. “A guy is always going to be worth what he is now, or more,” Fitch said.

It’s been Jones’ dream to play in the NBA but Fitch doesn’t think there is a single league team that will use him immediately as a starter. “There are too many (players) sitting in the league that have talent at that position,” he said.

Jones scored 23 points, including 19 in the second half, to lead Duke to a 68-63 win over Wisconsin on Monday night. He showed in the championship game and during other big moments this season he delivers when the pressure is the biggest. He’s an extraordinary playmaker and more accurate outside shooter than often given credit for, but he needs to become a better defensive player and could have a difficult time against taller and more physical NBA point guards.

Jones will no doubt seek the counsel of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski about leaving school early. Coach “K” has coached five national championship teams at Duke and two Olympic gold medal teams led by NBA players. He is the right man to give Jones advice. Before coaching Jones this season at Duke, he watched him play in high school and AAU ball. Jones and other top American high school players scrimmaged against the 2012 Olympic team so Krzycewski knows his freshman point guard well.

Jones is part of a super freshmen group at Duke that includes center Jahlil Okafor and forward Justise Winslow. Okafor is likely to be the first or second player taken in June’s NBA Draft, while Winslow is projected in the top 10 for sure. Those teammates are close friends, dating back to AAU days. Okafor has declared for the draft and Winslow could soon. Their decisions will influence Jones and his thinking about the future. The three played so much together for different USA national basketball teams that they are far from your typical freshmen when it comes to experience.

The first 14 players chosen in the NBA Draft are known as lottery picks because of the lottery system determining the order of first round selections. Lottery picks receive guaranteed money that can be three to four times more than late first round choices get. Lottery picks are also likelier to receive more playing time than late selections who can one day find themselves riding a bus in the NBA Development League.

A back road bus experience in the basketball minors is a long way from Duke and the glory of a national championship.

Worth Noting

Jones was surrounded by family while leading Duke to the national championship in Indianapolis on Monday but unfortunately Dennis Deutsch, his mom’s father, died last year. Jones revered his grandfather and it would have meant so much for Dennis to be in Indianapolis.

Minnesota-based Jostens will certainly be a contender to secure the order for Duke’s national championship rings. The company provided the 2010 national title rings for the Blue Devils. Former Gophers captain Al Nuness secured that order working for Jostens and will be involved again this spring soliciting business from Duke. Nuness and Krzyzewski knew each other as high school basketball players in the Chicago area.

Fitch thought highly of three Final Four teams—Duke, Kentucky and Wisconsin. “I think if you played it over any one of the three teams could win it (the title),” he said. “Kentucky without a doubt had a little more talent. Duke a little more coaching.”

Although the Spurs have struggled this season, Fitch likes the chances of the defending NBA champions emerging from the Western Conference playoffs and advancing to the Finals. That championship matchup could be Spurs versus Cavs.

David Cobb, the Gophers record setting senior running back last season, will have his Pro Day at the University of Minnesota on Monday. Cobb had a quad injury and missed the Gophers Pro Day last month attended by some of his former Minnesota teammates and NFL personnel evaluators.

Tanner Oakes Photo courtesy of Augsburg College. — Tanner Oakes
Photo courtesy of Augsburg College.

The Oakes family from Jordan, Minnesota can be described as the state’s “first family” of pitching. Patriarch Todd Oakes is in his 17th season as Gophers pitching coach. Oldest son Tyler pitched for the Gophers and is now pitching coach at North Dakota State. Middle son T.J. also pitched for Minnesota and is head baseball coach at Legacy Christian Academy in Andover. Youngest son Tanner, a senior at Augsburg, is one of the best pitchers in the MIAC and Division III.

The Wild set home franchise attendance records this regular season, drawing 779,974 for 41 games with average attendance of 19,024. All games sold out, with 31 exceeding 19,000 in attendance. Official Xcel Energy Center capacity for hockey is 17,954 but standing-room-only tickets allow for additional capacity.

Draftsite.com projects 6-5 center Amanda Zahui B. will become the second player selected in the WNBA Draft next Thursday. Tulsa has the second pick but the Lynx no doubt would like to move up from No. 11 and choose Zahui B., who announced earlier this week she will enter the draft and give up her final two seasons of eligibility with the Gophers. The Lynx are looking for more size behind backup center Janel McCarville, the ex-Gopher. Any franchise in the WNBA will welcome Zahui B. who twice last season approached 30 rebounds for coach Marlene Stollings’ team.

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