Preps – Page 97 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers 4-Star Recruit a Nice Fit

Posted on February 23, 2015February 24, 2015 by David Shama

Kevin Dorsey is the only Rivals.com four-star recruit in the Gophers’ 2015 class. The point guard from Clinton Christian High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland is also a leading candidate to start for the Gophers next fall.

The Gophers starting point guard for most of this season, DeAndre Mathieu, is a senior. The team’s top shooting guard, Andre Hollins, is also in his last season of eligibility. Minnesota coach Richard Pitino will be looking for replacements and while freshman Nate Mason can play the point he might be a better fit in the starting lineup next season as a shooting guard.

Ryan James, the basketball recruiting authority for Rivals affiliate Gopherillustrated.com, told Sports Headliners that “without a doubt” Dorsey could be one of the Big Ten’s top dozen freshmen next season. James has seen Dorsey play five times and also watched him online.

James said to his knowledge Dorsey is the highest-ranked point guard the Gophers have ever recruited out of high school. While James won’t predict Dorsey as an immediate starter, he is confident the teenager will be a major contributor. “I just know he’s going to get a lot of minutes just because he’s an excellent on-ball defender and off-the-ball-defender, and he’s one of the best pace pushers you will see. I mean he will fly with the basketball in the other direction, and he often ignites it with his own defense.”

At about 5-11, 160, Dorsey certainly doesn’t impress with his stature but his athleticism, including his quickness, draws attention. So, too, does his competitiveness and aggressiveness. “Yes, I don’t think I saw a guy on the summer circuit that played as hard in an AAU-style of game defensively,” James said. “He was always drawing the other team’s best assignment, and that said everything.”

Pitino is an advocate of fast play offensively. Grab the defensive rebound and push the basketball fast toward the Minnesota goal, or create a steal and accelerate into a fast-break. Dorsey sounds like a clone of the point guard prototype for the Pitino system.

“This offense is perfect for him,” James said. “This is exactly the right fit.”

A weakness? James said Dorsey is an okay shooter. “I saw him make jumpers but I think overall he probably has to get better in that regard.”

Dorsey is rated the No. 87 prospect nationally in the class of 2015, according to Rivals.com. In 21 games for Clinton Christian High School he has averaged 22.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 steals, according to Maxpreps.com.

But it’s the eye test that also impresses about Dorsey. James observed that Dorsey wears basketball shorts that are short enough not to bother his knees while trying to move his feet and legs on defense. “He doesn’t care about the shorts. He cares about getting it done, and that’s another reason why people like him.”

While saying to heck with more fashionable longer shorts, Dorsey takes the court to create a frenzy including on offense. “You have to get in front of him or he’s going to hurt you,” James said.

Gophers fans hope he will do some hurting on opponents immediately next fall.

Worth Noting

This observer’s opinion on the Gophers’ chances of winning on Thursday night at Michigan State: 10 percent. Minnesota, 5-10 in the Big Ten, has lost three consecutive games and plays a Spartans team, 10-4, that has won four straight and leads the conference in field goal percentage defense. Coach Tom Izzo has the Spartans on another classic bull run to season’s end.

The Vikings announced this morning the signing of free agent linebacker Brian Peters who played the last two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. In 2014 the former Northwestern player led the Roughriders with 78 tackles, plus he had three sacks, one forced fumble and two interceptions.

The Twins open their home spring training schedule at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers next week with exhibition games against the Gophers March 4 and Red Sox March 5. A dugout box seat costs $15 for the Gophers game but $44 to see the Red Sox. Both games will be telecast on Fox Sports North Plus starting at 6 p.m. Minneapolis time.

Twins second-year slugger Kennys Vargas was listed at No. 25 by USA Today in a February 13 article about “young players primed to make impacts during the major league season.” The 24-year-old designated hitter and first baseman hit .274 with nine home runs and 38 RBI in 215 at bats last season for the Twins. Vargas, 6-5, 290, was the only Twins player listed in the article headlined “The 50 names you need to know.”

Kevin Garnett is 38 but he remains feisty. He was suspended one game last month for head-butting Dwight Howard of the Rockets. Known for his temper when he played for the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2007, Garnett’s altercations with teammates included Wally Szczerbiak and Rick Rickert. Garnett, who was traded by the Nets last week to the Wolves, averaged 5.1 points and 17.4 minutes per game during January. He makes his home debut with the Wolves Wednesday night against the Wizards.

Timberwolves rookie star Andrew Wiggins has his 20th birthday today in Houston where his team plays the Rockets. Wiggins was about five months old when the Wolves drafted Garnett in June of 1995.

Jim Petersen, Timberwolves TV analyst and Lynx assistant coach, turned 53 yesterday. The former Gophers and NBA player was a McDonald’s All-American at St. Louis Park High School. As a prep senior he was also the 1980 Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner.

Gophers football fans can take encouragement from a recruiting analysis article in the February 9 issue of Sports Illustrated. Big Ten powers Michigan State and Wisconsin averaged No. 6 and No. 13 in the final Associated Press rankings from 2010-2014 despite neither program having high enough averages to be in the Rivals.com top 25 team recruiting rankings during the same period.

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Gophers No Cinch for NIT Return

Posted on February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 by David Shama

The possibility draws a yawn from Gophers basketball fans but the team that once had NCAA Tournament goals is now more realistically competing for a spot in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Gophers, 14-9 overall and 3-7 in the Big Ten, have eight remaining regular season conference games including four at home against Purdue, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Penn State. The Gophers must play Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State and Wisconsin on the road. Of those seven opponents, only Northwestern, 1-8, and Penn State, 2-8, have losing records in the Big Ten. The other five teams are a combined 33-15 in league games.

Let’s say the Gophers win four of their final eight regular season games—leaving them at 18-13 overall and 7-11 in league games going into the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago March 11-15. That resume won’t interest the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. To qualify for the “Big Dance” the Gophers probably would need to win all their games in Chicago, earning automatic entry into the NCAA field of teams as the Big Ten Tournament champion. The chances of winning the league tourney are minimal because several conference teams have superior personnel.

If the Gophers win one Big Ten Tournament game before losing a second, the team’s overall record could be 19-14. That probably earns a place in the NIT, the postseason tournament for second level teams.

But what if the Gophers only win three more games? If they went 3-5 in their remaining regular season games and then lost the Big Ten Tournament opener, Minnesota’s record would be 17-15. Last year Indiana finished 17-15 and was left out of the NIT’s 32-team field. A record around .500 is no sure thing to win the approval of the NIT Selection Committee which must include Division I teams that won their regular season league titles but weren’t invited to the NCAA Tournament.

The Gophers have participated in the NIT 14 times and won three championships, although the 1998 title was later vacated because of NCAA violations. Minnesota’s record in 2013-2014 was 25-13, including five consecutive victories in the NIT to win the tourney. With four starters returning, the Gophers looked like a team that could finish among the top six in the Big Ten standings and be selected for the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota breezed through a mostly unchallenging nonconference schedule, playing 10 games at home and compiling an 11-2 record with impressive team numbers in steals and assists.

But the Gophers haven’t recovered from a slow start in the Big Ten with a schedule that had them playing three of their first four games on the road. Minnesota also lost its first two home games on the way to a 0-5 start.

Despite the disappointing record to date of 3-7 in the Big Ten, the Gophers have played competitively. Minnesota has lost six conference games by a total of 21 points.

What’s the problem? The Gophers need to be better defensively. They rank ninth among conference teams in points given up per game (league play only) at 66.3 points per game.

A major issue is defensive stops when needed, particularly late in games. That’s not just on the defense because other teams get second and third shots by out rebounding Minnesota. The Gophers rank 13th out of 14 teams in defensive rebounding.

The Gophers have created problems for themselves, too, with excessive fouling and giving opponents free throws. Also, Minnesota’s free throw percentage of .665 ranks 11th in the league.

Despite the struggles, coach Richard Pitino likes his team’s attitude. Since the 0-5 start, the Gophers are 3-2, with home wins over Rutgers, Illinois and Nebraska. “They’ve never really felt sorry for themselves, and just found a way to win,” Pitino said. “That’s the way it’s gotta be with our guys.”

Gophers senior point guard DeAndre Mathieu said if the team becomes better defensively they can beat anybody. “We definitely aren’t down on ourselves. We feel like we can win a few games.”

The Gophers played last Saturday against Nebraska and for the first time this winter don’t have a midweek Big Ten game. The rest is welcome during a long season when fatigue and nuisance injuries can pile up. “These guys are banged up,” Pitino said. “It’s never been a question of effort, so they need that break because we don’t have a lot of depth right now.”

The Gophers play a physical Purdue team tomorrow led by twin-monsters Isaac Haas (7-foot-2) and A.J. Hammons (7-feet). In the season opener at Purdue Hammons hurt the Gophers the most, with 11 points and nine rebounds in the Boilermakers’ 72-68 win.

The Gophers need different results tomorrow, because—strange as it is to write on February 6—this team is playing for an NIT invite more than anything else right now.

Worth Noting

Timberwolves Rookie of the Year candidate Andrew Wiggins and Gophers center Mo Walker, both natives of Canada, know each other. “We’re pretty cool,” Walker said. “Like if I see him, I’ll say, ‘What’s up?’ He’ll say, ‘What’s up?’ He knows who I am and I know who he is.”

The Gophers football team opens its 2015 schedule on Thursday, September 3 against national championship contender TCU, but Michigan and Wisconsin have interesting first weekend games, too. The Wolverines will have a rare road opener at Utah on September 3 in a game sure to draw a boisterous crowd in Salt Lake City. The Badgers play Alabama, another national title hopeful, on Saturday, September 5 at neutral site AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

A hockey source told Sports Headliners he believes the Wild will “make several million” dollars from the outdoor game (NHL Stadium Series) scheduled for next winter at TCF Bank Stadium. The February 21 game against the Blackhawks—the Wild’s first outdoor game at home—can be a revenue stimulus for ticket sales and other income sources.

The source said the game represents a tryout for the Wild to one day host the prestigious and even more lucrative Winter Classic outdoor game held annually in a host NHL city during early January. The NHL’s Stadium Series and the Winter Classic are national TV attractions, generating revenues for the league and NBC TV.

The Wild has won four consecutive games. New goalie Devan Dubnyk has given up only four goals in the last five games. After a slow start before the NHL All-Star Game break, the Wild are trying to recover and make the playoffs. “They’ve got a lot of ground to make up,” the source said.

Minnesota State University, Mankato is the No. 1 ranked men’s college hockey team in the polls. Coach Mike Hastings might be the hottest college hockey coaching name in the country now. During the next couple years the Mavericks may have to fight to keep Hastings who reportedly annually earns $225,000. He is considered an outstanding communicator who relates effectively to players and others.

The Minnesota Minute Men announced the 10 candidates (high school seniors only) for the 31st Annual Mr. Hockey Award: Jack Achcan (Burnsville), Will Borgen (Moorhead), Dixon Bowen (East Grand Forks), Jake Jaremko (Elk River), Dylan Malmquist (Edina), Jack Poehling (Lakeville North), Nick Poehling (Lakeville North), Jack Sadek (Lakeville North), Peter Tufto (Saint Thomas Academy) and Christiano Versich (Saint Thomas Academy). Stephen Headrick (Breck) and Dyllan Lubbesmeyer (Burnsville) are the finalists for The Frank Brimsek Award in recognition of the state’s top senior goaltender. The 31st annual Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet will be held at noon on Sunday, March 8 at the Grand Ballroom at RiverCentre.

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Kill: Gophers Get a Quarterback ‘Steal’

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

Demry Croft was the first player asked about when Jerry Kill was interviewed this afternoon on the Big Ten Network’s “Signing Day Special.” Kill said the 6-5, 200-pound quarterback from Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois showed him impressive attributes at the Gophers summer camp last year including a “very, very strong arm,” length and speed.

“Very blessed in my opinion (to get him),” Kill said on BTN. “He’s a steal…we got him into camp and we could see what he could do. He had a good senior year. You look around the league, you better have an athletic guy that can run and throw it, and this young man can.”

Gopherillustrated.com recruiting authority Ryan Burns praised Croft in a Sports Headliners’ column last Sunday. He said Croft, who threw for over 2,000 yards last season and had only four interceptions, may eventually be the best of any quarterbacks signed by Big Ten schools in 2015.

BTN program host Mike Hall asked Kill to identify a player that hadn’t been mentioned during a brief introduction of the Gophers recruiting class. Kill answered that he is excited to see running back Jonathan Femi-Cole practice with the Gophers. He noted a lot of people probably don’t know about Cole because he is from Canada but said the 6-1, 218-pound game-breaker has “tremendous upside.”

Last week Burns identified (in addition to Croft) two other Gopher recruits who particularly intrigue him. He said Jasper, Georgia running back Shannon Brooks could earn playing time as a true freshman. Brooks gained 2,223 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry his senior year of high school, according to Gopherillustrated.com. Burns said Brooks led the state of Georgia in rushing.

“He’s got a lot of explosive ability,” Burns said. “He’s a really big kid; he’s 5-11, 205. He’s got a lot of good burst, a lot of good speed. I think he could potentially come in and compete right away.”

Ray Buford, from Southfield, Michigan, is a good athlete and another player who has Burns’ interest. He likens the 6-2, 190-pound Buford to Gophers cornerback Eric Murray who probably will be among the Big Ten’s best secondary defenders next fall. “I think if you were to project him, he could be a taller Eric Murray (6 foot) down the line,” Burns said. “He’s got a lot of ability. He can run well. He’s got good length.”

The Gophers’ class of 24 signed recruits that was announced today includes five offensive linemen and six secondary players. Those are two areas of need Kill mentioned on BTN. He believes the staff was successful in signing “big and athletic” linemen who will help in the future. A year from now the Gophers will lose four defensive backs so the secondary received emphasis in recruiting, too. “I think they’re very talented, like the group we have right now,” Kill said.

Offensive lineman Tyler Moore, a guard-center from Galena Park, Texas, drew the attention today of BTN analyst Howard Griffith. “…When he decides to lock on to somebody, you’re not going anywhere,” Griffith said. “He’s going to drive you to the ground. He’s got a lot of nasty in him.”

Kill said on WCCO Radio’s “Sports Huddle” program Sunday that because of increased depth and quality he turned down a prospective recruit at a position he didn’t identify—a first for Kill at Minnesota. “I think every year we have improved in our recruiting classes,” he said.

The Gophers, 8-5 in their fourth year under Kill in 2014, continue to attract more size, strength, speed and length among recruits. Recruiting director Billy Glasscock was recognized last month by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming as one of five outstanding national directors of operations for 2014.

A player the Gophers didn’t get today is Chicago Raby High School defensive tackle Jamal Milan. He told the Chicagotribune.com today that he chose Illinois (over the Gophers and others) because he was most “comfortable” with the Illini program.

Worth Noting

The Gophers didn’t have any players on Btn.com’s list of the Big Ten’s top 20 recruits but former Cretin-Derham Hall defensive tackle Jashon Cornell who signed with Ohio State was ranked No. 7. Cornell has superb physical skills but will also need consistency to play for the Buckeyes.

Parade Magazine had an interesting selection on its February 1 high school football All-America team. Kellen Overstreet from Penney High School in Hamilton, Missouri is one of the wide receivers and he accepted a scholarship to play for coach Craig Bohl at Wyoming, an obscure program entering its second season led by the former FCS national championship coach at North Dakota State. Overstreet ran for 4,259 yards and 70 touchdowns his senior year, one less than the national record for a single season, according to a February 2 story on Wyosports.net. Overstreet, though, is only listed as a two-star player by Rivals.com and had scholarship offers from Air Force and four FCS schools, according to Wyosports.net.

Sunday’s Super Bowl drew a record 114.4 million viewers and during the regular season the NFL dominated television numbers with the most watched programming. But you can be sure there were Sunday viewers who wondered about football’s future. Youth football participation has been trending down nationally because of safety concerns, most notably the potential for concussions.

Awhile ago PBS’s “Frontline” program offered a sobering look at the results of blows to the head caused by football. The media attention to the problem is growing and on January 25 the Los Angeles Times published a front page story headlined: “The hits that loosen NFL’s grip—Effects of football violence threaten its status as America’s game.”

Gophers women’s basketball center Amanda Zahui B. has 16 double-doubles this season in 22 games. Her most recent effort was 13 points and 15 rebounds on Sunday when the Gophers (17-5, 6-4 in the Big Ten) lost to Northwestern. Monday she was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after averaging 14.5 points, 14 rebounds, eight rebounds and 2.5 steals last week.

Last week espnW included Zahui B. on its midseason All-America team. The website referred to the Gophers as the midseason’s “biggest surprise,” and coach Marlene Stollings as a coach of the year candidate.

The men’s basketball Gophers had an announced crowd of 13,253 for last Saturday night’s game against Nebraska. In 15 home dates this season, the Gophers haven’t sold out a game after having four capacity crowds at Williams Arena last season.

The Gophers, with a disappointing 3-7 Big Ten record after going 11-2 in nonconference games, likely will sell out one game when Wisconsin plays here on March 5. As of yesterday several hundred tickets remained for the game in Williams Arena, capacity 14,625.

The 20th annual Minnesota Vikings Arctic Blast Snowmobile Rally to help raise money for the Vikings Children’s Fund will be Friday-Sunday in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The event features current and former Vikings players along with team executives. Among current players scheduled (subject to change) are Brandon Fusco, Charles Johnson, Everson Griffen, Phil Loadholt, Kyle Rudolph, Harrison Smith and Adam Thielen.

Former Twins marketing executive Patrick Klinger has helped organize the new Capital Club featuring local sports authorities as speakers. The club meets on selected mornings at Town & Country Club in St. Paul. Twins manager Paul Molitor speaks on February 11. The event will include a buffet breakfast from 7 to 7:30 a.m. and is open to the public. For more information contact patrickklinger@klingercompany.com.

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