Timberwolves – Page 77 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Izzo, Dutcher Positive on U in Big Ten

Posted on December 30, 2016December 30, 2016 by David Shama

Michigan State coaching legend Tom Izzo and former Minnesota Big Ten championship coach Jim Dutcher are impressed with the Gophers.

Izzo, an eight-time national coach of the year, talked to Sports Headliners about the Gophers after his Spartans defeated Minnesota 75-74 in overtime on Tuesday night in Williams Arena. “They’re a good team,” Izzo said. “They’ve got (big) bodies and they’ve got good guard play. (They) don’t always shoot it great, (but teams have) gotta have some weakness—we got about five.

“We just happened to find a way to win. They were the better team most of tonight. I think Rich (Pitino) has done a hell of a job with them now. I think he’s got them headed in the right direction. They’ve won a lot of games. They didn’t play all (nonconference) cupcakes either. This was a tough physical game and I am sure they will learn from it, just like we will.”

The Gophers are 12-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten under fourth-year coach Richard Pitino who was 2-16 in league games last season. The Gophers added new players during the offseason and key returnees have also helped improve a team that lost its first 13 conference games during 2015-2016. “I just think they’ve got a good blend of talent,” said Dutcher, who coached the Gophers to the 1982 Big Ten title.

Dutcher likes the quality of Minnesota’s eight-man rotation and sees not only a more talented team than last season but one with better size. There’s something else of importance he mentioned, too. “I think they’re a better defensive team than they were,” he said.

Dutcher predicts the Gophers will have a 9-9 conference record and could make the NCAA Tournament. In Minnesota’s favor in being able to earn a tournament invite for the first time since 2013 is that the Big Ten doesn’t look all that imposing. “Top to bottom it’s not a great league,” Dutcher said about the Big Ten, a conference without a top 10 ranked team.

The Gophers will finish seventh in the Big Ten after Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan State and Ohio State, Dutcher predicted. Behind the Gophers will be Michigan, Maryland, Northwestern, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Rutgers and Penn State.

Minnesota missed a big opportunity by not winning Tuesday after the Gophers couldn’t hold a 39-26 halftime lead. The Spartans came into the game without their best player in freshman guard-forward Miles Bridges. Michigan State, which has won one national title and made seven Final Four appearances in 21 previous seasons under Izzo, arrived in Minneapolis with an uncharacteristic 8-5 record, although the schedule included nonconference games with national toughies Duke, Kentucky, Arizona.

Now the Gophers must play four of their next five league games on the road, starting with Sunday at nationally-ranked Purdue, 12-2 and 1-0. The Gophers certainly can’t start the conference schedule 0-6 and still have solid NCAA Tournament ambitions. Dutcher doesn’t think they will, with early opportunities for wins probably coming at Northwestern January 5 and at Penn State January 14. Minnesota’s next home game, January 8 with Ohio State, is already a circle it date too. “My view is there are a lot of wins to be had in this league,” Dutcher said.

The Gophers were out worked and gave up too many scores near the basket in the second half of the MSU game but Dutcher said it wasn’t like Pitino’s team “laid an egg” in the game. Dutcher isn’t discouraged by the loss. “It’s not so much about what Minnesota did wrong, as what Michigan State did right,” he said.

Last season the Gophers had issues on and off the court. Pitino said after the nonconference schedule ended that his team had made progress but acknowledged more progress awaits. “Our guys have worked really, really hard to climb out of the gutter off the court, on the court, all those things to get everybody’s respect back. …We trusted that we’d be better. We’re better but we still got a long way to go.”

Izzo Storytelling on Flip Saunders

Flip Saunders (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves)

Izzo confirmed what other friends of the late Flip Saunders have said about Saunders coming close to accepting the Gophers job in the spring of 2013. The former Gophers guard in the 1970s was between coaching opportunities in the NBA back then and Saunders ultimately decided he didn’t want to work for athletics director Norwood Teague, according to a top source.

“Flip loved the Gophers,” Izzo told Sports Headliners. “His passion for Minnesota in general was off the charts, and the University was just even more off the charts.”

Izzo and Saunders forged a friendship over the years including when Saunders coached the NBA Pistons in Detroit. At Saunders’ funeral in 2015 Izzo read from the Bible during the service for his friend who died at age 60 from cancer.

“I miss him,” Izzo said about the former Timberwolves executive and coach. “I miss the late night calls. He always had some good plays for me.

“I can honestly say I loved the guy. I still feel for Debbie (Saunders’ wife) and I stay in touch with Ryan (his son and Timberwolves assistant). I am proud of what he is doing.

“But to have had Flip in the league (the Big Ten) would have been an honor. It really would have been.”

Izzo recalled working to recruit Apple Valley High School point guard Tyus Jones for a couple of years. Izzo laughed about how Saunders evolved from helping the Spartans, to becoming more interested in the prep All-American choosing Minnesota as Saunders started to seriously consider the Gophers job. “Are you helping me, or are you helping yourself?” he asked his buddy.

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Vikings Griffen Lauds Zimmer’s Courage

Posted on December 16, 2016December 16, 2016 by David Shama

Vikings tough guy Everson Griffen voiced admiration for coach Mike Zimmer yesterday. Griffen, a seven-year pro, has played for a lot of coaches during his high school, college and NFL career. “He’s the most courageous,” the Vikings defensive end told Sports Headliners yesterday. “He’s just a great coach to play for.”

Zimmer’s multiple eye surgeries this fall have stopped him from coaching in only one game, a loss against Dallas on December 1. Zimmer flew to Jacksonville last week and coached the Vikings to a 25-16 victory over the Jaguars. He has been wearing a patch over his right eye in practice this week but will coach against the Colts on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“It was hard not to have him on the sidelines for the Cowboys game,” fullback Zach Line told Sports Headliners. “It felt like things were back to normal when he was travelling with us last week.”

What was different when Zimmer didn’t coach in the Dallas game? “I think just having your leader there changes everything,” Line said. “He’s definitely the guy we look to on the sidelines and in the locker room at halftime.”

Griffen, a 2016 Pro Bowler known for his aggressive style, finds Zimmer inspirational. “He’s a tough guy. He loves the game of football. He was going to find any solution to get back on the field with us.” …

Sam Bradford (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Despite the team’s offensive line being in disarray because of injuries, and a running game that is among the worst in pro football, Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford has a career-best 98.2 passer rating. Bradford, 29, has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.

Bradford ranks eighth in the NFL in passer rating. In six of his 12 games his passer rating has been over 100. He’s given the Vikings their best passing season since Brett Favre’s lights-out 2009 season.

The offensive line didn’t allow a sack in last Sunday’s win over the Jaguars. “Those guys played great last week,” Bradford said. “They went out there and they just blocked their butts off, both in the run game and in the pass game. I thought they did a great job, and I couldn’t be more proud of those guys. …” …

Don’t be surprised if 11-year veteran Chad Greenway waits until spring before deciding whether to retire. Expect a well thought out decision by the Vikings linebacker on whether to play another season. …

When the Vikings play the Colts Sunday it will be a homecoming for Minnesota native Joe Haeg who played high school football in Brainerd. The rookie offensive tackle and guard, a fifth round draft choice, has been a surprise starter for the Colts. …

The Christmas Eve day weather forecast in Green Bay is for a high of 36 and “snow or flurries possible,” according to Accuweather.com. The Vikings-Packers holiday game at Lambeau Field begins at noon. …

Jim Carter, who is a candidate to become a University of Minnesota Board of Regent next year, attended last Friday’s board meeting on the Minneapolis campus. Carter said “about 30” demonstrators wore “Fire Kaler” t-shirts and spoke critically of University president Eric Kaler, including his hire of former athletics director Norwood Teague. The police cleared the room and broke up the demonstration after a short while, according to Carter. …

chasing-dreams1 Former Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has a book signing today at Barnes & Noble Nicollet Mall from noon to 2 p.m. Tomorrow he will be at Barnes & Noble Eden Prairie and Sunday at Barnes & Noble Mall of America—1 to 3 p.m. both days. He will be signing copies of his new book Chasing Dreams: Living My Life One Yard at a Time. …

Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle speaks to the CORES lunch group Thursday, January 12 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Vikings executive Lester Bagley talks to the group on March 9. More information is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. …

Mark Ritchie said via email the Minnesota World’s Fair bid for 2023 will place emphasis “on all aspects of how we keep ourselves healthy, including sports, fitness, exercise and how we return to fitness if sick or injured.” The president and CEO of the Minnesota Expo 2023 project announced yesterday that his group has met the Bureau of International Expositions bid deadline. He also told Sports Headliners in an email the anticipated site for the fair will be on land between TCF Bank Stadium and Surly Brewing Company. Others competing to host the fair are Argentina, Brazil and Poland. …

Fans wonder about new 33-year-old Twins baseball boss Derek Falvey working with 60-year-old manager Paul Molitor. That’s a 27 year difference in age but when Falvey was in the Cleveland front office he collaborated with 57-year-old manager Terry Francona. Molitor has long been known for his high baseball I.Q. and that was developed because of his willingness to learn. Expect Falvey and Molitor to be curious about each other’s ideas this offseason. …

Until the Timberwolves pull toward a .500 record, legitimate questions will nag at the franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004. The Wolves have a talented young core of players but management hired a coach who made his reputation handling veteran players. In Chicago as head coach and Boston as a key assistant, highly regarded Tom Thibodeau was known for leading stingy defenses. He also had physical players—enforcer types—but the Wolves are a finesse team with some of their best players being stylish performers like Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio. …

Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, the deceased founders of the Timberwolves and the Northwest health clubs in Minneapolis, were tennis advocates including boosters of the Gophers program. A recognition plaque is on display at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center, and February 3 at the Gophers-Dartmouth match the contributions of Wolfenson and Ratner will be honored. …

Former Gophers guard Blake Hoffarber, who won a 2005 Best Play ESPY Award for his amazing three-point shot in the state tournament while in high school, is a business insurance risk consultant for Marsh & McLennan in Minneapolis. …

The Minnesota Wild and other sponsors will celebrate Girls Hockey Weekend Saturday and Sunday at Xcel Energy Center. Natalie Darwitz, the Olympic medalist and women’s hockey coach at Hamline, will say “Let’s Play Hockey!” at the start of the Wild-Coyotes game Saturday afternoon. There will be promotion of girls and women’s hockey at the game. Post-game, fans can attend a chalk talk featuring Darwitz and two other hockey authorities, Laura Halldorson and Kristen Wright. Hockey clinics for girls and women will be held on Saturday and Sunday. More at Wild.com/girlshockey. Darwitz also skated with the Wild at practice this morning, becoming the first female to suit up with the team.

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Vikings Praise Record-Setter Diggs

Posted on November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 by David Shama

Stefon Diggs has more than documented his improvement the last two Sundays. The Vikings’ second-year wide receiver caught 13 passes in each of the last two games to become the first player in NFL history to accomplish that.

Teammate Zach Line said Diggs, a fifth round draft choice in 2015, has the ability to find openings in the secondary. “He’s got a nose for the ball,” the Vikings fullback told Sports Headliners.

Veteran quarterback Shaun Hill said Diggs has not only improved since his rookie season but is even better than he was in training camp last summer. Hill was asked for an example of that.

“It’s one thing to know what a play looks like on paper. It’s another thing to know the detail how to run that play—how to run that route, versus everything that a defense can bring,” said Hill who is in his 15th NFL season.

Hill predicts more improvement from Diggs who has become the team’s star receiver and already has 10 more receptions in eight games than he had in 13 games last year. “He comes with a worker’s mentality every day, and that’s what you have to do,” Hill said.

Stefon Diggs (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen also praised Diggs’ mental approach to football. “He’s an unbelievable competitor,” Thielen said.

Diggs has 710 yards in receptions after totaling 720 last year. His 710 ranks 11th in the NFL and his 61 receptions are tied for fourth best in the league with the Falcons’ Julio Jones.

Diggs has earned praise from various teammates including another Vikings wide receiver, Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson said the individual stats are nice but he reminded a reporter the 5-4 Vikings are in a losing streak.

“I know he (Diggs) would take all those catches back for two wins the last two weeks,” Patterson said.

Worth Noting

Fox’s lead broadcast crew of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews will be in town to do Sunday’s Vikings game against the Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. The trio is also scheduled to work the February Super Bowl in Houston.

The Vikings, 5-4, are looking for their first win since October 9—week five of the NFL schedule. The Cardinals, 4-4-1, are 3-1-1 dating back to week five.

Injured Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t been attending home games, but running back Adrian Peterson, who is also rehabbing, has been on the sidelines.

Tom Moore, 78, is the Cardinals assistant head coach/offense. Moore, from Owatonna, Minnesota, was the Gophers’ offensive coordinator from 1972-73 and 1975-76. Among his best players are Minnesota natives and receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. and Michael Floyd.

The Gophers have 13 seniors/grad students who will be recognized for their final game at TCF Bank Stadium Saturday (2:30 p.m. start against Northwestern). But head coach Tracy Claeys said on his KFAN Radio show Tuesday that another seven—juniors not expected to return in 2017—will be in their final home game, too.

Minnesota’s group of 13 is the third smallest in major college football. Only three of the 13 play on offense, quarterback Mitch Leidner, tackle Jonah Pirsig and wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky. That’s the fewest on any offensive unit in college football.

Leidner is among the winningest senior quarterbacks in the nation with a 22-16 career record. He has an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and is halfway through his master’s in sports management, but he isn’t sure about career plans.

Although he is only 40 years old, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald is the second longest tenured head coach in the Big Ten. Fitzgerald is in his 11th season with the Wildcats, while 61-year-old Kirk Ferentz has 18 seasons as head coach at Iowa.

MarQueis Gray, the former Gophers quarterback, has played in nine games at tight end for the Dolphins. He has started four games, with seven receptions for 109 yards. This is Gray’s fifth NFL season and he’s played with four teams including the Bills, Browns and Vikings.

Glenn Caruso (photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

Coach Glenn Caruso and the St. Thomas football team has its opening playoff game tomorrow, with the intent of eventually advancing to the Division III national championship game in Salem, Virginia. The 10-0 Tommies lost in the title game last December but get a new start in the postseason Saturday at home against 9-1 Northwestern-St. Paul.

Northwestern, from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, and the MIAC’s Tommies had one common opponent during the year. Northwestern defeated Augsburg 14-0, while St. Thomas beat the Auggies, 55-7.

Two Tommie seniors, All-America tackle Will Hilbert and running back-kick returner Nick Waldvogel, have started all 46 games over the last four seasons. The Tommies record is 40-6 during that stretch.

Hilbert, from Milwaukee, has blocked for 28 different 100-yard rushing performances (eight players), and helped St. Thomas achieve 34 games with 200 or more yards passing.

Waldvogel’s older brother, All-America wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel, started all 50 games in his St. Thomas career. In eight years of the nine-season Caruso era, a Waldvogel has been in the St. Thomas lineup every game (all but 2012 season). The two brothers have combined to score 80 touchdowns (Fritz 46, Nick 34).

Nick, a St. Thomas Academy graduate, is averaging 99.5 all-purpose yards per game in his career and has scored 34 touchdowns. He has 177 career receptions for 2,134 yards.

NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, now in his second season as St. John’s basketball coach, leads the Red Storm (2-0) against the Gophers (3-0) tonight at Williams Arena. The game is part of the Gavitt Tipoff series this fall between the Big East and Big Ten. Minnesota and St. John’s played once previously, a 70-61 Red Storm win in 2014.

Former Gopher forward Rodney Williams is playing for the Greensboro Swarm in the NBA Development League. The North Carolina-based team is starting its first season and is an affiliate of the NBA Hornets.

Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns is featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s “Tall Ball” issue. The magazine arrived in subscriber’s mailboxes earlier in the week, went online yesterday and is available at newsstands starting today. The article reviews how height has impacted NBA and college basketball.

Towns helped the Wolves to a 110-86 win over the 76ers last night. He scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds. It was his fourth 20 point, 10 rebound game in the last five.

Timberwolves executive Chris Wright is finishing his year as “head coach” of the Twin Cities Dunkers. In that volunteer role, Wright has arranged speakers for the Dunkers organization that dates back to the 1940s.

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