Timberwolves – Page 84 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Fans Guessing on WR Recruit

Posted on February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 by David Shama

Former Gophers assistant head coach Matt Limegrover, now offensive line coach at Penn State, is trying to persuade four-star wide receiver Dredrick Snelson to sign his National Letter of Intent with the Nittany Lions tomorrow.

Ryan Burns, publisher of Scout’s GopherDigest.com, told Sports Headliners Limegrover has visited Snelson’s Florida home and last weekend he was on the Penn State campus. But recruiting authority Matt Jessen-Howard tweeted a quote on Sunday where Snelson said Gophers fans should not worry about his loyalty.

Snelson gave a verbal commitment to the Gophers last summer but there has been ongoing speculation he has or will change his mind. Burns, who has been covering recruiting for five years, has seldom seen such intrigue involving a recruit.

Burns said Snelson has sent mixed messages. “Penn State is confident they’re going to get him,” Burns said. “Central Florida, where he has been twice this month (January), is confident they’re going to get him. The Gophers are thinking they’re going to land him.

“Two out of the three parties are going to be wrong. We won’t find out until Wednesday morning. How does it end? I think it ends he signs with Minnesota but I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again. …”

Burns described Snelson, from Pembroke Pines, Florida, as “media savvy” and someone who enjoys the recruiting publicity. On the telephone he found Snelson to be respectful and a “nice kid.”

Snelson, about 5-11, 200-pounds, has impressive but not dominating physical skills. He is projected as a slot receiver with the Gophers and Burns believes Snelson could be ready as a freshman to succeed 2015 starter K.J. Maye who used up his eligibility.

Snelson, along with Eden Prairie High School linebacker Carter Coughlin, is one of only two consensus four-star recruits who have verbally pledged to the Gophers. Not many Florida four-star recruits commit to Minnesota but Burns believes Snelson likes how the Gophers use the slot receiver and that he sees an opportunity to play early in his career. New Gophers offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, who replaced Limegrover, has been involved with recruiting Snelson since last month.

In recent years the Gophers’ receiving roster has lacked impact players and no doubt Snelson is aware of that. Burns said in-state receivers Drew Hmielewski from Marshall and Phillip Howard from Robbinsdale Cooper may have even better potential as college players than Snelson.

Recruiting Websites list 19 players as part of the Gophers’ 2016 class. Burns believes the verbal commitments of all are solid except for Snelson and Coney Durr who visited Virginia Tech last weekend. Durr, a three-star recruit from Geismar, Louisiana, is a defensive back.

Worth Noting

The Gophers’ commitment list has only one running back, Butler (Kansas) Community College transfer Kobe McCrary. Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys said on WCCO “Radio’s Sports Huddle” on Sunday recruiting running backs has been a challenge because freshmen Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith were so successful last fall.

McCrary, about 6-1 and 230-pounds, gives the Gophers a backup to Brooks and Smith. He has more size than either of them and helps replace power running Rodrick Williams who was a senior last year.

The Big Ten Network will have Big Ten coverage of Signing Day tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Central Time. As of yesterday Scout.com listed three Big Ten programs in the top 10 nationally: Ohio State, No. 2; Michigan, No. 5; and Michigan State No. 7. Minnesota is No 43.

Part of the network’s coverage tomorrow will be Michigan’s “Signing with the Stars” event featuring celebrities from sports, music and entertainment. Celebrities expected to attend are Tom Brady, John Harbaugh, Derek Jeter, Jim Leyland, Denard Robinson, NASCAR’s Brad Keslowski, wrestling’s Ric Flair and others. They will introduce head coach Jim Harbaugh’s 2016 football class.

Jaylon Boston is a name for Gophers fans to follow in the next 12 months. “He is a hell of a player,” said McKinley Boston, Jaylon’s grandfather and the former Gophers athletic director.

Jaylon lives with his grandfather in New Mexico and attends Centennial High School in Las Cruces. As a sophomore, the 5-10, 185-pound running back was second team all-state, but because of what his grandfather described as a “medical” situation he didn’t play as a junior. Boston said New Mexico State, where his grandfather was athletic director until about a year ago, is looking at Jaylon but the Gophers aren’t.

Despite speculation to the contrary, don’t give up on the University of Minnesota and former football coach Jerry Kill being able to develop a new position for him at the school. There has been contact between the two parties.

Gophers senior guard Rachel Banham could end the season as the Big Ten’s scoring leader. In 21 games she is averaging 24.3 points per game and ranks second behind Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell, 25.3 points. Banham has scored 20 or more points in nine consecutive games and has done that 19 times this season. Former Hopkins High School standout Nia Coffey, a junior forward at Northwestern, is fifth in scoring at 20 points per game and first in rebounding at 10.4.

Although the Gophers lost at Michigan on Sunday, they have won four of their last five games. Minnesota, 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten, won those games by seven points or less, and the Gophers have shown the ability to close out opponents in the fourth quarter. The Gophers play Rutgers, 13-9 and 4-6, at home on Thursday night.

Former Timberwolves assistant Eric Musselman is drawing attention in his first season as head coach at the University of Nevada. Nevada’s pregame ball handling warm-up is a hit and the team is playing competitively in the Mountain West.

Musselman, who was a head coach in the NBA with the Kings and Warriors, might be on a list of candidates if the Timberwolves make a coaching change. Interim Timberwolves head coach Sam Mitchell is trying out for the permanent job. Other potential candidates perhaps could include Tom Thibodeau, the former Timberwolves assistant and ex-Bulls head coach who is well-known for his defensive teachings.

Connor Nord, the former St. Thomas basketball center whose final season was 2014-2015, has been playing professionally in Germany, and plans to continue his career in Europe. Marcus Alipate, a combo guard who played four seasons with Nord at St. Thomas, will be playing pro ball in New Zealand.

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Goal Drought Ongoing for the Wild

Posted on January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 by David Shama

Goal scoring is a Minnesota Wild problem that doesn’t get solved. It was a barstool and chat room topic a couple of years ago, and there it was again last spring after the Wild was swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Blackhawks. Minnesota scored just seven goals in the four games, once being shutout and in another game coming up with one goal.

And now in January the Wild has scored 23 goals in 13 games. So far during the 2015-2016 season only eight of the NHL’s 30 teams have scored fewer goals than Minnesota.

Wild fans fantasize about a trade for goal scoring help. General manager Chuck Fletcher and the rest of the NHL have until 3 p.m. (ET) February 29 to make deals. The Wild might pull off a move but league imposed salary cap restrictions enter into trade strategies and negotiations.

The Wild may want to trade so-so veterans and goal scorers Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. Pominville reportedly earns $5.5 million and Vanek $6.5 million. Fletcher has to make the numbers work in any trades involving the 33-year-old Pominville or 32-year-old Vanek—or other players on his roster.

The Wild has recessed for the NHL All-Star Game break. The Wild is 15 points behind the Central Division leading Blackhawks, 12 behind the Stars and 9 back of the Blues. After the All-Star break the club can’t count on the phenomenal goaltending play it had last winter when Devan Dubnyk made the Wild one of the NHL’s most successful teams prior to the playoffs.

With or without a trade in the next 30 days, coach Mike Yeo and his staff will have to develop more goal scoring with existing players. Whether it’s veterans, or disappointing younger skaters like Mikael Granlund, the Wild need to get better.

The club won only three of 13 games in January, with all the victories on the road. The next two games after the All-Star recess are away from Xcel Energy Center. Six of the next nine will be on the road, so maybe that’s an unexpected positive.

The Wild, with a record so far of 23-17-9, appears capable of making the playoffs but this is a franchise that historically can’t make a deep playoff run. That will be difficult to change until the Wild consistently score more goals.

Worth Noting

The Gophers’ Big Ten losing streak reaches nine consecutive games tonight if Minnesota loses to Purdue, a team that is among the favorites to win the conference championship. Minnesota players were emotionally low after letting a late game lead disappear and eventually losing in overtime to Illinois last Saturday night.

After the game Minnesota coach Richard Pitino was concerned about team emotions going forward. “It’s my job to get them back and get them ready to go,” he said. “Top 20 team (Purdue) in your building. You gotta keep fighting. That’s what we signed up for. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We’re close (to winning) and I think they (his players) see that.”

Sophomore point guard Nate Mason, who scored 19 points but couldn’t make a last second shot to win the Illinois game at the end of regulation, admitted there is a mental challenge getting ready for Purdue at home tonight. “It’s going to be difficult but we’ll respond,” he said on Saturday.

Minnesota prep basketball authority Ryan James labels Minnehaha Academy point guard Jalen Suggs the best eighth grader in the state, and some day a potential top 100 player nationally. Listed at 6-foot-1, Suggs’ skills include attacking defenses off the dribble.

The Timberwolves might be wise to place David Blatt—recently dismissed as Cavs coach—on their list of possible head coaching candidates for next season. Blatt, in his first NBA season, coached the Cavs to the 2015 NBA Finals. Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton should be on the Wolves’ radar, too. Sam Mitchell, the Wolves interim head guy, may get the job permanently but right now the best guess is owner Glen Taylor will wait until season’s end to decide.

After U.S. Bank Stadium opens this summer, look for the covered multipurpose facility to be continually in use with events ranging from Vikings football to hundreds of amateur baseball games to concerts. Luke Bryan is already scheduled for a first-ever August concert and a source told Sports Headliners U2 might play at the new Minneapolis stadium. Other event possibilities could include a monster truck pull and a pro wrestling extravaganza like the WWE’s SummerSlam. Although stadium and Minneapolis boosters were turned down for the 2020 College Football Playoff Championship Game, the same source said local interest remains for some day hosting the game.

In retrospect, the Vikings’ 2015 draft looks like one of the best in the NFL. First round selection cornerback Trae Waynes played just okay and remains a potential future starter, and later round choices Eric Kendricks (linebacker), Danielle Hunter (defensive end) and Stefon Diggs (wide receiver) made the PFWA’s All-Rookie team.

Thursday will be the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Vikings franchise—January 28, 1960.

Former Minnesota Wild president Tod Leiweke and ex-Vikings center Matt Birk are rising stars in executive positions for the NFL. If commissioner Roger Goodell were to retire in the next few years, the two might be on a list of candidates to replace him.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Committee has announced six inductees from three divisions for its MFCA Hall of Fame. The 2016 inductees will be enshrined in the MFCA Hall of Fame at the 52nd Annual Football Hall of Fame Banquet on April 2 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The inductees from the High School Division are Don Henderson, Triton; Bernie Litecky, Totino-Grace; Flint Motschenbacher, Detroit Lakes; and Leo Pohlkamp, Pierz. Bethel’s Steve Johnson from the College Division will also be inducted, as will Citation Division representative Rand Middleton from the West Central Tribune.

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Timberwolves Not Pursuing Kevin McHale

Posted on December 9, 2015December 9, 2015 by David Shama

Quoting Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor in today’s column, and also Twins president Dave St. Peter.

Kevin McHale was fired as coach of the Rockets last month after leading the team to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals in the spring. McHale hasn’t announced his future plans but Minnesota basketball fans who watched him play for the Gophers and later hold both executive and coaching positions with the Wolves wonder if the Hibbing native might work again for Taylor.

The Wolves owner remains friends with McHale but the two haven’t spoken since he was let go in Houston. Taylor has no plans to pick up the telephone right now and call McHale who after his playing career with the Celtics was named one of the NBA’S 50 greatest players ever.

Taylor doesn’t want to send the wrong messages to his Timberwolves basketball employees including interim coach Sam Mitchell. “I’ve made a point of not doing it (calling McHale) just because I want to be careful,” Taylor said.

Glen Taylor (Photo courtesy of Timberwolves)

Mitchell, a former NBA Coach of the Year with the Raptors, has been told his status will be evaluated at season’s end. Taylor has no plans to change that timeline.

The Wolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004 and last season their record was 16-66. This season the team is 8-12 heading into tonight’s home game against the Lakers. Taylor likes the talent and promise of a young roster whose core is built around a pair of 20-year-olds—second-season guard-forward Andrew Wiggins and rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns.

How will Taylor evaluate Mitchell at season’s end and decide about the veteran coach’s future? “We’ve never really put up goals exactly that I was going to measure him on, but I think what I would measure him on is seeing how far the team has progressed,” Taylor said.

The owner’s goal is to see his club eventually become an “elite team for quite some time.” Taylor isn’t overly concerned about seeing his team make the playoffs this season, although he would certainly welcome that achievement. He’s most interested in seeing how the players develop and how Mitchell contributes to their improvement.

Mitchell has shown a commitment to use young players and go deep into his bench, even at the expense of having veterans on the floor late in games. Sometimes that has not worked but Taylor is supportive. “I don’t get into that (who he plays),” Taylor said. “I want to win, he wants to win. I am not going to second-guess him.”

The late Flip Saunders rebuilt the Timberwolves roster in two years with savvy personnel moves. He and Taylor were close friends. The unexpected death of Saunders this fall dramatically changed the franchise’s leadership because he was the coach, top player personnel executive and part-time owner.

“When I see us play, and we do really well, it just breaks my heart that he’s not at least on the floor here watching them, rather than from heaven watching them, because he put so much effort into it and he was so enthused about what was going to happen,” Taylor said.

Tonight Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who has announced this will be his final NBA season, plays in Minneapolis for the last time. Taylor hopes to reach out to the 37-year-old superstar shooting guard who has secured a place among the NBA’s top players ever. What will Taylor say?

“Basically, thanks for sharing your career with us. We really appreciate the opportunity to watch somebody like you that worked so hard to do so well. All of us either got to either yell for you or against you, but either way we appreciated it. Something like that.”…

St. Peter said Rod Carew is improving by the week following his open heart surgery earlier this fall. He talks on a regular basis to the Twins legend who had a massive heart attack in September.

“His spirits are good,” St. Peter told Sports Headliners. “He’s been (buoyed) by the outpouring of support from a variety of people both inside and outside of baseball. He’s really enjoying spending time with family right now, and hopes to get back to his home in Orange County I think soon. (He) has not given up on coming to Minnesota at some point during this offseason but also may be coming to Fort Myers for spring training.”

Carew is convalescing in a private home in the San Diego area. He suffered his heart attack while on a golf course and twice was near death before medical professionals saved his life. “We’re lucky he’s still here,” St. Peter said.

Carew, 70, had thought he was in good health and was feeling well prior to his heart attack. “He didn’t see this one coming,” St. Peter said. “That’s part of his motivation toward really trying to get engaged with the American Heart Association to tell his story and ultimately build awareness of heart health, and get incremental checkups.”

A career.328 hitter, Carew played 19 seasons in the major leagues including 12 with the Twins. He won all seven of his American League batting championships in Minnesota. He is a special assistant to the Twins along with other franchise legends such as Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva.

Miguel Sano (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

St. Peter said Miguel Sano, the 2015 Twins rookie sensation who hit 18 home runs in 279 at bats, is practicing in the outfield this fall while playing in the Dominican Winter League. In games, however, Sano is playing at third base, his longtime position. The Twins plan to have Sano play the outfield next season but St. Peter said the club sees Sano’s long-term position as third base.

The Twins had a surprise season in 2015, finishing with a winning record for the first time in four years. St. Peter likes the club’s core of players who led the team to an 83-79 record, and moves have been made to strengthen the roster this offseason. “We’re not afraid to make trades,” he said.

St. Peter said “ideally” the team wants to improve its bullpen. Starting pitching could be a trade target too, of course. While the Twins don’t want to “shake up” their roster after last season’s success, he said the club doesn’t have a “lot of untouchables” that would be excluded from trade talks.

St. Peter recently vacationed in London. He expects MLB games could be played in the U.K. as soon as next year or in 2017. Commissioner Rob Manfred has international ambitions for his sport and future games might also be played in Germany and Latin America.

Tickets went on sale yesterday for TwinsFest, scheduled January 29-31 at Target Field. St. Peter said most of the 40-man roster will attend the event. Fans can also meet top prospects Jose Berrios (pitcher) and Nick Gordon (shortstop) who aren’t part of the 40-man group. Tickets could sell out in advance and total attendance is projected at 15,000 to 17,000.

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