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

Love’s Input Likely on Next Wolves Coach

Posted on April 25, 2014April 25, 2014 by David Shama

Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners yesterday he’s likely to seek All-Star Kevin Love‘s opinion before he hires the next Timberwolves coach. That conversation, Taylor said, could happen when he and president of basketball operations Flip Saunders narrow the search to a couple of candidates.

“I think you go out and talk to a number of people and get their input. I think Kevin would be one of those people,” Taylor said. “Does he know anything about this coach? Does he have a relationship? Has he heard anything good about him? Bad about him? Does he have any concerns? I don’t think you rely on that as your sole decision (maker) but I think it’s part of taking that player’s input who is very important to your future.”

Head coach Rick Adelman resigned this week, and Taylor and Saunders will lead the search for a successor. Taylor regards Love, his 25-year-old power forward, as the “key to building the team…so you want to have his input.”

Love averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds this past season, placing him in the company of the NBA’s most statistically productive players in recent decades. His contract allows him to leave the team a year from this summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Taylor knows having Love’s buy-in on the new coach can make the young superstar feel involved. Love’s approval of a coach could also make it more difficult for him to leave Minneapolis for another team in 2015.

Taylor said Love’s enthusiasm for a candidate—or his hesitation—can influence the search but at the end of the process the owner and Saunders will make the decision. “For example, if Kevin liked somebody really well but you didn’t feel that person could bring the best out of Kevin, I wouldn’t go ahead with it (the hire),” Taylor said.

Love joined the team as a rookie in 2008 and during his six seasons the Wolves have never made the playoffs. “Yes, it’s very important that we do better next year than this year and I think that would have some influence upon any decision Kevin would make,” Taylor said while adding that circumstances such as a major injury to Love would probably give the team’s leader a full perspective on the season.

Taylor admires Love as a player and person. Love has not only been a leader on the court but helped the franchise in efforts with fans and sponsors. Taylor has also noticed how Love relates to Taylor’s grandchildren at home games.

“He gives them a good smile and a pat on the head, and all those little nice things that I think are hard for anybody to make up. I think you do it from your heart and I think Kevin has just a very nice heart.”

Taylor believes his youthful roster of players, including Love, can improve. That’s why he lists ability to teach and improve player skills at the top of his criteria for a new coach. Right there too is the need to improve team defense on a club that is impressive offensively.

What about rapport with the players? “I certainly need a person they respect,” Taylor said. “That’s why we probably will start our group of people that we look at (with) people that have a track record.”

Taylor has told Saunders to make the candidate pool very inclusive but preference at least initially is likely to be for candidates with head coaching experience, not assistants. College head coaches will be considered.

Worth Noting

Taylor on the relationship between Saunders and Love: “I know that the two of them meet quite often and have lunch together. I am under the impression that they have a very good relationship, but I am a third party here.”

Adelman, who retired to spend more time with family, will be used as a consultant on the search to find his successor as Wolves head coach. During the next year Adelman will also advise the team about rival NBA players.

It will be interesting to see if the Avalanche can score goals when the Avs and Wild resume their playoff series, tied at 2-2, in Denver tomorrow night. After winning the first two games in the series in Denver by scoring nine goals, the Avs managed only one goal in two games this week in Minnesota.

Wild forward Mikael Granlund, 22 and in only his second NHL season, has emerged as a clutch performer with his defense and timely overtime goal in game three. Granlund has a history of coming through in international games including this year’s Olympics playing for Finland. He tied for third in Olympics scoring and made the All-Tournament Team.

A hockey source said the two Wild playoff games this week at Xcel Energy Center totaled about $1.8 million in gross revenues for the franchise, including ticket receipts, suites, advertising and concessions. That’s another reason why the franchise leaders are happy to have a third playoff game at home against the Avs next Monday.

If the Wild advance to the second round of the playoffs, home revenues per game are likely to be over $2 million.

When Wild owner Craig Leipold is in the Twin Cities he and his wife Helen live in their apartment at the Saint Paul Hotel. The Leipolds are residents of Racine, Wisconsin.

Local author and motivational speaker Ross Bernstein is president of the Herb Brooks Foundation. Bernstein, who has authored books about the legendary former coach, is a passionate hockey fan and among the organizations he has addressed are Detroit Red Wings employees. “They do more with less,” Bernstein said. “They’ve been to 23 straight playoffs.”

Former Gophers quarterback Adam Weber, expected to join Saskatchewan of the CFL this spring, will be part of a Roughriders roster that includes his former Minnesota teammate Troy Stoudermire, a defensive back.

The Vikings preseason night game on Thursday, August 28 at Tennessee will be played about the same time as the Gophers nonconference evening opener against Eastern Illinois at TCF Bank Stadium.

Football fan Steve Nestor e-mailed that ESPN draft expert Todd McShay has been praising ex-Gophers defensive back Brock Vereen. Nestor wrote that McShay said on ESPN2 on Tuesday Vereen will be a “steal” in the third round.

The annual Miller Lite Vikings Draft Party will be at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Thursday, May 8, begins at 5:30 p.m. and continues until the first round ends. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Vkings.com/drafttickets. Season ticket holders receive one free ticket for every season ticket – limit 4 per account – while supplies last. The event will include NFL Network coverage of the first round, interactive games and autographs from current and former Vikings.

New Gophers women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings announced today the hiring of Nikita Dawkins. A 23-year coaching veteran, Dawkins worked for Stollings at VCU and with the Gophers will be an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

When Duke freshman forward Jabari Parker declared for the NBA Draft earlier this month, it further set the stage for Apple Valley High School point guard Tyus Jones to play a major role with the Blue Devils next season. If Jones establishes himself among the elite college players next season, it wouldn’t be surprising if he entered the NBA Draft next spring.

Dave Mona e-mailed that ticket sales are on “record pace” for the fifth annual Camden’s Concert on Wednesday, July 30 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. The concert features the Wright Brothers who have appeared at the Minnesota State Fair. Camden’s Concert is named after Dave and Linda Mona’s six-year-old grandson Camden Mona, and the event raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ticket information is available by calling the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 952-979-1111.

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Glen Taylor: 2014 Playoffs ‘a Must’

Posted on April 16, 2014April 16, 2014 by David Shama

The Timberwolves 25^th season ends tonight and the franchise won’t qualify for the playoffs. The club hasn’t participated in post-season games since 2004 and that disappoints owner Glen Taylor who plans on asking plenty of questions during the next couple of weeks.

With a roster of young talent led by All-Star forward Kevin Love, and the addition of new players such as forward Corey Brewer and guard Kevin Martin, the Wolves appeared ready to break the playoff drought when the season started last fall. “It was a must for this year (making the playoffs),” Taylor told Sports Headliners.

Injuries slowed the club’s progress. Most notable was the ankle injury of center Nikola Pekovic who has only been able to play in 54 of 81 games. Other than Love the 28-year-old Pekovic is the team’s best front court scorer and among the NBA’s premier low post offensive players (averages 17.4 points and 8.7 rebounds). Pekovic, who reportedly signed a five-year $60 million contract before last season, has a history of injuries and missing games.

But Taylor said in addition to the team’s injuries contributing to not making the playoffs, he is troubled by the many close games the Wolves lost. The club often was ineffective in the fourth quarter. Taylor intends to explore why. “Is that the responsibility of the staff and the coaches? How much of that is the players? I am going to dig further into that.”

Taylor didn’t offer an answer when asked to evaluate and label the performance of the coaching staff. He wants to meet with the coaches and talk to others in the organization after the season.

Head coach Rick Adelman and Taylor will have a discussion that will focus on more than basketball. Adelman’s wife Mary Kay has health issues and Taylor understands “family comes first.” But Taylor wants to know if coaching next season is a priority for Adelman who completes his third season with the Wolves tonight and has a 68^th birthday in June.

What Taylor hears from Adelman, long regarded as one of the NBA’s best coaches, will obviously influence whether he wants the coach to return. “You have to take a lot of your energy and thought and emotion into (helping) your family, and it does affect your other areas of responsibility,” Taylor said. “It’s not a criticism of him. …I just want to really sit down and talk to him and see how he feels…before I make a decision or he makes a decision.”

Taylor acknowledged Adelman’s devotion to his wife sometimes took the coach away from the players. “When things like that happen, the basketball team probably doesn’t get its full attention, but that’s life,” Taylor said.

After tonight’s game the Wolves will finish the season with either a 41-41 or 40-42 record. That will certainly be an improvement over last year’s 31-51 record. But not making the playoffs is frustrating for Taylor who also has seen his franchise operate with financial losses many years.

Taylor thought this year might be different for the bottom line. “We’re not going to make our budget. Our budget was to break even, so my sense is that we’ll lose several million dollars.”

The 72-year-old owner, though, hasn’t lost faith in the franchise and recognizes his young team should get better in coming years, led by Love, 25, and 23-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio. Perhaps the Wolves will even become a special team and achieve the NBA title aspirations the franchise has long had.

“Personally, I think I have the patience. I just gotta make sure our coaches and stuff have the patience,” Taylor said.

It will be up to Taylor and president of basketball operations Flip Saunders to find the best supporting players for Love, Pekovic and Rubio. Any personnel moves, though, will be influenced by payroll.

The owner feels pressure not to exceed the NBA salary cap. They have or will make major salary commitments to Love, Pekovic and Rubio. That’s why Taylor, who has most of his roster signed for next season, doesn’t predict the club will sign an expensive free agent this summer. “…You’re looking at probably more the fifth, sixth and seventh positions on the team,” he said.

Worth Noting

Taylor’s other basketball team, the Lynx, made a six-figure profit of less than $500,000 last season. It was the first time the Lynx, who won the WNBA title last year, have been profitable. Taylor expects another winning season and a profitable year in 2014. “By staying into the playoffs and getting to the end, just makes you profitable,” said Taylor who declined to give exact figures.

The Mankato billionaire is closing in on ownership of the Star Tribune. “It probably won’t get completed until maybe the end of May or first of June but I am confident it will get done,” Taylor said.

As newspaper owner will Taylor expect friendly coverage of his Timberwolves? “No. I expect those guys to do their jobs,” he answered.

Former Gopher football players Keanon Cooper and Chris Hawthorne are among 25 interns working in the University of Minnesota Athletic Department. The Golden Gophers Internship program provides 10-12 months of learning experiences in department areas such as communications, facilities, fundraising and marketing. Participants must have a BA or BS degree and preference is given to candidates who have played for Gophers men’s and women’s teams.

Interns receive $1,000.00 per month. More information is available by contacting senior associate athletic director Marc Ryan, ryanx011@umn.edu.

Rachel Banham, who led the Big Ten in scoring last season as a junior averaging 23.3 points per game, is looking forward to next season when eight players return including four juniors and three sophomores. “I think the sky is the limit,” said Banham who will be the team’s only senior. “We have a bunch of really good girls, and really good girls coming in.”

Banham is dating men’s team junior guard Andre Hollins. What did Hollins say after the Gophers won the NIT championship earlier this month? “He was very excited,” Banham answered. “All he kept chanting was N-I-T champs. Clearly, he was very happy.”

The Gophers women’s team hasn’t earned an invitation to the NCAA tournament since Banham has been at Minnesota. Hollins has played in one NCAA tournament, two years ago. What if both teams made deep tourney runs next year? “That would be awesome,” Banham said. “I think that would be the best way for both of us to go out.”

For the third straight season—and for the eighth time in the last nine years—the MIAC attracted more fans to its football games than any other conference in NCAA Division III, according to information released recently by the league. The conference led Division III in both total and average attendance per game for the year 2013. A total of 160,482 fans attended the 48 football games hosted by the MIAC’s nine schools, an average of 3,343 fans per game.

Saint John’s led the nation in attendance per game (7,364) for the 12th time in the last 13 years. In total attendance Bethel (38,054) and the Johnnies (36,822) finished third and fourth respectively.

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No Automatic Increases for Borton

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014 by David Shama

Pam Borton has received guaranteed monetary increases in the past but that ends this year, per her employment agreement with the University of Minnesota. The agreement does state that both her salary and “supplemental and media compensation” will be reviewed by the athletic director, “and shall not be less than the previous year.”

Borton, who has been the Gophers women’s basketball coach since 2002-2003, presently earns $335,000 in salary. That amount is $10,000 more than in 2012-2013 and is part of a past series of guaranteed annual salary increases described in her employment agreement. Borton’s supplemental and media compensation has also increased annually in the past and is $150,000 for 2013-2014, or $5,000 more than in 2012-2013.

Not only are Borton’s earnings for 2014-2015 to be determined, but there is also speculation about her job status. Athletic director Norwood Teague has declined opportunities during the last several days in both the Pioneer Press and Star Tribune to talk about the coach’s future.

The Gophers’ season ended in a third round WNIT game last night in Brookings, South Dakota. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the Gophers, 70-62.

The program has faltered since the glory days of 2003, 2004 and 2005 when Minnesota played in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 twice and Final Four once. Borton’s teams haven’t qualified for the tournament for five years. The Gophers were 6^th in the Big Ten Conference standings this season, an improvement over the previous four years of 11^th, 9^th and two 8^th place finishes.

Interest in the program and home attendance has faltered, too. The Gophers averaged 3,178 this season before hosting two WNIT games that drew announced Williams Arena crowds of 950 and 587. Attendance once averaged more than 9,000 per game.

Teague neither hired Borton nor gave her the 2012 contract extension that runs through 2016. Teague, who has been Minnesota’s athletic director for less than two years, is a knowledgeable basketball administrator and gave men’s coach Tubby Smith only one season before dismissing him last March.

Borton’s employment agreement states she can be let go “without just cause” and the University must pay half her salaries for the remaining years of the agreement. There are two years remaining at $335,000 per season. Her agreement with the University runs through April 30, 2016.

…The Gophers men’s team plays Florida State in the semifinals of the NIT in New York on Tuesday night. Minnesota defeated the Seminoles 71-61 in a nonconference game at Williams Arena in December.

Minnesota players and coaches held a meeting to discuss the NIT prior to the tournament starting. Some teams may not be focused in the NIT because of disappointment from failing to qualify for the more prestigious NCAA Tournament, but the Gophers thought differently. “We decided we want to go win this thing, so that’s what we’re going to do,” Gophers junior forward Oto Osenieks told Sports Headliners.

Minnesota has NIT wins over High Point, Saint Mary’s and Southern Mississippi. A win next Tuesday puts Minnesota into the championship game two nights later. The 2012 Gophers played in the title game but lost.

Gophers junior guard Andre Hollins said the loss left a “sour taste” with him and his teammates. “You get that close to a championship and you lose, you don’t forget that,” he said. “It will stay with me forever.”

Two years ago the Gophers went into overtime before defeating Washington in a semifinal game. Minnesota players were fatigued for the championship game two nights later. Stanford defeated the Gophers with ease, 75-51.

The 2014 Gophers believe they have more players who can come off the bench and provide energy if the starters are tired. “This year we’re definitely deeper and I think it’s going to help us,” said junior center Elliott Eliason.

Without a career high 32 points by Austin Hollins on Tuesday night against Southern Mississippi, the Gophers wouldn’t be preparing for New York and Florida State. The senior guard, who scored 18 during a first half Minnesota comeback, made his last game in Williams Arena something to remember.

“He went out with a bang,” Andre Hollins said. “That‘s what you dream of. I am proud of him.”

Although the Gophers hosted three NIT games at Williams Arena, they don’t keep the gate receipts. The NIT, owned by the NCAA, retains the revenues from games but pays for the expenses of teams.

…Timberwolves fans have reason to watch Iowa State’s Sweet 16 game tonight against Connecticut. Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg should be considered if Wolves coach Rick Adelman, 67, decides to retire this spring.

Hoiberg played two seasons for the Wolves and later worked in the team’s front office before accepting the Iowa State job, his first head coaching position. He has revived Cyclones basketball during the last four seasons while adding to his legend in Ames. Hoiberg attended high school in Ames and was a star player for the Cyclones where he became known as “The Mayor.”

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is fond of him. It’s difficult not to like the personable Hoiberg who was popular in Minneapolis and has proven in Ames he can coach. Part of his coaching success has come from working successfully with troubled players who seem to have a new outlook after transferring from other schools.

Hoiberg’s skill in dealing with difficult personalities would give him an edge in today’s NBA. At 41 he can relate to players and has the energy needed for the NBA grind.

No doubt Hoiberg feels loyalty to his alma mater. Athletic director Jamie Pollard hired him, taking a chance on someone with no head coaching experience. Still, Hoiberg might feel more comfortable leaving Ames for a pro job rather than another college position.

And coming home to Minnesota—where the family has owned a lake cabin and already knows the Wolves organization—could be an overture Hoiberg probably won’t quickly disregard.

…Saint John’s men’s basketball coach Jim Smith will be 80 in June, but if you think he will announce his retirement soon, think again.

Smith told Sports Headliners he has no plans to quit coaching the Johnnies. He enjoys his work and the association with his players. “I am sure I will know when it is time (to retire),” he said.

Smith is energetic and not concerned about the approaching eight-zero. “I don’t feel it (80),” he said.

He just completed his 50^th season in Collegeville. The Johnnies were 15-11 overall and 13-7 in the MIAC where they tied for fourth place.

The overall win total pushed his career record to 770-546. Smith is one of 27 men’s college coaches to have 700 career victories. His better teams include a couple that pressed for national championships. “If I have any regrets it would be not winning a national title,” he said.

The 2001 team made it to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16. That’s not so long ago and maybe the coach has another long tournament run to make.

The Johnnies will hold their season ending banquet on April 12.

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