Timberwolves – Page 98 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

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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U Women’s Team Needs Tourney Run

Posted on March 5, 2014March 5, 2014 by David Shama

Although apathy characterizes the attitude of many fans toward Gophers women’s basketball, there is anticipation and curiosity about the team that begins play in the Big Ten Tournament tomorrow night as the No. 6 seed.

Coach Pam Borton’s team finished 8-8 during the regular season, the program’s best showing since 2009 and the last year Minnesota was invited to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers won six of their final eight league games, and a win over No. 11 seed Wisconsin tomorrow evening would almost certainly guarantee an NCAA invite. Minnesota is 19-11 overall and may qualify for the NCAA Tournament even if the Gophers can’t win a game in the conference tourney in Indianapolis.

But Borton and her team need to build momentum in the program by not only winning a couple of NCAA tourney games this month, but also earn major success in the future with plus-.500 Big Ten records. The program has faltered since the glory days of 2003, 2004 and 2005 when Minnesota played in the Sweet 16 twice and Final Four once. The Gophers were 6^th in the conference standings this season, certainly an improvement over the previous four years of 11^th, 9^th and two 8^th place finishes.

The Gophers averaged 9,800 fans per game in 2003-2004, and 9,200 and 8,329 the following seasons, ranking in the top five or six nationally for women’s college basketball attendance. The last three seasons the Gophers have averaged 2,835, 3,277 and 3,178 fans per game.

The Gophers can do better on the court and at the box office than the results of more recent seasons. The program has the potential to be a revenue producer for the athletic department and no doubt athletic director Norwood Teague wants to see home attendance more comparable with Big Ten leaders like Purdue and Michigan State who averaged 8,031 and 7,145 fans per game this season.

Teague’s reputation is that of a basketball authority. He hired nationally respected Shaka Smart as men’s coach at VCU. Last year he dismissed Tubby Smith as Gophers men’s coach and hired Richard Pitino who has impressed with his teaching skills while working with minimal talent compared to the Big Ten’s best teams.

Teague also hired Beth Goetz last year as his department’s senior women’s administrator. Before coming to the Gophers, Goetz was at Butler where she earned praise from Bulldogs’ renowned head basketball coach Brad Stevens. Her responsibilities at Minnesota include women’s basketball and it seems likely she will play a key role in evaluating Borton after this season.

Borton has been Minnesota’s head coach since 2002. The athletic department invested significantly in her despite struggles on the court and large financial losses with the program. (Example: a May 4, 2013 Star Tribune story reported a 2011-2012 “deficit of almost $2 million.”) Borton has received over $400,000 annually since the 2008-2009 season and at that time was in the top one-third of the Big Ten’s best paid women’s coaches. Her contract extends through the 2016 season.

Among the positives Goetz could mention in an evaluation of the coach are two of Borton’s best recruits ever, junior guard Rachel Banham who led the Big Ten in scoring at 23.3 points per game and freshman center Amanda Zahui B., the conference’s top rebounder at 11.5 per game. Both players were chosen all-Big Ten first team by the media. The media and coaches chose Zahui B. as Freshman of the Year.

If Banham and Zahui B. could lead the Gophers to a couple of wins in the Big Ten tournament and two more in the NCAA, the momentum going into next season will be noticeable and that apathy bandwagon would have fewer passengers.

Worth Noting

The Timberwolves, 30-29, wouldn’t earn a spot in the NBA Western Conference playoffs if the season ended now but Minnesota can’t be counted out. Starting tonight at Target Center against the Knicks (21-40), the Wolves face six opponents in the next seven games with records at least a half dozen wins under .500. Six of the games are at home for the Wolves who have a realistic chance to earn the eighth and final playoff spot before the season ends on April 16.

Another opportunity awaits later this month when the club has games at Dallas and Memphis, and home against Phoenix. The Mavericks, Grizzlies, Suns and Warriors are the teams most immediately ahead of the Wolves in playoff positioning.

The possibility of the Wolves earning a playoff spot this year and next is expected to have a lot to do with whether All-Star forward Kevin Love opts out of his contract in the 2015 offseason. In his five previous seasons in Minneapolis the team has yet to make the playoffs. Winning is something Love knew at UCLA and as a pro with the 2012 gold medal U.S. Olympic team.

Although the lure of playing for a better team (perhaps in a warm weather climate) is worth worrying about, Love could decide to stay here if the Wolves become a legitimate top 10 NBA team with more promise ahead. He might not find another point guard who sets him up better for open shots than Ricky Rubio. Also, don’t discount the relationship between Love and Flip Saunders, the team’s president of basketball operations who has made it a priority to develop rapport with the 25-year-old superstar.

Former Vikings coach Bud Grant will speak at the March 13 CORES luncheon at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Grant, who was one of the Gophers greatest athletes ever and played two seasons for the Minneapolis Lakers, coached 11 championship teams with the Vikings. Grant, who turns 87 on May 20, will have copies of his book, I Did It My Way, on sale at the luncheon. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. Reservations (by March 10) for the lunch and program can be made by contacting dotsethj@comcast.net.

Grant’s buddy Sid Hartman, the Star Tribune columnist and WCCO Radio personality, will be 94 on March 15.

Defensive end Everson Griffen never won a starting job with the Vikings but figures to create some stir as a free agent because of his strong pass rushing skills.

No doubt former Gophers offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, now the OC with the NFL’s Jags, has to be anticipating Jacksonville taking one of the top college quarterbacks with the No. 3 selection in the NFL Draft’s first round.

Former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, in his first spring training camp with the Rockies, is hitless in two at bats.

Baseball America’s top 10 Twins prospects (in order) are Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Alex Meyer, Kohl Stewart, Jose Berrios, Eddie Rosario, Lewis Thorpe, Trevor May, Danny Santana and Jorge Polanco. Five of those prospects are pitchers including Thorpe who is among the least familiar names to some Twins fans. Thorpe, 18 and from Australia, signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent last July. He led the Gulf Coast League in strikeouts with 64 in 44 innings pitched, starting eight games, relieving in four and compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.05 ERA.

FOX Sports 1, the nation’s new sports channel trying to rival ESPN, makes its major league baseball programming debut April 5 with a doubleheader that includes the Twins at Indians game. The other telecast will be the Giants at the Dodgers.

Former Vikings safety Darren Sharper, who faces multiple rape charges, has been fired by the NFL Network.

St. Olaf men’s basketball coach Dan Kosmoski, a former Gophers assistant, made his 20^th season memorable. The Oles are MIAC playoff champs for the first time in school history and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament where they play Central College (Iowa) on Friday in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. St. Thomas, the team that lost to St. Olaf last weekend in the title playoff game, is also in the NCAA Tournament with a game on Friday against Augustana (Illinois) in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

St. Olaf’s Sam Daly and St. Thomas’ Courtney Pahl have won with the MIAC Elite 22 Award for men’s and women’s basketball. The elite 22 awards program recognizes MIAC athletes in various sports for high academic and athletic achievement. Daly, a senior with a 3.65 GPA, has a double-major in chemistry and psychology. Pahl, a sophomore with a 4.0 GPA, has a double-major in biochemistry and biology.

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