Twins – Page 136 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U RPI Keeps Tourney Target Alive

Posted on February 9, 2017February 9, 2017 by David Shama

It’s been a productive several days for the Gophers basketball team including last night’s double overtime win over Iowa at Williams Arena.

Minnesota had lost five consecutive Big Ten games and had an overall record of 15-7 and league record of 3-6 going into last Saturday’s game at Illinois. It was near panic time for the Gophers to change their momentum in the next three games.

Done—almost. The Gophers defeated Illinois by nine points, won a thriller over Iowa, 101-89, and now pack their gym gear for Saturday’s game at Rutgers, 13-12 overall and 2-10 in the Big Ten.

Minnesota went into last night’s game ranked No. 25 nationally in the NCAA.com Ratings Percentage Index (RPI)—rankings that have much to do with determining who moves on to postseason tournaments. The Gophers have some quality wins, and the opportunity to earn more with seven Big Ten games remaining on the schedule, plus a chance to maintain or even improve a top 25 RPI ranking that for awhile now has had NCAA Tournament predictors keeping Minnesota in the mix. Hard to say what the final results will be but a possibility could be wins over Rutgers, Indiana, Penn State and Nebraska, and losses to Michigan, Maryland and Wisconsin. Such a path would result in a 9-9 Big Ten record, 21-10 overall.

Results as referenced above will keep the team’s RPI in good shape and should deliver an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. If so, it will be a first for Minnesota coach Richard Pitino who is in his fourth season with the Gophers and was 2-16 in the Big Ten last year.

After the season ends the Gophers may look back on the Iowa win as a key to their success–close call that it was. Minnesota was ahead 56-43 with 11:52 remaining in the second half. About three minutes later three consecutive turnovers against Iowa’s half-court trapping defense had triggered a 57-56 Hawkeyes’ lead.

Fatigue, though, hit the Hawkeyes as they tried to finish off the Gophers. Iowa freshman Jordan Bohannon couldn’t keep up with Gophers junior guard Nate Mason in the second overtime. Mason got key baskets as Minnesota outscored the Hawkeyes 17-5.

It was an emotional night for the Gophers and their fans. Pitino doesn’t like to do it, but he was waving his arms late in the game to engage the crowd. The student section saved its infamous “We Hate Iowa!” yell for second half dramatics, and at times Williams Arena rocked like its famous days a decade or two ago.

After the game Mason was asked if this win—important even if the Gophers were playing Rutgers—was at least a little more satisfying coming against border rival Iowa. “Yeah, for sure,” he answered.

Worth Noting

Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey has two sons, Connor and Patrick, playing for Iowa City West High School. That team plays at Cretin Derham-Hall and against Gophers recruit Daniel Orturu Saturday, February 18.

There is talk of an appreciation roast for Dick Jonckowski in the spring to be sponsored by the Minute Men. Jonckowski, the Shakopee-based speaker and emcee, is in his final season as public address announcer for Gophers basketball but will continue with U baseball games. He will be recognized by the Gophers at halftime of the Michigan basketball game February 19.

Ray Christensen, who died a couple of days ago at age 92, was known to sports fans as the radio voice of Gophers football and basketball for decades but he had varied interests including classical music. He preferred to work without a partner on basketball broadcasts and announced those games alone. He was a humble gentleman in an industry known for egos.

Better than Ground Hog Day to prompt optimism about spring arriving soon is that the Twins first exhibition game is two weeks from tomorrow in Fort Myers against the Rays. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training February 14, with the full squad coming in February 18.

Tallest player on the 40-man roster is 6-7 Michael Tonkin and the heaviest is 6-5, 290-pound Kennys Vargas. The oldest Twin is 35-year-old Ervin Santana, born December 12, 1982, while the youngest is 21-year-old Fernando Romero who was born December 24, 1995.

The Twins have announced another Hall of Fame class without Halsey Hall being included. His storytelling and baseball knowledge delighted Twins radio and TV audiences in the early years of the franchise. An obstacle is many Twins Hall of Fame voters aren’t familiar with Hall who died almost 40 years ago but is deserving of enshrinement. Fans who want to see Hall honored can send an email to Twins@twinsbaseball.com

Timberwolves second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns, who has the potential to be the best player in franchise history, has double-doubles in 31 of his last 34 games. Andrew Wiggins, the Wolves third-year forward and another potential superstar, has scored 20-plus points in 11 consecutive games.

The Minnesota Wild, with the best record in the Western Conference, has become a popular mid-season pick to win the 2017 Stanley Cup but that is a lot different outlook than before the season. For example, a June 18 article on Bleacherreport.com had the Wild’s odds of winning the cup at 30/1.

Coach John Anderson’s Minnesota baseball team begins its season February 17-19 at UC Irvine, then opens the home schedule February 24-26 against Seattle in the first- ever Gopher games in U.S. Bank Stadium. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster and at the stadium for 13 Gopher games to be played in the new facility through March 12.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School in southern Minnesota soon breaks ground on a major upgrade to its football and softball facilities, and will be adding a new track. The project will include synthetic field turf for the football and softball fields, plus lights, scoreboard and concession upgrades. JWP has an enrollment of 199 in grades 9-12 and might be the smallest school in the state to install field turf.

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Jerry Kill Back in State Recruiting

Posted on January 30, 2017January 30, 2017 by David Shama

Former Gophers coach Jerry Kill, now the offensive coordinator at Rutgers, has been recruiting in Minnesota for the Scarlet Knights but so far doesn’t have a commitment as National Signing Day approaches on Wednesday. College football recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners that Kill “called on” Crosby-Ironton tight end Noah Gindorff, and crossed paths with new Gophers coach P.J. Fleck last week at Hopkins High School.

Fleck and Kill are recruiting Hopkins defensive end Boye Mafe. Burns, who is a publisher of the popular Gopherillustrated.com website, said “he’s heard some interesting things about how that went down” when the two coaches were at Hopkins. Burns, who wasn’t at Hopkins when the coaches were there, didn’t provide more details.

It’s no secret Kill is upset about things that have been said and done at the University of Minnesota including the dismissal of Tracy Claeys as Gophers coach a few weeks ago, after leading Minnesota to a 9-4 record including an upset win over Washington State at the Holiday Bowl. Media reports have Kill saying he won’t be coming back to the Gopher campus where he helped resurrect the football program until his health forced him to resign in 2015. Claeys, Kill’s close friend and former defensive coordinator, was made Kill’s successor but lasted only one full season before being fired by new Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle. “He is a very emotional guy,” Burns said about Kill.

Burns believes Kill is “trying to get his foot in the door” on players the Gophers want, probing to see how successful he can be with Minnesota high school players. Few Power Five football programs aggressively recruit the state and Kill may see opportunity here because of that, and also his popularity with the public and relationships with high school coaches.

“He probably will be a little bit effective but…he’s got to land some of these kids that Minnesota (also) wants, for him to justify being out here,” Burns said. “As of today he hasn’t been able to do that.”

Both Kill and Fleck are just getting started in their new roles. Kill was hired by New Jersey-based Rutgers several days before Christmas. Fleck left Western Michigan where he was head coach to take over the Minnesota program in early January.

Known as an elite recruiter, Fleck has reshuffled the 2017 Gopher class that will be announced on Wednesday. While some players who had originally given verbal commitments to Claeys remain, most of the recruits now are student-athletes who Fleck and staff have convinced to become Gophers. Recruiting authorities like Burns have been impressed and they place Minnesota’s 2017 class much higher in national rankings than when Claeys and his staff were in charge.

Burns was asked about 2017 recruits and who he would “bet his life” will be the biggest impact player as a Gopher. “The easy answer is Blaise but I don’t want to take that one. There are a lot of kids that I like in this class. I would say Ken Handy-Holly.”

Blaise Andries, the offensive tackle from Marshall, Minnesota, is one of the prize recruits in Minnesota’s 2017 class but Burns has a high regard for Handy-Holly too, the four-star safety from Alabama. “My hope for him is that he can be a player like (former Gopher) Damarius Travis. A guy that is the leader of a defense, can get everyone lined up.”

Burns thinks Holly could play as a freshman, like Antoine Winfield, Jr. did last year. Winfield played early in the season on special teams, then became an impressive starter at safety for the Gophers.

Worth Noting

The Signing Day Social for Gophers football fans at TCF Bank Stadium Wednesday night is sold out. Over 800 attendees are expected at the Goal Line Club sponsored event where Fleck will talk about his first recruiting class at Minnesota. The social begins at 5 p.m. and KFAN’s Dan Barreiro will broadcast his show from the stadium.

A former Big Ten assistant coach who has followed Minnesota high school basketball for decades didn’t want his name in print but told Sports Headliners Jericho Sims is the best prep player from the state he’s ever seen including Kevin McHale and Tyus Jones. The 6-8 Sims is a senior at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis and the son of former Gopher Charles Sims. Sims has signed to play next fall for Texas and head coach Shaka Smart. The ex-Big Ten coach said Sims will be an immediate force in the Big 12, predicting he will play power forward in college while praising his varied offensive skills and his physique. “He’s built like a marble statue,” the source said.

I was in Williams Arena on October 15, 1971 when first-year Gophers coach Bill Musselman led his first official team practice. The Gophers were at least 15 minutes late taking the floor for practice, and I later learned that Musselman was giving the team a hyper-passionate pep talk about the season ahead including challenging Big Ten title favorite Ohio State. It was 45 years ago last week the famous Minnesota-Ohio State brawl took place at Williams Arena. Few people know Musselman was targeting the Buckeyes months before the game.

The St. Thomas and Bethel men’s basketball teams are tied for first place in the MIAC standings with 10-3 records. They play each other tonight at the Tommies’ Schoenecker Arena. Coach John Tauer’s Tommies are defending MIAC champions.

The Twins, expected to be down in their season tickets total this year, are able to offer more prime seating locations because of the decline. A source with the club told Sports Headliners the total season tickets in 2017 is projected at 11,000 to 12,000 after being about 13,000 last year.

Speedy Byron Buxton, the long-hyped Twins prospect and the big league club’s fastest player, stole only 10 bases last season in 92 games and 298 at bats. The center fielder hit .225, struck out 118 times and walked just 23 times. Buxton, though, has stolen 125 bases in 301 minor league games.

Twins super fan Kirk Detlefsen holds his annual Ticket Draft at Target Field on Wednesday. The event is an opportunity for people Detlefsen knows to share in the season tickets he buys each year. The gathering isn’t open to the public but in advance Detlefsen welcomes inquiries (612-701-7244). Twins authorities Derek Falvey, Dave St. Peter and Dan Gladden will speak to attendees, plus Town Hall Ball Parks of Minnesota author Todd Mueller will personalize complimentary copies of his book.

A sports awards industry source said Theo Epstein’s relationship with Jostens years ago was likely a major factor in the Minneapolis-based company being named the designer for the Cubs 2016 World Series rings. Epstein, the Cubs general manager, was the Red Sox’s baseball boss when Boston won the World Series in 2004 and Jostens produced that team’s rings. Look for Jostens to also make a Cubs World Series fan ring.

Dave Stead, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, told Sports Headliners his organization projects distributing about $1 million to MSHL schools that participated in state tournaments during the 2016-2017 school year. The distribution amounts are determined by a formula to reimburse schools for expenses. Stead said 12 of the 36 state tournaments sponsored by the MSHL, including the Prep Bowl, are profitable.

Minnesota North Stars caps for $39.99 each are on sale at the Minnesota Wild’s hockey-themed restaurant in Terminal 2 of the MSP airport.

Ross Bernstein, the locally-based author of sports books who is also a motivational speaker for businesses, was in Scotland last month where he found time to visit but not play the famed St. Andrew’s Golf Course.

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Najarian Put Fleck in Top List for U

Posted on January 8, 2017January 10, 2017 by David Shama

Former Gophers football player Pete Najarian, who last year pursued the athletic director job at the University of Minnesota, has been following 36-year-old coach P.J. Fleck for three years. Najarian told Sports Headliners yesterday that Fleck was one of three coaches he was interested in hiring if he became the AD and the Gophers head coaching job was open.

As an ESPN game commentator, Najarian studied Fleck’s work at Western Michigan, and he was more than impressed. “I liked his energy. I liked how intense he was. I could tell that he paid attention to detail. His teams were disciplined and that was very, very apparent.”

Najarian noticed that despite the coach being in his first head coaching job, Bronco teams were well prepared and adjusted to injuries. Fleck and his staff also topped their Mid-American Conference rivals in annual recruiting rankings. “He checked about every box that you could want to check,” Najarian said.

Fleck was announced as Gophers coach on Friday while coming off of a 13-1 season at Western Michigan where his Broncos only loss was in the Cotton Bowl to Wisconsin. Fleck spoke with passion and vision at his news conference, demonstrating a leadership style that attracted national media attention at Western Michigan.

Najarian, the former Minneapolis Central star who went on to play linebacker for the Gophers, said he was self-motivated as a player but that Fleck’s ability to connect with and motivate players might “just put us (the Gophers) to the next level.” Fleck is outgoing and passionate, and he is already pitching the whole community—not just his players—to “row the boat” together. He is trying to create a buzz about Gophers football that some day may remind older fans of legendary coach Lou Holtz who in the 1980s asked for the help of “every man, woman and child” in the state. Najarian played for Holtz and said players would “sprint through a wall” for the man who could command a locker room and also charm a room full of Fortune 500 executives.

Of course it will require more than words for Fleck to eventually make the Gophers Big Ten champions for the first time since 1967. Zach Johnson is a well-known Gophers and Big Ten recruiting authority who thinks Minnesota just made a huge upgrade going from Tracy Claeys to Fleck.” We went from having the worst Big Ten West (Division) head football coach to having the best Big Ten West head football coach, as far as recruiting.”

In Rivals.com’s national recruiting rankings last Friday Western Michigan was No. 51 while Minnesota was No. 77. That all changed this weekend when six high school players switched overnight from Western Michigan commitments to Minnesota. On Saturday Minnesota was at No. 50 (tied with North Carolina State) in the Rivals rankings and Western Michigan dropped to No. 79. National Signing Day for players in 2017 is February 1.

“They (the six players) have never set foot on the campus of the University of Minnesota, and they completely flipped their college plan and their life plan to commit to Minnesota,” said Johnson who is publisher of GopherIllustrated.com. “They will move to Minnesota sight unseen and begin classes at the U on January 17.”

Johnson said Fleck will “work tirelessly at recruiting” and pursue talent within a six or seven hour drive of Minneapolis, with particular emphasis on the Chicago area. He regards Fleck as a good game and practice coach, but it is also Fleck’s personality, style and determination that Johnson predicts will be so evident in the months and years ahead. “It’s off the field that this is really a home run hire for (athletic director) Mark Coyle. It’s the energy that he is going to bring to this program,” Johnson said.

Johnson believes better days are ahead at the box office, too. Last year there was a lot of fan apathy and attendance was the lowest since moving into 50,805 seat TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. “It’s embarrassing that they can only get 30,000, 35,000, maybe 40,000 to a college football game,” Johnson said. “I think you’ll see that change. If he (Fleck) wins, and he is successful, I can’t imagine they won’t sell that place out.”

Worth Noting

Holtz had an escape clause in his Minnesota contract to pursue the Notre Dame job if it opened. That opportunity gave Holtz an easy exit after the 1985 season when he headed for Notre Dame. But Coyle told Sports Headliners there is no escape clause for another school in Fleck’s contract.

Coyle said Fleck has long wanted to coach in the Big Ten, and that Minnesota is a “good fit” for the coach and his family. “I expect him to be here a long time,” Coyle said.

Coyle speaks to the CORES lunch group on Thursday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. The deadline for reservations is Monday and a large turnout is expected. More information is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotseth@comcast.net.

Matt Simon, who was the tight ends and special teams coach at St. Thomas in 2011, coached the wide receivers for Fleck at Western Michigan this past season. Simon is a native of Edina.

Fleck’s agent Bryan Harlan is based in Chicago and he also represents Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald.

The Gophers Blake Cashman, who was the Holiday Bowl defensive MVP, was named an honorable mention linebacker on the Associated Press 2016 All-Bowl team. A sophomore last season, Cashman led the team in sacks with 7.5. The former Eden Prairie player was third on the team in tackles for loss at 43. He was selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after a dominant performance in late November against Northwestern.

Chad Hartman said on WCCO Radio last week his 96-year-old father Sid Hartman is making a “remarkable recovery” from his broken hip. He added that Sid is walking almost as well now as before his accident.

Tyus Jones told Sports Headliners his confidence isn’t damaged by lack of playing time with the Timberwolves. The 2015 first round draft choice didn’t play in the team’s most recent game, a Saturday night loss to the Jazz in Minneapolis. It was the sixth consecutive night the former Apple Valley prep All-American point guard didn’t get on the court, according to ESPN.com. He has played in 21 of the Wolves 35 games, averaging 10.4 minutes, 3.1 points and 2.1 assists, per ESPN.

When asked recently if his spirits were down, Jones said, “No, not at all—just because I went through that last year. I know what that’s like. Last year I think that definitely hurt my confidence, that being the first time. I feel like I am a lot improved (now), so that’s also helped my confidence.”

Jones is a deep reserve on the roster, just like last season when he even was sent down to the NBA Development League for a brief time. He played better toward the end of the 2015-2016 NBA season and had a career high 12 assists in the final game. He finished the season appearing in 37 of 82 games, averaging 15.5 minutes, 4.2 points and 2.9 assists.

Jones mentioned his improvement includes ballhandling, shooting and assessing what needs to be done on the floor. His minutes are minimal, though, playing behind veteran point guard Ricky Rubio and 2016 rookie No. 1 draft choice Kris Dunn. At 6-1, 195-pounds, the 21-year-old Jones is small for an NBA player. Concerns about his defense have been part of the scouting report since he decided to leave Duke after his freshman season when the Blue Devils won the national championship.

Jabari Parker, who recruited Jones to Duke and is now a leading scorer on the NBA Bucks, told Sports Headliners his friend can have a long pro career. “Yup, because he’s got two things you can’t teach. He’s got heart and he’s got skill—he’s got a feel for the game.”

That feel has often been seen in Jones’ career at the biggest moments for his teams, particularly at Apple Valley and Duke. Jones, who was the Final Four MVP with Duke, is confident his composure will be there for the Wolves, too, if he given an opportunity.

“I think that’s just something that I’ve always had,” he said. “Something I’ve always prided myself on. (The) point guard has got to be a great leader on the court. To be composed, that definitely helps. …You see a strong face on the point guard, everyone else is going to follow.”

Tyus said his brother Tre Jones, the highly recruited junior point guard at Apple Valley, will wait until his senior year to choose a college. “He hasn’t narrowed it down to any specific list yet,” Tyus said.

The Twins hired new baseball executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine away from the Indians and Rangers organizations last fall. Levine said recently on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle the Twins won’t hesitate to show interest in players with their former organizations and their farm systems. The club, though, is highly unlikely to pursue personnel from the front offices of the Indians and Rangers.

He also said evaluating South Korean slugger Byungho Park in his second season will be more meaningful than his struggling rookie season of 2016. The first baseman-DH hit just .191 in 215 at bats, striking out 80 times while totaling 12 home runs and 24 RBI. Allowances, Levine said, have to be made for the adjustments Park faced playing in major league baseball for the first time and coming to a new country with its language and cultural differences.

Philosophies vary among major league teams on retaining two or three catchers on rosters but Levine said the Twins plan to carry two in 2017.

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