Twins – Page 169 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Give Teague Credit for Pitino Hire

Posted on January 24, 2014January 25, 2014 by David Shama

It took courage for first-year athletic director Norwood Teague to dismiss Tubby Smith as Gophers basketball coach last March. Then Teague stuck his neck out further by hiring 30-year-old Richard Pitino as Smith’s successor.

Smith faltered at Minnesota, unable to win even half of his Big Ten games, but because of his stature as a basketball icon the firing was criticized locally and nationally. Teague, though, believed he could find individuals more capable of leading the Gophers’ program.

When Teague seemed to whiff on a number of rumored candidates to succeed Smith, Gophers fans wondered who would end up with the job. And when Gophers alum and Dinkytown hero Flip Saunders couldn’t strike a deal with Teague there were plenty of passionate fans ticked off.

After 10 months on the job Pitino has the program flirting with 2014 success and teasing with what might develop in future seasons. The Gophers are a surprising 4-3 in the Big Ten and 15-5 overall. In the last nine days Minnesota has rocked Williams Arena and made national news with upset wins over early season basketball powers Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Gophers deputy athletic director David Benedict, who starts a new job on Monday as Auburn athletics chief operating officer, was part of the administrative team involved with interviewing candidates to replace Smith. The group also included Teague and senior associate athletic director Mike Ellis who oversees basketball.

“I am not going to take a lot of credit for Richard’s hiring,” said Benedict. “Norwood has done that before and Mike Ellis has been involved with those hires.”

Benedict referred to the hiring of Anthony Grant and Shaka Smart. Grant was hired by Teague at VCU and after making his reputation there accepted the head coaching job at Alabama. Smart succeeded him at VCU and his fiery defensive teams have emerged as part of college basketball’s culture. “There’s no reason to believe Richard is not another young superstar in college basketball,” Benedict said.

Pitino and staff have impressed with their teaching. They spend considerable time with the players working on individual skills. Then at team practices they blend those skills into the group concept.

The result has been players, who once looked like they couldn’t play competitively in the Big Ten, are contributing to the success of a team that observers believed last fall had only minimal talent in guards Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins. Players like centers Elliott Eliason and Mo Walker have become difference-makers and so, too, have two players Pitino added to the roster, point guard DeAndre Mathieu and shooting guard Malik Smith.

A Big Ten TV commentator said this week Eliason is the most improved player in the Big Ten. Walker has lost 65 pounds since last season and without his 18 points off the bench the Gophers wouldn’t have won against Wisconsin on Wednesday night. Mathieu had been a walk-on at another college and Smith was lightly recruited out of high school.

Whether Pitino can ultimately make the Gophers a conference and national power will be determined by recruiting. But Benedict said the “recruiting piece” is probably his least area of concern. Pitino polished his recruiting as an assistant coach working for two former national championship coaches, his father Rick Pitino at Louisville and Billy Donovan at Florida.

Benedict said Pitino’s recruiting network, relationships, experience and work ethic will result in success. Identifying Mathieu and Smith as potential contributors and bringing them to Minnesota are early indicators of Pitino’s promise as a recruiter. “We didn’t have any question whether Richard was going to be able to recruit,” Benedict said.

Benedict also said Pitino’s success in taking a Gophers team that before the season was predicted to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten and having Minnesota in fourth place today and perhaps on its way to a NCAA tournament invitation hasn’t surprised him. But he knows the reality of Big Ten coaching is Pitino must prove a lot more in the months and years ahead.

Still, the Pitino hire looks impressive today. “He’s been around big time basketball all his life,” Benedict said. “He’s seen what success looks like.”

Worth Noting

The Gophers are at Nebraska on Sunday (5 p.m. start) where the Cornhuskers are averaging more than 15,000 fans per game in the new Pinnacle Bank Arena and selling out their games. “It’s (the atmosphere) supposed to be electric is what everyone down there tells me,” said Gophers center Elliott Eliason. “Should be a lot of fun.”

Eliason is from Chadron, Nebraska and his parents, brother and friends from high school will attend the game.

Gophers center Mo Walker, who came off the bench to not only score 18 points but grab nine rebounds against Wisconsin, said he plans to stay humble and “hungry.” Walker had 14 points in the first half after the Gophers lost their best player, Andre Hollins, with an ankle injury. “Without Mo tonight, I don’t think we win that game,” said Malik Smith.

Dan O’Brien is succeeding Benedict and will be in Benedict’s former office starting on Monday. O’Brien, a St. Thomas graduate and former athletic director at Hamline and Concordia of St. Paul, has been involved with Gophers football operations since 2008. As part of athletic director Norwood Teague’s group of top administrators, O’Brien will oversee the football and men’s golf programs, and be involved with facilities and the M Club.

O’Brien, whose new title will be senior associate athletics director, has a strong relationship with football coach Jerry Kill. Teague’s promotion of O’Brien is another indication of the athletic director’s support for Kill.

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel and Kill will headline the Hamline Football Coaches Clinic tomorrow. The Tressell-Kill session will be moderated by Jim’s brother and former Hamline coach Dick Tressel. Clinic speakers will also include Minnesota high school coaches such as Givoan Jenkins from Washburn, Jeff Ferguson of Totino Grace and Andy Rostberg from Hutchinson. More information is available from Hamline football coach Chad Rogosheske, 651-523-2595.

Cretin-Derham Hall defensive end Jashon Cornell, who has been ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 recruit nationally in the prep class of 2015, has been elected a Raiders captain for next fall. A source told Sports Headliners Cornell has about 20 college offers including Michigan and Notre Dame but the Gophers remain a favorite.

Cornell, who weighed 225 pounds as a freshman, is now at about 275 and has rejoined the basketball team after not playing earlier in the season, according to the source.

Jeff Jones, the highly recruited Washburn running back, has cancelled visits to Florida and Michigan after both schools told him they made commitments to other backs. Jones has a home visit with the Gophers on Sunday, according to Jenkins, his Washburn coach.

Prior Lake senior linebacker Blake Weber has a scholarship offer from Northern Iowa, and Iowa is recruiting him as a preferred walk-on. The Gophers have also recruited him as a preferred walk-on.

Isaiah Gentry, a 6-4 wide receiver from Moeller High School in Cincinnati, is being recruited by the Gophers and is scheduled to be in Minneapolis this weekend. Considered a late developer with Big Ten potential, Gentry’s receivers coach is Pete Hopewell, brother of former Gopher Paul Hopewell.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners he’s expecting total attendance of about 15,000 at Target Field for TwinsFest today through Sunday. He said the total will compare favorably with the top drawing winter fanfests staged by other major league teams.

The Metrodome attracted TwinsFest crowds of more than 30,000 but with that site no longer available St. Peter said the organization will be surveying fans for their opinions about the new venue. With adult tickets priced at $20, he described the event as a “great value” and reminds fans TwinsFest is a fundraiser for the Twins Community Fund.

Approximately 73 former, current and future Twins will participate in TwinsFest. They donate their time with the organization paying for travel, lodging and meal costs.

Among those players will be new pitcher Ricky Nolasco. St. Peter said this is Norlasco’s third time ever in Minneapolis. The first was last year when he and his Marlins teammates were snowed out of a game. The second time was late last year when a blizzard hit town and the third visit came earlier this week when cold temps hit Minneapolis. “We’re trying to convince him it will (eventually) warm up in Minnesota,” St. Peter said.

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Flip: Rubio to Become ‘Decent’ Shooter

Posted on January 6, 2014January 6, 2014 by David Shama

Don’t expect Flip Saunders to join those who criticize the shooting of Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio.

Rubio is making 0.351 percent of his field goals, the lowest percentage among the team’s starters. As a group the Wolves are converting 0.434 percent of their field goal attempts.

Rubio averages 9 points per game, not much better than his backup Jose Barea at 8.3 who plays fewer minutes. Rubio’s scoring average is the lowest among starters on a team with a 16-17 record and may not fulfill its potential of going to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Wolves have lost nine games by four points or less including last Saturday’s 115-111 game against the Thunder. They haven’t been able to close out games and a better shooting Rubio would have made a difference but Saunders, the Wolves president of basketball operations, emphasizes the strengths of the third year point guard.

“You gotta look at his impact on the game,” Saunders told Sports Headliners last week. “He’s one of the few guys in our league that can have an impact on a game without scoring a lot of points. He’s had nights where he’s scored seven, eight points, but we’ve had big blowout wins because he’s had 10 assists, four steals, (and) a lot of rebounds.

“What goes unnoticed is he’s either (the) first or second highest rebounding point guard in the league at 4.6 rebounds. He’s fourth in the league in assists and he’s leading the league in steals.”

Rubio is making 0.339 percent of his three point attempts, similar to the team average of 0.337 and certainly a respectable figure. And Saunders said fans may not be aware how much Rubio wants to improve his overall shooting.

“I think the misconception (is) people don’t think he works at it. He works harder than anybody on our team in shooting. He’s 23. In time he’ll become a decent shooter.”

Rubio puts pressure on himself to improve and help the team win including the frustration of trying to push the season record above .500. Does he care too much?

“I always say that your greatest strength is your greatest weakness because you can’t control it,” Saunders said. “His greatest strength is his competiveness and his will to win. He’s a perfectionist but he doesn’t fail quickly. Sometimes if he makes a mistake or if he misses a shot, he’ll be thinking about that shot instead of forgetting about it and worrying about the next one.”

Rubio is making 0.853 percent of his foul shots, second best among the starters and No. 19 in the NBA. Saunders mentioned the 85 percent and predicted better field goal percentages in the future for Rubio.

“You look at the history of the league, most guys that shoot 86 percent from the free throw line end up being pretty good (field goal) shooters. In time he’s gonna be a guy that’s gonna shoot I think in the 45 percent and above (range), and over 40 percent from the three point line.”

Worth Noting

In last year’s NBA draft Saunders chose Michigan point guard Trey Burke, then traded him immediately to the Jazz for two later first round picks, swingman Shabazz Muhammad and center Gorgui Dieng who have played minimal minutes and games for the Wolves. Burke is averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Jazz, establishing himself as a starter and key contributor to the team’s success.

Saunders said Burke is a good player but the Wolves had “five point guards” on the roster at draft time, including Rubio. “It’s tough to take a guy that’s not a high lottery pick that duplicates one of your best players,” Saunders said.

Saunders said playing in the Western Conference against so many of the NBA’s best teams could mean the Wolves “win 46 games and not make the playoffs.” The team was 31-51 last season.

The Wolves have superstar forward Kevin Love who leads the league in rebounds per game and is second in scoring average. Rubio’s passing and dribbling can be worthy of top 10 highlights on ESPN. “No matter what, we play entertaining basketball,” Saunders said. “We’re a team that a lot of people when they turn on NBA League Pass…want to watch.”

It looks like a long season for former Gophers coach Tubby Smith at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders first year coach is 8-6 with losses against the better teams on his schedule including Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Iowa State and Pittsburgh. In their home Big 12 opener on Saturday, the Raiders lost to Iowa State 73-62 before 5,861 fans.

Jeff Jones, the Washburn running back who was a team MVP last week in the nationally televised Under Armour All-America Game, was only invited to the national prep all-star event because another player couldn’t participate, according to Millers head coach Giovan Jenkins. He also said Jones will make an official visit to Florida later this month but has yet to schedule visits to Missouri and Michigan State. The Gophers still could be Jones’ college choice.

Twins spring training tickets go on sale Saturday. On January 24 single game ticket sales begin for the April 7 home opener in Minneapolis against the A’s. Single game tickets for the rest of the season will be available starting February 22. Tickets remain on sale for TwinsFest January 24-26 at Target Field. All tickets are available for purchase via Twinsbaseball.com, or by telephoning 612-33-TWINS.

The extreme cold has postponed St. Thomas and Bethel men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled for tonight until next Monday evening. Those are anticipated games because all four teams are off to successful starts in the MIAC. The St. Thomas men are 4-0, the women 6-0, while Bethel’s men’s team is 3-2 and the women 5-0.

Let’s Play Hockey magazine had a January 3 feature on 93-year-old Norb Robertson, a former Gophers hockey player and the father of ex-Wild executive Billy Robertson. The older Robertson also participated in baseball and football at Minnesota, and played all three sports at St. Thomas College, too.

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Molitor ‘Excited’ to Work for Gardy

Posted on December 11, 2013December 11, 2013 by David Shama

Paul Molitor told Sports Headliners he and Ron Gardenhire are looking forward to working with one another in 2014 including when the Twins open spring training in Florida next February. “I respect tremendously what he’s done as a leader of this franchise on the field and I am excited about the chance to work for him,” Molitor said.

Molitor, hired after the 2013 season as a Twins coach, said Gardenhire “has reached out to him.” Molitor had been working for the Twins on assignments in the minor leagues and has long been admired for his baseball intelligence.

Media and fans have speculated for awhile that Molitor’s presence on the coaching staff could be perceived by Gardenhire, the team’s manager since 2002, as a threat to his job security. “I don’t think that exists in one iota,” Molitor said. “Gardy is very comfortable in his own skin and rightfully so.

“He’s not worried about what might happen down the road. He’s kind of a day-to- day grind it out kind of guy. When he’s got a title and a job, that’s what he’s going to concentrate on.”

Molitor, 57, has known Gardenhire for many years. The Twins organization saw the opportunity to add Molitor, a Hall of Famer, as a way to improve a franchise that has been among the worst in baseball for the last two seasons. Molitor saw an opportunity to become more involved with the organization by becoming a coach.

Could his future include becoming a big league manager some day? “I don’t close doors,” Molitor answered. “I am getting older now and I think this is may be my last opportunity to get back on the field. In some ways I think getting back in this particular role and seeing what the game is like on a daily basis at the big league level will give me a lot of insight as to where this is going to go.

“I envision our club getting better and becoming more competitive this year and into 2015. If things go well, this might be a role I can settle into also. It’s hard to say what’s down the road. But our focus will definitely be just on this year and trying to be as effective a coach as I can be.”

Molitor’s assignments with players will include base running, bunting and in-game strategy. The former All-Star infielder will also work with players like third baseman Trevor Plouffe, shortstop Pedro Florimon, second baseman Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer, who will be making the transition from catcher to first base.

Molitor said former Twins manager Tom Kelly, who helps with instruction at spring training, is among the best first base authorities in baseball. Molitor pointed out Mauer’s previous part-time experience at first base will help his performance in the field.

“Hopefully we can just get Joe to where we put the catching thing behind and we can start concentrating on making him that full-time first baseman and a very efficient one,” Molitor said.

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