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In a telephone interview with Sports Headliners, Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor made his feelings known about interim head coach Ryan Saunders.

Is the 32-year-old who took over for Tom Thibodeau in early January a strong candidate to have the job on a permanent basis after this season ends? “Certainly,” answered Taylor.

So there’s a good chance Saunders becomes the head coach this spring?

“I think that’s fair,” Taylor said. “He is sure the leading candidate at this point because we haven’t talked to anybody (else). I am not sure (if others will be interviewed); we’ll see how that ends up at the end of the year, but I certainly want to give him every opportunity we can.”

Saunders’ record as interim coach is 12-14 going into tonight’s home game against the Knicks. While the record is under .500 and the team is a long shot to make the playoffs, Taylor takes an understanding view toward Saunders.

Injuries have characterized this season for the Wolves, and Taylor pointed out since Saunders has been directing the team there has yet to be a game when his five preferred starters were all available. Even now elite defender and forward Robert Covington isn’t recovered from a knee injury and last night the team’s Western Conference All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t finish the game because of a knee problem.

The team’s struggles include a leaky defense. In each of the last six games Minnesota has given up 120 points or more, with opponents four times scoring 130 or more. Taylor believes an offseason and training camp with more teaching time would allow Saunders to achieve better defensive results next season.

“I think that Ryan has been working…to change (improve) the defense but I am realistic in that he probably needs…a summer program to change things,” Taylor said. “I talked to him about it.”

Taylor describes himself as “encouraged” by Saunders’ job performance. Things that have made an impression on the owner include play calls, ball movement, pace of play and communications.

Saunders’ father Flip, who died in 2015, is the winningest coach in Wolves franchise history. The communications skills of both father and son are evident to Taylor. “I just think that’s very important,” Taylor said. “He (Ryan) is open to ideas and trying things. I already see that in our talks…similar with Flip.

“Before a game started I used to talk to Flip about what are you going to do against this team? Flip had a plan and he could share it with you.”

Ryan is the youngest head coach in the NBA in 40 years. He refers to the owner as “Mr. Taylor.” Yet Saunders seems to have the respect of his players and certainly that of the owner. Much of that has to do with 10 years of NBA experience previously as an assistant coach, and growing up as the son of a successful and intense basketball father.

“He’s just got a great basketball mind,” Taylor said of Ryan. “He learned a lot from his dad.”

Taylor was fond of Flip and has known Ryan for a long time. The personal feelings of Taylor are evident toward Saunders who has never been a head coach before.

“…I am hopeful that it all works out for Ryan because I like him as a person particularly, and I want all our people (in the organization) to be successful,” Taylor said.

Worth Noting

Towns scored 40 points and had 16 rebounds in the team’s win over the Wizards last night. It was his 43rd double-double of the season and his third 40-plus point performance, all of which have come in the last five games. “Certainly, I am just really pleased with Karl and what he has done,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s Minnesota Lynx, who have won four WNBA championships, will be without Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen this season. Their departures, the owner said, mean “people have to be a little patient” as the club reorganizes.

The boys’ state hockey tournament never disappoints for entertainment and storylines. The energy of players was typified by Eden Prairie, a group that played three overtimes before winning on Thursday, and in the Class 2A title game Saturday night lost in overtime to Edina.

The Class 1A Friday overtime game with top-seeded Mahtomedi and Greenway was a classic metro versus small town matchup. “I don’t think it gets that loud (crowd noise) for a Wild game,” an observer told Sports Headliners.

Greenway won Friday, but lost the Class 1A title matchup to St. Cloud Cathedral, the first time a St. Cloud school has won a state tournament hockey title. To win that championship in a seemingly ever-improving Class 1A was impressive.

Pat McKenzie, coach of the Saint John’s men’s basketball team that advanced to the Division III NCAA Tournament earlier this month, speaks to the CORES lunch group Thursday at the Bloomington Event Center, 1114 American Blvd. For reservations and other information, contact Jim Dotseth by tomorrow, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Hopefully rising outdoor temperatures and a Friday notes column will warm you up.

Tom Thibodeau told Sports Headliners he isn’t ready to talk to the media about his coaching career that ended abruptly with the Timberwolves firing him early last month. He did say in a brief telephone conversation Wednesday that a national TV basketball role could happen for him. Since his dismissal by the Wolves he has spent time with family in Connecticut but was back in Minneapolis this week.

Thibodeau was fired about halfway through his third season with the Timberwolves. It’s been reported he will receive the balance of a $40 million, five-year contract he signed in 2016 to become the franchise’s head coach and president of basketball operations. Thibodeau is respected among basketball authorities with an NBA background that includes head coaching jobs with the Bulls and Wolves.

If interim head coach Ryan Saunders isn’t rewarded with the job at season’s end, it seems a solid bet that Fred Hoiberg, who is liked personally by owner Glen Taylor, could take over. Hoiberg, who was let go as Bulls head coach in December, told ESPN’s Zach Lowe last month that he prefers to coach again, rather than work as an executive for an NBA team. Hoiberg played for and once worked in the Wolves front office.

It’s unusual for NBA franchises to have the same person serve as head coach and president of basketball operations. It’s a good guess that during the next offseason Taylor will make decisions dividing up those duties. If so, one name the owner might consider to head the front office is Brent Barry, the vice president of basketball operations for the much admired Spurs organization.

While Barry’s name has yet to draw media speculation, former Timberwolves player Chauncey Billups has been mentioned to possibly lead a new front office for a franchise that is struggling to make the playoffs after participating in postseason play last year for the first time since 2004.

Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns will appear as himself in Paramount’s new movie “What Men Want,” a comedy featuring Taraji P. Henson. She plays a female sports agent who gains an unexpected edge over male rivals with the ability to hear their thoughts. The movie will be in theaters nationwide February 8.

Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners he needs surgery for an infection in his right hip but he can wait to have a procedure after the season. He had surgery on his left hip for an infection last year.

Leipold is back in the states after enjoying time at his vacation home in Exuma, part of the Bahama Islands. He’s an enthusiastic booster of Exuma. “The beaches are spectacular,” he said.

It will be interesting to see how the Golden Gophers men’s hockey games against Michigan draw this week in 3M Arena at Mariucci. The program’s home attendance has been struggling but last Saturday’s game against Wisconsin set an announced attendance record at Mariucci of 10,686.

Jim Carter, long a critic of outgoing University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler, is “hopeful” about incoming president Joan Gabel. Carter, the former Gophers football captain who at one time was interested in being elected to the U Board of Regents, likes the background of Gabel and what he has read about her regarding both academics and athletics.

Gabel is coming to Minnesota from her position as provost at South Carolina, a Southeastern Conference school with a big appetite for football. Carter thinks her experience at South Carolina might be indicative that “she gets it” in terms of athletics being important at SEC and Big Ten universities. He also likes her academic experience at Missouri where she was dean of the business school. Carter said he hopes Gabel will be a “transformational” leader at his alma mater.

Condolences to family and friends of devoted Golden Gophers football supporter Dick Ames, 89, who died earlier this week. Ames, who founded Minnesota-based Ames Construction in 1962, loved the Gophers and even during frustrating times continued his generous financial support.

Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck will be among the keynote speakers at the February 22-24 USA Football National Conference in Orlando. Minnesota Football Coaches Association Executive Director Ron Stolski will also be a speaker. Stolski, head coach at Brainerd High School, begins his 58th season of prep coaching in Minnesota this summer.

Dick Jonckowski, the former public address announcer for Gophers basketball, is available as a celebrity PA man for high school basketball games in the state. He will be in St. James on February 8 to announce boys and girls games.

Fran Tarkenton’s hometown is Atlanta, where Sunday’s Super Bowl will be played between the Patriots and Rams. Sunday will be the 79th birthday of the former Vikings quarterback who led the team to three Super Bowls in the 1970s.

If the Rams defeat the Patriots, head coach Sean McVay at 33 becomes the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. That distinction currently belongs to Mike Tomlin, the former Vikings defensive coordinator, who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win at age 36 in 2009.

Jim Bruton, the local author who has written many books with Minnesota sports celebrities including Tarkenton, told Sports Headliners his new book with Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer is scheduled to come out early next year.

UMD All-American linebacker Alex Helmer, from Prescott, Wisconsin, is a name to keep track of later this year when NFL teams bring in free agents. He is training for pro tryouts in Woodbury.

After winning 12 games total the previous three seasons, the Hamline women’s basketball team is 11-9 overall and 6-7 in MIAC. Alex Focke, whose brother John Focke is the radio studio host for Timberwolves games, is the head coach in his second season at Hamline.