It’s probably more than coincidence that the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing without venerable shot blocker Theo Ratliff, gave up more points against Orlando (111) than they did in their two previous games (99 to Denver, 97 to New York).  Ratliff missed Tuesday night’s 111-103 loss to Orlando because of the flu after blocking five shots in the Wolves’ two other losses.  Who knows how many misses he caused, too, because of his presence and possibility that he would swat away more shots?

Ratliff, 34, is a rare center in today’s NBA because of his shot blocking.  He has led the league in blocked shots three of the past five seasons.  He has been among the top 10 shot blockers in his last seven full NBA seasons.  He’s one of six players in league history to lead in blocked shots at least three times.

Oh, my, if Ratliff, the 6-foot-10, 238-pound soft spoken defensive specialist were 24 instead of 34.  Considered a throw-in among the five players the Wolves acquired from Boston for Kevin Garnett, Ratliff has a large expiring contract after this season and a history of troublesome injuries that have limited his court time.  He makes approximately $11.5 million, according to espn.com, and the speculation is that taking his salary off the payroll next season will open options to sign younger players.

What Ratliff has shown the Wolves in two games, though, is that he can provide them with defensive help much more effectively than anyone else on the roster and better than most players in the league.  He’s also contributed offensively, averaging 11 points per game against a career average of eight, and five rebounds per game.  The questions, though, are how many games and minutes will Ratliff play this season, and what’s the future beyond next spring?

Ratliff missed all but two games last season because of a sore back, surgery and then rehab.  He told Sports Headliners last week that he’s still going through a “healing process.”  He has soreness in the back and endeavors to keep his “muscles loose.”  People with back problems will relate to Ratliff’s awareness of not sitting too long, stretching and utilizing massage and chiropractic assistance.

Before the season began, Ratliff said playing an aggressive number of minutes like 32 per game wasn’t realistic.  Interestingly, though, he played 33 minutes against the Knicks last Sunday, after 29 minutes in the home opener on Friday with the Nuggets. Coach Randy Wittman knows how valuable Ratliff can be and will do his best to successfully monitor his minutes.

Beyond this season?  Ratliff said that after 13 seasons it’s pretty much “year by year now.”  Spoken with the wisdom of experience, his goal is to enjoy this season, contribute to the team and “take a step back and see” what comes next spring and summer.

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Greg Maddux of San Diego broke former Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim Kaat’s record this week for the most Gold Glove awards by a pitcher or position player, according to mlb.com.  Maddux, 41, was recognized with a 17^th Gold Glove award.  Second in Twins history for Gold Glove awards is outfielder Torii Hunter with seven.  Hunter and pitcher Johan Santana (first time selection) are the two Twins announced this week to the 2007 American League Rawlings Gold Glove team.  It’s the seventh consecutive season Hunter has won a Gold Glove, tying the club record set by Kaat from 1965-1972.  The Gold Glove teams in both the National and American leagues are determined by a vote of managers and coaches.

KARE TV’s Randy Shaver, who every year spends long hours studying high school football, said Washburn’s junior tight end, Ra’Shede Hageman, is a superb college prospect.  The University of Minnesota has reportedly offered Hageman a scholarship. Shaver’s son Ryan, a senior football star at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, is considering MIAC schools and has a particular interest in St. Thomas.  Ryan might play safety, linebacker or fullback in college.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said at his Wednesday news conference that he wouldn’t identify an ideal range of carries per game for Adrian Peterson.  He emphasized the importance of having “fresh legs” and noted that Peterson (22) is a young player.

Vikings wide receiver Bobby Wade is on KSTP 1500 AM every Monday night from 6 to 6:30 p.m. with Matt Thomas.

The Gophers hockey team is a 0-4 in WCHA games and has managed just one goal in each game.  The Gophers play Minnesota State this weekend, at Mankato Friday night and at Maricucci Arena Saturday evening.

Gophers women’s basketball coach Pam Borton told Sports Headliners she has a top 40 team with the potential to be even better.  The Gophers, who open their non-conference schedule tonight against UC-Riverside, were the second youngest team in the country last season and will have five sophomores among their top eight players, Borton said.

The Gophers have sold about 3,200 season tickets so far and expect to sell more.  Borton said the Gophers were among the top 10 schools in the country in women’s basketball attendance last season and have ranked as high as top five.

Saint John’s is at Bethel Saturday in a 1 p.m. game with the MIAC title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as rewards for the winning team. Saint John’s (7-0 MIAC, 9-0 overall) is ranked No. 2 in the nation among Division III teams, while Bethel (7-0 MIAC, 8-1 overall) is No. 16. An overflow crowd of 7,000 to 10,000 is expected, according to an e-mail from an MIAC spokesman.

The “World’s Toughest Rodeo,” an annual attraction on the Twin Cities entertainment calendar going back to Met Center days, comes to the Xcel Energy Center on February 1 and 2.  Tickets went on sale last Saturday.

 

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Recruiting is a world of hype and unfulfilled promises.  Players reportedly headed for one school land at another.  Players “who can’t miss” sometimes don’t even come close to being top producers.  So with that disclaimer, we write about Tubby Smith’s first recruiting class at Minnesota, one that could eventually be among the top 10 in the nation.

Rivals.com reports that the Gophers have verbal commitments from two community college and two high school players for the recruiting class of 2008.  On a star system rating with five being the highest, the Gophers have verbals from three star Paul Carter of Missouri State-West Plains Community College, three star Devron Bostick of Southwestern (Ill.) Community College, four star Ralph Sampson III of Northview High School in Duluth, Georgia, and three star Colton Iverson of Yankton High School in Yankton, South Dakota.  The Gophers also continue to recruit other players.

There’s speculation that the 6-foot-8, 195-pound Carter, originally from Little Rock, will be the most ready of the recruits to help the Gophers next fall.  He is a versatile player who can score, rebound, run the floor and is considered a leader.  A pre-season junior college all-American, Carter is religious and talks openly about his faith.  He said in the team’s media guide that his “proudest athletic moment” was committing to the Gophers in August.

“Paul is very skilled,” coach Brian Ostermann said in the guide. “He can score in a lot of different ways, and he rebounds well. …I really believe that Paul can be one of the best players in the country by February.”

Bostick is a 6-foot-4 scoring forward originally from Racine, Wisconsin.  He’s in his second season at Southwestern where he’s impressed with his ability to score.  He averaged 19.1 points per game last season when he became a junior college all-American.

Sampson is a teasing name and talent. He is the son of famed Ralph Sampson II, who at 7-4 was a dominant player in college and the NBA.  There’s speculation whether the younger Sampson, sometimes now listed at 6-11, 220, will grow a few more inches and certainly he will add strength.  Sampson wasn’t a coveted recruit a couple of years ago, but now could have his choice of many colleges but looks like he will be the Gophers’ starting center before too long.  Known as a shot blocker like his dad, the younger Sampson needs to become more aggressive and consistent in his play.

Iverson, about 6-10, 240, has earned a reputation as a physical power forward or center type.  Iverson, like Sampson, is known as a fast improving big man who could be a physical college player both offensively and defensively.  He averaged about 15 points and 10 rebounds last year.  He had offers from Florida, Kentucky and more than 20 other schools, according to keoland.com, the Web site for KELOLAND TV in Sioux Falls.  Ken Lien, who has scouted high school players for many years as chair of the Minnesota Mr. Basketball Committee, describes Iverson as “an aggressive player….likes to bang and knows his way around the hoop.”

At Kentucky Smith won a national championship and regularly had his team in the NCAA tournament.  Although NCAA rules don’t allow him to talk publicly about specific recruits at this time, he was asked by Sports Headliners about the apparent recruiting success at Minnesota. “I came in with a reputation, having won, having developed players,” he said recently.  “So kids want that.  Parents want that.  They know we’re going to lead the right way.  We’re going to demand certain things of them.  They’re going to be disciplined. And who wouldn’t want that for their son? …”

Smith said he doesn’t invest time or energy following recruiting rankings.  “I’ve never worried about where people rate us.  Rankings mean nothing to me. …It’s what’s inside each player that determines how far he goes.”

Players can sign tenders next week, beginning on November 14 thru November 21. By then the Gophers will be more certain about what they have.  The Gophers, with three senior starters, need talent and bodies for 2008.  The help wanted sign is out at all positions, starters and reserves.

The Gophers are likely to sign more than four players.  Asked last night how many scholarships the Gophers will award for the 2008 class, Smith said he didn’t know but acknowledged he has enough scholarships.

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