Tubby Smith has been on the job as Gopher basketball coach since late March.  Listening to Smith and others with knowledge of the program leaves an observer with early impressions. 

Smith is optimistic about his three returning starting seniors, forward Dan Coleman, center Spencer Tollackson and guard Lawrence McKenzie.   A change in coaching and the desire to improve could result in this trio being one of the more productive threesomes in the Big Ten Conference.  Last season the group scored 1,179 of the team’s 1,880 points.  The 63% total would have been higher except Tollackson missed eight of the team’s 31 games.  (The three players also had 410 of the Gophers’ 984 rebounds).  

Coleman’s off-season play has reportedly been impressive.  Duly noted is the added aggressiveness in his game.  Long and quick, the 6-foot-9 Coleman has been encouraged to be more assertive and consistent in the past.  He’s the team’s most talented player and capable of a superb senior season including an increase in his 14.2 points per game scoring average of last season. 

It’s puzzling to figure out where the help will come from to assist Coleman, Tollackson and McKenzie.  Former coach Jim Molinari said last year that freshman Bryce Webster was the most highly recruited Gopher coming out of high school.  The 6-foot-9 Webster, who averaged just 9.3 minutes and 1.2 points per game, appears passionate about the coming season.  His improvement could add much needed low post scoring, plus shot blocking and rebounding. 

McKenzie’s skills at shooting threes and occasionally slashing to the basket are better packaged as a shooting guard than a playmaker.  The Gophers need a point guard worse than the NBA finals longed for TV viewers.  Incoming freshman Blake Hoffarber is impressive with his decision making this spring, has a reputation for exceptional court sense and although known as a shooter could try out as the team’s point guard. 

Basketball sources are consistent in messaging that Smith is an exceptional practice and game coach.  He will produce more from his talent than many of his coaching peers.  Along the way he will push his players hard but will be fair. 

Personnel must obviously be improved in coming seasons for the Gophers to move way beyond the record of last season, 9-22 overall and 3-14 in Big Ten games, including a season ending nine game losing streak (includes the final loss in the conference post-season tournament).  

For now there are questions about upgrading the personnel.  How good are Smith and his assistants at recruiting?  Will they approach recruiting more nationally than regionally?  Certainly the Gophers will be more effective in keeping the state’s best players here, and Smith’s reputation as a former national championship coach opens opportunities to recruit here and elsewhere. 

Recruiting glitz is much more visible than in the past. A high school senior next season, 7-foot Ralph Sampson, Jr. of Duluth, Georgia has shown interest in the Gophers.  The son of former NBA great Ralph Sampson, Junior’s strengths include his outside shooting. 

Smith has frequently been out of town either recruiting or fulfilling commitments made prior to being hired at Minnesota.  While it’s been said Smith hasn’t been visible enough with the media and public, he has made friends and impressed locals with his personality and personal values. 

Paul Presthus and other members of the Golden Dunkers executive group met with Smith for the first time a few days ago.  Presthus was a Golden Dunkers founder and said that over 35 years the booster organization has provided about $3 million to Gopher basketball.  Recent support has included video equipment and locker room renovation. 

Presthus, a former Gopher captain, said people are even more excited about having Smith as coach after they meet him.  “What he brings is such credibility in the community and in the basketball world,” Presthus said.  “Now the opportunity is to build on that and I am confident it will happen.”   

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When the Twins scored 10 runs yesterday to beat Milwaukee, 10-9, it was the team’s most runs in one game this month.  The Twins had lost the first two games of the home series against the Brewers, producing a total of five runs. 

The Twins are 7-25 in games where they score three runs or fewer.  In 32 of 67 games the Twins have produced three runs or less.  Their overall record is 34-33 and they are 5.5 games behind Cleveland in the American League Central Division. 

The Twins can’t sustain any subtractions in their scoring potential.  That’s evident watching Joe Mauer struggle since his return to the team on June 8 after missing 29 games with his now famous left quad injury.  When Mauer tripled in the seventh inning of Saturday night’s game against Milwaukee he ended a 0-13 streak.  In Mauer’s eight games since returning to the lineup he has seven hits in 34 at-bats, including his best day yesterday when he had two hits. 

Mauer was asked Friday about difficulty in hitting fast balls. “They seem harder (to hit),” he told Sports Headliners.  “You haven’t been in the box for awhile.  It seems like it’s coming in about 150 (miles per hour) but it just takes time (to get better).” 

Mauer’s comeback wasn’t helped by a blow from the bat of Atlanta’s Andruw Jones that struck his left arm, opening a six inch cut, according to a source.  That injury occurred last Thursday. 

Mauer said missing those 29 games also impacted his timing as a catcher but not as much as hitting.  Not having the opportunity to learn about the team’s pitchers was another negative to being on the disabled list. 

 “Yeah, you know we had some injuries on the pitcher’s side, too,” Mauer said.  “I remember the first time I ever caught Carmen Cali was in a game situation (earlier this month).  It was late in the game, eighth inning … so that can be tough.” 

Although the team’s record has been a disappointment, the season isn’t even half over.  Mauer, of course, has confidence that better results are ahead. “We know we’ve got the right personnel here,” he said.  “We just gotta go out and play.” 

Mauer participated in his first All-Star game last season.  As of last week he was fourth in All-Star balloting among catchers. “It was a fun event but there’s a lot guys out there deserving,” he said.  “If I go it would be great. If I don’t then I get three days off.  Obviously I’d love to be there but I know that there’s some guys out there having great years.”

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Hooray for the Minneapolis City Council passing anti-panhandling measures. Perhaps I can now walk to Target Center and not be hassled.  Hard to sleep, though, worrying about how the measures may violate freedom of speech. 

Peter King writing in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated about Randy Moss and his positive behavior in spring practices with the New England Patriots:  “The smart money says Moss will be the NFL’s bargain of ’07. He’s always performed well when he’s been healthy and his team has had a chance to win. …” 

Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer likes living in Minneapolis and said he may one day buy a home near Lake Harriet or Lake of the Isles.  He won’t winter here, though, preferring his warmer home in southern Virginia. 

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster talking to Sports Headliners about Athlon magazine picking Minnesota for a last place finish in the Big Ten Conference: “Well, I think it’s a tremendous incentive for our coaching staff and our football team that there is a non-belief in what we’re capable of doing.  I think that’s really exciting for us. …We’re taking it as a real challenge.” 

Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton isn’t participating in the Wimbledon 35 and over doubles because of a Wimbledon policy change.  He told Sports Headliners he expects to know by mid-July whether he will receive an invitation for the 35 and over doubles at the US Open. 

Four MIAC schools were ranked in the top 100 of the 2006-07 Division III U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup, the award presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, United States Sports Academy and USA TODAY to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country. Gustavus Adolphus finished 11^th, Saint John’s 22^nd, St. Thomas 28th and St. Olaf 95th.  

Golden Gloves boxing matches will be held outside at Canterbury Park on the following Saturdays:  June 30, July 14 and 28, and August 11 and 25.  About five bouts, three rounds each, will be offered between races.

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