It won’t take long for the talk show hosts or critical columnists to start speculating about Dwane Casey’s job security if the 2006-2007 Timberwolves play like the 33-49 bunch of last season.  That was Casey’s first team as an NBA head coach and the Wolves’ failings included losing second half leads, some late in the fourth quarter.  The Wolves also lost 18 and won 11 in games decided by six points or less. 

If this season’s version of the Wolves stumbles in wins, losses and blown leads the Casey critics will surface and at least some will suggest assistant coach Randy Wittman be promoted to head coach.  Wittman, who was on previous Minnesota coaching staffs from 1994-1999 and 2001-2005, is back with the Wolves after Casey shook up his staff during the off season.   

Wittman is popular with local media and fans, and was head coach of the Cleveland Cavs for two seasons.  Before accepting the invitation to return here he and Casey discussed the possibility Wittman’s name could be included in coaching change speculation. 

“Dwane and I talked about that when he called me and asked if I had any interest in coming back,” Wittman said. “For me and for my career the best thing that could happen is we win 50 plus games (and) you make the playoffs. That means that maybe me coming back here helped in a certain manner.  That’s all you can focus on.  

“I told him if he is the least bit uncomfortable with that I would walk right out the door and have no hard feelings and completely understand that.  But No. 1 you (Casey) have to be comfortable with that and he said he extremely was. That’s all I am here for.  I am not here for anything else but to help Dwane become a better coach.” 

Ask Wittman about his role with the Wolves and he talks about the close losses the Wolves experienced last season.  “I want to help Dwane as much as I can in close situations (so) that he doesn’t feel the weight of the world is on him,” he answered. “That there is somebody that can give him a different perspective other than the one maybe he is thinking about. As a head coach that’s kind of what you are looking for. You have an idea of how you want to attack but you want to hear other people say, ‘What about this coach’? You might not ever think of that. That’s kind of what I hope to bring to him.”

The winner of the annual Gopher-Badger football game has also won Paul Bunyan’s Axe since 1948. Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema, at 36 the second youngest Division I-A head coach, said earlier this week rivalries like Saturday’s game with Minnesota provide “an extra incentive to play.”   

 “I am a very firm believer in focusing week to week. …I know one of the things I brought up to our guys on (last) Saturday was the axe,” Bielema said. “It’s an important thing to our guys and hopefully we will be able to carry that through this weekend.” 

The Badgers have won the famed trophy nine of the last 11 games.  Wisconsin has momentum going into this game having won five of six games, losing only to No. 4 ranked Michigan. The Gophers, 2-4, lost a self declared must-win game last Saturday to Penn State. 

If the Badgers need more incentive this weekend than the axe and staying in the race for the Big Ten championship and a top bowl game, they don’t have to look far to find it.  Wisconsin is celebrating homecoming and a statue of former coach Barry Alvarez (grand marshal for the homecoming parade) will be unveiled outside Camp Randall Stadium on Friday. 

Sounds like a perfect setting for a Gopher upset.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said Kyle Lohse is a “great guy” but the former Twins pitcher was too concerned about “quality starts” or why he was pitching out of the bullpen.  “He was just one of those guys who was into his stats and all those things, and that’s a situation we are just not caught up with around here,” Gardenhire said. “Great kid…it’s just that sometimes you clash on the field on what your goals are as a team.” 

Jason Kubel, who had 220 at bats this season with a .241 average, is a hitter with potential who may help the Twins much more in the future.  In the minor leagues Kubel, 24, hit over .300. 

You wonder if Rondell White, 34, will return to the Twins in 2007.  Although he raised his batting average to .246, after hitting .198 on June 1, his legs don’t allow him to play every day in left field.  

Don’t think, too, the Twins aren’t concerned about the inconsistency and future of starting pitcher Carlos Silva.  He lost six of his last nine starts and for the season had a .594 ERA. 

A year ago the Vikings were 1-3 heading into their bye week and in three of their four games they had scored just 31 total points.  Defensively the Vikings had given up 104 points in the four games.  When the Vikings resumed their schedule the staff had been expanded to add consultants Foge Fazio and Jerry Rhome to help with the defense and offense.  The unorthodox maneuver of adding veteran consultants during the season won’t be repeated this time, not with a new coaching staff confident with its ways and the team at 3-2. 

Want to meet Mark Parrish of the Minnesota Wild? He will be at the Festival Foods grand opening (401 West 98^th Street in Bloomington) on Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. 

Often injured Timberwolves guard Troy Hudson (played in 36 games last season) said he has bone spurs in his ankles.  Before training camp he was talking about developing a rest or recovery schedule between practices and games that will allow him to be effective. “With the right amount of recovery time I feel I can maintain a healthy career throughout,” he said.  

Ryan Wittman, Randy Wittman’s 6-7 son from Eden Prairie High School, will be a freshman basketball player at Cornell this season.