David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Andre Hollins Staying; Flip No Sure Hire

Posted on March 26, 2013March 28, 2013 by David Shama

Sophomore point guard Andre Hollins, the best of Minnesota’s returning players for next season, told Sports Headliners yesterday he didn’t want to talk about the basketball coaching change but apparently fans don’t have to worry about him transferring to another school.

“I am not leaving,” Hollins said.

Hollins was the team’s leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. He also led the Gophers in three-point shots made and three point percentage, .416. His 116 assists were tops on the team by 29.

There was concern this past winter that if Gophers’ coach Tubby Smith were fired, Hollins might leave the program. Hollins is a projected 2014 first round draft choice by NBAdraft.net and college programs across the country would welcome him.

Hollins and center Trevor Mbakwe were the team’s two most valuable players but Mbakwe and forward Rodney Williams were both senior starters who won’t be around next season. Key senior reserves Julian Welch and Andre Ingram have used up their eligibility too.

Whoever the new coach is replacing Smith, he will be happy to build around Hollins. Forward Joe Coleman, who will be a junior next season, and shooting guard Austin Hollins, a senior in 2013-2014, join Andre Hollins as returning starters on a 21-13 team that won only six games after January 8.

The opinion here is athletic director Norwood Teague and other members of his staff prefer hiring someone who is presently a college head coach. Their expertise is with current college coaches, and so I have doubts if Flip Saunders will be offered the Gophers’ job.

Saunders, the former Gophers point guard and NBA head coach, has never been a major college head coach and it’s been more than 20 years since he was a college assistant. Saunders, who is out of coaching now after leaving the Wizards in 2012, might be interested in the Gophers job, and there’s no question he has the backing of many Minnesotans including donors and others of influence.

Hiring Saunders looks like a financial jackpot for the Gophers. Unlike hiring a prominent college coach, there would be no buyout from another school. And Saunders, 58, has made millions coaching in the NBA and possibly agree to a more minimal salary than a high profile college head coach.

Saunders’ immediate financial impact on ticket sales, donations, corporate sponsorships and other revenue areas could be dramatic. It’s not out of the question that the Gophers might sell out Williams Arena for the season with a Saunders hire. They almost certainly would sell out the Big Ten season in advance of next January.

Saunders has important relationships in this town and strong sales ability. With his contacts and communication skills, he would stir the pot for contributions to a new practice facility like very few potential hires could.

Saunders could jump-start game day enthusiasm in a way many local fans might not expect. When Saunders was a Gopher, the players participated in a lively ball handling drill set to music. With fans applauding and yelling approval, Williams Arena came alive long before tipoff.

Saunders told Sports Headliners a few years ago that if he ever coached college basketball again, he would use the Harlem Globetrotters style warm up routine. Such a move is much needed because the pre-game atmosphere at Williams Arena — and sometimes game environment — badly needs energy.

Look for Teague to make a strong pitch for VCU’s Shaka Smart, the man Teague hired when he was athletic director at that school, and one of the hottest names in college basketball coaching. Don’t be too sure that Smart and his family want to live in the crowded and superficial world of southern California where UCLA has an opening and many Bruins fans hope he will be the new coach. Smart, raised in the Midwest, might prefer Minneapolis and working for a man he trusts and has had a previous successful relationship with.

That past relationship has to be important to Teague, too. As Smart’s former boss, he knows what he’s getting in Smart.

That figures to count for a lot if the two men can agree it’s time for another high profile member of the VCU athletic department to join the Gophers.

Comments Welcome

Two ‘Hot Seats’ at U-Bruins Game Tonight

Posted on March 22, 2013March 22, 2013 by David Shama

“One and done” is a cliché that has characterized the NCAA Tournament for decades. The single elimination tournament sends losing teams home to wonder what might have been. That will include the loser of tonight’s South Region game in Austin, Texas between the Gophers and UCLA.

But there’s speculation that “one and done” also applies to Minnesota coach Tubby Smith and Bruins coach Ben Howland. Will the loser in tonight’s game be out of a job?

At storied UCLA, expectations are about competing in Final Fours and winning national titles. Howland hasn’t had the Bruins in the finals since 2008. UCLA is also criticized for not being exciting, and attendance at home games is an issue.

Among the candidates rumored as a potential successor to Howland is VCU coach Shaka Smart whose name is frequently linked to the Minnesota job. Howland may need a Final Four appearance this spring to continue working at UCLA.

Smith may need an Elite Eight finish to hang on at Minnesota. The sixth-year Gophers’ coach has many critics after never winning an NCAA Tournament game at Minnesota and compiling an overall Big Ten regular season record of 46-62 (best conference finish is sixth place).

The coach set high expectations for this year’s team, telling Sports Headliners before the season he had three potential first round NBA draft choices (Andre Hollins, Trevor Mbakwe, Rodney Williams). In January, Minnesota was a top 10 ranked team with a 15-1 record. Since then the Gophers, 20-12 overall this season, have won only five games.

Sources close to the University of Minnesota and Gophers basketball have told Sports Headliners they believe a change in coaches is likely. But as expected, athletic director Norwood Teague and University president Eric Kaler are not saying much so far.

Teague said on WCCO Radio Wednesday morning that all the athletic department coaches are evaluated at the end of their seasons. Kaler told Sports Headliners the same in late February. But if asked, I wonder if Teague would say exactly the same about Don Lucia — the Gophers hockey coach whose team tied for the WCHA title and is a prominent contender for a national championship.

A source said the cost of the reported $2.5 million buyout for Smith won’t deter a change in coaches if that is what administrators want. The department could receive a loan from the University to finance the buyout. Also, television dollars paid to Big Ten teams are increasing, including a jump this year, according to the source.

Another factor regarding a decision is the financial impact of retaining Smith. After multiple disappointing seasons including the free fall of 2013, basketball revenues will decline next fall and winter — and maybe dramatically. Potential areas of impact include season tickets, single game tickets, parking, concessions, arena advertising, corporate sponsorships, merchandising and donations.

And then there is the image of the University. Administrators talk about high profile sports such as basketball being the “front porch” to their colleges. What do Minnesota school officials want the eye test to say about their heavily criticized basketball program?

Worth Noting

The Gophers-Bruins game, with a 9 p.m. tipoff CDT tonight, caused a radio scheduling problem on 1500 ESPN which broadcasts Gophers basketball and hockey. Minnesota’s WCHA Final Five game will be on 1500 ESPN while the basketball game will air on FM 107.1.

Despite the Gophers’ slump, NBAdraft.net projects Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe as second round picks in June. The website has Williams at No. 40 going to the 76ers with Mbakwe chosen by the Bucks at No. 45. In the 2014 draft Gophers point guard Andre Hollins is projected as the 21^st pick by the Warriors while shooting guard Austin Hollins is the No. 37 choice of the Cavs.

The Gophers’ hockey team is 23-1-1 this season when sophomore forward Kyle Rau scores a point. He has seven game winning goals this season — best in the nation.

Tonight in the WCHA Final Five the Gophers play Colorado College coached by Scott Owens who is a former assistant under Minnesota coach Don Lucia. Two other head coaches in the tournament, Bob Motzko from St. Cloud State and Mike Hastings from Minnesota State, are former Lucia assistants.

Minnesota, 26-7-5 overall, has won five consecutive games and is among the favorites to play in the Frozen Four next month. The Gophers haven’t lost consecutive games all season. The 2003 national championship team was the last Gophers team to accomplish that.

All-session ticket packages go on sale Monday for the 2014 first ever Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament to be held March 20-22 at Xcel Energy Center. Ticket sources include Ticketmaster and Xcel.

The Wild, who have won four consecutive games and are in first place in the Northwest Division, have a chance for payback on Monday night in Dallas against the Stars. Minnesota hasn’t won there since 2003 – 16 consecutive losses.

Gophers’ spring football practice starts on Tuesday with 15 total sessions scheduled and all are open to the public. Practices begin at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday of next week, and at 10 a.m. on March 30.

Day time highs are expected to be in the upper 30’s next week with a high of 48 predicted for April 1, according to Myforecast.com. The Twins open their regular season with games against the Tigers on April 1, 3 and 4. Despite what you may have heard, the Twins won’t be heading indoors to the Metrodome.

“We are 100 percent focused on playing at Target Field,” Twins president Dave St. Peter wrote in an email to Sports Headliners.

The Twins are adept at preparing for cold weather games and a heating system allows the ground temperatures to be controlled. With commitments to season ticket holders, suite purchasers and stadium advertisers, moving a game is highly unusual in major league baseball. Several years ago snowed forced the Indians to move their early April home series with the Angels to Milwaukee’s retractable roof stadium.

The Twins announced this morning they have sent outfielder Joe Benson and pitcher Pedro Hernandez to Triple-A Rochester. Pitcher Luis Perdomo has been reassigned to the minor league camp. The Twins now have 38 players in camp including 20 pitchers.

The St. Thomas men’s basketball team needs to win two more games to play for the Division III national championship in Atlanta on April 7. The Tommies play Williams College (Massachusetts) today at 11 a.m. (CDT) in Salem, Virginia. The winner plays the winner of the St. Mary’s (Maryland) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) game on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Tommies’ coach John Tauer said UST, 29-1, will face a Williams team, 26-4, that uses a patient offense. “You can play (defense) 33 seconds and one guy slips up and they’re going to hit you with a back-cut,” Tauer said.

But the Tommies have defined themselves as a special team this season, earning a No. 1 national ranking. “They really believe in themselves,” Tauer said. “I think they feel they can beat anybody in the country if they play well. If they play poorly they can get beat.”

There are seven Tommies on the team that were part of the 2011 national championship team. Tauer, who was an assistant coach on that team, now is within three games of winning his first national championship.

He’s more excited than nervous. “I am not a real nervous guy to begin with,” said Tauer, a psychology professor.

Tauer said new school president Julie Sullivan won’t be in Salem this weekend but told the coach she hopes her schedule will allow a trip to Atlanta.

Comments Welcome

Time to Change Boys’ Tournament

Posted on March 20, 2013March 20, 2013 by David Shama

The State Boys’ Basketball Tournament is stale.

The tournament is mired in mediocrity and greeted with a certain amount of apathy each year by the public — even by those who love amateur hoops. Four classes and 32 teams ensure plenty of trophies but the commitment to mass participation doesn’t stir much excitement for some of us.

Why not combine Class 1A and 2A? Do the same with Class 3A and 4A. Two tournaments with eight teams each could be played in three days instead of the four-day format that begins today. Fewer teams, less games and more focus means a revitalized overall tournament and image with two state champions instead of four.

A slimmed down tournament offers potential for more intriguing matchups. I want to see Anders Broman — who averages 41.7 points per game on 58.1 percent shooting for his Class 1A Lakeview Christian Academy team — play against rivals from Class 2A.

How about a game between powerhouses Apple Valley and DeLaSalle? That won’t happen this year because the two schools are in separate classes, 4A and 3A.

There is something else that could be considered after creating two classes and reducing the field to 16 teams. Determine an overall state champion on the Tuesday following the two championship games on Saturday. Defenders of the status quo will scream the smaller schools can’t compete against the bigger schools but let’s find out. Coaches and players — regardless of where they are from — are competitors and want to test themselves. Schools should welcome the challenge.

If the game results are too lopsided after a three year trial run, try something different. For example, have a tournament with 16 total teams from schools with all sizes of enrollment. Then seed those teams in two different but equal groups, and start play on a Thursday. By Saturday night two teams from each group are playing in a Minnesota prep version of the Final Four, with winners advancing to the state championship game on Tuesday night.

I know others have ideas about tournament changes but the point is the boys’ state tournament needs a shakeup. The crowds are small and there is nowhere near the anticipation about the tournament as was true years ago when it had only eight teams and was the highlight on the sports calendar for many Minnesotans.

The tournament today is mostly for inside followers like parents, students and teachers. It should be that but the tourney also belongs to the greater public including passionate fans who want to see some flexibility and creativity in the format. And the byproduct could be more young kids interested in playing basketball.

A matchup like Apple Valley, 28-1, against DeLaSalle, 27-1, is the kind of attraction we’re missing out on. Although the Islanders are in Class 3A, they just might be the best team in the state but we won’t find out. A matchup between the teams would include two of the most talked about junior players in the state, Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones and DeLaSalle forward Reid Travis.

Another outcome that won’t happen is seeing Grand Rapids from Class 3A play against a Class 4A team. The Thunderhawks are led by sophomore forward Alex Illikainen who averages 27 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. It would be fun to see Illikainen — a player who has been compared to Kevin McHale — be on the floor against Edina senior center Reggie Lynch who holds the school record for blocked shots averaging six per game.

And what about those start times for the No. 1 seeds? No. 1 Apple Valley plays Brainerd today at 10 a.m. at Target Center. No. 1 DeLaSalle opens against Sartell-St. Stephen at the same time. Why not play those games closer to the noon hour or end of the day to afford more fans the opportunity to leave the office and catch some hoops. Better yet start the tournament with the most attractive teams playing at night.

Worth Noting

The only player in the tournament who has a Big Ten scholarship for next fall is Edina senior guard Graham Woodward. The school’s all-time leading scorer averaged 26.3 points per game this season and is headed to Penn State.

Woodward wasn’t recruited by the Gophers who probably will have only one scholarship Minnesotan on the roster next season, junior Joe Coleman. The Gophers’ two recruits for next fall are both from Chicago.

In six seasons at Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has yet to sign a player from outstate Minnesota to a scholarship. The big miss was former St. Cloud Tech guard Nate Wolters, now the Summit League Player of the Year who has helped South Dakota State to two NCAA Tournaments including a tourney game tomorrow against Michigan. Wolters’ outside shooting is just what the erratic shooting Gophers could have used this season to win more games.

Smith has expressed disappointment with his team’s inside defense that could have been helped by either of two former Minnesota high school players who are on NCAA Tournament teams. Ex-Roseville center Mike Muscala is the Patriot League Player of the Year for Bucknell after leading the conference in blocked shots, rebounding and scoring. Wisconsin center Jared Berggren, the Princeton High alum, led the Big Ten in blocked shots.

CBS basketball authorities Greg Anthony, Seth Davis and Doug Gottlieb have No. 1 tournament seed Louisville advancing to the Final Four. Anthony’s picks: Louisville, Georgetown, Gonzaga and Miami. Davis: Louisville, Kansas, Miami and New Mexico. Gottlieb: Louisville, Florida, Indiana and New Mexico.

Strangest pick: ESPN’s Dick Vitale predicting the Gophers are a sleeper team for the Final Four.

Anders Broman, Lakeview Christian Academy, Riley Dearring, Minnetonka, Quinton Hooker, Park Center, Aaron Lien, Moorhead, and Graham Woodward, Edina, are the five finalists for the Mr. Basketball award with the winner to be announced after the state tournament. Broman, Hooker and Woodward are playing in the tourney.

At the request of Sports Headliners, Mr. Basketball president Ken Lien provided his rankings of the best prep boys’ teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. His top eight in big school 4A are Apple Valley, Park Center, Edina, Osseo, Lakeville North, Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Brainerd.

DeLaSalle is No. 1 in 3A followed by Austin, St. Paul Johnson, Marshall, Blake, Delano, Waconia and Grand Rapids.

The top eight in 2A are Minnehaha Academy, Litchfield, Perham, Redwood Valley, Byron, Annandale, Hayfield and Esko.

Upsala is No. 1 in 1A followed by Maranatha Christian Academy, Southwest Christian, Rushford-Peterson, Lakeview Christian Academy, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, Mountain Lake and Battle Lake.

Former Vikings’ quarterback Donovan McNabb will be part of the talent on the new NBC Sports Radio network that begins on April 1. McNabb will team with another former NFL quarterback, Mark Malone, to host a Monday-Friday four hour program from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Minnesota time.

Greg Jennings, the former Packer wide receiver signed by the Vikings last week, made a big impression with team insiders with his positive demeanor.

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