David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Talent, Balance Makes U Contender

Posted on January 11, 2013January 11, 2013 by David Shama

Since 2000 the Gophers have four 10^th place finishes in the Big Ten Conference and twice have been ninth. Only once did Minnesota place among the top five men’s basketball teams in the league.

But the latest Minnesota model is the best since the 1996-1997 group that went to the Final Four after winning the conference championship. The 2012 group is a 15-1 team (3-0 in the Big Ten) with experienced talent in the right positions and a balance of skills. With nonconference wins over nationally regarded teams and league victories over top 20 Michigan State and Illinois, Minnesota has earned its No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith said earlier this week he has a team that’s not dependent on one or two players. “Anybody can step up at any time. We have a lot of players we can go to. A lot of weapons this year.”

The Gophers’ 84-67 win against Illinois on Wednesday night was one of the most impressive Minnesota road “W’s” in years. Sophomore point guard Andre Hollins’ emergence as a floor leader and clutch time shooter is a big reason why Minnesota has transformed itself from a mediocre team (10^th place last season but strong NIT run) to a contender for the conference title.

No team can think league championship without an exceptional point guard, and having a dominant inside player is almost as important. Senior center Trevor Mbakwe’s decision to return to school and play after his ACL injury has provided a shot blocking, rebounding and inside scoring terror who at times is a man playing against boys.

Junior shooting guard Austin Hollins is the team’s best perimeter defender and perhaps most consistent three-point shooter. Senior forward Rodney Williams is the second rebounding and shot blocking force, and his extraordinary jumping ability results in dunks that energize the Gophers’ offense.

When sophomore forward Joe Coleman has some of his best games, he boosts the Gophers’ performance level even higher. His hustle on Wednesday night resulted in several fast break dunks and he scored a career-high 29 points including timely baskets in the last 10 minutes.

The Gophers didn’t use their bench players for more than limited minutes on Wednesday night. There’s such a gap in talent and experience that it’s become evident when the Gophers play the better teams in the conference the starters each need to be in the game for 30 minutes-plus.

And the better teams are on the schedule now. The Gophers are in a stretch where they play No. 12 Illinois, No. 5 Indiana (tomorrow in Bloomington) and No. 2 Michigan (next Thursday at home). If that weren’t enough, three of the Gophers’ next four games are on the road (Indiana, Northwestern and Wisconsin).

So far, so good.

Worth Noting

National Signing Day (Letter of Intent) for high school football players is February 6. Minnesota is competing for players being pursued by schools from top conferences. Gophers coach Jerry Kill knows it’s difficult to obtain commitments from those players, but the opinion here is Minnesota will become more and more successful at recruiting. Kill and staff are experienced recruiters who have solid character and are well liked.

Kill is back on the road recruiting today after attending a football coaching convention in Nashville earlier in the week. In one aspect or another recruiting is a 365 days a year project, the coach said. “It all comes down to players. You gotta have (talented) players.”

The relationships Kill has formed in 30 years of coaching, including with high school coaches, is a foundation of his recruiting. He said people understand the kind of program he operates. “Life is all about relationships.”

The Gophers have verbal commitments from high school players who they will try to keep committed until signing day. Kill said the staff is also recruiting players who haven’t verbally committed, plus walk-ons.

Junior college football players can sign Letter of Intent commitments before high school players. Kansas has signed nine junior college players and has verbal commitments from seven more, according to Rivals.com.

The Timberwolves, who play at New Orleans tonight, are 8-0 this season when they score 100 or more points.

Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio, still playing less than half of the minutes in each game, had eight assists in a win over the Hawks Tuesday night and seven in a loss to the Thunder on Wednesday evening. Rubio, who averaged 8.2 assists per game as a rookie last season, played a season high 22 minutes against the Thunder as he continues his comeback from an ACL injury.

Saint John’s basketball coach Jim Smith needs four wins to become the 19th coach in college basketball history (all divisions) to attain 750 career victories (746-530 record). He is tied with Phog Allen for 19th all-time.

Smith’s team plays at St. Thomas tomorrow in a 3:05 p.m. game to be televised on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45. The Tommies are ranked No. 2 in the nation by D3hoops.com but lost twice to the Johnnies last season.

The St. Thomas First Friday Speaker Series has Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix scheduled for Friday, March 1 at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. LaCroix’s responsibilities include marketing the new downtown Minneapolis stadium the Vikings will play in starting in 2016. Pre-registration for the lunch and program must be made by February 22. More information is available at the St. Thomas Alumni Association Website or by calling 651-962-6430.

The Vikings finished the 2012 season with only 15 players on the 53-man roster who were with the club in 2009: Jared Allen, Jasper Brinkley, Fred Evans, Chad Greenway, Letroy Guion, Erin Henderson, Chris Kluwe, Phil Loadholt, Cullen Loeffler, Adrian Peterson, Brian Robison, Jamarca Sanford, John Sullivan, Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield.

Sportsmedianews.com reported on Wednesday that Sports Illustrated pro football writer Peter King chose Adrian Peterson as NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Peterson and Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning are King’s Co-Comeback Players of the Year. King chose John Schneider, a St. Thomas graduate and now the Seahawks general manager, as Executive of the Year.

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U Needs to Limit Illini 3-Pointers

Posted on January 9, 2013January 9, 2013 by David Shama

The Gophers, 14-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, play three-point-minded Illinois, 14-2 and 1-1, tonight in Champaign. The Illini, No. 12 in the latest A.P. poll, lead the conference in three-point attempts with 411 (Northwestern is second at 331), and don’t stress inside scoring.

Illini guards D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul have 114 and 109 three-point attempts. By contrast, the Gophers’ leader, Austin Hollins, has 68.

“We gotta lock in on stopping the threes, but then it also comes down to our weakside,” said Gophers forward Joe Coleman. “We could be backdoored…so we want to make sure that our help-side is on point the whole game.”

Illinois made only 35.6 percent of its shots in an opening league loss to mediocre Purdue, 68-61 on January 2. Then last Saturday, in the Illini’s first conference home game, Illinois routed No. 15 Ohio State, 74-55, making 48.3 percent of attempted field goals including 41.7 percent of three-pointers in the second half.

Stop the three-point shot and stay calm is a worthwhile mantra for the No. 8 ranked Gophers tonight in the game that starts at 8 p.m. and is televised on the Big Ten Network. Staying poised can be a challenge in Assembly Hall, perhaps the loudest basketball facility in the conference.

“It’s a great environment,” Hollins said. “It is tough to play there, but it’s a fun environment to play in as well. “

The Gophers are starting their most difficult three-game stretch of the season tonight. On Saturday Minnesota is at No. 5 ranked Indiana and next Thursday plays No. 2 ranked Michigan at Williams Arena.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith has an experienced and balanced team. The starting lineup includes two seniors and all five players were regulars last season. The Gophers score inside and out, they usually out-rebound opponents, they can pressure with their defense either full or half court, and Minnesota leads the league in blocked shots (6.7 per game). Plus, the bench has made contributions, too.

It’s not a team dependent on one or two players. “That’s what I like about this team,” Smith said. “Anybody can step up at any time. We have a lot of players we can go to. A lot of weapons this year.”

The Gophers have already played No. 1 Duke (neutral court loss) and No. 22 Michigan State (home win) but tonight the opponent is on the road and is also a top 15 team.

“Illinois is a great team and we’re playing at Illinois,” Hollins said. “It’s going to be a tough game. It’s going to be a dog fight. We’re gonna have to come in there and play our ‘A’ game.”

Worth Noting

Hollins said during his basketball career he had not made five consecutive three-point shots like he did on Sunday night. In the second half his consecutive three- pointers stretched the Gophers’ lead over Northwestern from nine to 20 points.

Hollins, who has an exceptional work ethic and will to improve, had been bothered by a groin injury. “He’s finally healthy for the first time since Southern Cal (game on December 8),” Smith said.

The Gophers have had one win (2010) against Illinois in Champaign since 2000.

At Sports Headliners’ request, prep basketball authority Ken Lien sent on Monday his rankings of state boys’ teams listed below.

Class 4A: ParkCenter, Apple Valley, Hopkins, Osseo, Eden Prairie, Roseville, Tartan, Minnetonka.

Class 3A: DeLaSalle, Waconia, Blake, Austin, Holy Angels, Marshall, Delano, Grand Rapids.

Class 2A: Pelican Rapids, Melrose, St. Peter, Hawley, Litchfield, St. Cloud Cathedral, Byron, Hayfield.

Class 1A: MaranathaChristianAcademy, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrose, Upsala, Heritage Christian, Southwest Minnesota Christian, Ulen-Hitterdal, Lakeview Christian, Dawson-Boyd.

Vikings fullback Jerome Felton said he will pay for five to 10 family members to accompany him to his first Pro Bowl in Hawaii later this month.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier confirmed yesterday Christian Ponder is the No. 1 quarterback going into next season. Ponder helped the Vikings to four consecutive wins to close the regular season and earn a playoff opportunity.

“…We saw glimpses of what he can bring to our football team and the way he led us down the stretch, you feel like you have a chance to win every game when your quarterback plays the way he played,” Frazier said. “We’re excited about his development and looking forward to him getting better through this offseason.”

Geep Chryst, the quarterbacks coach for the 49ers, was coached as a high school football player in Madison, Wisconsin by Joel Maturi, a former prep coach and more recently the Gophers athletic director. Geep is the brother of University of Pittsburgh head coach Paul Chryst.

The No. 1 ranked Gophers hockey team, after defeating No. 2 Notre Dame last night, is now 7-1 against ranked teams this season. The playmaking of Minnesota’s Christian Isackson made ESPN SportsCenter’s highlight plays.

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Harvin’s Future Stirs Offseason Interest

Posted on January 9, 2013January 9, 2013 by David Shama

What to do with Percy Harvin could be the most defining decision the Vikings ownership and management makes during the offseason. His contract expires contract after the 2013 season.

In four seasons Harvin has proven he’s among the NFL’s most skilled kickoff returners and slot receivers. He’s also been controversial, reportedly arguing with coaches and wanting to be traded. Because of his injured ankle he didn’t play after November 4, but rather than be on the sidelines for some of the Vikings important late season games he stayed home in Florida rehabbing.

At his season ending news conference yesterday, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said it’s not unusual for a rehabilitating player not to be with the team and that Harvin is supportive of his teammates. Asked about what is involved with coexisting with Harvin, Frazier said:

“I don’t know if there’s anything that needs to be done. He’ll coexist peacefully, he exists peacefully now. Just get back, get healthy and get back on the football field.”

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema, who remains close to the organization and is a closer observer of the NFL, told Sports Headliners on Sunday he thinks management will trade Harvin and could secure a first round pick in the 2013 college draft. “You can fight the system to a point and be belligerent to a point, and he stepped over that. They will get a No. 1 easily (in a trade).”

Whether Harvin is on the roster or not, Lurtsema said the No. 1 offseason need is to develop or acquire a deep receiving threat. While Harvin can be explosive after the catch and run for 20 yards or more, the Vikings need a wide receiver whose speed and catching ability can result in long distance scores like Randy Moss used to provide. “Get those cornerbacks to back off a little bit,” said Lurtsema who favors retaining Harvin.

The Vikings thought they acquired that kind of talent when last offseason wide receiver Jerome Simpson signed as a free agent. Simpson, though, missed some games (started 10 of 12) and never seemed to develop a consistency and rhythm with quarterback Christian Ponder.

Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings, a free agent this coming offseason, might be a possibility for the Vikings. With probably the best wide receivers corps in the NFL, the Packers are thought unlikely to retain Jennings.

While Ponder has erased doubts he is the No. 1 quarterback, it might be time to switch backup Joe Webb to wide receiver, or let him go. Lurtsema said the Vikings should replace Webb with a veteran quarterback like Sage Rosenfels who was cut before the season.

Webb, who has played three seasons with the Vikings, struggles with his accuracy and decision making despite being a gifted athlete. Replacing the injured Ponder in the playoff game last Saturday against the Packers, Webb threw some poor passes and stepped back in the pocket when he should have moved forward to avoid pass rushers.

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