David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on March 16, 2012March 16, 2012 by David Shama

The North Dakota team the Gophers play tonight at Xcel Energy Center in a WCHA Final Five game is 11-2-1 in its last 13 games. The Sioux are led in scoring by sophomore and All-WCHA third team selection Brock Nelson who had two goals in the Final Five win over St. Cloud State yesterday.

Jim Dutcher, the former Gophers coach, follows the San Diego State basketball team where his son Brian is an assistant head coach. The Aztecs play a first round Midwest Regional NCAA Tournament game today against North Carolina State. Jim said San Diego State’s basketball history includes winning 14 of the last 15 overtime games, and the Aztecs are 70-0 in games when leading with five minutes to play.

The Aztecs have one of the best high school recruits in the country coming to San Diegon ext season in Winston Shepard from Findlay Prep in Las Vegas.

Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien told Sports Headliners there is so much parity among Mr. Basketball candidates the list is at eight right now when usually there’s a final five by mid-March.

Center fielder Denard Span played in a major league career low 70 games with the Twins last season, mostly because of concussion and headache problems. Span, the team’s leadoff hitter, ranks No. 5 for best on-base percentage (.361) among American League outfielders since 2008.

The Twins have to be hoping third baseman Danny Valencia provides much needed power in the lineup. The 6-2, 218-pound Valencia hit 15 home runs in his first full major league season last year. He and reserve first baseman Chris Parmelee lead the club in spring training home runs with two each.

The St. Thomas women’s basketball team and Gustavus women’s hockey team play Division III national championship semifinal games tonight. The Tommies (30-1) play Illinois Wesleyan (26-5) in Holland, Michigan. The Gusties (24-2-2) play Norwich(26-2-1) in Rochester, New York.

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Dutcher: No Big Ten Teams to Final Four

Posted on March 14, 2012March 14, 2012 by David Shama

Don’t expect a Big Ten team to make the Final Four. That’s the opinion of former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher who still intently follows college basketball.

Dutcher’s Final Four picks are Kentucky, Syracuse, Missouri and Kansas. “I would pick Syracuse over Kansas, and I would pick Kentucky over Missouri, and then Kentucky to win it all,” Dutcher told Sports Headliners.

Michigan State is the No. 1 seed in the West Regional but Dutcher believes No. 2 seed Missouri will emerge as region champion. He’s impressed with coach Tom Izzo’s tournament record and likes Michigan State’s inside players, but is concerned about the Spartans three point shooting. “They can have those scoring droughts,” Dutcher said. “Not two or three minutes, they can go six, seven minutes without scoring a point when they don’t hit those threes.”

Michigan State and Ohio State, a No. 2 seed in the East Regional, are the highest seeds among six Big Ten teams in the tournament. The Buckeyes were 34-3 last season and 16-2 in the Big Ten, while this year’s club doesn’t seem as formidable, 27-7 and 13-6.

“There’s just something that’s holding them back a little bit and that something is the play of Buford (William),” Dutcher said. “He can be very good. But the games he doesn’t shoot the ball well, Ohio State has some trouble winning. They’re not as good as they were last year because (Jon) Diebler and (David) Lighty gave them two extra outside shooters. …I see them getting to the Elite Eight.”

Ask Dutcher about individual stars worth following in this tournament and he includes former Hopkins and Gophers forward Royce White whose versatility despite his bulky 6-8, 270-pound body has impressed many observers. Dutcher said White, an all-Big 12 Conference sophomore, could be the most difficult match-up in the country to figure out who guards him. White sometimes brings the ball up the floor for the Cyclones and triggers the offense. “He’s an intriguing player just because of the style of game that he plays,” Dutcher said.

Others worth watching include Kentucky freshman center Anthony Davis, a popular choice for player of the year, who is extremely athletic for 6-10. And former Gophers coach Dan Monson, now in his fifth season at Long Beach State, has 5-10 guard Casper Ware. “He’s really a dynamic little guy,” Dutcher said.

Long Beach State is in the NCAA tournament for the first time under Monson. The 49ers, a No. 12 seed, play New Mexico, a No. 5 seed, in an opening West Regional game tomorrow afternoon. New Mexico is coached by former Iowa coach Steve Alford, a friend of Monson’s going back to Big Ten days.

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100% Recovery Predicted for Rubio

Posted on March 14, 2012March 14, 2012 by David Shama

Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams told Sports Headliners he saw Ricky Rubio’s left knee give out before the rookie point guard collided with the Lakers Kobe Bryant last week. With a torn ACL, Rubio might not play again for the Wolves until October or November, and Williams acknowledged that the compacted NBA schedule caused by the labor dispute is hard on young and still maturing bodies.

“I think there are a lot of injuries this year that are caused by that with the lockout thing,” said Williams, a rookie like Rubio. “ … More injuries are going to occur because there’s more games in less time. I am not going to say that’s the reason why it happened (the Rubio injury), because everything happens for a reason. You never know about that situation. It’s just one hard cut. It happens like that sometimes.”

Wolves assistant coach T.R. Dunn, a former NBA guard, said last weekend he’s confident the 21-year-old Rubio will make a “100 percent” recovery. “He’s a tough kid. He’s a smart kid. He’ll do everything possible to get back and to be even bigger and better next year.”

Dunn said Rubio, a slender 6-4, can use his rehab time and the years beyond 2012 to strengthen his body. “He’s just gonna get stronger and be better without compromising anything as far his quickness and flexibility,” Dunn said.

Rubio was a candidate for Rookie of the Year before he was injured. His playmaking had a major impact on the Wolves becoming a .500 team after years of struggling.

“You don’t have a ceiling on him,” Dunn said. “He’s a bright young star. It’s just his first season and he’s made tremendous strides. I just see a lot of good things for him.”

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