David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Unselfish Gophers Show Composure (So Far)

Posted on December 27, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Smith attributed the Gophers’ sluggishness against the Bison to a “nine day layoff” but Minnesota has a habit of slow starts. “We gotta play a lot better,” Smith said when asked about being ready for the Big Ten.

This isn’t Smith’s most talented team but may well be his most unselfish. He often praises the character of these players and they have shown competitiveness and composure including in close wins.

Still, Minnesota enters tonight’s game truly as a mystery team. The starting lineup has only two players, forward Rodney Williams and center Ralph Sampson III, who have been regular starters in past conference games. That’s a test sure to challenge the Gophers and so, too, will be playing away from Williams Arena. During the non-conference schedule Minnesota played 10 games at home, three on a neutral court and none in an opponent’s home arena.

Tonight’s game could be a bit ugly to watch. Neither Illinois nor Minnesota will remind anyone of the old show-time Lakers. The Gophers have struggled to not only make outside shots, including three pointers, but defending shots beyond the arc has been a problem. The good news is Illinois has been among the poorest shooting teams in the Big Ten during non-conference play including from three point range.

Minnesota will have to control leading Illinois scorer D.J. Richardson, a junior guard averaging 14.3 points per game, and 7-foot-1 sophomore center Meyers Leonard who is among the Big Ten leaders in points and rebounds. The Gophers, if they are to win, will probably have to find their own go-to guy for leadership and points, particularly late in the game.

But if they don’t hold their poise against a good Illinois team and loud Illini crowd early in the game, the Gophers won’t need anyone to play hero in the closing minutes. And then Minnesota’s road problems will continue on.

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Worth Noting

Posted on December 27, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Minnesota starters tonight are expected to be forwards Julian Welch and Rodney Williams, center Ralph Sampson III, guards Austin Hollins and Maverick Ahanmisi. Williams will be one of the Big Ten’s best solo defenders.

The Gophers and North Dakota State have played each other six of the last seven seasons, and are scheduled again in 2012. All games have been in Minneapolis and Bison coach Saul Phillips has invited the Gophers to play in Fargo, but so far no promises from Minnesota. “I’ll (even) cook for them,” Phillips joked.

Tom Wistrcill, the former Gophers senior associate athletic director and now athletic director at Akron, made headlines last week with his hire of Terry Bowden as the new Zips football coach.

The December issue of Sporting News Magazine ranks new Ohio State hire Urban Meyer as the No. 1 coach in college football. Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Wisconsin’s Brett Bielema were the two other Big Ten coaches who made the list.

In the same issue, USC coach Lane Kiffin claims his father Monte, the Trojans defensive coordinator, starts his day in the office by 5:30 a.m. and works until 2 a.m.

Rumors that Vikings defensive coordinator Fred Pagac will be let go after the season lead to speculation that linebackers coach Mike Singletary will succeed him.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was asked this question yesterday about quarterback Joe Webb: “Is Joe best used in a role where he takes a series or two here and there? If he starts and defensive coordinators can game plan for him, is the impact of how he plays gone?”

“That does factor in when you’re not preparing for him and all of a sudden he comes in the ball game,” Frazier answered. “It definitely makes a difference from a coordinator standpoint because they (Webb and Christian Ponder) are similar quarterbacks but dissimilar in so many ways. You almost have to have two game plans if you think Joe is going to play, and people do.

“They (opposing coaches) have a Joe Webb package because they know we use him for certain snaps and they have a defensive package for when he is on the field. It’s a little bit different when he starts or he comes into the ball game and he’s a true quarterback for a number of snaps. Those are some of things we’ll talk about as we go forward.”

“America’s Team” is nearby, Vikings fans. The Packers have replaced the Cowboys for that title, according to a story on NFL.com. The Public Policy Polling’s national survey reported 22 percent of voters regard the Packers as their favorite NFL team, followed by 11 percent for the Cowboys and eight percent for the Bears, Giants and Steelers.

Eden Prairie Class 5A state championship football coach Mike Grant will be the speaker on Thursday, January 12 at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon in Bloomington. C.O.R.E.S. members can contact Jim Dotseth for more information, dotsethj@comcast.net.

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Love’s Off-Season Lessons Shape Leadership

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Kevin Love’s off-season surgery on his jaw and time spent with family were defining developments in his progression as a leader, according to Timberwolves president Chris Wright.

New coach Rick Adelman wants the fourth-year forward to emerge as a team leader. It’s a role the 23-year-old Love has said he’s prepared for and Wright told Sports Headliners he agrees.

Love had surgery on his jaw to correct his bite. The rehabilitation provided opportunity for quality time with his parents.

“Stan and Karen, Kevin’s mom and dad, they’re phenomenal people,” Wright said. “Kevin did some growing up this summer. He was wired up for awhile and he could only sort of drink his food rather than eat his food. During that rehab he spent a lot of time with his parents, and I think they spent really good quality time. Stan, I am sure, talked to him about leadership and what it means.

“We love his family and we love the kid. He’s not a kid any more. He’s growing up into a real man. I believe Kevin Love will go down as one of the best young men and one of the best leaders we’ve ever had on this team.”

Love lost about 25 pounds during the off-season and he almost looks like a different person including because his jaw is set differently. “He looks to be in absolutely fantastic shape,” Wright said.

Love said he improved his diet during the off-season that was longer than normal because of the NBA labor dispute. He also conditioned himself playing beach volleyball during an eventful off-season.

Last Saturday night at Target Center he had 21 points and 15 rebounds in the Wolves’ opening preseason game, a 117-96 win over Milwaukee. Wednesday night in Milwaukee he and the Wolves play their second and final preseason game. Then come 66 regular season games to show Love’s leadership and build on the past months of emotional growth.

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