The father of former Gopher Colton Iverson was supportive of coach Tubby Smith during an interview with Sports Headliners this week.

Iverson was granted permission by Minnesota last week to transfer to another school, although according to media reports the program can’t be in the Big Ten Conference or on the Gophers’ schedule next season.  Chuck Iverson, speaking by telephone from Yankton, South Dakota where he is the athletics director at Mount Marty College, was asked if his son thought he received fair treatment at Minnesota.

He said Colton never expressed criticism of coaches or teammates.  “He’s never expressed any regrets that way,” Chuck said.  “I don’t think it (transferring) has anything to do with coaching staff or teammates.  I just feel like he felt like it was something he needed to do.  No, I don’t think there’s any issues that way.”

The older Iverson, a former player at the University of South Dakota and NBA draft choice, said his son’s decision was from the “gut.”  Leaving the Gophers after three seasons came down to Colton feeling his basketball experience would be better elsewhere.

“There really wasn’t one specific thing,” Chuck said.  “Sometimes you just go on a gut feeling.  He just felt like he needed to make a change at this point.”

Chuck said Colton deliberated on his decision and made lists of “pros and cons” about leaving or staying. “It was a real tough decision for him,” Chuck said.  “He didn’t do it lightly.  I think he spent a lot of time thinking about it. …”

Iverson, a part-time starter during his Gophers career, was coming off the bench more as a junior this season than he did as a freshman (11 starts versus 27).  The 6-10 forward-center had the lowest field goal percentage of his college career, .446 versus .603 as a freshman.  Even some of his close-in shots were off target.

Chuck said his son “lost confidence” this season.  “I think he’d take as much blame for that as anybody,” his father said.  “Coaches make tough decisions (on playing time).  He lost some confidence.  Some shots that were going for him earlier.  The mind is a very powerful tool.”

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Chuck said his son talked to one potential college last Friday and will have several possible places to transfer.  If Colton chooses a Division II school he can play next fall, but a Division I choice means sitting out a season.

There will be “tough decisions” deciding on that issue and also landing somewhere Colton believes he can contribute.  “He’s had some really good offers that he likes,” Chuck said.  “Some quality schools, some quality basketball programs that certainly have piqued his interest.”

The older Iverson wouldn’t detail much about potential options, although he did say his alma mater of South Dakota will likely be considered.  Asked about Iowa State which has been loading up with transfers including former Gopher Royce White, Chuck said he’s not “aware” of the Cyclones being in contact.

The younger Iverson wants to play pro basketball after college, perhaps in Europe.  His dad described the NBA, at least for now, as a “stretch.”  In three years with the Gophers, Colton averaged between 5 and 5.4 points per game and never more than 5 rebounds.  He was an aggressive defender ready to block shots or muscle opponents out of the way.

“He loves playing basketball,” Chuck said. “I don’t think he’s ready to give that up at this point of his life.”

Including Iverson, the Gophers have had five players transfer out within about 12 months.  Chuck said he understands transfers can sometimes happen in large numbers in a short period of time.

“I think you look at almost any program, there’s going to be changes,” he said. “…It goes in cycles.  I don’t read anything into it.”

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The Sporting News Magazine issue of March 28 picks the Twins to finish third in the Central Division behind the White Sox and Tigers.  The publication rates the Twins’ defense best among the three teams, but the bullpen the worst.

Joe Mauer, Delmon Young and Francisco Liriano are on the magazine’s all-division team, while Ron Gardenhire is the choice for best manager.

The magazine picks the Red Sox over the Phillies in the World Series.

Friday’s season opener between the Twins and Blue Jays will be played with the roof closed at the Rogers Centre.  The Toronto weather forecast includes a daytime high in the upper 30’s and possible snow.

Stubhub.com reported yesterday 382 tickets remain for the game.

Despite a shaky spring training ERA of 9.72, Joe Nathan will likely be the choice to close early Twins’ regular season games.

Gophers’ athletics director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners that the University will try again this year to win state legislative approval to serve alcohol in suites and other preferred seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena.  Such a policy is the norm at some other major colleges, while legislative opponents argue that if alcohol is made available at U sports venues it should be sold to all adults in attendance.

Former Gopher Zeb Howell was an assistant coach for the Columbia Heights team that lost to Orono in the championship Class 3A state tournament boys basketball game.

Hopkins coach Ken Novak, Jr. has won three consecutive Class 4A state boys basketball titles but probably doesn’t receive enough praise for his work and that of the staff.  The Royals annually have outstanding talent, but knowledgeable observers recognize how Hopkins spreads the floor on offense and moves the ball, while playing consistent and aggressive defense.  Players work hard and perform with discipline.

Hopkins junior point guard Siyani Chambers looks like a major college prospect with his quickness and ball handling.  He’s a distributor, not a scorer.

Apple Valley freshman point guard Tyus Jones is the only Minnesotan named to the 24 player USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team for youth 16 and under. Jones, who turns 15 in May, is the youngest player on the roster posted by usabasketball.com.  Two teammates were also born in 1996, with the other players born in 1995.

Hall of Fame community college basketball coach Jay Pivec will have his Dakota County Technical College team playing an NJCAA Division II schedule next season.  “Our recruiting has been off the charts,” Pivec said.  “As coaches, our biggest problem will be having to turn away a lot of really good kids. Our new program at DCTC has made a big impact throughout the basketball community.”

As of Monday morning Wolves shooting guard Wes Johnson ranked fifth in the NBA among rookies in scoring at 9.1 points per game, seventh in assists at 1.9 and 10^th in rebounding, 3.1

Wolves coach Kurt Rambis, who had 15 wins last season as a rookie coach, has 17 now with eight games left including tonight against Eastern Conference leader Chicago.

It may not be Todd Richards’ choice to continue as the Wild’s coach, while former Wild bench boss Jacques Lemaire apparently is in charge of whether he will return to coach the Devils for another season.

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