ESPN college basketball analyst Dan Dakich told Sports Headliners that despite having four seniors who average more than 20 minutes per game, the Illinois team that plays at Williams Arena tomorrow night against the Gophers needs better leadership.

Illinois, with guard Demetri McCamey, forwards Mike Davis and Bill Cole, and center Mike Tisdale, was expected to be among the Big Ten’s best teams and for awhile was a top 25 ranked school, but the Illini have lost five of their last seven. Illinois is 5-5 in conference games and 15-8 overall, and has followers wondering if a rally and possible NCAA tournament invitation will happen.

“Really immature (team),” Dakich said on Sunday when asked what’s wrong with the Illini.  “Shouldn’t be (with) four seniors, all productive seniors.  I went to their practice.  Really immature group.  (Coach) Bruce Weber is catching a lot of heat, but ask anybody in basketball, he’s a great basketball coach.

“…This should be the easiest coaching year of his life.  Because these guys should be taking care of the locker room like Ohio State’s guys do.  It’s not getting it done.  Immaturity, it doesn’t play in the Big Ten.”

McCamey is among the conference’s most talented players.  He ranks second in league assists per game at 6.70.  He averages 14.7 points and Davis averages 11.3.  Davis and Tisdale are two of the conference’s best tandem rebounders.  Cole is a sometimes starter who makes .406 percent of his three point attempts.

Minnesota’s anxious fan base can only hope Illinois doesn’t come prepared to play its best.  The Gophers are a troubled team, too, having lost three of their last four games.  After point guard Al Nolen went out of the lineup following the Michigan win on January 22, the Gophers managed to beat Northwestern at home before losing three consecutive games including last Sunday to unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Ohio State, a team Dakich and a lot of other experts admire.

The Buckeyes have perimeter players who can score and a highly effective inside scorer in sensational freshman forward Jared Sullinger.  That’s a combination Minnesota can only envy.  The Gophers have inconsistent inside play and simply lack playmakers on the outside, needing multiple players who can shoot and also score off the dribble.

“You better have playmakers, and that’s what’s hurting Minnesota,” said Dakich, the former Indiana player and head coach at Bowling Green.  “Up here when we did the Minnesota-Indiana game (January 4), Al Nolen went and made plays.  Whether it’s hitting shots or creating for others. …”

Freshmen guards Austin Hollins and Chip Armelin have shown some promise in filling a playmaker role, along with Blake Hoffarber, out of position but assigned the point guard role with Nolen out indefinitely with his broken foot.  Armelin, who scored a career high 14 points on Sunday against Ohio State, showed speed to the basket and ability to improvise his shot coming off the bench.  Hollins got his first start, played 32 minutes and scored eight points.

The Gophers are 5-6 in the Big Ten, 16-7 overall.  Do coach Tubby Smith and his players have reason to be concerned about receiving a much anticipated NCAA invite?

“I think they have work to do, because who can’t you lose to in this league?” Dakich said.

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Dakich was asked about Gophers forwards Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams, two players who have created speculation about leaving school early to play in the NBA.  Mbakwe, a junior, is averaging 13 points and 10.3 rebounds (tied with Sullinger for best in the Big Ten).  Williams, a sophomore, has minimal numbers for a starter, 6.4 points per game and 3.3 rebounds while making .152 percent of his three point attempts and .469 of his free throws.

“Mbakwe, he’s produced,” Dakich said.  “He’s had a good year.  My guess is he would have to take the advice of the NBA advisory committee and go from there (about leaving school early).  But I would think both of them…need a little more time.”

Dakich said there’s “no guesswork” in whether a player is going to be drafted because of the NBA advisory committee that will tell him what his projected  status is.  Mbawke could use a more “polished” inside scoring game, Dakich said, and he declined to predict whether Mbakwe could be drafted in the first round, not knowing how many quality European players will be available along with American players.

Dakich said years ago he heard that no player who averaged “15 points and 10 rebounds” in college didn’t play in the NBA.  That might give encouragement to Mbakwe who struggles with field goal and free throw shooting.

At first Dakich said “no chance” on Williams being taken on one of the NBA’s two draft rounds. Then he softened that opinion and said:  “But I would have a hard time based on simple production that Williams would be a guy.  Now I do know this, that NBA people think he’s the best athlete in the Big Ten.”

Dakich cautioned about the need for Williams to seek out the best advice on turning professional early and giving up his college eligibility.  “In my opinion it will be very important for Williams to listen to the right people,” he said.  “…As opposed to just saying, hey, some guy (said)…that I am ‘the best athlete’ and I am going to be a ‘lottery pick.’  You better be careful with all that.”

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Kevin McHale, now an NBA TV analyst, told Sports Headliners on Sunday that he would be interested in coaching again if presented with the “right situation.”

McHale was at Williams Arena to congratulate Dick Garmaker on the retirement of his jersey.  Both former Gophers are from Hibbing.  McHale said he knew of Garmaker when he was a youngster and did a strenuous basketball drill called “Garmakers.”

Minneapolis city council president Barbara Johnson expressed optimism when asked by Sports Headliners about the chances of a Vikings stadium bill being passed this year by the state legislature.  “I think it’s pretty good because I think the legislature is concerned about losing the Vikings,” she said.

Johnson doesn’t expect that stadium support will be a priority for legislators from Minneapolis, but some might be for a bill depending on the funding source. She said because the stadium cost could be $800 million or more, the largest sports venue expense in Minnesota history, funding is too much for the city or county.  “It has to be at a minimum a metro wide source and best if it is state,” she said.

Johnson also said the Metrodome site for a new stadium saves “$200 to $300 million” compared with another site because of infrastructure already in place.  She said the delay in making the Metrodome operational again following the roof collapse is driven by safety reasons and not politically motivated.

The funding drive for a new Gophers baseball stadium has reached $4.5 million, $3 million short of the goal.

Most of the offseason attention concerning Twins middle infielders has been about newcomer Tsuyoshi Nishioka and veteran Alexi Casilla, but management will be interested, too, in how Trevor Plouffe, Luke Hughes and Matt Tolbert play in spring training.  The shortstop and second base starters will be determined in March and so, too, will their backups.

Boosters of second year Wild coach Todd Richards say he’s growing into his job.  Richards, who had never before been an NHL head coach, excels at preparation and is a passionate leader.  The Wild’s improved play recently is indicative of the up and down results in the parity oriented NHL.  Richards is a big fan of the other pro teams in town and the Gophers.

A golf panel, including University of Minnesota golf director John Harris, will be featured at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon in Bloomington on Thursday, March 10.  C.O.R.E.S members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.

Apple Valley ninth grade point guard Tyus Jones was injured in a December 7 game and didn’t return until January 25 because of a lacerated kidney.  He had played three games for the Eagles as of Monday when his mother Debbie emailed to report: “Every practice and every game gets better for him.”

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