Tubby Smith’s name may be mentioned in the months ahead as a successor to Lute Olsonwho resigned as Arizona’s basketball coach last week. The Arizona job is one of college basketball’s best but Smith likes Minnesota and is only in his second season here. Smith, 57, is already one of the better paid coaches in the country and probably faces less pressure here than at Arizona. He is likely to end his coaching career at Minnesota.
Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said last week he “hasn’t been associated with a better group” than his 2008-09 team. “Well, I mean everything,” Wittman said. “Good people off the floor as well as on the floor. Hard workers. Eager. …”
That attitude can transfer over to self-discipline and correcting one another. “If I have to wait for a timeout to get it done, it might be too late,” Wittman said. “So that’s where you always, from a leadership standpoint, want somebody, a group of guys that can police each other on the floor and off the floor. …”
The Wolves’ Corey Brewer made a dismal 37 percent of his field goal attempts as a rookie last season. He worked to improve his shooting during the summer. He told Sports Headliners last week that he was thinking too much last season. “This year go out there and play free,” he said. “Don’t be scared to make a mistake. …” In two games this season he’s shooting 40 percent.
Brewer, 22, met Timberwolves teammate Mike Miller, 28, when Brewer was in high school and was on a recruiting visit to Florida. Miller had played at Florida and Brewer decided to attend school there, too.
The Wolves play San Antonio at home on Wednesday night. In a recent nba.com article Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was ranked the NBA’s best coach, best at in-game adjustments and best in the last two minutes of a game, according to a survey of league general managers.
Local pro basketball writer Steve Aschburner told Sports Headliners he’s picking the Lakers to beat the Cavs in the NBA finals. The Wolves’ Al Jefferson, who played three seasons in Boston and still has friends on the roster, predicts the Celtics will defeat the Lakers in the finals for a second consecutive season.
A source who analyzes local prep football, rates Washburn tight end Rasheed Hageman the best high school senior in the state. He thinks Hageman will be a Gopher and possibly start next season.
Bryce McNeal, the Breck wide receiver, hasn’t been a dominant player this fall and Michigan may have lost interest, according to the source. McNeal may attend Minnesota. He has outstanding speed and hands.
The source also said Notre Dame transfer Matt Carufel will start on the Gophers offensive line when he becomes eligible next year and will be outstanding. He expects Kim Royston, the transfer from Wisconsin, to start in the Gopher secondary in 2010. Both are former Cretin-Derham Hall players.
The Gopher athletic department is encouraging fans to dress in gold “from head to toe” for Saturday’s football game with Michigan that begins at 11 a.m. at the Metrodome. The Little Brown Jug game is the first of three season closing trophy games including at Wisconsin (Paul Bunyan’s Axe) and home against Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale).
Vikings’ kicker Ryan Longwell makes his off-season in a golf and residence community called Isleworth Country Club in suburban Orlando. The gated community is also home to Tiger Woods, Shaquille O’Neal and Vince Carter.
Quarterback Gus Frerotte’s sons, ages 11 and nine, were in the locker room after the Vikings’ game yesterday collecting autographs including from running back Adrian Peterson.
Safety Madieu Williams started his first regular season game as a Viking yesterday, had a second half interception and gave the ball to a fan in the end zone. Williams also had eight tackles.
Mardy Fish, a world-class professional tennis player from Edina, sounded the gjallarhorn before the game.
Hamline University professor David Schultz, who will be providing election night analysis on KARE 11 tomorrow night, told an audience at the law firm of Mansfield, Tanick & Cohen P.A. on Friday that Barack Obama may win the presidential election over John McCain in a “blowout.” Schultz also said Virginia is a key state to watch in the returns on Tuesday night. “If Obama wins Virginia, turn off your TV sets,” he said. “It’s all over.