Posted January 12, 2011    

•Tubby Smith

•Gophers Hockey

•Larry Fritzgerald Jr.

•Lindsay Whalen

•Coach of the Year

Too Many Problems with Gophers Basketball 

Trevor Mbakwe’s reported arrest earlier this week for allegedly violating a harassment restraining order is yet another disappointment in the Tubby Smith era of coaching Gophers basketball.   

Is it time for Smith, athletic director Joel Maturi and other University officials to review this program, announce their findings to the public and make recommended changes? Since being hired by the University in 2007 Smith’s program has been involved with a series of problems.   

Even assembling the staff led to a problem.  Jimmy Williams charged that the University misled him about being hired as an assistant coach and he filed a lawsuit that was settled in his favor last year.   

Mbakwe was recruited here out of junior college but soon found himself facing a felony battery charge by a Florida woman.  The charge was settled without a trial last summer with Mbakwe agreeing to perform community service, but he didn’t play last season while awaiting resolution of his legal matter.  Mbakwe didn’t admit guilt in the case.  

Another prize recruit, freshman Royce White, also didn’t play a minute last season because of legal problems including an incident at the Mall of America.  White transferred to Iowa State last summer. 

The Mbakwe incident this week follows news last week that junior Devoe Joseph was leaving the program.  He had been suspended for undisclosed reasons earlier in the season.  Smith has been criticized for not offering an explanation about the transfer. 

Following last season another experienced player, Paul Carter, left the program and is playing for Illinois-Chicago.  The stated reason he transferred was to be near his ill sister but were there other reasons? 

There are too many problems occurring too frequently with this program, but interestingly the University has been negotiating a contract extension with Smith and looking at building an expensive new practice facility.  Today those don’t seem like priorities.  Not for a program with a series of off court problems and one that has produced about a .500 record in Big Ten games during the last three-plus seasons. 

The 1-3 Gophers have a much anticipated game tomorrow night at home against 4-0 Purdue.  The fans supporting the Gophers program were excited about the game until the latest problem came to Dinkytown.  Even before tipoff you can be sure a lot of them won’t be happy.

 

Devoe Joseph

Excitement Missing with U Hockey 

There’s no buzz about Gophers hockey any more.  Even those who are apathetic about the program are dissatisfied. 

People have reason to ask this: “What’s wrong with the Gophers?”  A program that once prompted discussion about being the best in the country now isn’t even No. 1 among the state’s college hockey teams.   

The Gophers haven’t been in the NCAA tournament the last two years, and before March ends it could be three.  Minnesota is 9-8-3 overall, 6-6-2 in the WCHA.                           

Last weekend the Gophers defeated the US Under-18 team 9-0 in an exhibition game.  In two exhibition games this season Minnesota has outscored opponents 15-0, having also defeated British Columbia 6-0 in October. 

Those results could be included among highlights during an inconsistent season that has some lows such as the team’s recent Mariucci Classic.  Minnesota’s first tournament game was a 3-2 loss to not so well known Union.  The next night the Gophers finished in a 2-2 tie with Ferris State and rather than follow tournament policy using a shootout it was decided to leave the game tied.  

The second half of the WCHA schedule for coach Don Lucia’s team starts Friday and Saturday night at No. 2 ranked North Dakota.  Playing such a good team in perhaps the most difficult of college venues is both a challenge and an opportunity.  Minnesota can make a statement against North Dakota and begin momentum toward a better post season performance than the last two years. 

That would help calm the critics at home games and in the blogosphere.  The former, many of whom are from older generations, tend to be less vocal but it’s not just words but empty seats that make a statement.   

Lucia has one season beyond this one remaining on his contract.  Criticism and empty seats are something he faces in the months to come.  He has won two national championships with the Gophers, but more recent years have brought challenges including keeping elite players from going pro too soon.   

That’s a problem, but like any high profile circumstances it’s up to the boss to identify the right answers. 

 

Worth Noting  

Finding a “hot goalie” is one of the oldest mantras in hockey, but Minnesota’s Kent Patterson will be a key to the second part of the league season.  Alex Kangas, who was the starter, will probably receive playing time from Lucia but a Gophers source said he believes Patterson will continue as the regular goalie. 

The source said freshman defenseman Mark Alt “is going to be a very good player” and will play in the NHL.   

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported earlier this week that Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and the Cardinals have started talks regarding a contract extension that would pay him $40 to 60 million.  The All-Pro wide receiver’s present contract expires after next season.  http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6005077 

Fitzgerald’s father, Larry Sr., who is well known around town for sportswriting and commentary, is proud of his son who after playing with a Cardinals Super Bowl team in 2009 was part of a 5-11 club last season.  “I think the 2010 season was the toughest year of Larry's career,” Fitzgerald wrote in an email to Sports Headliners.  “…He's helped change the culture of one of the NFL's original franchises…he's the face of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals had four quarterbacks play in 2010, but he proved he's one of the top players in the NFL again (with) 90 receptions, 1,137 yards, six touchdowns-facing double coverage and he blocks like a tight end in the running game. He's only 27 years old (and) he is a winner. The youngest ever to (achieve) 600 career receptions and 8,000 yards.” 

It was a year ago today that the Lynx acquired Lindsay Whalen along with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2010 WNBA Draft (Monica Wright) from Connecticut in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick (Tina Charles) and Renee Montgomery.   

Although the Lynx had a disappointing 2010 record, 13-21, Whalen energized the fan base (average home attendance was 7,622, the best in years) and she produced on the court.  Whalen finished second among WNBA point guards in scoring at 12.6 points per game.  She was first in rebounds per game, 4.0, and third in assists per game, 5.6. She earned her third trip to the league All-Star game in 2010.  

Two Minnesotans were announced as Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year winners on Monday.  Bob Nielson won the Division II Coach of the Year award for leading the University of Minnesota Duluth to the school’s second national championship in three years last December.  St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso won the Division III award after the Tommies earned their first conference championship in 20 years and compiled a 12-1 record.

St. Thomas senior Josh Ostrue is the 2010 winner of the Rimington Award as Division III football's top offensive center.  He also won the award in 2008.  He’s the first St. Thomas football player -- and first conference offensive lineman in 44 years -- to be voted a three-time All-American.

A must read book for baseball fans is Jane Leavy’s “The Last Boy Mickey Mantle.”  It is extraordinarily written and researched.  Leavy, who also wrote an authoritative biography on Sandy Koufax, quotes baseball numbers whiz Bill James as saying Mantle at his peak years was superior to Willie Mays, “not a close or difficult decision.”   

 

 Lindsay Whalen

Glenn Caruso

Josh Ostrue