HometownSource Blogs

What going on with some of the athletes on the University of Minnesota men’s basketball and football teams?

Ten days ago the Gopher men’s basketball team was deemed a lock to make the NCAA Basketball Tournament and a solid pick to reach the Sweet 16. Today, it looks like coach Tubby Smith’s team will have to scramble to make the 64-team field.

Smith’s incoming group of players was heralded as one of the top groups in the country and included two former Minnesota prep standouts – Trevor Mbakwe (Henry Sibley) and Royce White (Hopkins). Mbakwe played a year at Marquette, then transferred to Miami Dade Junior College where he played last year. White led Hopkins to the Minnesota Class AAAA state title last spring and was named the state’s Mr. Basketball.

Now, it looks like Mbakwe will miss the season because of his court case involving an alleged assault incident in Miami and White’s future is on hold following an incident at the Mall of America where he was caught shoplifting, then knocked a security guard to the floor. White has been suspended indefinitely, along with returning guard Devron Bostick, by Smith.

Several of coach Tim Brewster’s football players have also been in the news for their off-field exploits, too. The most recent was sophomore defensive back Michael Carter who was arrested for underage consumption and obstruction of justice.

These incidents don’t reflect well on the men’s basketball and football programs at the U and certainly don’t boost the Gophers’ image for the parents of recruits considering Minnesota.
Coaches shouldn’t have to be baby-sitters although it appears that may sometimes be part of their job description. And, to compete for conference championships, bowl games, high rankings and postseason tournaments coaches pretty much have to bite their lips and accept athletes who have already raised some red flags. Most fans are concerned about championships, not graduation rates.
Let’s hope future headlines involving the Gophers are about on-court and on-field results, not police reports. And, let’s hope that these troubled players are able to work out their problems.

SN not kind to the Twins
The current issue (Nov. 9) of Sporting News magazine has a feature titled “50 Things We Learned From the 2009 Baseball Season” and writers Ryan Fagan and Stan McNeal aren’t too kind to the Minnesota Twins.

Examples:
- “The Twins need more than Joe Mauer. Mauer was the AL’s best player, but, in the ALDS, the Yankees showed they were better than Minnesota at every other position. Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Joe Nathan are solid, but even with Justin Morneau, this roster isn’t built for more than another first-round exit.”
- “The American League Central will remain mediocre. The lack of free-spending teams and star power means continued inferiority.”
- The Twins are ranked 13th out of the 30 Major League teams in the Sporting News early 2010 power poll.
Ouch. Some harsh stuff about the locals as they head towards their debut at Target Field.
The Yankees, of course, head those power rankings, followed by Philadelphia, Boston and the Los Angeles Angels. In order, the rest of the top 10 includes the LA Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants. I’d move the Twins to at least No. 10 ahead of the Giants, Texas Rangers (11th) and Florida Marlins (12th).
By the way, if you can find the Nov. 9 Sporting News on a news stand, snatch it up. The issue also previews the college basketball season and hands out mid-season National Football League awards.

World Series decided much earlier
The New York Yankees officially won the World Series Wednesday night when they topped Philadelphia 7-3 for a 4-2 edge in games.
Actually, the World Series champion was decided last winter when New York signed pitchers CC Sabathia and AJ. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira for an estimated $400 million. That made an already good Yankee lineup an unbeatable Yankee lineup. The rest of baseball pretty much went along for the ride although many teams, including the Twins, provided a lot of thrills.

Some college/NFL winners
Don’t want to ruin your weekend, but here are some of this weekend’s football winners:
College
Penn State 27, Ohio State 22
Alabama 17, LSU 13
Notre Dame 30, Navy 17
Minnesota 33, Illinois 23
Oklahoma 24, Nebraska 20
Air Force 30, Army 20
Michigan 23, Purdue 13
Arkansas 30, South Carolina 22
Southern Cal 30, Arizona St. 27
Upset special: Stanford 24, Oregon 22
NFL
Chicago 20, Arizona 17
Philadelphia 24, Dallas 17
N.Y. Giants 27, San Diego 23
Jacksonville 24, Kansas City 13
New Orleans 34, Carolina 20
Seattle 27, Detroit 17
Indianapolis 27, Houston 20
New England 31, Miami 13
Cincinnati 20, Baltimore 17
San Francisco 24, Tennessee 22
Pittsburgh 20, Denver 16
Atlanta 30, Washington 20
Upset special: Tampa Bay 23, Green Bay 17
Minnesota 55, Bye 0
Grump Old Man’s NFL top 6: 1. New Orleans, 2. Pittsburgh, 3. Minnesota, 4. Indianapolis, 5. New England, 6. Philadelphia.