Bullpen

Interesting college football playoff possibility from Big Ten

The Big Ten is not only ready to listen to proposals regarding a national four-team football playoff, league and school officials are kicking around an intriguing idea.

Sources told the Tribune that a Big Ten plan would remove the top four teams from the BCS bowl pool and have semifinal games played on the college campus of the higher seed. That would do away with the facade of "neutral" sites such as New Orleans, Miami and Pasadena, Calif., and ease travel concern for fans.

The championship game then could be bid out, like the Super Bowl.

The concept of the Big Ten even entertaining playoff proposals seemed laughable as recently as two months ago. But in the wake of a low-rated BCS title game that satisfied few outside the Southeastern Conference footprint, the conference is ready to study and contribute ideas.

"We have to listen to the fans; we cannot be tone-deaf," said Northwestern athletics director Jim Phillips, who chairs the Big Ten's Administrators Council. "The Big Ten is open and curious."

In 2008, the SEC proposed a Plus-One -- a more palatable term for a four-team playoff -- during BCS discussions, and the ACC supported it. But with the Big Ten, Pac-10, Big 12, Big East and Notre Dame disapproving, the plan never materialized.

"There has been a lot of bantering and rhetoric," Phillips said, "but no one has come up with a formal plan."

BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said that 50 to 60 BCS bowl/playoff plans were presented the day after the BCS title game in New Orleans, but they apparently lack details. The next college football cycle begins with the 2014 season, and most expect a new system to be approved this fall.

Also on the table: Creating a seven-win requirement for bowl teams, a rule that could torpedo more than a half-dozen money-losing games and end embarrassing contests between schools that dumped their head coaches.

And moving up the BCS title game. Alabama's trouncing of LSU took place Jan. 9, a day after the NFL's wild-card weekend. Fourteen percent of the country tuned in, marking the third-lowest rating in the 14 years of the BCS.

"There is a very strong sense that we have missed the boat and are playing games too late," Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany told the Tribune. "Students are back in class, people are back at work."

Delany would not comment on any potential Big Ten playoff proposal, saying he first needs to take the temperature of university presidents, chancellors and athletic directors.

But he did say: "I think sports fans are conditioned to playoffs. I don't begrudge them that. They're looking for more games, but we're trying to do the right thing.

"It's a matter of coming up with something that does not kill the baby with the bath water. We have a regular season that is vibrant. We have 12 games plus a (conference) championship game -- that's a lot of games. We have academic calendars, though that doesn't resonate with many people. But if you're dealing with university presidents, faculty and coaches, you're talking about it."

— Chicago Tribune

Erichsen is someone to behold

It's strange to think that running 18 miles per day would give someone pleasure.

But with elite runners such as Kingsland High School and St. John's University (Collegeville) graduate Chris Erichsen, there is definitely pleasure there. Even more than that, though, is a massive desire by him to find out just how good he can be as a marathoner.

Erichsen has spent the last two years pushing himself to crazy lengths in order to answer that question. Saturday morning, he'll inch closer to some answers when he runs in the Olympic Trials marathon in Houston.

But with Erichsen, this is truly a marathon and not a sprint. He's already looking way ahead in his quest to discover just what he's got as a runner. Erichsen figures he won't be at his marathon peak until the 2016 Olympics, or maybe even as late as the 2020 Games.

As a former track athlete who always enjoyed basketball and tennis much more, it makes me weak just thinking about the work that lies ahead for Erichsen.

But even more than that is the loads of admiration I feel for the guy. Erichsen's inner strength and discipline is something to behold.

— Pat Ruff

Vikings should take CB first

The Minnesota Vikings — fresh off their 3-16 season — aren't sitting pretty in many ways. But they do happen to be in a nice position for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Minnesota picks third overall. On a team with so many glaring needs, it's easy to image it going any number of ways with that first pick.

The three most tempting players at this point seem to be USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon and LSU defensive back Morris Clairborne.

Those three all figure to be standouts at the next level, and also represent the three areas of biggest need for the Vikings.

But the hunch here is that Blackmon is the one with the biggest question mark as he enters the NFL. While he has been super productive, he does not have elite size (6-foot-1) or speed (about 4.5 in the 40). And the Vikings figure to be able to land a good to excellent receiver through free agency.

So, let's check him off our list.

That leaves Kalil and Clairborne.

Kalil plays left tackle, the most important position along the offensive line, as opposite them line up speed-rushing defensive lineman. Remember how Christian Ponder ran for his life most of the season before finally going permanently to the bench after being roughed up for the last time? Well, Kalil could go a long way toward solving that problem. With time to throw, we'd find out if Ponder really is an NFL quarterback, or better.

Clairborne plays cornerback, which is also an immense area of need for Minnesota. Teams burned Vikings defensive backs at will the entire season. To suddenly be sitting with one of the best coverage cornerbacks in the game in Clairborne would be awfully tough to pass up.

In fact, it should be so tough to pass up that they go ahead and make the LSU star their first pick in 2012.

The Vikings will also pick third in the second round, and each round thereafter. Maybe it's with that No. 35 pick overall that they grab their wide receiver. Rutgers' wideout Mohamed Sanu (6-2, 215 pounds) looks like a good one.

— Pat Ruff

It's January, and Willow Creek is open

 

Willow Creek Golf Course is open, at least until Tuesday.

The front 9 is open for walking only. Saturday and Sunday there will be noon shotgun starts and Monday and Tuesday, tee times are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Enjoy.

 

 

Rochester basketball better than advertised

There's been much said and much hand-wringing over Rochester teams — boys and girls, varsity and B-squad combined — going 0-for-16 in the first day of the recently completed Rotary tournament.

And yes, it was a bad showing, there is no getting around it. But to derive from it that Rochester basketball is among the worst around is far from the truth.

Yes, there are some seriously struggling teams in town this season. The Rochester Lourdes girls — which forever had owned among the strongest girls programs in the state — is having (for them) a historically bad season. The John Marshall girls have mostly had a tough time, too, and are 4-7. But Mayo and Century go into January with solid records, at 7-3 and 7-4, respectively. That's far from lousy.

It's much the same situation with the Rochester boys teams. There is one really struggling team among them, John Marshall, at 1-7. The Rockets, however, have some young talent that has a decent chance of flourishing in a year or two.

Mayo, which is undersized, has still been respectable. The Spartans are 4-4 and play an entertaining brand of basketball that emphasizes ball movement and a quick pace.

Then you have 8-1 Century and 6-4 Lourdes. The first thing to note about them is that in the latest high school poll, both were ranked in the top-10 in their respective classes. And let's also remember that just one year ago Lourdes made it all the way to the state Class AA championship game, graduated virtually all of those players, and is still formidable

And one final note: The Rotary tournament generally brings in good to very good teams, most from the Twin Cities, to play in this event. Losing to any of them in the first round is almost never a shocker and there's little shame in it.

So, while Rochester basketball may have some flaws in it — there have been complaints about the lack of practice time and facilities at the youth level — it can't be considered an abject failure. It's not great, but it's far better than many are making it out to be.

— Pat Ruff

But only if they play defense . . .

The issue for Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman in using Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and rookie Derrick Williams together on the front line is not whether they can score as a unit. In Saturday night's exhibition win over Milwaukee, the trio combined for 56 points.

What Adelman is trying to figure out is this: How effective is the Wolves' defense with Love, Beasley and Williams on the floor at the same time?

Love and Beasley are nearly identical in height at 6 feet 9, give or take an inch, and Williams is a burly 6-8. All three weigh between 235-245 pounds. Taller front lines could present matchup problems, particularly with Love playing center.

In order to give Beasley and Williams more opportunities to play side-by-side, Love said he is willing to spend more time at center when Adelman wants to use a smaller lineup.

"It's fine with me," Love said. "I'm comfortable there. I'm still strong enough to rebound."

The Love-Beasley-Williams line was featured for stretches of both halves in Saturday night's exhibition opener. Adelman said he wants to give the trio more time together in Wednesday night's exhibition game at Milwaukee. The plan could put more pressure on the Wolves' entire defensive system, which Adelman and his staff have been working hard to upgrade after the team allowed the most points per game in the NBA last season (107.7).

Adelman is willing to make use of the Love-Beasley- Williams combination because of the stress they can put on an opponent's defense.

"They're a tough matchup for the other team, but they have to do the job defensively," Adelman said. "They were active Saturday night. The key is everybody has to keep their concentration. That's the biggest problem we have. We get into situations on the weak side, and we don't have guys thinking all the time. We'll keep working at it."

— Ray Richardson

— St. Paul Pioneer Press

 

Trade Adrian Peterson

The Vikings should consider trading Adrian Peterson.

I would have disagreed with the take at the start of the season. Peterson is probably the best running back in the league. But the Vikings have a lot of needs and Toby Gerhart has shown to be a capable replacement the past two weeks with Peterson sidelined.

I realize Gerhart is never going to be electric like Peterson, but he's a solid back. And without Peterson, the Vikings have also been trying to use Percy Harvin more and Harvin is definitely an electric player.

What if the Vikings could get a couple of first-round draft choices and a current starter from a team in a deal with Peterson? 

Plus Peterson is getting a hefty salary. If the Vikings were able to cut his salary they might also be able to sign an extra free agent or two in the coming offseason.

Overall, trading Peterson could help the Vikings rebuild quicker.

— Guy N. Limbeck

Gophers have smoothed things out

The Gophers men's basketball team is looking more like it has a clue offensively than any team that Tubby Smith has coached since he arrived at Minnesota in 2007.

The reason is simple. Instead of going "big" as Tubby has so often in his short tenure here, Tubby is going "small" this year.

That is, instead of having three virtual power forwards on the floor at one time, the Gophers are going with three guards and a small forward playing power forward.

And it looks good. Instead of the painfully plodding game that we watched last year — the one that had zero flow to it, and had one panicked shot-clock beating attempt after another being hoisted — there is rhythm to this year's offense, with smooth ball handlers and passers.

College basketball is a guard's game. Thankfully, Tubby is going with that flow this year.

— Pat Ruff

Kubel probably will sign elsewhere

The Twins are still waiting on their third 2012 outfielder, but one thing seems certain: It won't be Jason Kubel. Not according to the longtime Twins outfielder and designated hitter.

Asked late Wednesday whether he and the Twins are done negotiating, Kubel said, "Probably so."

Kubel, 29, is one of three players the Twins have been chasing hard the past 72 hours as they try to fill their starting lineup; the others are teammate Michael Cuddyer and Oakland A's outfielder Josh Willingham.

Word of a deal with Willingham was reported nationally on Monday, but nothing has materialized, and Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said late Wednesday there is no deal.

"We're still looking for a right fielder with some power," he said. "It's no secret."

Cuddyer, 32, and Kubel shared right field the past several years, with Kubel primarily the designated hitter, but it appears to be down to Cuddyer and Willingham, both of whom reportedly have offers on the table - though the Twins will not confirm. Asked if he were disappointed to be ending a relationship that started in 2000, when he was a 12th-round pick in the first-year player draft, Kubel said, "In a way, yeah."

But Kubel wasn't enamored of playing in Target Field. After hitting a career-high 28 home runs in 2009, his numbers dipped to 21 in 2010 and 12 last year, when he was limited to 99 games because of a severely sprained left foot. A left-handed hitter, Kubel's gap power was swallowed by the Twins'

new park. Whether Kubel has given up on the Twins, or the Twins are more interested in right-handed hitters Cuddyer and Willingham, is unclear.

Said Antony, "We have not called Kubel or his agent to tell them we've moved on."

But Kubel has been reading reports of a three-year, $24 million offer to Cuddyer and a three-year, $21 million offer to Willingham, 32.

"One thing is they want a right-handed bat," Kubel said. "And Cuddy does everything (defensively). I don't know whether that made a negative impact or not."

— John Shipley

McClatchy News Services

 

 

Wolves are intriguing — really

For the first time since the beginning of a 2004-05 season that went sour for the Minnesota Timberwolves, there is a buzz about this franchise.

Strange to think that could be true of a team that had the worst record in the NBA last year, and has been a league doormat ever since Kevin Garnett was traded to Boston in 2007.

But it is true. This is a team that is suddenly brimming with intrigue and promise. Certainly, it is intrigue that could be fleeting if rookies Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams don't quickly show they've been worth the hype.

But for now, with one practice under these guys' belts under new coach Rick Adelman — a future Hall of Fame coach, no less — it is there. Point guard Rubio is being billed as a dazzling passer, this kid from Spain with the matinee-idol good looks. And power forward Williams is regarded as a strong and high-leaping do-everything player with a winning  personality.

Then you have forward/center Kevin Love, who has shed 25 pounds on the heels of a breakout season that landed him on the All-Star team. And you also have two more promising young guys in small forward Michael Beasley and shooting guard/small forward Wesley Johnson.

The Wolves — for the first time in forever — are talented. It is young talent, to be sure, but it is real talent.

Let's see what new guy Adelman can mold from it. It's going to be worth watching.

— Pat Ruff