4B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24, 2007
NBA
Timberwolves fire second-year coach
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey coaches his now-former team in an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 7. The Timberwolves fired Casey on Tuesday. Assistant coach Randy Wittman will replace him.
Jim Mone/ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Casey, in his first head coaching job, was unable to solve the Timberwolves' inconsistencies and push them back into the thick of the competitive Western Conference, prompting vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale to make the move.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves fired coach Dwane Casey on Tuesday, one day after Minnesota lost its fourth consecutive game and only 1 1/2 seasons since he took over.
"We were at a point as a team where we were just treading water," McHale said. "The ups and downs, we just couldn't find any consistency."
The Timberwolves looked to be turning the corner at the start of the new year, when they opened 2007 with seven victories in their first eight games.
But they lost their next four games, including one to Phoenix without leading scorers Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis, who were suspended. Garnett was suspended by the league for a confrontation with Detroit's Antonio McDVess, while Davis was suspended by the team for acting out during Friday night's game with the Pistons.
Casey and his agent did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.
Assistant coach Randy Wittman will take over as interim coach. The Wolves brought Wittman and longtime assistant Bob Ociepka onto Casey's staff for this season, hoping an influx of experience on the bench would help the first-time head coach with his game management.
That wasn't good enough for Wolves owner Glen Taylor, who wants his team to return to the form that made it a Western Conference finalist in 2004.
While the teams has shown some improvement this season, especially in closing out close games, the inconsistencies on both ends of the floor left them 20-20 following Monday night's 106-91 loss at Utah.
"We just had these unbelievable
swings inside of a week, inside of a game," McHale said. "We were just very erratic."
Now it's Wittman's turn. It will be his second try as a head coach, having compiled a 62-102 record
in two seasons with Cleveland from 1999-01.
Wittman is plenty familiar with the Timberwolves, having served as an assistant here in three different stints for a total of 10 seasons.
"He knows Kevin, our top player, very, very well." McHale said. "Witt's going to be the coach for the rest of the year. I fully anticipate Randy being here a long time."
JORGENSEN (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
I call that play "Sherron Collins";
"Sherron Collins" consists of
Sherron Collins; "balling out of control"
and getting to the basket.
I call that play "Sherron Collins."
Recently, Collins has been the only player with the fortitude to consistently get to the basket. Brandon Rush has shown some glimpses of his genius in the lane, but they've been scarce at best. If players like Rush, Wright and Collins can slash to the basket it will open up opportunities for easy plays to the post or kick out for an open three.
It was this style of ball, paired with our good defense, that helped us defeat national players like Florida and Oklahoma State.
I don't want my criticism to sound like bashing.
I'm just venting along with the rest of the Jayhawk nation. They're still my pick to beat North Carolina in the championship this year, 98-17. Sasha Kaun will dominate Tyler Hansbrough.
For tonight though, the team needs that motivation to heat up and play like the studs they are. One point of motivation for tonight's game is Darrell Arthur. He, at one point, was actually going to play for Baylor, not Kansas.
That decision is like contemplating being the CEO of Microsoft versus mopping bathrooms at Dairy Queen. Sure, you could get free ice cream, but then again you still work at Dairy Queen.
Baylor will have that little spark to get back at Arthur, which will hopefully show them what they missed out on by leading Kansas to a 20-point victory.
Another concept to think about for tonight's game is the level of competition Baylor will give us. Baylor is roughly as good as, say, a first-round opponent that Kansas could face come March. The Jayhawks should use this game as practice to see what it's like to beat a team you're supposed to, and then move on from it and beat other teams you're supposed to.
Regardless of what their motive turns out to be, it's time for the Jayhawks to play like the superstars they are. And I would expect them to figure out their roles by the midpoint of conference play and to be playing at full force in time for March Madness.
Jorgensen is a Baldwin senior in journalism.
- Edited by James Pinick
BAYLOR (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
— he was named National Recruiter of the Year by Court Vision in 1999. In three years, Drew has already helped out Baylor with his recruiting expertise.
Forward, Kevin Rogers and guard, Curtis Jerrells lead the team in scoring this season. They are joined by Bruce and guards Henry Dugat and
One of Drew's top recruiting coups is guard Aaron Bruce, who Self called "a legitimate, big time guard." Bruce, a native Australian, was named 2004 Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 18.2 points per game. His numbers are down slightly this year, in part because of the talent Drew has assembled around him.
"They went through so many negative things four of five years ago and they're back to the point where they are competing for high quality guys," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It's only a matter of time before they're getting those guys consistently, and they've got some already."
Tweety Carter as players who average nine points or more. Rogers, jerrells, Dugat and Carter were top 100 recruits in high school, providing proof that Drew can draw top talent to Baylor.
Baylor's record doesn't sparkle this season. The Bears are 1-4 in conference games, but they lost to Oklahoma State on the road by four and led Kansas State in the last 10 minutes before falling.
》 SUPER BOWL XLI
"They're really close to getting to the point he had envisioned," Self said.
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
- Edited by Stacey Couch
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Just because the Indianapolis Colts will represent the vastly superior AFC doesn't make them a Superinch in Miami.
Bears still viable contenders despite Colts-favoring odds
While the AFC went 40-24 against the NFC, including 3-1 for the Colts, the Chicago Bears aren't exactly an also-ran out of the weaker conference. Their 15-3 record is no mirage, even if 13 of those victories came within the NFC.
For more pertinent numbers, try
these: 44 takeaways during the season, tops in the league, and another five in the playoffs. The four in the NFC title game against New Orleans, the top-rated offense in football, led to a rout.
And these: Chicago has scored 66 points in two postseason games. That 33-point average is far better than Indy's 25.3.
Put the stats aside, though, because what the Bears achieved in 2006 and the first month of 2007 generally was against softer opposition than what the Colts faced. Look to this, instead; Chicago has just as many playmakers as Indy. It's just as well coached. It has five players with Super Bowl experience; the Colts have five who could play on Feb. 4.
Plus, the Bears still have a mamoth boulder on their shoulder, even as a conference champion.
"We know what they're saying, that no matter who we would have played in the Super Bowl, wed be underdogs," safety Chris Harris said. "We use that as fuel."
doesn't deserve the acclaim. But the best Bears team in two decades could get somewhat ignored.
Peyton Manning is likely to get more attention in Miami and more air time and more headlines than all of the Bears combined. Not that the best quarterback of his generation
"As far as us being underdogs, if you look at what all the Colts bring to the table, I could see why they would make us underdogs," Bears coach Lovei Smith said, "but we've been in that role before and our guys like the underdog role.
"I wouldn't bet against the Bears if I were a betting man."
Neither would we with a 7 point spread. Here's a few reasons why the Bears just might do what the Patriots managed in 2002 and the Broncos in 1998, and upset a solid favorite.
There is a major mismatch here on kick returns. The Bears have the
Further along on the special teams theme, while Indy's Adam Vinatieri is the best clutch place-kicker in history. Chicago's Robbie Gould has had one of the most impressive seasons ever. Gould showed he has plenty of Vinatieri in him with a 49-yard field goal in overtime to defeat Seattle in the Bears' first playoff game.
Last Sunday, Ellis Hobbs, hardly in Hester's class, had six kickoff returns for 220 yards, including 80- and 40-yarders that set up scores for New England.
league's most productive unit, led by All Pro returner Devin Hester. The rookie set an NFL record with six runbacks for touchdowns, and the Colts are vulnerable.
The Bears have several potential difference makers on defense, led by linebackers Brian Urlacher
Up to 45% off
The KU Bookstores carry the largest selection of money-saving eBooks with cool interactive features that will take studying to the next level.
Sure, Manning has all the credentials and Rex Grossman all the question marks. The last time the quarterbacking seemed so one-sided, it was St. Louis' Kurt Warner against New England's Tom Brady. Anyone remember how that turned out?
SUPPORT THE STORE THAT SUPPORTS KU
For Example:
Principles of
Corporate Finance
Textbook Price $157.35
obook Price $86.54
You Save $70.81
Yet, the Bears completely shut down the inside running of the Saints, and the Colts don't have as dangerous a power rushing attack. Indy's Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes could struggle against the active Urlacher and Briggs.
and Lance Briggs, and end Adewate Ogunleye, Alex Brown and sack- happy rookie Mark Anderson. It's a fundamentally sound unit with only one weak spot, at tackle without injured star Tommie Harris.
The letdown factor. If either side could succumb to it, is it the Bears, who have made playing the no- respect angle an art form?
Or is it the Colts, who finally got past their nemesis, the Patriots, and finally got Manning and Dungy to a Super Bowl?
Affordable Laser Hair Removal!
- FREE Consultation -
842-7001
Mention this ad and get 10% OFF initial treatment
For Ladies
• Face
• Underarms
• Blikini
• Legs
930 Iowa St. - Hillcrest Professional Bldg
For Men
• Chests
• Back
• Neck
Dermatology Center of Lawrence
Lee R. Bittenbender M.D.
Lee R. Bittenbender, M.D.
all the books for all the classes
1
---