It's getting so ridiculous that the narrative has morphed into, "Devan Dubnyk saved the team and the season." The more he backstops the Wild's wins, the more that becomes true, but let's not forget that players came back from injury and family tragedies suffered in the middle of the season. So I get increasingly frightened that Dubnyk has this mojo, and that the squad believes in said mojo. They are on such a winning streak that if they lose their first game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I'm afraid that all this conjured-up mojo will evaporate and they'll turn into a shell of themselves, from the group that has been the hottest team in the league since mid-January. Momentum is a fickle thing that sometimes is given too much credit; see the "hot" Gopher men's hockey team, below. And this is hockey, where teams with worse records beat division winners with regularity. I would rather see this team scratch and claw and struggle their way into the postseason than come in flying high, like these guys are, because karma would totally want to smack that down.
Till then, they finish up their final homestand of the regular season with games tonight against the Rangers, Saturday vs. Detroit and Monday with The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers. They then commence their final roadtrip of the regular season Tuesday versus Chicago.
#0: Gopher women's basketball (Last Week: -Infinity). So, I don't usually bring back clubs whose seasons end, and I didn't really want to talk about the U. lady Gopher team after what I consider a wash-out to the end of what was a promising season. But I have to make an exception for what is unprecedented news: For the first time in the history of the program, a player on the program, Amanda Zahui B., has been named to the Associated Press women's All-America First Team. She notched the single-game record for most rebounds in a game (29) and most blocks in a game (12) this year in top-flight women's college basketball. And she already holds the Minnesota record for most blocks in her career with 240. Those back-to-back announcement games at Williams Arena over Iowa and Michigan vaulted her into the national consciousness, so good for her.
And to think that Zahui is only a sophomore. That kind of sets up a weird irony for next year, when Rachel Banham comes back. Zahui only became an All-American out of necessity. With Banham back manning the point and driving to the lane, she will not shoulder all the scoring workload, and I don't think Zahui will get those rebounding and blocks totals like she did this year. In other words, Zahui will not be an All-American next year. But with Banham, they will become a powerful 1-2 punch that might diversify the offensive attack and, maybe, result in a much better team. Even Zahui will probably think that's a fair tradeoff.
And to think that Zahui is only a sophomore. That kind of sets up a weird irony for next year, when Rachel Banham comes back. Zahui only became an All-American out of necessity. With Banham back manning the point and driving to the lane, she will not shoulder all the scoring workload, and I don't think Zahui will get those rebounding and blocks totals like she did this year. In other words, Zahui will not be an All-American next year. But with Banham, they will become a powerful 1-2 punch that might diversify the offensive attack and, maybe, result in a much better team. Even Zahui will probably think that's a fair tradeoff.
#-1: Swarm (Last Week: -5). Wow, a busy week for the local box lacrosse team. They ended their losing streak at six with a 13-9 victory on the road against the New England Black Wolves Sunday afternoon.
But that didn't sate Smarm General Manager ... wait a minute ... do you see the Swarm's Front Office page? There is an Associate GM, Joe Sullivan, who is also Head Coach, but I don't see a General Manager. What the fuck? There's an Asst. GM but no actual GM? Who makes the final personnel decisions then? Is it ... the Owners, the Arlottas? Hmmm, that might explain a lot then.
Anyway, the team made a flurry of deals before the National Lacrosse League trade deadline of 2 Central Tuesday. They basically jettisoned the stalwarts of their team. Captain Andrew Suitor was sent to New England for Transition Joel White and a second-round pick in the NLL draft not next year, but 2017; Forward Logan Schuss (who notched a goal and a pair of assists in the win over the Black Wolves) was traded to the Vancouver Stealth for fellow Forward Johnny Powless; and Forward Cam Flint was given to the Colorado Mammoth in exchange for second- and third-round picks in next year's draft. In total, the three moves seem to raise the white flag on the organization. But I will see that Powless is a three-time NLL champion. And -- is this true? -- he is only 22.
They have a back-to-back this weekend; home Friday against said Black Wolves (which is basically a home-and-home, with five days between them), Saturday at Rochester. Somehow, there is still time for this club to make a run and actually get into the playoffs. What might boost their chances; that game against the Knighthawks will be the last road game of the year. The Swarm finish with games at the X on four straight Saturday nights.
But that didn't sate Smarm General Manager ... wait a minute ... do you see the Swarm's Front Office page? There is an Associate GM, Joe Sullivan, who is also Head Coach, but I don't see a General Manager. What the fuck? There's an Asst. GM but no actual GM? Who makes the final personnel decisions then? Is it ... the Owners, the Arlottas? Hmmm, that might explain a lot then.
Anyway, the team made a flurry of deals before the National Lacrosse League trade deadline of 2 Central Tuesday. They basically jettisoned the stalwarts of their team. Captain Andrew Suitor was sent to New England for Transition Joel White and a second-round pick in the NLL draft not next year, but 2017; Forward Logan Schuss (who notched a goal and a pair of assists in the win over the Black Wolves) was traded to the Vancouver Stealth for fellow Forward Johnny Powless; and Forward Cam Flint was given to the Colorado Mammoth in exchange for second- and third-round picks in next year's draft. In total, the three moves seem to raise the white flag on the organization. But I will see that Powless is a three-time NLL champion. And -- is this true? -- he is only 22.
They have a back-to-back this weekend; home Friday against said Black Wolves (which is basically a home-and-home, with five days between them), Saturday at Rochester. Somehow, there is still time for this club to make a run and actually get into the playoffs. What might boost their chances; that game against the Knighthawks will be the last road game of the year. The Swarm finish with games at the X on four straight Saturday nights.
#-2: Gopher softball (Last Week: -2). Last weekend they were able to run their winning streak to 15, but that was snapped in the Sunday afternoon series finale in Nebraska, 5-3. Nevertheless, the final rankings for the long-hyped showdown between Minnesota and Michigan this weekend, the first games to be played at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium this year, is #12 (us) against #4 (them), just like last week.
I've been vacillating on which game to go to. If I had my way, I would go to the series opener, tomorrow (Friday), because it's the first game and it's at night, and I've never seen a softball game at night. But, my parents probably would rather have me at home, and my car's still giving me problems, and maybe it's best not to drive around at night. Then, I have either Saturday at 1 or Sunday -- Easter -- at high noon. Would it be better to go to Cowles on Easter, when there would be a lot of places that won't be open? But the weather might be better on Saturday. Hmmm ... still thinking.
I've been vacillating on which game to go to. If I had my way, I would go to the series opener, tomorrow (Friday), because it's the first game and it's at night, and I've never seen a softball game at night. But, my parents probably would rather have me at home, and my car's still giving me problems, and maybe it's best not to drive around at night. Then, I have either Saturday at 1 or Sunday -- Easter -- at high noon. Would it be better to go to Cowles on Easter, when there would be a lot of places that won't be open? But the weather might be better on Saturday. Hmmm ... still thinking.
#-3: Gopher baseball (Last Week: -4). 2-2 week; dropped two of three at Siebert Field to Northwestern, including an excruciating 2-1 defeat in 13 innings, but nipped St. John's (of Minnesota) at home Tuesday, 9-8. So this team, currently 9-15, doesn't instill in me a desire to go out and see them. And that is all I have to say about that. They visit B1G newcomer Rutgers for a trio this weekend, each game of which starts at 12 Central.
#-4: Timberwolves (Last Week: -3). Last WMNSS I pontificated how often Kevin Garnett actually played for the Woofie Dogs ever since "returning home." Michael Rand read my mind, because earlier this week he noted on his notes column in the Star Tribune that he has only suited up for five of the club's 20 games he's been a member of the Wolves 2.0. Would he have made a difference in their losses to Houston, New Orleans, Utah and Toronto? Maybe, maybe not. But the honeymoon period definitely is over for this squad now that he is here and not here.
Add to that the litany of injuries all bad teams seem to suffer through, and you have, like, seven or eight players dressed and ready to play for this godawful team. At least one of them is Andrew Wiggins, who is getting enough run every outing that will make him a better player in the long run. That's the only good thing to come out of this abortion of a season.
This week: Home to Orlando, then a four-game roadtrip that begins with games versus Sacramento and Portland.
Add to that the litany of injuries all bad teams seem to suffer through, and you have, like, seven or eight players dressed and ready to play for this godawful team. At least one of them is Andrew Wiggins, who is getting enough run every outing that will make him a better player in the long run. That's the only good thing to come out of this abortion of a season.
This week: Home to Orlando, then a four-game roadtrip that begins with games versus Sacramento and Portland.
#-Infinity: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: #0). Yeah, coming into the NCAA Tournament on a hot streak did them a whole lot of good, huh? Those fools got laughed out of the building in Manchester, N.H., 4-1 to hated Minnesota-Duluth. The commentators noted that the team came out flat and Goalie Adam Wilcox let in some easy goals. And just like that, the team, which started off the sesaon as the top team in the nation by the way, and had four straight wins to roll to the Big Ten regular season and tournament crowns, reverted to their mid-season troubles and are done.
Since then the players left the team and signed pro contracts, skittering away from the U. as if they're running away from the scene of the crime -- which, in a sense, it is, seeing as they completely underwhelmed rightful expectations. Some, like Kyle Rau, are seniors; some, like Wilcox, are not. But I find it so funny that in men's hockey, unlike in any other sport, as soon as that team's season is done, the players are all, "Man, I am fucking outta here!" Hey, what about the rest of the semester? Shit, even one-and-done college basketball players still act like they're going to school after the tournament is over!
Since then the players left the team and signed pro contracts, skittering away from the U. as if they're running away from the scene of the crime -- which, in a sense, it is, seeing as they completely underwhelmed rightful expectations. Some, like Kyle Rau, are seniors; some, like Wilcox, are not. But I find it so funny that in men's hockey, unlike in any other sport, as soon as that team's season is done, the players are all, "Man, I am fucking outta here!" Hey, what about the rest of the semester? Shit, even one-and-done college basketball players still act like they're going to school after the tournament is over!
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