Sweet 16 has strong Minneapolis flavor

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 3/23/2005

 

 Sixteen teams remain in the NCAA Tournament on the men's side, including all four number-one seeds -- Illinois, North Carolina, Washington and Duke. Minneapolis athletes have played huge roles in their schools' success so far. Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Minnesota all qualified for this year's Men's NCAA Tournament field.

 What's more, each team also had at least one player from Minneapolis on its roster playing significant roles: Oklahoma with Lawrence McKenzie and Johnny Gilbert, Minnesota with Dan Coleman, Michigan State with Alan Anderson, and Wisconsin with Kammron Taylor.

 Anderson and Taylor have helped their teams reach the Sweet 16 in the National Championship title chase. "My role has definitely changed from last year," said Taylor, the sophomore guard from North High School. "I'm playing a lot more, and the team is looking for some leadership from me being a point guard. I have to do a good job managing the clock, making sure that our guys like Alando Tucker and Mike Wilkenson get the ball, and to make plays when I need to. I definitely think I've done a good job of that this year."

 It's great to see these young people continue to grow and make positive contributions and big names for themselves. "Especially growing up on the North Side, a lot of kids want to play basketball," Taylor said, "and eventually go to college and play Division One basketball. You can't do it without hard work, though. I just think my hard work is starting to pay off."

 Only one of the players, Dan Coleman at Minnesota, chose to stay home and play in his home state, however. Why is that? "I just think myself, and probably the other guys, chose the schools they went to because they thought it would be a better fit for them and their style of playing," Taylor said.

 "It's nothing against Minnesota, not at all. I know a couple guys on Minnesota's team that I'm cool with, so I just think it's style of play and the chemistry that that team has, and the relationship with the coaches."

 Taylor has one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the country, and that's why he's on the floor in critical situations for Wisconsin. He credits his older brother for helping him become a better player.

 "My older brother Kerrick, I talk to him every day when things are not going good. My brother is definitely my role model. He definitely has helped me get to where I'm at. He played at North also with Khalid when they won those three straight state championships."

Fitz Notes & Quotes

 The Timberwolves are fighting for their playoff lives with 14 games left; if they win them all, they can finish 48-34. They trail Denver for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

 Imagine if I had asked you before the season which hoops squad, the University of Minnesota Men Gophers or the Timberwolves, had the best chance of making the playoffs. It's unanimous -- most if not all would have picked the Timberwolves.

 The PGA Tour so far this year has been spectacular with Tiger Woods, V.J Singh, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson all playing at the top of their games. Tiger regained the world number-one ranking by beating Mickelson two weeks ago. Woods, Els and Mickelson all have won twice already, and Singh has won once and finished second twice.

 Singh has grabbed the number-one ranking back again after finishing second at both Bay Hill and the Honda Classic Sunday. This week, the Players Championship is the biggest tournament of the year, not including the four majors to follow. It's shaping up to be an incredible year.