[外電] Saunders to U: No thanks
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16468859.htm
University of Minnesota fans have a dream coach to guide the men's basketball
program: Flip Saunders.
But Saunders said Monday he should be crossed off the list of candidates for
the basketball opening to replace Dan Monson.
"Yeah," said Saunders, the Detroit Pistons coach and U alumnus. "I've got a
job right now. Just tell them that. I'm geared toward winning championships.
If we get (free-agent Chris) Webber here, the town's going to be excited, and
I'm going to be excited."
Webber's announcement that he's signing with Detroit was the big news of the
day here for the Pistons and Saunders, who lost 94-90 in overtime to the
Timberwolves at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Back in the Twin Cities, there's no more popular name to take over the
Gophers job than Saunders, the former Wolves coach who still has emotional
ties to his alma mater. His son Ryan plays for the Gophers and would like to
become a coach after he graduates.
"You want to see that situation get back to where it was," Saunders said. "It
was a dominant Big Ten basketball program. They have a ways to go. As I've
said all along, I'm focused on winning an NBA championship. That's my main
focus right now. I haven't talked to anybody back there. The people's choice,
that's probably just because I was back there and there are a lot of ties
back there. I've been in this league for a long time. I came here with the
idea of winning rings, and that's what I'm (focused) on doing."
Webber excites Saunders: Saunders sees Webber as a player who will fit in
well with the Pistons, similar to Kevin Garnett's role with the Wolves.
Webber is a forward who can pass well, shoot jumpers and grab rebounds,
though he clearly isn't as athletic as Garnett.
Saunders said Webber has a high basketball IQ.
"He's a lot like Garnett as far as his ability to run the offense through,"
Saunders said. "Both have the ability to score, pass and make plays for other
people."
Garnett says it's a perfect fit: Garnett sees Webber as a "huge lift" for the
Pistons. He remembers the combination of Webber and Rasheed Wallace when they
played together in Washington in the 1990s, and thinks both players are wiser
now.
"I hope that fit works here," Garnett said. "It seems to be a perfect fit.
It's definitely entertaining not only as a competitor but as a fan. I can't
wait to see how that works. Webb coming here makes them a lot more versatile.
It gives them depth. It gives them experience, a leader in the locker room."
Hassell on the glass: Guard Trenton Hassell's eight offensive rebounds
against Detroit set an individual season high for the Wolves. His 11 rebounds
overall was one shy of matching his career high. That contributed to
Minnesota's 22-12 advantage in second-chance points.
"Trenton Hassell killed us," Saunders said. "He had offensive rebounds, and
it really hurt us a lot inside."
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