possibilities and finishes the team has been searching for all seas

MINNEAPOLIS -- There is a gaping hole in the northeast corner of Target Center, the result of a renovation that has started on the Minnesota Timberwolves aging arena to update it as much as possible without completely tearing it down and starting from scratch.After almost a decade-long identity crisis, the major rebuilding of the roster is finally over.With Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, a core is firmly entrenched that makes one of leagues most unsuccessful franchises the subject of envy for its wealth of young talent. Tom Thibodeau has arrived to give the Wolves a top-flight coach to take over their on-the-job education. And they are just plain sick and tired of hearing about the teams 12-year playoff drought.It bothers me, Towns said. It truly bothers me. Its something I dont want to hear anymore. Im tired of hearing about a drought around here. Thats something that annoys me and bothers me. What I can do to control that is come in every day, work tremendously hard and do everything possible to help us be the winning team we see ourselves being.The Timberwolves won 29 games a year ago, a 13-game improvement from the previous season. They will likely need at least 12 more wins this season to be in the mix in the competitive Western Conference.Despite starting three players who are 21 or younger, their optimism is high.There are a lot of guys on the team that have never been in the playoffs and theyve been here for a long time, Wiggins said. We havent seen it. Now we finally have the perfect pieces to get there, the perfect opportunity this year. Were very confident. Were overly excited. We just want to work hard to get there.The Timberwolves open the regular season on Wednesday in Memphis. Here are some things to watch this season:VETERAN WIGGINSThere is relative certainty surrounding Towns ability to assert himself as an elite big man in the league. It remains a little unclear just how great Wiggins will be. He has worked tirelessly to improve his ball-handling and perimeter shooting to become an All-Star caliber player. If Thibodeau and Wiggins can form the relationship that helps the supremely talented wing play with fire more consistently, look out.DUNNS DEVELOPMENTThe Wolves grabbed point guard Kris Dunn with the fifth overall pick in June, and there is a lot of speculation that he will eventually supplant Ricky Rubio as the starter. But point guard is the most difficult position to play in the league, and the Wolves have no reason to rush him into that role on a team that desperately wants to make the playoffs. Dunn has shot poorly in the preseason, but Thibodeau has already proclaimed him NBA-ready on defense, which is a big thing for the coach.BJELICAS BOUNCEBACKNemanja Bjelica came to the Timberwolves last season after being named Euroleague MVP in Turkey, but struggled with injuries and making an adjustment to the NBA game. He has looked much more comfortable during the preseason of Year No. 2. If he can emerge as the playmaking, sharpshooting, stretch 4 with the second unit, the ceiling for the team raises significantly.BYE, BYE KGFranchise icon Kevin Garnett retired earlier this month, leaving the pups he mentored last season to strike out on their own. The best players on this team are very, very young, so watching the leadership element develop will be intriguing. Towns has quickly asserted himself as one of the teams hardest workers and most vocal communicators, so he is a natural candidate.We talked. I know what I must do, Towns wrote on Instagram after KG retired. Ill take it from here.FINANCIAL MATTERSWith so many young players under contract, the Timberwolves enter the season with cap space galore. But that space will be chewed up in the coming years when Wiggins, LaVine and Towns come up for extensions. One of the interesting pieces in the immediate future is versatile big man Gorgui Dieng. If the Wolves do not reach agreement on an extension with him by the end of the month, he will become a restricted free agent next summer and likely command a salary on the open market of $17 million a year or more. Thibodeau is a big fan of Diengs game, but it remains to be seen if the two sides can come to an agreement.---Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/APKrawczynski Randy Moss Youth Jersey . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Garrett Bradbury Vikings Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Mike-Hughes-Vikings-Jersey/ . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Brett Favre Vikings Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. John Randle Youth Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt soccer team fell in its final non-conference game in a double overtime nail biter, as Northern Kentucky slipped past the Dores for a 1-0 victory.Heading into the final non-conference matchup of the season, Vanderbilt changed up personnel to try to generate the scoring possibilities and finishes the team has been searching for all season. In doing so, Sasha Gray was moved to forwards from defense, with Sydney ODonnell taking her spot in the backline with her first start at left back.Throughout the first half, both teams had scoring opportunities, but lacked the finishing touch necessary to establish a lead. NKU defense pressured the VU front line, making strong tackles and forcing the Dores to pass tthe ball.ddddddddddddAt the end of the first 45 minutes of play the Norse led the Dores in shooting with five shots on VUs two.In the second half, again both teams lacked ability to finish, which led the Dores to their second overtime contest of the season. Scoreless in the first 10 minutes of OT, both teams donning the gold and white returned to the field looking to claim the victory.With Vandy missing a tackle on the right side of the field, NKUs No. 12, Jessica Ferrys dribbles into the 18-yard box and generated a shot which sailed into in the bottom of the left of the corner for the game winning goal. ' ' '