Continued: Ball-control drill is a bear for Wolves

In a world rife with oxymorons, there still are some things that mean exactly what they are called.

Consider, for example, the 5-on-5 "Man" drill Wolves coach Randy Wittman introduced at the end of the morning practice Friday. He borrowed the 90-second exercise in exhaustion from USC and former Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd, who used the drill when Wolves assistant GM Fred Hoiberg played for him at Iowa State.

When Floyd and future Timberwolf Ervin Johnson were both at the University of New Orleans, Johnson named it so.

The concept: The offensive team cannot set screens, dribble or shoot, and it has 90 seconds to keep the defense from getting five deflections or turnovers. It left players bent over, panting and tugging on the hems of their gym shorts. Sebastian Telfair tried to reach the ball and stuck a finger in Blake Ahearn's eye, which watered right up until the evening practice. Kevin Love aggravated an index-finger injury he had the other day. Al Jefferson finished it without incident and then participated fully in an evening scrimmage that was a prelude to tonight's public scrimmage in Mankato.

"It's one that they're probably not going to like a lot," Wittman said. "Ninety seconds doesn't sound like a long time, but it's long when you can't dribble or shoot. It teaches you to get open, make hard cuts and take care of the ball. That's a tough drill."

Mark Madsen has been in the league eight years and hadn't attempted the drill until Friday. "You do have to be a man to finish that drill," he said.

Saturday night scrimmage

The Wolves prepare for Monday's preseason opener at Milwaukee with a free public scrimmage (ticket required) tonight at Bresnan Arena at Minnesota State Mankato. Wittman said he doubts Jefferson will play tonight, just as a precaution.

"We'll see," Wittman said. "If he wakes up in the morning and feels 100 percent. ... He's feeling better and better. I knew once he saw the guys working and working, he'd want to be out there."

Single-game tickets on sale

Wolves single-game tickets for the regular season go on sale at 10 this morning. They can be purchased online at timberwolves.com, at the Target Center box office or by calling 612-337-3865.

Home highlights include: Kevin Garnett and NBA champion Boston on Nov. 21, LeBron James and Cleveland on Dec. 17, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Jan. 30 and Feb. 22 and O.J. Mayo (a Timberwolf for about five hours) and Memphis on Dec. 29 and March 11.

In need of some Love

Somebody asked Wittman on Friday if Love, given his acclaimed schoolboy and collegiate career, is your typical NBA rookie.

"Absolutely," Wittman said. "Welcome to the NBA. ... He went through a rookie day today. He had a tough morning this morning. He's tired, beat up. That's what he's going to face throughout his career when you play 82 games and you get into the playoffs. There's going to be quite a few games when his body is hurting. Those are things he has to learn to persevere through."

Said Love: "I was missing defensive switches, I was lost on a couple of plays. I am tired, but that's not an excuse. Like you said, I had a typical rookie day and I'll admit."

Love's long day got longer when he left the evening scrimmage early after getting kneed in the thigh.

To make matters even worse, as a rookie he was required to gather everyone's shoes after both practices Friday, put them in a mesh bag and tote them away.

"After having a day like today in practice, this is the worst," he said as he picked up sneakers.

So long Shaun

Kevin McHale was right: Free-agent guard Shaun Livingston is headed to Miami, even though the Wolves were in pursuit of him almost right up until he signed with the Heat on Friday. The Wolves pursued Livingston hard, intrigued by his youth (23), skills and 6-7 size that allows him to play point guard, shooting guard and some small forward.

Livingston, on the comeback from a severe knee injury sustained in February 2007, apparently was swayed by the chance to play with Dwyane Wade, with whom he worked out in Chicago this past off-season. The two players share the same agent and both are from Illinois.

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