Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Timberwolves Training Camp

Media Credit: Raymond Starin Randy Foye will have a big role for the Timberwolves after missing half of last season due to injury.

This time last season Randy Foye wasn't able to practice with the team, he ended up missing the first 43 games due to a kneecap injury.

The Timberwolves ended up having a strong second half of the season, and much of that can be credited to Foye.

This season, Foye will be working with some new teammates in Mike Miller and Kevin Love.

"It's nice having these guys come in because they are great perimeter shooters," Foye said. "It will definitely open our offense up."

Foye has gone through a transition of teammates since becoming a part of the team. In his rookie season he was projected to be an asset to Kevin Garnett and help bring the Wolves back to the playoffs. Foye had a decent season, averaging 10.1 points per game.

Last season became a rebuilding year for the team, and a rebuilding half-season for Foye, who was trying to get back into the flow.

Foye knows about individual success and successful teams. He led his Villanova Wildcats to the Final Four in 2006, along with earning Big East Player of the Year and All-American Honors. But Foye doesn't care what the doubters think about this season.

"Forget them," he said. "We know what we need to do and what we have."

What the team has is a young squad. Of the projected lineup with Foye, Miller, Love, Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes, Miller is the only player with more than four years of NBA experience.

"We have a great nucleus of young players and we communicate very well," Foye said. "It's also nice bringing Mike in here, who knows a thing or two about the game."

Miller shot 43 percent from the 3-point line last season, and combine that with Foye's 41 percent and sixth man Rashad McCants' 40 percent, and the Timberwolves might have the best 3-point shooting team in the league.

"We know that Randy is a great shooter. Everyone knows that," said head coach Randy Wittman. "We need him to make a step forward defensively along with the rest of the team and play mistake free ball."

Defense will be a big stress this year, and Foye will be just as much part of that as anyone else.

"In order to win, we need to be better defensively," Foye said. "Plain and simple."


Kyle Ratke is a Reporter staff writer

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