MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- On just about any other night, the return of former Gopher star Quincy Lewis to Minnesota would be the story of the night.
But the Lewis tale, and the Jazz's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, took a backseat Friday night to the really big sports story in the state of Minnesota: The University of Minnesota's release of a report on its self-examination into improprieties within its athletic program, chiefly the men's basketball program.University president Mark Yudof reported the confirmation of systematic, widespread academic misconduct, plus a cover-up allegedly spearheaded by former basketball coach Clem Haskins. As a result, Yudof, who earlier announced self-imposed sanctions on the basketball program, accepted the resignation of two university officials on Friday, including athletic director Mark Dienhart.
Yudof also lashed out over supposedly being lied to by Haskins, whom Lewis believes is being made "a scapegoat" in the whole matter.
"It sounded to me like an ego-driven, big political issue," said Lewis, a first-round 1999 Jazz draft choice who was not among those athletes implicated in the academic fraud and pay-to-players scandal.
Lewis, in fact, was lauded by Dienhart as an example of what's right about the Minnesota athletic department during a news conference that was televised live in the Minneapolis area. Lewis appreciated hearing that, but not what Yudof had to say.
"Yudof had a bunch of chances to take a stand and defend some people, and he never did do it," Lewis said. "He's one of those guys that when everything's good, it's 'Hey, you the man.' And when all of a sudden things are bad, it's 'I don't know this guy.' "
Lewis, meanwhile, is no longer "the man," like he was at Minnesota. Now he is an NBA rookie who is struggling for playing minutes, like the two he got against the Timberwolves. But he is not letting it get to him.
"I'm pretty realistic. I understand you have to put in your time," said Lewis, who was cheered loudly by the crowd at the Target Center, and wound up missing the only shot he took. "I was low man on the totem pole when I came to Minnesota, so I can deal with it now."
MAILMAN ENDORSEMENT: Karl Malone's named has been invoked by NBA Hall-of-Famer Elvin Hayes, who recently told USA Today that the Jazz power forward is the current NBAer who reminds him most of himself: "He can't jump like I did," Hayes said, "but he runs the floor and plays hard every night. I love to watch him play."
NO CONTEST: Hayes also told USA Today that there is no contest when it comes to comparing Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett, who had a game-high 29 points against the Jazz, to Tim Duncan of the NBA-champion San Antonio Spurs.
"Tim Duncan is the best player in basketball right now," Hayes said. "Kevin Garnett can't even carry his shoes. Tim is just a complete basketball player. Kevin hasn't learned how to control himself yet. He jumps just to be jumping. I'd compare him to Darryl Dawkins. He stands around and admires himself a lot."
Ouch.
MISC.: Jazz backup guard Howard Eisley had four assists, putting him over 1,000 for his career. . . . The Wolves have three candidates -- Garnett, Terrell Brandon and Joe Smith -- listed on NBA all-star ballots, which were released by the league earlier this week.