MANKATO — The Minnesota Timberwolves won just 22 games last season, the lowest total since 1995, and the roster underwent a major makeover.

Only guards Randy Foye and Rashad McCants and forwards Craig Smith and Mark Madsen were with the NBA team when it held training camp at Minnesota State two years ago.

But owner Glen Taylor has been rejuvenated by this new group.

“For me, the two or three years before (last season) were tough,” Taylor said, leaning back in his office chair at Taylor Corp. headquarters. “I thought we had better teams, and they didn’t produce.

“Last year, we made a decision to play all those young kids and see what we had. I expected (to struggle), but the players worked hard. We probably could have won more games, but we were looking for young guys to improve, and I think we saw that.”

The Wolves open a weeklong training camp at Bresnan Arena on Tuesday, with two practices each day through Friday and a Friday night practice at Bethany Lutheran. On Saturday night, the team will hold a scrimmage. In 2006, Taylor played a significant role in bringing his team to Minnesota State, in the same town as his corporate headquarters, just a short drive up the hill from his home.

This time, he said others within the organization worked with Minnesota State, happy with the facilities and the hospitality shown two years ago. It’s more convenient for Taylor, who can watch the coaching staff implement schemes and systems and see if it works out over the course of the season.

“That’s what I like about business,” Taylor said. “You see the plan. Do we execute the plan? It never goes like it’s supposed to, but I want to see if we move forward.”

Before last season, the Wolves traded franchise icon Kevin Garnett for several players, the centerpiece of which was forward Al Jefferson, who averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds. On draft day, the team traded the rights to rookie O.J. Mayo and other veterans to Memphis for a package of players that included veteran guard Mike Miller and draft choice Kevin Love.

In two years, Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marko Jaric and Mike James are gone, replaced with younger players who are putting team ahead of personal goals, reminding Taylor of the days when Fred Hoiberg, Terry Porter and Sam Mitchell wore the Timberwolves jersey.

“This is exciting,” Taylor said. “When we had (Kevin Garnett), it was so disappointing because we were so close. We had Latrell (Sprewell) and (Sam) Cassell, who really could have helped us, but both of them felt their contract was more important than helping the team win.

“Now we’ve brought in new guys, guys with the characteristics you need on a winning team. They put team first, character is really being emphasized, like it used to be.”

Taylor is eager to see how well Miller shoots the ball from long-range, how quickly Love develops chemistry inside with Jefferson, how Sebastian Telfair and Randy Foye have improved at the point and if McCants finally realizes his potential.

There will be higher expectations, from Kevin McHale to coach Randy Wittman and his staff to the players. Taylor said the pressure to win last season was minimal, but he expects to be more competitive this season.

“We have to take another step,” he said. “It’s not automatic that the young guys are going to play. The coach will decide who plays, and if guys aren’t performing, they won’t get the minutes.”

Taylor said the Wolves players will be seen more in the community this week, part of the organization’s master plan of being more active away from the court. Players and staff will deliver books to a school, make a hospital visit, host a basketball clinic for kids at Mankato East, package food at a volunteer center and do an autograph singing at the mall.

“You’ll see this all year, and we’re starting it here,” Taylor said. “With the economy the way it is, you better be working harder (in the community), and I just think our players should be doing that anyway. It’s easy to do with his group, and they’re willing to help out.”

Taylor said the team and staff will be at his house tonight for dinner, then he’s excited for the week to begin, watching from the seats at Bresnan Arena as this season’s team takes shape.

“I’m going to be asking a million questions,” he said. “I want to understand what we’re doing so I can see (during the regular season) if it’s working.”