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Vikings red zone offense -- and a trade? + Pondering a Timberwolves lineup change Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes stock of the first seven games of the Timberwolves' season and sees reasons for patience as well as the potential to need a different plan. If this doesn't look more cohesive after 20 games, the recommendation is this: move D'Angelo Russell to the bench and lean into the players you are committed to long-term.

7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of the Vikings' most recent victory. They've been great in the red zone lately, and it's come in a variety of ways. Plus thoughts on the Vikings and if they should make any moves at the trade deadline.

28:00: The Wild returns home a much different team.

Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' huge division advantage and early Timberwolves clunkers Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports. The Vikings won in familiar fashion, defeating Arizona 34-26 by again making the big plays in the biggest moments. They're now 6-1, and with every other team in the NFC North sitting at 3-5 or worse they are in magnificent early position.

The Timberwolves are 4-3, a record suggestive of a decent start, but their play has been clunky at best. They lost again to the Spurs on Sunday, and Reusse has concerns about how this looks -- plus how it will look once the Wolves start playing better teams.

Thoughts, too, on the Gophers, Wild and St. Thomas.

Is Kirk Cousins different? Role change for Patrick Peterson? + The danger of small sample sizes Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of a couple of small sample sizes -- the 0-3 Wild start vs. the 3-0-1 stretch produced since then, as well as the Lakers' 0-4 start heading into Target Center on Friday night -- and notes the danger of putting too much emphasis on such things.

6:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look at the 5-1 Vikings coming out of the bye week. Will the Vikings look to be more aggressive on defense -- with Patrick Peterson leading the way? How much more relaxed does Kirk Cousins seem this year? And how much of a threat will the Cardinals pose on Sunday?

31:00: The Twins hired a new athletic trainer Thursday, a piece of their offseason puzzle.

Gophers football at a crossroads; Timberwolves less sticky; Aaron Rodgers as a leader Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Wolves' 134-122 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday and finds plenty of things to like. The ball movement was crisp, and their shooting percentage (65%) was reflective of a lot of open looks. And they limited the Spurs to six fast-break points. Still, there are things to clean up if this team wants to be great.

6:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show, and with help from Gophers defensive end Thomas Rush we try to get to the heart of this question: How can this team still have success after a 4-0 start has turned into a three-game losing streak.

27:00: Aaron Rodgers is griping about his teammates again.

Timberwolves searching for chemistry; Wild finds their game at the right time Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: After a discouraging start to the season, the Wild seem to be back on track. They have five points in their last three games, the latest coming in a 3-1 win at Montreal on Tuesday. The Wild played the ideal road game in that contest and gained confidence that they can win a tight-checking game.

6:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Michael Rand for a look at the uneven 2-2 start for the Wolves. How much of the early struggles -- chemistry, transition defense, defensive rebounding -- is easily fixable and how much is concerning in the long-term? Plus Rand gets into Karl-Anthony Towns' comments about Anthony Edwards needing to take care of his body better.

28:00: Mystery solved with Hugh McCutcheon.

Can the Wild and Wolves figure things out? + The downfall of the Packers Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand checks in on the Timberwolves after an embarrassing effort Monday in which they were booed off the Target Center court in a loss to San Antonio. The season is still early and the Wolves are 2-2, but they look lethargic and out of sorts in the early stages of the Rudy Gobert era.

7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for an examination of that team's 1-3-1 start. After allowing 20 goals in their first three games, the Wild has settled down somewhat. But defensive zone coverage and goaltending remain questions, while reshuffled forward lines suggest a work in progress. Is the secret to better defense a better offense?

20:00: The Vikings didn't play, but we can still celebrate the weekend with some Packers-based poetry.

Patrick Reusse on the Gophers' collapse, Packers' woes and more Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Gophers football team lost for the third consecutive week, a stunning turn of events after a 4-0 start that stirred national title talk.

Even though the Vikings didn't play Sunday, they still gained ground on the bumbling Packers -- another team that lost its third consecutive game. Combined with the Yankees getting bounced from the ALCS, it was an unofficial holiday for Minnesota sports fans.

Plus thoughts on the Timberwolves and Gophers hockey.

How did the Gophers land their best recruit in two decades? Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: A massive exhale from St. Paul as the Wild rallied for their first win of the season, 4-3 over Vancouver on Thursday. Still, head coach Dean Evason saw plenty of things to clean up -- with hopes that getting that first victory could be the key to unlocking better play.

6:00: Wolves vs. Jazz on Friday has plenty of intrigue.

9:00: Star Tribune men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to help explain how the Gophers and head coach Ben Johnson landed the No. 13-ranked recruit in the country, a 7-1 shot blocker from California named Dennis Evans.

28:00: The blockbuster traded Thursday of Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers is more evidence that teams see the NFC as wide open for the taking. Will the Vikings make a deadline move, too?

Let's overreact to the Timberwolves' first game; Who will start at QB for the Gophers? Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has some expanded thoughts on the first of 82 Timberwolves games, including the notion that he can see this becoming Rudy Gobert's team. Everyone in the starting lineup reached double figures in shots and points, but it will be interesting to see how the pecking order is sorted out as the year goes on.

13:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show for a look ahead to the Penn State game and some intrigue over who will be Minnesota's starting quarterback. Plus a preview of Gophers vs. North Dakota in men's hockey.

23:00: What is sustainable and what isn't for the 5-1 Vikings?

30:00: Can Jordan Greenway and an elevated Marco Rossi save the Wild?

What's the floor and ceiling for the Timberwolves? + Never been more angry about the Wild Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into Timberwolves talk with Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine. With a season of great expectations set to begin on Wednesday, they try to discern just how good this team can be. The biggest question, of course, is how Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert will mesh. Plus you'll hear from third-year Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels.

21:00: Chicken Fingers 69, a longtime friend of the show and co-host of the Sportive podcast, joins Rand for another edition of "never been more angry." They cover a lot of ground on the 0-3 Wild, much of which Chicken Fingers foreshadowed last week. The king has no pants, as they say.

31:00: Some juicy drama with NFL owners.

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