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All things Timberwolves: A play-in win, KAT's disappearance, the rally and more Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

Host Michael Rand ditches the usual format and goes all-in on the Timberwolves after Tuesday night's 109-104 victory over the Clippers in the NBA play-in game.

You'll hear plenty of thoughts from Rand as well as from beat writer Chris Hine, head coach Chris Finch and guards D'Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley.

With the victory, the Wolves secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will face Memphis in a seven-game series starting Saturday. But getting there was by no means easy.

The Wolves had to overcome their own early jitters and a dismal performance from star Karl-Anthony Towns, who fouled out after scoring just 11 points in 24 minutes. Down 93-86 with more than seven minutes left after Towns' exit, the Wolves outscored the Clippers 23-11 the rest of the way thanks in large part to Russell (29 points) and Anthony Edwards (30). Beverley was the heart and soul of the game, finishing with a game-high 11 rebounds before letting out plenty of emotion after beating his former team.

Biggest Wolves game in years; Kirk Cousins on his future; Twins have difference-makers Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand still isn't sure what to make of this year's Twins roster, but he will feel a lot better about things if Jhoan Duran keeps throwing the way he did in the opening series against Seattle. Duran pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Monday's 4-0 win, helping the Twins split the four-game series. If Duran can be a difference-maker, adding to elite talent like Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa, the Twins have a chance to be a playoff team.

6:00: Star Tribune Wolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand to preview Tuesday's play-in game against the Clippers. How much stock should we put in the Clippers' three wins over the Wolves in early November? How will the Wolves' inexperienced players fare against the playoff-tested Clippers? How much will Minnesota lean on Patrick Beverley? And how much credit should we give to coach Chris Finch, who just got a four-year extension?

28:00: The Lynx made two picks in Monday's WNBA Draft, but both players will have a hard time cracking the roster. ... And Kirk Cousins spoke for the first time since his one-year contract extension in March, saying he would like to retire as a Viking.

Patrick Reusse on Twins' problems + potential, Super Tuesday, The Masters and more Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand during a very busy time on the Minnesota sports calendar.

The Twins opened their season to mixed reviews, losing a pair of close games before exploding for six home runs in a 10-4 win over Seattle on Sunday. Reusse still likes the lineup a lot, but pitching questions will persist and were magnified by a blown lead in the ninth inning during Saturday's loss. Fans certainly seem to be in wait-and-see mode with the team (and the weather) judging by the weekend crowds.

It's Super Tuesday in Minnesota: Wolves vs. Clippers in an NBA play-in game, Wild vs. Oilers in an offensive showdown, Twins vs. Dodgers and Saints home opener, all in the Twin Cities on Tuesday night. Can the Wolves continue their strong season and defeat the Clippers?

Plus Reusse has thoughts on The Masters -- from Tiger to the tradition itself.

Frozen Four, Wild playoff push + Wolves, Tiger and Twins (oh my) Apr 08, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand from Boston, where he covered the Gophers' season-ending 5-1 loss to Minnesota State-Mankato in Thursday's Frozen Four semifinals. It was a butt-kicking for most of the game, as Gophers coach Bob Motzko said, and it showed just how good these Mavericks are heading into Saturday's title game vs. Denver. For the Gophers, it was a season of overachieving to a degree. What comes next will be interesting.

8:00: Rand takes one more look at the Twins pitching staff, a highly volatile group considering there are numerous questions in both the rotation and the bullpen as the season begins Friday. Who is going to get the final nine outs of games with Taylor Rogers gone, let alone the first 18 in a rotation with a lot of candidates but few sure things? Plus the Wolves are locked into the play-in round now -- a fate that was a goal at the start of the year but now feels more like a punishment given how well they have played.

14:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show in advance of Friday's game against St. Louis. The Wild is a combined 0-4 against Nashville and the Blues this year. With three games left against those potential playoff opponents among its final 13 games, the Wild has some work to do.

30:00: An ode to Tiger Woods.

Twins trade + Season preview with Phil Miller; An intriguing Vikings draft prospect Apr 07, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at a possible Twins-Padres trade that is reportedly nearing the finish line as of Thursday morning. The two key pieces: Twins reliever Taylor Rogers and Padres starting pitcher Chris Paddack. What's the appeal of Paddack and what would losing Rogers mean for the Twins? Rand breaks that down.

6:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for an overall preview of the Twins' season. After an offseason that can only be described as chaotic, what will happen as the dust settles? Miller talks about how much confidence the Twins seem to have after their additions -- most notably of shortstop Carlos Correa -- while conceding that pitching is still a big mystery.

24:00: LSU corner Derek Stingley, who has shown up in mock drafts as a possible Vikings target at No. 12 overall, had his pro day on Wednesday. ... The Vikings were good at taking leads but not holding them in 2021 ... Lindsay Whalen addresses the transfer portal.

Damaging losses for Wolves and Wild; Will Gophers men's hockey win the natty? Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Wolves' 132-114 loss to Washington on Tuesday and finds one word stands out: disappointing. Though getting the No. 6 seed and avoiding the play-in tournament was a long shot, a win coupled with what turned out to be a Denver loss to San Antonio on Tuesday would have given the Wolves a real chance. Instead, they are left to lament a defense that has been subpar lately and a focus that has been wandering in recent games.

6:00: The Wild has lost three lopsided games to Nashville this season, including Tuesday's fight-filled 6-2 defeat. If these teams end up facing each other in the playoffs, this specific tough matchup could become an issue.

9:00: The Gophers men's hockey team faces Minnesota State-Mankato in Thursday's Frozen Four semifinals. The pride of Minnesota is on the line in the game -- shown on ESPNU after being bumped because of MLB's schedule change -- and the Star Tribune's Randy Johnson helps break it all down.

20:00: Tiger Woods is going to play in The Masters, which makes the tournament infinitely more compelling ... a listener asks about the transfer portal, and Rand answers ... the Twins officially postponed their opener to Friday.

Will Vikings, Twins, exceed mediocrity? Jim Souhan on Tiger Woods and The Masters Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand attempts to tie together several subjects under one general theme -- that we don't know anything that is going to happen in sports, even if we can project what might happen. That is the case with the Vikings and Twins, both of whom are predicted in various circles to finish right around .500 in 2022. Do we really know how things will play out? Nope.

8:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins the show to talk about The Masters and the prospect of Tiger Woods making his comeback on Thursday. Who could have predicted what would become of Tiger's career a decade ago. And who knows what will happen if he does play this weekend.

24:00: An unpredictable NCAA men's basketball tournament ended with an unpredictable title game when Kansas rallied for a 72-69 win over North Carolina. And a listener wants to know: What's up with Kellen Mond?

Patrick Reusse on the Final Fours, Twins pitching, red-hot Wild and more Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand as they talk through a very busy time in the world of sports. Both of them were at the recently completed Women's Final Four in Minneapolis, where South Carolina's relentless defense and offensive rebounding were far too much for UConn in Sunday's title game.

If you consider retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski more of a villain than a hero, there was no more fitting end to his career than Saturday's loss to rival North Carolina in the Final Four.

Plus Reusse gets going on Twins pitching, modern baseball, the Wild and the Wolves.

Special Delivery! Breaking down the Women's Final Four and setting up championship Sunday Apr 02, 2022

Show notes

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune intern John Volk take you behind the scenes at the Women's Final Four in Minneapolis and get you ready for Sunday's title game between UConn and South Carolina.

The Wild's Nicolas Deslauriers on fighting, playoffs and more; Joe Ryan a surprise Twins opening day starter Apr 01, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has liked Joe Ryan from the moment the Twins acquired him from Tampa Bay last season in the Nelson Cruz trade. But Rand looks at Ryan's body of work -- five MLB starts, all last September against teams out of contention -- and can't help but think the Twins' decision to name Ryan the 2022 Opening Day starter is one of desperation.

6:00: New Wild forward Nicolas Deslauriers, brought in to provide grit and muscle for the playoff run, joins the show to talk about his role, fitting in after a midyear trade and the opportunity to play in the NHL postseason for the first time in his career. He certainly looked the part, sporting a black eye and a stitches on his broken nose during the interview.

20:00: Hear from Paige Bueckers as the Women's Final Four arrives Friday at Target Center; Another blow to the Gophers women's basketball program; The "ghost runners" in extra innings are unfortunately back in MLB.

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