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D'Angelo Russell's slump, Patrick Peterson's return and the greatness of Paige Bueckers Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wolves' recent slide. With four losses in five games, all of them against quality opponents, Minnesota is slumping as it heads toward the postseason. Quite simply, the Wolves need more from their core players -- particularly D'Angelo Russell, who is in the midst of a bad shooting skid.

8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show after spending last weekend at the thrilling women's basketball regional in which former Hopkins standout Paige Bueckers shot UConn into the Final Four in Minneapolis that begins Friday. What makes Bueckers so great? Scoggins has several answers to that.

23:00: The U.S. qualified for the World Cup ... Patrick Peterson is back again with the Vikings ... and an oddly timed extension for the Wild's Alex Goligoski.

Lindsey Vonn on retirement, fame and confronting the past; Vikings show more signs of running it back Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Another day, another few pieces of evidence that the Vikings are intent on trying to compete in 2022 -- and doing it largely with the same cast of characters from recent years. Head coach Kevin O'Connell offered ideas Tuesday for how to get more out of Kirk Cousins and Garrett Bradbury, two of the Vikings' most-discussed players. Owner Mark Wilf, meanwhile, reasserted his belief that the Vikings can compete for a division title and more.

7:00: Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion skier Lindsey Vonn joins the show ahead of Wednesday's induction into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame. Vonn discusses retirement, how it's hard for her to slow down, the publication of her recent memoir and the one thing she always wants to do when she comes back to Minnesota.

23:00: The Wild won again, and we're getting to the point of the season where playoff opponents matter. Should Minnesota be worried about a potential series with Nashville? Plus P.J. Fleck blames himself for how 2021 turned out, even though the Gophers went 9-4.

Evaluating Chris Archer; Paige Bueckers is coming home; La Velle E. Neal III on Twins, Vikings and more Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand sees the upside in the Twins' move to sign Chris Archer, but it still feels underwhelming if this is the final rotation move. There are a lot of question marks for Archer, 33, who is coming off of Tommy John surgery. Will he be more like Carl Pavano, who revived his career in Minnesota a decade ago? Or is this more like the Mike Pelfrey move?

7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins the show to talk about the offseason moves for the Vikings and Twins as well as to answer a big question from Rand: How many combined playoff games will the Wild and Wolves win this year?

27:00: Paige Bueckers is coming home after UConn survived a double-overtime thriller to defeat North Carolina State and reach the Final Four. Plus the Vikings signed Jesse Davis to help bolster their offensive line, but how much he will help is a valid question.

Patrick Reusse on the Frozen Four Gophers, Twins pitching and more Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. At the jump, they rave about the Gophers men's hockey team, which shut out Western Michigan 3-0 on Sunday to advance to the Frozen Four. Reusse likes the way the Gophers are playing -- and he thinks they are going to win it all in two weeks.

They also bond over a shared distaste for Duke, even while acknowledging that a Duke/North Carolina meeting in the men's basketball Final Four should be fantastic.

Plus thoughts on the NCAA women's basketball tournament, the Wild's sudden winning streak and what we think of the Wolves heading down the stretch.

Wild, Gophers hockey talk; Another ex-Packer to join Vikings?; Updated Minnesota championship rankings Mar 25, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand talks through a couple of notable Wild streaks: the team has won four games in a row while goalie Cam Talbot has won seven starts in a row. Minnesota has tightened up its game, in part as a response to its recent skid and in part because that's what is dictated this time of year.

6:00: Does the Wild have as good a chance as any Minnesota team to win a championship in the next five years? Rand takes a spin through his rankings of all the local teams.

11:00: Star Tribune college hockey writer Randy Johnson joins the show to set up the Gophers men's hockey team's NCAA regional game Friday vs. UMass. The Gophers have been on a roll, but playing the defending national champs in front of what should be a pro-UMass crowd will be a tough task.

22:00: Contract terms for new Vikings pass rusher Za'Darius Smith were released, making it clear this is more like a one-year deal than a three-year deal. His cap hit is just over $3 million this season, giving the Vikings plenty of flexibility going forward. Some of that might be used on Chandon Sullivan, a slot corner and -- like Smith -- a former Packers defensive starter.

26:00: The NCAA men's basketball tournament is suddenly wide open after co-favorites Gonzaga and Arizona lost on Thursday.

Vikings in danger of mediocrity; Hear from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Carlos Correa; Marcus Fuller on college hoops Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of two big news conferences Wednesday from Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and new Twins shortstop Carlos Correa. Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the Vikings are in a "competitive rebuild" whereby they are trying to play for the present and future. It's a fine line to walk, and it often results in mediocrity. Correa, meanwhile, gave some details of how his stunning deal with the Twins came together so fast.

11:00: College basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to break down the men's and women's Sweet 16s and to give perspective on the first year of the Ben Johnson era with the Gophers.

27:00: An immature performance by the Wolves doomed them against Phoenix, but it could be a good lesson in the near future.

Breaking down the Wild's deadline moves with Sarah McLellan; Za'Darius Smith is first bold Vikings move Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand examines the Vikings' splash signing of Za'Darius Smith, giving them bookend pass rushers who -- if healthy -- could make their defense very formidable. More than that, this is the first real departure move of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell era. If you were waiting for them to make their mark on the roster, this was the first domino.

6:00: Star Tribune beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to break down the all of the trade deadline moves made by the Wild, with the signature move being the acquisition of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Will these reinforcements be enough for the Wild to make a deep playoff run?

28:00: Ash Barty, tennis champion, is walking away at the top of her game and teaching us a lesson.

No excuses for Wild after blockbuster deal for Fleury; Welcome to the land of 10,000 trades Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand tries to make sense of the flurry of moves among Minnesota teams lately -- no pun untended, since the biggest deal before Monday's NHL trade deadline involved the Wild dealing for goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. With all their additions, the Wild should be primed for the stretch run and the playoffs. There are no excuses for a lack of confidence, even if the results are subject to the whims of hockey.

7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Megan Ryan joins the show to talk about all the moves the Twins have made since the lockout ended, including the signing of Carlos Correa over the weekend. While the Twins were expected to be active in building their roster, the magnitude of the moves has been unexpected. Ryan breaks it all down.

25:00: The Vikings, meanwhile, are pursuing former Packers edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, and the Wolves lost a close one in Dallas that underscored the intensity of the upcoming playoffs.

Patrick Reusse on the Carlos Correa signing, basketball upsets and the hot local teams Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started with by far the biggest surprise of all: the Twins signed Carlos Correa to a lucrative free agent contract. Even if it only ends up being for one season, Correa is the type of impact player, at an impact price, that changes perceptions about the team. Plus plenty of talk about the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments and the red-hot local teams.

Will the cap-strapped Vikings be able to make a big move? Plus the Wild and Wolves near a rare feat Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wild and Wolves both being strong contenders to make the playoffs -- a rarity in their combined history. Those teams have only made the playoffs in the same year twice: the 2002-03 season and the 2017-18 season. Both still have work to do, but let's enjoy the far-too-infrequent dual competence.

5:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins the show to discuss the relatively quiet start to free agency for Minnesota. The reason is not complicated: They don't have any cap space. What they did clear with the one-year Kirk Cousins extension went quickly. But another decision looms by Sunday on Danielle Hunter. Plus Goessling says the Cousins deal, which includes a no-trade clause, doesn't necessarily mean a Cousins trade is out of the picture.

26:00: Davante Adams is headed out of Green Bay; the Gophers women's basketball team headed out of Green Bay with a win.

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