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Gophers coaching search update; Bad Wolves habits; A sneaky great Vikings move Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two big games Monday, which saw the Wild and Wolves change course. The Wild had been struggling to hang on through key injuries, but they managed an important (if boring) 3-1 win over the Kings. The Wolves let a banged-up Indiana team snap their eight-game winning streak, a game that brought the return of some bad habits.

9:00: Marcus Fuller joins Rand for a look at the Gophers men's basketball coaching search. Niko Medved has emerged as the front-runner, but the Colorado State coach will lead his team in the NCAA tournament later this week. What is the timeline and what should we be watching for in the search?

33:00: The Vikings have done a lot of really good things in the last week, including a trade for running back Jordan Mason.

Patrick Reusse on where the Gophers' coaching search stands + Royce Lewis' injury Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which begins with a look at where the Gophers men's basketball coaching search is at the moment. It sounds like former U assistant and current Colorado State coach Niko Medved is the front-runner, but timing will make things interesting this week.

Plus Reusse and Rand get into the Timberwolves' eight-game winning streak and another ill-timed injury for the Twins' Royce Lewis.

And the Wild are in free-fall while the Loons somehow coughed up a three-goal lead this weekend.

Ben Goessling on Vikings moves, Aaron Rodgers; Richard Pitino is thriving Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a second-day thought on the Gophers men's basketball coaching situation. AD Mark Coyle fired Ben Johnson after four seasons, and there's a long list of potential replacements. One guy who would probably be on the list and really is an ideal coach for this era: Richard Pitino, the guy Coyle fired four years ago, who is thriving at New Mexico and could be in line for the Virginia job.

8:00: Star Tribune writer Ben Goessling joins Rand to break down the latest on the Vikings' free agency moves, which mostly have been about upgrading their offensive and defensive lines. But one question that hasn't gone away yet: What about Aaron Rodgers?

34:00: The Wild are really struggling to score.

Part two: Chip Scoggins on the firing of Ben Johnson and what comes next Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

In Part two of Thursday's Daily Delivery podcast, Chip Scoggins and Michael Rand break down the news that Ben Johnson has been fired as Gophers men's basketball coach.

What were the underlying causes? What didn't work with Johnson? Who will AD Mark Coyle try to target in his next hire? And how will a new coach benefit from increased money being pumped into the program?

Part one: BEN JOHNSON FIRED; La Velle on Twins sale; Wolves roll; Aaron Rodgers? Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

It's a newsy day on Daily Delivery! On Part One, host Michael Rand starts with the overnight news that Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson has been fired.

8:00: The Wolves rolled the Nuggets by 20 for their sixth consecutive victory.

12:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins from Florida for an update on the Twins, including the sale of the team.

34:00: Aaron Rodgers just won't go away.

Vikings mean business; Chris Hine on Wolves; Wayzata over Hopkins again Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings, who are going for it in free agency. Themes that have emerged: J.J. McCarthy is going to be the guy at QB this year; interior line play on both sides of the ball has been bolstered; and the Vikings clearly see themselves as contenders in 2025.

12:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand to break down red-hot Minnesota, which has won five straight games heading into Wednesday's showdown against Denver.

28:00: Wayzata did it again, this time winning at Hopkins to take another boys basketball section final.

Marcus Fuller on the Gophers, Ben Johnson's future; Huge Vikings additions and subtractions Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings, who have been very busy in free agency in the first 24 hours of negotiations. Letting Sam Darnold go (to Seattle) opened up a bunch of cap space, which the Vikings are using to beef up the interior of their offensive and defensive lines. It's a new era of Vikings football.

10:00: Star Tribune Gophers basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to break down the state of the men's team heading into the Big Ten Tournament. The 12th-seeded Gophers will play 13th-seeded Northwestern on Wednesday. Whenever the season ends, which could be very soon, a decision on Ben Johnson's future is sure to follow.

30:00: Listeners weigh in on the future of the Gophers men's basketball team.

Patrick Reusse on the Wolves, Sam Darnold ... and his weekend Twitter adventure Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Plenty of things happened on Sunday, but they had to start with the biggest one: Reusse joined the social media platform Bluesky after dumping Twitter/X after a dustup over a Beastie Boys song.

They eventually got to sports, which included another strong Wolves victory (their fifth in a row), a Wild loss, a Gophers men's basketball loss and a surprising Gophers men's hockey defeat.

Plus some thoughts on NFL free agency, with teams free to negotiate with players officially starting today even if they clearly have been negotiating for a while now. Where will QB Sam Darnold wind up?

A Wild trade, a vote for Ben Johnson and a Twins disagreement with La Velle E. Neal III Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild's second trade in the last week, this one for 6-6 Bruins forward Justin Brazeau. The move didn't clear salary cap space, so maybe more is to come for the Wild before Friday's trade deadline. Rand also looks at the boys' hockey state tournament and a big matchup Friday between Edina and Moorhead.

7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. With Neal in Florida for Twins spring training, this one was all about baseball. Three big Twins questions that sparked disagreement: Relying on the healthy of their three big players; the depth of the starting rotation; and just how good the bullpen really is.

26:00: A good result Thursday for the Twins and a listener in support of Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson.

Players to watch as the Vikings enter free agency; Two Gophers losses and more Jaden McDaniels Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with three basketball games from Wednesday. The Gophers women lost in the Big Ten Tournament opener against Washington, leaving their NCAA tournament hopes in jeopardy. The Gophers men lost at home to Wisconsin, but a bigger question about their future emerged. And Jaden McDaniels had 29 points in a Wolves win, continuing a stretch of excellence.

11:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand to break down everything he learned during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Where do things stand with Sam Darnold? And who will the Vikings be targeting in the draft and free agency?

33:00: Defensive players to watch in free agency.

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