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Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves' excellence, who to blame for Twins plus Vikings ... optimism? Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which started (of course) with the Timberwolves' dominant Game 1 victory over the Suns in Saturday's playoff opener. Great coaching and big-time performances told the story. Can the Wolves do it again in Game 2 on Tuesday?

Reusse and Rand also got into the Twins, who stand at a dismal 7-13 after 20 games. Who do we blame the most for the poor showing so far: Ownership, the front office, the manager or the players?

And Reusse has some optimism about the Vikings.

Chris Hine on Naz Reid and the Timberwolves vs. Suns; What is Justin Jefferson's trade value? Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the end for the Wild. A disappointing season came to a fitting end Thursday with a 4-3 loss to Seattle. The Wild were neither good enough to make the playoffs nor bad enough to truly rebuild. Now the question is whether what figures to be a similar roster next year can get out of that murky middle. Also, the Gophers women's basketball team landed a key transfer.

8:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a look ahead to the start of the playoffs Saturday against Phoenix. Minnesota went 0-3 against the Suns in the regular season. Can that change in the playoffs? Plus Hine goes into detail on his excellent Naz Reid profile.

37:00: A Justin Jefferson trade idea.

Sarah McLellan on the Wild; Uncomfortable Caitlin Clark moment; Twins at a breaking point? Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who lost again in Baltimore to fall to 6-11. They are missing three of their most important players, and it is showing. Can they take advantage of a more forgiving schedule in the next 13 games -- including seven against the woeful White Sox -- to get their season turned around?

Star Tribune Wild writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand. The Wild's season ends Thursday, and most would label it a disappointment. After missing the playoffs this season, what can the Wild do to turn things around next year?

An uncomfortable moment at Caitlin Clark's introductory news conference.

Patriots insider breaks down likelihood of Vikings-New England trade; Twins bad in all phases Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand at least isn't the only one who has noticed the Twins just aren't very good right now. Manager Rocco Baldelli offered a frank assessment of the team's myriad woes after Tuesday's 11-3 loss at Baltimore dropped them to 6-10 on the season. It's not time to panic yet, but it certainly is time to be concerned.

9:00: Rand welcomes in Tom Curran from NBC Boston to talk about the possibility of the Vikings trading up to No. 3 with New England in next week's NFL draft. Would the Patriots really do that? What would it cost the Vikings? And which QB does New England like the most if it does stay at No. 3? They get into all of that and more.

31:00: The Wolves vs. Suns schedule is set, the Warriors are done and the Lakers will get the Nuggets.

Twins sophomore slumps, Lynx draft and a new book featuring Wolves coach Chris Finch Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the two biggest stories from Monday night -- the Lynx drafting Alissa Pili of Utah No. 8 overall and the Twins losing at Baltimore 7-4. The Lynx gained a dominant offensive player who should bring an infusion of talent. The Twins, meanwhile, are getting far too little from second-year players they were counting on this season.

9:00: Rand welcomes in Ben Kaplan, co-author of the new book, "Pipeline to the Pros: How D3, Small-College Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA." They discussed the phenomenon of former D3 players reaching the NBA as head coaches and executives, including Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch.

32:00: It sure seems like the price for J.J. McCarthy is too high.

Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves' nightmare scenario, Twins, Masters and WNBA draft Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the least-desirable scenario for the Timberwolves. They were routed by Phoenix for a third time this season, a loss that locked them into a playoff series with those same Suns. Will a stellar season end with a first-round playoff exit?

Plus Reusse and Rand get into the latest big Twins injury (Carlos Correa) and a slumping offense. Even after a nice doubleheader win Saturday, the Twins gave away a game Sunday. The Masters has changed over the years, Reusse says, and the Lynx made an interesting trade just before Monday's WNBA draft.

Vikings looking for leverage; Emanuel Reynoso missing again; Jim Souhan from The Masters Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's comments two weeks before the NFL draft and finds someone who is looking to create leverage by trying to convince the league that Minnesota isn't locked in on one quarterback. How much that is true -- and how well he can convince teams -- remains to be seen.

6:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan checks in from Augusta where he is covering The Masters.

13:00: Soccer writer Jon Marthaler joins Rand for the latest on Minnesota United. The Loons are off to a good start this season but once again they are without Emanuel Reynoso under strange circumstances.

31:00: The return of KAT?

Timberwolves playoff scenarios, Frozen Four and hockey transfer portal, key Twins win Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' loss at Denver on Wednesday, which likely will keep them from getting the No. 1 seed in the West. While playoff matchups are still up in the air, the Wolves' offense was again a concern in this game. It underscored the need for Karl-Anthony Towns to return and contribute.

8:00: The Twins' win over Los Angeles felt important on Wednesday, with Carlos Correa making a sparkling defensive play and Edouard Julien belting two homers after an 0-4 start to the home stand.

12:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand to talk Frozen Four hockey, which begins Thursday at Xcel Energy Center. The Gophers aren't in it, but they've already had a busy offseason in the transfer portal.

26:00: Can the Gophers football team land a bigtime transfer?

Worst-case scenarios for Vikings; Jim Souhan from The Masters and on the Twins Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand start with a game-heavy rundown. The Wolves got 51 points from Anthony Edwards in a win over Washington on the same day they announced they will soon get Karl-Anthony Towns back from injury. And they have a massive game Wednesday in Denver that should determine the No. 1 seed in the West. The Wild, meanwhile, were officially eliminated from playoff contention while the Twins continue to look subpar at the plate.

10:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins the show from Augusta, where he is covering an intriguing Masters. How will the field shake out as PGA and LIV golfers share a course? And what will the Tiger Woods impact be? Plus Souhan offers his perspectives on the Twins.

30:00: After looking at best-case scenarios in the draft on Tuesday, Rand look at what could go wrong for the Vikings today.

Best-case scenario for Vikings draft? + What ails the Twins offense and a big transfer for U hockey Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Twins offense through eight games, finding a team that is second to last in runs per game at 2.88 and struggling to sustain rallies. There are multiple reasons for the poor start at the plate, but the net effect is a team that is now 3-5 and not looking very dangerous at the plate.

11:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a look at all the potential quarterbacks available in the draft. What will the Vikings end up doing? And what is their best-case scenario with the draft a little more than two weeks away?

34:00: UConn triumphs and the Gophers men's hockey team gets a key addition.

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