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Patrick Reusse on Kirk Cousins, Caitlin Clark, Lou Nanne and so much more Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at Minnesota sports at a time when so much is happening.

Reusse recalls seeing Caitlin Clark more than two years ago, when she was already great but before all the attention, and marvels at where things are now after this weekend's Big Ten Tournament at Target Center.

Reusse also talks about his recent column on Lou Nanne, who said this weekend's boys high school hockey tournament will be his last as a broadcaster.

Plus Reusse and Rand get into the biggest story. The Vikings seem to be the only team not playing in Minnesota right now, but Kirk Cousins' impending free agency will dominate the day.

Out-of-this-world Ant performance; Caitlin Clark show returns; Wild trade; Hockey heartbreak Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand marvels at the Thursday performance of Anthony Edwards, who dominated offensively down the stretch against Indiana and made an incredible game-preserving block in a 113-111 Timberwolves victory. On the same day the Wolves learned Karl-Anthony Towns would be out at least four weeks, it was a huge performance. It was also a reminder of how important it is to have stars -- something we will learn again Friday as Caitlin Clark takes over Target Center.

10:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about what's at stake the rest of this season -- and next year -- for Ben Johnson's team.

27:00: A Wild win, a trade and an unbelievable high school hockey streak continues.

With Karl-Anthony Towns out indefinitely, can Timberwolves fix an already struggling offense? Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand lauds the Gophers women's basketball team for regrouping and winning its opening round game of the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center. Even though it was just a game featuring the No. 11 and No. 14 seeds, it felt important for a few reasons. The Gophers men, on the other hand, had a bad night when they could least afford it.

8:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a long look at the team's late-game offensive woes. The challenge will be even more daunting now that reports have emerged that Karl-Anthony Towns is out indefinitely with a torn meniscus.

35:00: All the things the Vikings need plus a tribute to Lou Nanne.

What will Wild do at trade deadline? + Vikings QB decision could put pressure on Kevin O'Connell Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: We are days away from knowing which direction the Vikings are headed at quarterback. Conventional wisdom has shifted in recent days to him leaving -- likely to Atlanta -- but host Michael Rand takes a different approach during this unknown time. He talks about how the decision to keep or let go of Cousins will impact Vikings decisionmakers, potentially shifting more of the burden to Kevin O'Connell if Cousins is gone. Plus two big games for Gophers basketball teams on Wednesday.

9:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to look ahead to Friday's NHL trade deadline. With the Wild hanging onto the fringes of the playoff race but probably starting to look toward the future, which players are candidates to move before the week is over?

30:00: A shootout thriller for Minnesota's PWHL team and the greatest time of the year for boys' hockey.

Falcons beat writer joins the show, says Kirk Cousins is Atlanta's top quarterback target Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dissects the Timberwolves' 4-3 home stand, which included a ton of back-to-back games plus wins over the teams they were supposed to beat and losses to all the true contenders. It leaves Minnesota 43-19 with 20 games left -- and still in search of a little more consistency before the playoffs arrive.

8:00: D. Orlando Ledbetter, longtime Falcons beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution joins Rand for a breakdown of Atlanta's quarterback pursuit. With Kirk Cousins approaching free agency next week, Ledbetter says the current Vikings QB will be Atlanta's No. 1 target if he becomes available. Will the Falcons offer more stability than Minnesota?

25:00: Rand connects the dots between the Falcons, Vikings and Broncos QB situations. Could Russell Wilson wind up in Minnesota?

31:00: The end of the road for Josh Donaldson.

Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves' sputtering offense, the Twins and his sudden soccer expertise Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports and a look ahead to a busy week.

It must be March because Reusse and Rand got into a bunch of topics, including: The Timberwolves' sputtering offense, particularly in late-game situations ... another bad blowout loss for the Gophers women's basketball team ... and Reusse's impressions of the Twins down in Florida.

But that wasn't it. They also had a little hockey talk and took a deeper dive into Reusse's burgeoning soccer expertise after attending Saturday's Minnesota United home opener.

Come for the sports talk. Stick around for Reusse ripping ... kids doing a spelling bee?

The one QB we should pay attention to in the draft; Wild season on the brink; a huge hockey upset Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes hockey-heavy in the opening segment. The Wild's 6-1 loss at Nashville, which dropped Minnesota eight points behind both the Predators and Kings in the chase for the two Wild Card spots, was very damaging. With just a week until the trade deadline, the Wild's playoff odds are not promising. Plus a college hockey snub and a huge high school hockey upset.

9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand from Indianapolis, where its been a newsy week for the Vikings at the Scouting Combine. Krammer has good insights into the market for Kirk Cousins and what a potential deal to return to Minnesota might look like. And he tells us which quarterback we should pay particular attention to when it comes to the Vikings and the first round of the draft.

35:00: The Vikings say good-bye to Alexander Mattison; Caitlin Clark announces she is saying good-bye to college basketball.

The dominance of Caitlin Clark, the disappointment of the Gophers and a whole lot hockey Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spends the opening part of the show on the Caitlin Clark phenomenon. The Iowa star had 33 points against Gophers at Williams Arena on Wednesday, breaking the Division I women's basketball scoring record. It was a remarkable performance that underscored Clark's brilliance but also the downward spiral of the Gophers, who lost the game 108-60. Plus thoughts on the men's team's loss at Illinois and the Wolves' win over Memphis in a basketball-heavy first segment.

13:00: A quick switch to hockey as Rand welcomes in Randy Johnson to talk about a big weekend for the Gophers men and women, plus a big game Thursday for the Wild.

27:00: Brian Flores in Year 2 for the Vikings is a big deal.

What has changed with Vikings' feelings on Kirk Cousins? + Phil Miller on Byron Buxton's return Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand retraces the last couple years of Kirk Cousins with the Vikings, all the way to comments from head coach Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at Tuesday's NFL Scouting Combine. The Vikings are saying they want Cousins back, which probably means a multi-year deal with guaranteed money. But if that was true, they also could have signed him a year ago. What changed between then and now? Also, the Vikings just hired a coach who once broke their heart.

10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand from Florida right after watching Byron Buxton play center field for the first time in 554 days. Buxton's health is always dicey, but he's as happy and healthy as he's been in a long time, Miller reports. Plus other nuggets from Fort Myers.

28:00: The Wolves keep winning and the Wild take a step back.

Three things about Monday's Twins trade; Chip Scoggins on the Vikings and Caitlin Clark Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at Monday's Twins trade from three perspectives. They targeted a player they wanted, Manual Margot, and got him; they got insurance against a Byron Buxton setback right as he is ready to play center field again; and they depleted their 2021 draft class. Plus a quick thought on Minnesota United.

8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand on a number of subjects. Scoggins will be at Williams Arena on Wednesday to witness the spectacle of Caitlin Clark when Iowa faces the Gophers. What makes her so special? Plus thoughts on the Wolves and later the Vikings.

34:00: Are the Vikings becoming the old Wild?

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