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Patrick Reusse on Twins payroll, Gophers missed opportunity and Caitlin Clark Feb 26, 2024

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Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Reusse is down in Florida for Twins spring training and remains concerned about the team's pitching staff. He and Rand went deep on Joe Pohlad's comments last week about payroll and wondered whether Louie Varland will make the Opening Day roster.

The Gophers men's basketball team had been hot from three-point range lately, but they cooled off in a 73-55 loss at Nebraska on Sunday. At 8-8 in the Big Ten, the Gophers still have a lot of work to do to be in NCAA tourney contention.

The Gophers women's basketball team, meanwhile, will be the latest to try to slow down Iowa star Caitlin Clark. She'll be at a sold out Williams Arena on Wednesday -- and then back again early next month for the Big Ten Tournament.

Special Delivery: Max Exsted, a 16-year-old Minnesotan, is one of the world's best junior tennis players Feb 24, 2024

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Jeff Day of the Star Tribune joins host Michael Rand to discuss his story on Max Exsted, a 16-year-old from Savage who is one of the best junior tennis players in the world.

What does it take to be one of the best junior tennis players in the world? Exsted, a teenager from Savage, is traveling the world to find out. You'll learn all about him and his journey on this special weekend episode.

Gophers' basketball continues late-season surge; Chris Hine on Timberwolves' pursuit of No. 1 seed Feb 23, 2024

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Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the latest Gophers men's basketball win, a big one Thursday against Ohio State. Ben Johnson is in the conversation for conference coach of the year, and he is preaching process over results. Enough good results, though, could get Minnesota into the NCAA tournament.

8:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand to talk about Minnesota's pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference as the post-break schedule resumes Friday against Milwaukee. Plus they break down the extension for point guard Mike Conley Jr. and look ahead to a complicated summer.

27:00: Rand is wondering about the Twins' pitching staff. Baseball players are wondering about pants.

Marcus Fuller on NCAA tournament hopes for Gophers; Why are Twins limiting themselves? Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand took note of Twins executive Joe Pohlad giving an honest interview on WCCO radio earlier this week, when he said the Twins are not in the market for any of the remaining big-ticket MLB free agents. Rand appreciates the candor but doesn't like the message. This team has a lot of momentum from last year. Why close off opportunities to get better? Plus Rand weighs in on La Velle E. Neal's strong column on Gophers baseball and softball at U.S. Bank Stadium.

10:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to give good perspective on Minnesota's improvement and what it means to be a contender to reach the NCAA tournament. Plus a look at some recent lineup changes and some of the best high school dunkers in Minnesota.

32:00: Another way to look at the Vikings and Kirk Cousins.

La Velle E. Neal III on Vikings priorities, possible Twins moves and Minnesota United's coaching search Feb 21, 2024

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Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the approved 12-team College Football Playoff format and comes to the conclusion that the landscape of the sport going forward will both help and hurt the Gophers. They will have a harder time competing for a Big Ten title in a loaded conference, but during their truly special seasons they should be able to compete for a playoff spot.

8:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand on a number of subjects, including Minnesota United's head coach search, big-name free agents still available in MLB and how the Vikings can't ignore their defense in free agency.

32:00: Disappointing losses for the Wild and Gophers women's basketball teams.

Byron Buxton's optimism; 10 goals for the Wild; Mike Conley extension; Loons target young coach Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: On a jam-packed episode of the podcast, host Michael Rand starts out with the Wild's 10-goal outburst against Vancouver -- the best team in the NHL -- on Monday, which included six goals over a six-minute span from late in the second period to the early part of the third. Minnesota set all sorts of records in the victory, which helped the Wild creep closer to a playoff spot.

6:00: Mike Conley Jr. and the Wolves agreed on a two-year extension, which will solidify the team's future at point guard while muddying the offseason salary picture.

10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale joins Rand from Florida to break down the big early spring training stories. The biggest so far seems to be Byron Buxton's health and optimism, both of which are welcome signs for the Twins.

31:00: Minnesota United is closing in on its next head coach, and he's seven years younger than any other head coach in Major League Soccer.

Patrick Reusse at his best: Telling stories from 50 years of the Twins at spring training Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand on Monday's show, which features Reusse remembering some of the best moments -- and biggest changes -- from the first Twins spring training he covered in 1974 until now. The characters make the game, and Reusse has seen a lot of them in the last half-century down in Florida.

26:00: Speeding back to the present, Reusse and Rand get into the Gophers men's basketball team's strong win over Rutgers on Sunday. Aside from a three-minute blip, it was as good as Minnesota can play, Reusse said.

35:00: On the not so bright side, the NBA All-Star Game continues to be a farce. Unless you like final scores of 211-186.

Jessie Diggins and a Minneapolis World Cup of a lifetime; A worrisome Gophers football number Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at over-under totals set for Big Ten football teams in 2024 and can't help but be alarmed by where the Gophers are. Long story short: Odds suggest they have the best chance to be the worst team in the league. The Gophers basketball team, meanwhile, missed a chance at an upset in Purdue.

10:00: Star Tribune writer Rachel Blount joins the show for a look at the World Cup cross-country ski event at Wirth Park this weekend. A huge crowd is expected for an event many years in the making -- one that wouldn't be possible without the work of Minnesota's Jessie Diggins.

26:00: The Wolves cruised into the All-Star break with another lopsided win, but things will heat up after the break. ... Caitlin Clark continues to amaze. ... Rob Manfred is speaking Rand's language when it comes to streaming games.

Which coach's seat could get hotter in 2024: Kevin O'Connell or P.J. Fleck? Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand sees the Wild's four-game post-break winning streak and wonders if they can get this sort of goaltending on a more consistent basis. Their goalie play has been a weak link so far this season, but if it's better down the stretch the playoffs could be in sight. Plus a look at a big day coming for the Wolves on ESPN next week.

9:00: Rand welcomes Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins for some interesting talk about the Vikings and Gophers football teams. It's a big offseason for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. It could be a big 2024 for head coach Kevin O'Connell. And they get into the P.J. Fleck-to-UCLA rumors and whether O'Connell or Fleck could feel the heat in 2024 if they don't have good seasons.

35:00: Mike Zimmer is introduced in Dallas and sounds happy.

Perspective on the P.J. Fleck speculation, Timberwolves appreciation and a Gophers hockey surge Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has details on the latest Timberwolves victory, which included a three-point barrage from Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the fourth quarter to put away the Blazers. Minnesota is surging into the All-Star break and looks to have the depth of a true contender.

9:00: Star Tribune Gophers football and men's hockey beat writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a breakdown of his busy weekend. As the hockey team was earning back-to-back shutouts, Johnson was also chasing down rumblings that P.J. Fleck was a candidate to coach at UCLA. That didn't come to fruition, but Johnson has good details on the process and why Fleck is still at Minnesota.

26:00: An interesting men's Frozen Four stat, a struggling Gophers team and a stray thought about Kevin O'Connell.

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