StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand checks in on the Twins after a 5-4, 10 inning loss in Boston on Tuesday. The news has been mostly positive for the 10-7 Twins, but they have been carried predominantly by pitching. Rand fears that the offensive woes -- No. 25 in slugging, No. 26 in batting average in the majors -- might eclipse the excellence of the pitching soon. Plus a look ahead to Game 2 of Wolves at Nuggets. 9:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand in advance of Game 2 at Dallas on Wednesday. After a 3-2, double overtime thriller gave the Wild a 1-0 series lead, what can we expect as they try to take control of the series? And how did playoff newcomers like Brock Faber stay so composed in Game 1? 30:00: The 49ers QB situation is worth watching.

In Part II of Tuesday's podcast, host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine for a look back at Sunday's disappointing 109-80 loss to the Nuggets and a look ahead to Game 2 of the playoff series on Wednesday. The Wolves clearly need to make some offensive adjustments and figure out their identity if they are going to be competitive, but how possible is that given their physical and structural limitations? And if this is a short series, what might that foreshadow for the offseason?

Introduction: With so much going on in Minnesota sports, host Michael Rand decided to split Tuesday's content into two episodes. But he still started with the biggest story, of course: The Wild's 3-2 double overtime win late, late late against Dallas on Monday (technically Tuesday). A team that rebuilt its style to perform better in the postseason was rewarded in a big way in Game 1. 13:00: There are some key faces missing from Vikings workouts this week, including Danielle Hunter and Dalvin Cook. What does that mean for the days leading up to the draft? 17:00: The Twins made a huge investment in Pablo Lopez, and a Minnesota woman finished fifth in the Boston Marathon.

Host Michael Rand was joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look at a busy stretch in Minnesota sports. The Wolves were clobbered 109-80 in their playoff opener late Sunday, and Reusse saw it coming. He turned it off midway through the second quarter, sparing himself some of the worst of it and adding a little extra sleep. Minnesota looked tired and lifeless. Can they be more competitive in Game 2 on Wednesday? They'll be joined Monday by the Wild, who open their series at Dallas. Reusse confesses that he has a hard time generating big opinions about hockey. Plus thoughts on the Twins and the American League after a split with the Yankees.

Host Michael Rand went late, late, late with a special edition of the podcast after a 120-95 victory by Timberwolves over Oklahoma City in Friday's win-or-go-home play-in game at Target Center. What it means: The Wolves are in the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003 and 2004; they will open their series Sunday in Denver while the Wild opens Monday in Dallas, but Games 2-5 of both series will be on the same nights. Next weekend, with two home playoff games for each team and a home series for the Twins, will be quite the spectacle. How they did it: Three big decisions by Chris Finch, excellence from surprise starter Nickeil Alexander-Walker, savvy from veteran Mike Conley and controlled excellence from both Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that pretty much everything has been settled regarding the NBA and NHL playoffs -- unless you live in Minnesota. The Wild and Wolves still don't know their playoff fate heading into Friday night. Will the Wolves get in? And who will the Wild play? The answer could lead to Colorado in both cases. Plus the Twins scored nine runs in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. 11:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer and editor Bob Timmons joins Rand for an exploration of his piece on Minnesotans returning to run the Boston Marathon on Monday -- a race that comes 10 years after the tragic bombing. 27:00: Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell offered some interesting perspectives on quarterback evaluation.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand headed to Target Field for the first time this season on Wednesday to take in some baseball and to more accurately feel the impact of the pace of play rules implemented this season. What he found wasn't unexpected -- a crisper, faster game -- and it reinforced that he will be back sooner rather than later. 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a look at the Wolves and Wild. The Wolves are now in a must-win game Friday against Oklahoma City, while the Wild are limping into the playoffs with injuries mounting. 28:00: A Gophers team had to cancel the rest of its season.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand walks listeners through the disappointment of the Timberwolves' 108-102 overtime loss to the Lakers in Tuesday's play-in game. Even if they came in shorthanded -- by their own doing, mostly -- the game was there to take. But they squandered a 15-point lead and now face the possibility of elimination on Friday. 11:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for an update on the Vikings. We're still waiting for clarity on Dalvin Cook and Za'Darius Smith, but perhaps the draft in two weeks will spur some action and bring some roster balance. 30:00: Pablo Lopez continues to shine for the Twins, while the Wild's playoff seed has been determined.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at what the Lynx were able to do with the No. 2 overall pick and four more choices in Monday's WNBA Draft. Combined with comments about the roster from head coach/President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve, a new era seems on the way. 7:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand after an eventful 48 hours. Rudy Gobert took a swing at Kyle Anderson and is suspended for Tuesday's play-in game against the Lakers. Jaden McDaniels punched a wall and broke bones in his hand. What is the impact on both the present and the future of the organization? 33:00: Brock Faber made a strong Wild debut, while the Twins are missing Carlos Correa.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at an extremely eventful weekend in sports. They of course started with the Timberwolves' dramatic Game 82 on Sunday, which included Rudy Gobert taking a swing at teammate Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaniels taking a swing at a wall and the Wolves surviving to win and get a spot as the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. It wouldn't be the Wolves if there wasn't drama, but bigger questions loom. Plus: The Gophers were outplayed by Quinnipiac over the final 40 minutes Saturday, even if we want to put the blame elsewhere. And Reusse finds faster games and cheap tickets leading to a Target Field resurgence.

The top-seeded Gophers men's hockey team led 2-0 midway through the national championship game Saturday against Quinnipiac and was poised to capture its first title in 20 years. But then everything changed, as host Michael Rand and Star Tribune Gophers writer Randy Johnson talk about. Minnesota couldn't sustain offense and tried to hang on for dear life. A late goal tied it and a very fast overtime winner -- just 10 seconds in -- sealed the Gophers' fate in a 3-2 overtime loss that will sting for a long time. You'll also hear postgame audio from a deflated head coach Bob Motzko.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Thursday's NCAA men's hockey semifinal between the Gophers and Boston University through the lens of a fatalistic Minnesota sports viewer. It seemed like one of those games where everything was stacking up against a local team ... right up until the third period, when the Gophers pulled away for a 6-2 victory that has them on the brink of their first national title in 20 years. 7:00: Phil Miller joins Rand ahead of Friday's home opener for the Twins. Their starting pitching has allowed just four runs in six games. Was that the competition, is the rotation just that good, or is there some combination of both at play? 24:00: Jim Souhan checks in from The Masters, where a ton of top contenders went low on Thursday but could face challenges over the weekend. 32:00: Jamison Battle to Ohio State.

Introduction: Diamond Sports missed a payment to the Twins at the start of the season for the right to show games on Bally Sports North. As a result, Major League Baseball reportedly filed a temporary injunction in Diamond's bankruptcy case that would force either payment to the Twins by April 13 or allow the league to take over broadcasts. It's all part of an escalation that could usher in a new era of baseball on TV. 6:00: Jim Souhan joins host Michael Rand from Augusta where a very intriguing Masters is about to begin. 16:00: La Velle E. Neal III has a lot of opinions about the Twins, Timberwolves and Vikings' quarterback situation. 42:00: How soon will Kirill Kaprizov be back with the Wild?

Host Michael Rand notes at the top of the show the latest twist in a bizarre Timberwolves season. After losing to a tanking Portland team on Sunday at home, the Wolves went on the road and beat a good Nets team. That win gave the Wolves new life in the playoff race and clinched at least a spot in the play-in tournament. 6:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins Rand from Augusta where competing tours are colliding at The Masters. 13:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan talks through three big questions for the Wild: When will Kirill Kaprizov return, can the Wild win the Central Division and who will start in net when the playoffs start? 36:00: Caitlin Clark, the best women's college basketball player and the voice of reason.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the disappointing Timberwolves season (so far) and tries to discern where to direct the blame. He settles on four key people: GM Tim Connelly, head coach Chris Finch and big men Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. 14:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand in advance of the Frozen Four, where the No. 1 overall seed Gophers are trying to win their first NCAA title in 20 years. 26:00: The Wild clinched a playoff spot but lost ground in the division race; the Twins are 4-0 and looking like a legitimate threat.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Included in the mix: *An all-time bad loss by the Timberwolves to the Blazers, which severely damaged Minnesota's playoff hopes and raises new questions about the offseason. *The Twins starting 3-0 -- in three crisp and brisk games. *A tremendous women's basketball Final Four.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand gives gratitude on MLB's opening day for the pace of play changes made in the offseason. As a longtime baseball fan, Rand says he is far more likely to attend a game this year than in recent seasons. 4:00: Musician and NBA writer Clarie De Lune joins Rand for a breakdown of the Lakers ahead of Friday's huge game against the Wolves at Target Center. It's as fun an NBA season as any in recent memory, and plenty of twists are yet to come. 29:00: Rand runs down the playoff chances for local teams, which might surprise you.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand makes a run through two very important games Wednesday that had two very different outcomes. The Wild fended off the Avalanche 4-2 to stay in first place in the Central Division. Meanwhile, the Wolves were left fuming after a 107-100 loss to Phoenix -- with Rudy Gobert going off on perceived favoritism he sees with officiating. 9:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand on a number of subjects: The Twins' pitching plan, the Vikings' offseason and the Gophers football team's departures in the transfer portal. 33:00: Bally Sports North has lost more than half its subscribers in the last decade.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is still trying to discern the Vikings' offseason plan. It's late March, still several months from the start of the season. There is another wave of free agency and the draft to come. New players will obviously be added. But the overall vision of trying to rebuild while being competitive seems a lot muddier than it should be. 8:00: Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for an in-depth look at the Twins. With the season opener coming Thursday in Kansas City, there is considerable optimism. Projections suggest the Twins are a likely playoff team, and Miller says starting pitching depth is the big reason why. 31:00: Hear from Twins President Dave St. Peter on ballpark enhancements; Rand notes the impact of Mike Conley Jr. on the Wolves.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand recaps Monday's big wins for the Wolves and Wild over Sacramento and Seattle, respectively. The Wolves are now in sixth place in the West and the Wild are first in the Central Division. How both teams have been winning is impressive, but there is a lot of work ahead -- including more big games for both on Wednesday. 10:00: Star Tribune men's college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about the wild NCAA men's basketball tournament, your (likely) busted bracket, the Gophers' ongoing attempts to rebuild their roster and highlights from the boys' high school basketball tournament. 29:00: Lamar Jackson wants a trade, Packers GM fires back at Aaron Rodgers and La Velle E. Neal has a big (optimistic) Twins opinion.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Reusse made the trek to Fargo, N.D., for the men's hockey region final and saw the Gophers fend off St. Cloud State in a 4-1 victory for a berth in the Frozen Four. The depth, talent and determination of this year's Gophers team told the story. 12:00: The Timberwolves earned a big win over the Warriors on Sunday, with Karl-Anthony Towns supplying the clutch points in the closing minutes. The Wolves are over .500 again and have a legitimate chance at a top-6 seed in the West. Meanwhile, the Wild are in first place in the Central Division heading into the final stretch of games. 29:00: Twins pitcher Sonny Gray is not content to pitch five innings and doesn't think a lot of the other pitchers in the rotation are, either.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was surprised free agent corner Duke Shelley signed with the Raiders, particularly if it meant the Vikings didn't do more to try to keep him. In a decent sample size, he was the team's best cover corner last season, and the Vikings can use all the help they can get in the secondary. Plus a recap of the Gophers men's hockey team's 9-2 win and the Big Ten's ongoing struggle in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. 7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine helps break down Wednesday's return of Karl-Anthony Towns and what it meant in the big picture. With eight games left in the regular season, Hine and Rand try to decide how many wins it will take to get the Wolves into the postseason. 32:00: The Wild got a point, but it should have been two.

Introduction: Karl-Anthony Towns couldn't have scripted his return much better than what transpired Wednesday. After missing more than 50 games, he returned to an ovation at Target Center -- and later made the game-winning free throws with three seconds left in a 125-124 win over Atlanta. Is the mystery and cynicism over his absence forgotten? 8:00: Former Gophers men's hockey player Casey Hankinson joins Michael Rand for a look at the revival of that program and just how much fun this season has been. The Gophers play Canisius on Thursday in the NCAA tournament opener. 23:00: One report suggests Vikings fans have been -- by far -- the most negative base in the NFL during free agency. And it's time to check my social media for listener questions. 29:00: A big signing for the Loons.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with some appreciation of Wild forward Matt Boldy, who has six goals and four assists in six games since Kirill Kaprizov's injury -- including the game-winning goal with barely any time left in overtime against New Jersey on Tuesday. Plus, is this the night that Karl-Anthony Towns returns for the Wolves? 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for an update from Twins spring training. Neal gives an in-depth look at his Top 10 Twins minor league prospects list. 32:00: Hendon Hooker, the Tennessee quarterback, is projected to be taken No. 23 overall by the Vikings in one recent mock draft.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand cautioned on Monday's show not to write off the Wolves, and he was proven correct just hours later when a short-handed squad -- still missing Karl-Anthony Towns and now also Anthony Edwards -- defeated the Knicks 140-134. We also learned some contradictory information about Towns, but more importantly that he's very close to returning. 9:00: Rand goes in-depth on the hire of Gophers women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit. You'll hear from Plitzuweit, AD Mark Coyle, Star Tribune writer Kent Youngblood, Gophers standout Mara Braun and all-time great Rachel Banham. 33:00: The Vikings' plan feels incomplete at the moment.

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse take a trip through the weekend in sports, which included two losses for the Timberwolves and an ankle sprain for star Anthony Edwards. With just 10 games left in the regular season, time is running out for the depleted Wolves. 12:00: The Gophers men's hockey team lost the Big Ten title game to Michigan, but Reusse still thinks this is a team -- as the No. 1 overall NCAA tournament seed -- that has a great chance to win the program's first national title in 20 years. 19:00: The Gophers hired Dawn Plitzuweit to coach the women's basketball team and will introduce her at a news conference today. Plus thoughts on the transfer portal, the Wild and the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand runs through all the amazing things about the Wild's 14-game point streak, which has spanned a roster overhaul, an injury to Kirill Kaprizov and several different types of wins. Through it all, the Wild are now in great shape to win the Central Division. 7:00: The Vikings had a busy Thursday, but Friday figures to be even more interesting. 11:00: Take a trip down hockey memory lane back to 2012 and the spectacular 80 degree day in St. Paul for St. Patrick's Day, the WCHA Final Five and the Wild. 26:00: Transfer portal news for the Gophers.

If you have two minutes to spare, dear listeners, please use them to fill out this Daily Delivery survey: https://forms.gle/bKYgzAXct842LFaG8 Introduction: Host Michael Rand hits on a number of topics, including Aaron Rodgers clearing the air (sort of) about his future with the Jets and his past with Packers and the Vikings retaining running back Alexander Mattison. 16:00: Let's focus in on Gophers women's hockey in advance of the Frozen Four. 22:00: The Wolves were left frustrated by a loss, Rand is left frustrated by Karl-Anthony Towns and the Wild won a throwback game.

If you have two minutes to spare, dear listeners, please use them to fill out this Daily Delivery survey. https://forms.gle/bKYgzAXct842LFaG8 Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at three moves the Vikings made Tuesday that he thinks were very smart: signing a shutdown corner, creating cap space with Kirk Cousins without doing a contract extension, and keeping their kicking game intact for 2023. 10:00: Twins beat writer Phil Miller checks in from Florida, where the Twins are showing themselves to have quite a bit of pitching depth. The lineup might come down to health, but there are some encouraging signs there as well with Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco. 36:00: What does the Diamond Sports bankruptcy mean for local fans?

If you have two minutes to spare, dear listeners, please use them to fill out this Daily Delivery survey. Introduction: The Vikings are making some necessary and hard choices this offseason to get younger and shed salary with an eye toward the future. But in losing key players like Adam Thielen, Dalvin Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks and Patrick Peterson (so far), it sure looks like we are very much into the "rebuild" part of the "competitive rebuild" philosophy brought in a year ago. Also, does the signing of a blocking tight end Monday signal a shift in the running game? 9:00: Host Michael Rand is joined by Chip Scoggins and Carlos Gonzalez of the Star Tribune for a behind-the-scenes look at how they told the story of Maple Grove's journey to the boys' hockey state tournament. 29:00: A much-needed win for the Wolves and two departures for the Gophers men's basketball team.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a remembrance of Bud Grant, the legendary Vikings coach who died Saturday at age 95. From Grant's stoic sideline nature to his friendship with Sid Hartman to his sustained relevance late in life, Reusse and Rand go on a journey. Reusse has no shortage of Grant stories, though he does have a regret: missing a recent chance to hear a few more.

If you have two minutes to spare, dear listeners, please use them to fill out this Daily Delivery survey. Introduction: In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand can't help but notice that it took the Minnesota Wild less than 24 hours to do what the Timberwolves haven't been able to do in 102 days: provide a clear timeline of when a star player is going to return. Kirill Kaprizov is expected to miss three to four weeks after sustaining an injury in Wednesday's game. Karl-Anthony Towns is doing some work, but we still don't know when he'll be back from his late November injury. 5:00: Kent Youngblood joins the show to add perspective to the end of Lindsay Whalen's time coaching the Gophers women's basketball team, what it means that several key players are sticking around and who might be coaching them next season. 23:00: Gophers hockey and football writer Randy Johnson checks in ahead of a big weekend on the ice and a big day for NFL hopefuls next week. 32:00: The Vikings didn't quite make news Thursday, but things were sure interesting.

Introduction: The unofficial "Gordie Howe hat trick" in hockey consists of a goal, assist and a fight in the same game. The Wild had a variation on that Wednesday in terms of making news: a victory, an injury and a mystery. The victory in Winnipeg moved Minnesota into a first place tie; the injury to Kirill Kaprizov overshadowed it; and the mystery is why Wild players didn't wear rainbow warmup jerseys before Tuesday's home game -- something they had planned to do as part of a Pride Night celebration. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand on a number of topics, including: Ben Johnson's future with the Gophers; Lindsay Whalen's departure; the Wolves without KAT; the NFL quarterback market; and Twins story lines. 36:00: Johnson's Gophers earned a nice win Wednesday in the Big Ten Tournament.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the lack of offense for the Wolves and Wild during Tuesday home games, including the increasingly conspicuous absence of Karl-Anthony Towns during a 117-94 loss to the 76ers. The Wild went into overtime tied 0-0 before losing in a shootout. 8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for another award-winning "Where's the money, Brzezinski?" segment. He puts on his salary cap analyst hat and determines what is next for the Vikings. The big question: Will they be able to make enough moves that they don't have to do a Kirk Cousins extension? 32:00: Good news for the Gophers: Three freshmen on the Gophers women's basketball team intend to stay even after Lindsay Whalen's departure.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a pause from frantically analyzing the Vikings' salary cap situation to note that the business side of the NFL -- and sports in general -- kind of stinks. In what other industry would an exemplary employee like Eric Kendricks be a logical candidate to be fired? 7:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for a look at a busy stretch that saw GM Bill Guerin execute seven trades. The net result is a Wild team positioned better to score goals and perhaps make a playoff run. 30:00: St. Thomas carves out a niche; Rudy Gobert starts to shine.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand had a number of topics to tackle on Monday's show. Among them: Lindsay Whalen and the Gophers going their separate ways during the Big Ten Tournament; the Wolves suddenly coming back to life; the Wild in contention for a top seed in the West; Gophers baseball starting the year 0-11; and Adam Thielen's future with the Vikings.

Introduction: We dealt with the news of the day on a special episode Thursday after Lindsay Whalen stepped down as Gophers women's basketball coach. On this show, host Michael Rand got into more of the emotion of the day -- one that stood in stark contrast to men's basketball coach Ben Johnson's uplifting Thursday on two fronts. 9:00: Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey joins the show for a discussion of the offseason pursuit of Carlos Correa, the assembly of this year's roster and the rules changes that will shape a lot of what transpires in 2023. 32:00: New look for the Wild, but same results.

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand off of Thursday's breaking news that Lindsay Whalen has stepped down as Gophers women's basketball coach after five seasons. Why didn't things work out, and where do the Gophers (and Whalen) go from here?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand plays a clip of Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talking at the Scouting Combine about Kirk Cousins and how QB play can be compared to a math problem. It was a complicated way of talking through a familiar question about what the Vikings should do at that position. Meanwhile, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy wants to run the ball to control the clock, which should make Dallas fans nervous. 9:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand as they try to figure out a confusing team. What is the most likely outcome the rest of the season? 31:00: A new look for the Wild and more of the same for the Gophers women's basketball team.

Introduction: Tuesday could be an important day to remember when we look back on the Wild and Wolves seasons. The Wild won another close one, 2-1 in a shootout over the Islanders, continuing a recent trend of low-scoring wins. They also added two forwards to their roster who could give them more scoring punch going forward. Meanwhile, the Wolves showed an uncanny ability to win just as all hope seemed to be lost. 10:00: Hockey legend Lou Nanne, one of Wednesday's inductees into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, joined host Michael Rand for a look back at his life in hockey. It's a journey you won't want to miss. 31:00: Afton's Jessie Diggins made skiing history on Tuesday.

Introduction: Two quotes -- one each from Wild GM Bill Guerin and Wolves coach Chris Finch -- gave a pretty good summary of where both franchises are in their evolution right now. In short: They are both still trying to figure out who they are pretty late into their seasons. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand as they try to answer this question in the wake of news that Dennis Evans won't be joining the Gophers: How is a struggling program supposed to improve in this modern era of college sports? Plus some skepticism about Karl-Anthony Towns. 35:00: Some good news for the Twins.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another letdown by the Timberwolves, a natural hat trick for Kirill Kaprizov and more bad news for the Gophers men's basketball team. With a difficult schedule ahead, Reusse and Rand decide the Wolves won't even make the play-in, and they speculate on Karl-Anthony Towns' future. Meanwhile, Kaprizov saved the Wild on Sunday and has them in contention not just for a playoff spot but a division title. And with the loss of top recruit Dennis Evans, where do Ben Johnson's Gophers go from here?

Host Michael Rand and Gophers basketball writer Marcus Fuller hop on for a special edition of the podcast in the wake of Friday's news -- broken by Fuller -- that five-star recruit Dennis Evans has asked to be released from his National Letter of Intent. Why did Evans make that decision, what is the impact on the Gophers and where do they go from here?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand saw the Timberwolves injury report to star the post-break schedule and shook his head at Karl-Anthony Towns still being listed as "out" with his calf strain. It's been almost 13 weeks since he injured the calf. We need some transparency soon because right now incomplete information about his injury is inviting speculation. ... Plus a good win for the Wild and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and another interesting trade. 9:00: Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath joins Rand ahead of the Loons' MLS season opener Saturday in Dallas. They discuss the ongoing absence of Emanuel Reynoso and the outlook for the season ahead. 28:00: The transfer portal claims another Gophers defensive back.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand lays out three things he wants clarity on as the Wolves get set to resume play after the All-Star break on Friday. The big one: When (or if) Karl-Anthony Towns is returning from his calf injury. 6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand as they both offer predictions on how many games Byron Buxton will play in the outfield, how many more years Kirk Cousins will be the Vikings' quarterback and more. 31:00: Dalvin Tomlinson might have a good chance of staying with the Vikings, after all.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand identifies three big takeaways from the Wild's recent homestand, which concluded with a 2-1 win over the Kings on Tuesday. Ryan Hartman's re-emergence and Filip Gustavsson's ascent were major keys. 9:00: Clem Haskins unlocked the key to modern coaching. 13:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a breakdown of the Vikings' defensive outlook -- and needs -- under new coordinator Brian Flores. 30:00: The ongoing Emanuel Reynoso saga.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand loosely ties together three very different stories under the broad umbrella of "football personalities," taking note of the Monday death at age 95 of former Vikings owner Red McCombs and trying to define McCombs' legacy. Plus Jerry Kill has a permanent reminder of his 2022 New Mexico State team and new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon considers Mike Zimmer a "mentor." 11:00: Star Tribune high school sports reporter Ron Haggstrom joins Rand for a look at his recent reporting on transfers and how they are impacting prep sports -- and particularly high-level boys' basketball in Minnesota. 27:00: Patrick Beverley is going home, but not to the Wolves; the Gophers men's basketball team takes another familiar L.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, starting with a conversation about when Anthony Edwards' concept of trying to play every game became such a novel idea in the NBA. Plus Reusse and Rand have some optimism for the 2023 Twins as the full squad prepares for spring workouts and their first game Saturday. This is very much a wait-and-see team, but the pieces are there for a successful season. And some Gophers basketball thoughts -- followed by one big Reusse hockey take.

Host Michael Rand pulls out five key quotes from Brian Flores' introductory news conference as defensive coordinator with the Vikings and tries to add context. 11:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand for a breakdown of the Big Ten champion Gophers men's hockey team. Do they have what it takes to win it all? 21:00: The Wolves blew a 20-point lead and revealed a late-game offensive problem.

Introduction: Wednesday's 3-2 Wild loss to Colorado wasn't for a lack of effort or shot attempts, as Minnesota piled up 43 to just 19 for Colorado. But it did illustrate again an alarming lack of offensive capability, one that will need to be addressed before the trade deadline. 7:00: Host Michael Rand is joined by Timberwolves podcaster Dane Moore (The Dane Moore NBA Podcast) for an early look at what is meshing between Mike Conley Jr. and his new Wolves teammates (particularly Rudy Gobert). How do the Wolves fit into the evolving Western Conference landscape? 32:00: Moore vents frustration about Bally Sports North; both he and Rand dissect Wednesday's news that Diamond Sports is skipping a $140 million interest payment.