StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: It's been a mixed bag over the last two weeks for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The Avalanche are on a major upswing, having swept Edmonton to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. But the Nuggets, another Denver team owned by the group, lost executive Tim Connelly to the Timberwolves. And that led vice chairman Josh Kroenke to ramp up the rhetoric in a recent media session, calling the Wolves "desperate" for how they pursued Connelly. Is there a budding rivalry with the two Western Conference teams, host Michael Rand wonders. 12:00: Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle joins the show to talk about his philosophy for hiring coaches, the plan for the department as it hopefully emerges from the COVID era and the daily impact of name, image and likeness on all schools. Plus he deftly dodges one final question about athletic facilities. 24:00: Rand takes note of the Twins' success against Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman on Sunday, which prompted an examination of whether Minnesota batters had detected something in his delivery.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins taking two of three from Toronto after coming into the series ice-cold while the Blue Jays were red-hot. Part of what sparked the Twins was the continued production of Luis Arraez, who had four hits Sunday and is hitting .358 on the season. Plus thoughts on Rafael Nadal, yelling at Vikings kickers and the NBA Finals.

Introduction: The Twins head to Toronto in free-fall mode after losing seven of their last 10 against bottom-feeders Detroit and Kansas City. Will they get enough key players back -- and simply start playing/hitting better -- to compete with Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay in the next couple weeks? Or is this the start of a plummet out of first place? 6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins host Michael Rand for an extended look at the Twins and the prospect of a new Timberwolves arena on the horizon. We're already overbuilt. Can we really do this again? La Velle says we might have to given the ambitions of the Wolves' new owners. 24:00: The Celtics blitzed the Warriors with a 40-16 fourth quarter in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, while Rand takes issue with All-NBA processes.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the latest punchless Twins effort -- two hits, no runs in a second consecutive shutout loss to the Tigers -- and notes that there is some urgency in Thursday's series finale against Detroit. A loss Thursday leading into a tough nine-game stretch could send the Twins into a spiral with so many key players out. 5:00: But as rough as things have been lately, the Twins are still in first place. And they have to be elated with their offseason trade of Josh Donaldson to the Yankees. Not only did Minnesota get two productive players -- Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela -- in return, but more importantly the Twins shed themselves of Donaldson's baggage. He proved again with comments Wednesday about the Tim Anderson "Jackie Robinson" situation that he still doesn't get it. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins the show to talk about Vikings offseason observations of note, including more autonomy for QB Kirk Cousins. 25:00: The tragic death of former Wayzata and Gophers great Marion Barber III.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand explores three paths the Wolves could go down this offseason as they look to improve on last year's 46-win team. Will they run it back? Will new President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly look to reshape the core of the team by trading D'Angelo Russell? Or is blowing up the roster something to consider? 10:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to dissect three key things Connelly said during his introductory news conference on Tuesday, which illuminated how Connelly thinks of the Wolves' roster and how he might approach this job. 24:00: The Twins are 3-5 in their last eight games, a rough end to a very good month ... Dustin Johnson had a golf surprise ... and a must-read Patrick Reusse column.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse who -- you might not believe this -- is not optimistic about how the Twins are doing even though they are in first place. He sees a June swoon coming as their pitching comes back down to earth, players miss time for various reasons and the schedule gets tougher. Plus Rand and Reusse talk through the Wolves' offseason to-do list for new President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, who will be introduced to the media on Tuesday. And they set up the NBA Finals, which begin this week.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand laments the Twins' missed chances in a bad 3-2 loss to the Royals on Thursday and takes note of how during their hot streak the Twins went 14-2 in games decided by one run or two runs. They have dropped two close games since then, and that might happen more as the year goes on. The Twins will hope that Byron Buxton is due for a progression, not more regression, after finally snapping his 0-for-30 skid. 10:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk about the significance of hiring Tim Connelly as the new President of Basketball Operations and all the big decisions ahead for Connelly this offseason. 26:00: Three big decisions in this market ... Aurora soccer starts with a tie ... Golden State is back in the NBA Finals.

Introduction: Minnesota United lost 2-1 at home in a U.S. Open Cup match to third division Union Omaha on Wednesday, a defeat Loons manager Adrian Heath called "embarrassing." It was another inconsistent performance from United this season, and it probably won't lead to more playing time for the Loons reserves who had a chance to play. 6:00: Minnesota Aurora President and co-founder Andrea Yoch joins the show to talk about the debut of the women's soccer club Thursday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan. The amateur club has sold out all 5,600 tickets for its debut, part of what Yoch terms a "magic carpet ride" or support so far. 20:00: Byron Buxton went hitless again on Wednesday, and it's time to wonder if his balky knee is at least partly to blame for his 0-for-26 slump. Plus a throwback NBA playoff game and a huge NHL comeback.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but notice that Byron Buxton is 1 for his last 24, with the slump coinciding with the Twins disclosing a little over a week ago their plan to rest him so he stays healthy enough to play 100 games this season. Buxton's batting average is all the way down to .211. But the Twins have continued to win even without Buxton contributing at the plate, in large part because of pitching outings like the one they got from Sonny Gray (seven innings, zero runs) on Tuesday. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show with observations from watching the new-look Vikings in their early offseason work. The defensive changes stand out, but so does the offensive philosophy -- including a big change that might take some pressure off Kirk Cousins. 26:00: The Warriors are on pace for a gentlemen's sweep of the Mavericks, while the Lynx got a big comeback win.

Introduction: The Timberwolves hired executive Tim Connelly away from Denver to be their President of Basketball Operations for a reported 5 years and $40 million plus an ownership stake in the team. It's a big-time move, but it's not without risk. While Connelly has a track record of building a team primarily through the draft, the Nuggets haven't even played for a championship let alone won a title in recent years. 8:00: The Star Tribune's Jeff Day joins host Michael Rand for an examination of his story on the inner workings of the Gophers volleyball program. 32:00: The Twins won again, and the vibe in the clubhouse is positively giddy.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included two stunning comebacks on Sunday: the Twins rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the eighth inning to defeat Kansas City 7-6, while Justin Thomas started the day seven shots off the lead but came back to win the PGA Championship in a playoff. Reusse still doesn't trust the Twins pitching, but he has to concede this is a pretty good team after a 25-16 start. Plus a look at the struggles of the Gophers baseball team, which finished 16-36 this season, and the surge of Andrew Wiggins in the playoffs for Golden State.

Bud Grant, the legendary Vikings coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, turned 95 on Friday and was a very special guest on today's show. Host Michael Rand and Bud talk about the interesting progression of aging, the joy of living a good, long life, Grant's path into coaching and how he copes with surviving a near-death experience when he was 29. Plus Rand's thoughts on the Lynx, Vikings and the Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher feud at the end of the show.

Introduction: We've spent the last few days debating two big decisions by the Twins: Limiting Byron Buxton's workload to 100 (or a few more) games this season and sending promising rookie shortstop Royce Lewis back to the minors. While these are good fodder for discussion, we also shouldn't let those narratives overtake the whole conversation. This is a first-place team on pace to win 94 games. 8:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to help break down an interesting offseason for the Wild. Is there any chance of keeping Kevin Fiala? Is Marc-Andre Fleury really an option in goal next season? And how can the team hope to improve its special teams considering it doesn't have much payroll flexibility? 26:00: Minnesota United equalized late to salvage a tie against the LA Galaxy, but problems finishing chances persisted ... the Wolves might have a change at the top of their organizational structure.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the NBA Draft lottery, normally a major event for Wolves fans, passed without as much as a whisper on Tuesday because Minnesota was a rare non-participant. Orlando ended up with the No. 1 pick, which could mean Chet Holmgren is reunited with former Minnehaha Academy teammate Jalen Suggs. 6:00: Star Tribune writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show to help break down Minnesota United's struggles to finish chances this season, part of the reason the Loons sit No. 10 in the Western Conference standings heading into an important home match on Wednesday. 18:00: The Lynx broke through with a big win over Los Angeles after an 0-4 start. Will they have a similar turnaround as they did last year? ... Bill Guerin says the Wild has a plan to deal with the impact of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, but that plan might include re-signing goalie Marc-Andre Fleury? ... And Kellen Mond, the forgotten man, talks about his progress.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand catches up on the Vikings' schedule, which was released late last week in the midst of the Wild's playoff series against the Blues, and gives his thoughts on story lines and predictions for each game. Rand sees reason for optimism, but the Vikings had better take advantage of favorable stretches in their 17-game season. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins the show to offer his take on Byron Buxton and the Twins' 100-game plan. He sees the wisdom in it, and he also has more optimism for the 0-4 Lynx than their record might indicate. 28:00: The best high school football recruit in Minnesota has the Gophers on his final list of schools.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand after Sunday's revelation that the Twins have a plan to limit Byron Buxton's playing time in hopes of preserving his health. The magic number is getting him in at least 100 games, which would be more than Buxton has typically played but far fewer than fans might want. Reusse, as you might expect, is not a fan of the plan. Plus a deeper look at Minnesota sports playoff misery and musing on the NBA playoffs and the Game 7 no-show by Phoenix on Sunday.

Introduction: Different team, different expectations, same playoff results. That's the story of the Wild, which lost Game 6 to St. Louis 5-1 and dropped the series 4 games to 2. The Blues scored nine of the last 10 goals in the series. They had eight power play goals to just four for the Wild. And the Wild is now 32-58 all-time in postseason games. Those are sobering numbers for the organization to wake up to this morning as it tries to chart a path forward that includes a clogged up salary cap from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts. 8:00: ESPN's Malika Andrews joins the show to talk Timberwolves and hoops in general. The host of NBA Today had plenty of thoughts on Anthony Edwards and the Wolves' path forward while also dispensing some great career advice. 33:00: Trouble for the Lynx, a marquee Vikings opener and the one bit of good news from Thursday courtesy of Minnesota United.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand puts together a checklist for the Wild heading into a must-win Game 6 against the Blues on Thursday night. At the top of that list: Someone aside from Kirill Kaprizov stepping up and scoring some goals and a goalie -- whether it's Marc-Andre Fleury or Cam Talbot -- making the sorts of saves that can steal a game. Otherwise, it's going to be a disappointing result and frankly a very disappointing end to the season. 10:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to take a look at the team's 0-3 start and the reasons behind it. 26:00: A Terry Tiffee Twins T-shirt jersey spotted in the wild and an NFL QB who only eats chicken.

Introduction: Kirill Kaprizov had two more goals, giving him seven in just five playoff games. But the Wild still finds itself in a 3-2 hole after dropping Tuesday's Game 5 at home 5-2 to St. Louis. Sloppy play in the third period, preceded by a deflating goal late in the second, was the Wild's undoing. Now it faces elimination Thursday in St. Louis. Will anyone step up and join Kaprizov? And should coach Dean Evason consider a switch to Cam Talbot after an average performance from Marc-Andre Fleury? 12:00: Star Tribune high school sports reporter David La Vaque joins host Michael Rand for a discussion on the sophistication of football recruiting as well as some top lineman prospects in the state. Plus high school boys' volleyball came within a vote of gaining varsity status. 27:00: The Twins were no match for the stellar Astros on Tuesday. The Lynx were no match for the rebuilding Indiana Fever. We learned a lot about both teams.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks ahead to Tuesday's critical Game 5 between the Wild and Blues and finds himself wanting a lot more from Kevin Fiala. After registering just a goal and an assist in seven playoff games last year, Fiala has just one assist through four games against St. Louis. Whether he can get it going will tell the story of how far the Wild ultimately goes in this postseason and could determine his long-term future with the team. 5:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show to try to answer a big mystery: Are the first-place Twins, owners of an 18-11 record after a 14-3 burst, for real? Or will they fall back below the pack as the season goes on? Miller sees pitching as a reason for optimism, even if Emilio Pagan can't keep escaping the way he does. 25:00: The tragic death of former Wolves player Adreian Payne, the Grizzlies getting a taste of their own medicine and more good recruiting news for Ben Johnson.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Wild splitting Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis to set up a critical Game 5 back at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday. Based on the players the Blues are missing, this should be the Wild's series to take, Reusse said, even after missing an opportunity in Game 4. Plus Reusse wants to see the Twins play better against good teams before getting too excited -- and he has seen all he cares to see of reliever Emilio Pagan. Rich Strike's amazing Kentucky Derby run did come with one worry, while the Lynx look like they need a lot of help after an 0-2 start.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand previews the Lynx season, which starts with a big test Friday in Seattle. Can a largely veteran roster extend the Lynx's streak to 12 straight postseason appearances and compete for a championship, or will a roster squeeze and health concerns derail the season? Head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve weighs in on the challenges of building a team in this era of the WNBA. 9:00: Adversity has hit the Twins, who lost star shortstop Carlos Correa to an apparent broken finger and lost for the second consecutive night to Baltimore -- the same day they learned manager Rocco Baldelli and two players are out with COVID. Will we get a look at 2017 No. 1 pick Royce Lewis in Correa's absence? 12:00: The Star Tribune's Rachel Blount joins the show to preview Saturday's Kentucky Derby, which features not one but two Minnesota horses in the field. 26:00: Keys to Game 3 for the Wild plus a curious decision by the Wolves to part ways with play-by-play voice Dave Benz.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the overwhelmingly positive 6-2 final result for the Wild on Wednesday as it evened its playoff series against St. Louis at 1-1. Kirill Kaprizov had a hat trick, Marc-Andre Fleury showed why he is a battle-tested future Hall of Famer and the team in general cashed in on chances. But St. Louis also had more shots, more hits and arguably the better of the play. And the Wild still gave up five power plays (and one goal on the man advantage). Minnesota will need to tighten up its game going forward even after this result. 9:00: Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair joins the show to talk about his early-season success, his Canada pride and his surprising skill outside of soccer. 22:00: Would you pay $20 a month for Bally Sports North? That will be an option soon for standalone customers. Plus the secret Vikings edge this season and another rough start from Twins pitcher Dylan Bundy.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand tries to make sure the Twins get some proper attention after they won for the 11th time in 12 games Tuesday. Ryan Jeffers was the offensive hero in the win over Baltimore with a three-run homer. The Twins are now 15-9 and four games ahead of any other team in the American League Central. 5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand in the aftermath of the Wild's 4-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 1 of their playoff series Monday. It was all-too-familiar based on past Wild teams; can Minnesota stay out of the penalty box and even the series Wednesday? Plus Scoggins weighs in on the Wolves' D'Angelo Russell conundrum and hopes for a trade. 26:00: Jared Spurgeon was lucky to avoid a suspension, the Lynx made some interesting roster moves and the Grizzlies/Warriors series looks every bit as compelling as Grizzlies/Wolves was.

Host Michael Rand goes in deep on the Wild after Monday's damaging 4-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 1 of the playoffs. Home ice advantage? Gone. Stupid penalties leading to the type of game the Blues wanted and directly leading to three of the four goals? Yes. Second-guessing of the goalie choice? Sure, but that wasn't the reason the Wild lost. It's going to be a day of soul-searching for Minnesota, as St. Louis is now 4-0 this year and 13-1-1 in its last 15 against the favored Wild. Plus the Twins won for the 10th time in 11 games and a Minnesota horse is the Kentucky Derby favorite.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand as they tie a bow on the Wolves' season and look ahead to the Wild's playoff series starting Monday night against St. Louis. Reusse and Rand agree: The Wolves' backcourt is a concern, and if there's a way to move off of D'Angelo Russell this offseason the organization should pursue a trade. After a 46-win season and competitive playoff series, this appears to be a team on the rise, but even getting back to that point next season will be difficult. Reusse also calls this the best Wild team in franchise history and takes note of Max Kepler's resurgence with the Twins.

Host Michael Rand watched everything unfold Friday and decided there was too much going on to wait two more days to talk about it all. First he dissects the ultimate Wolves' collapse, as Minnesota lost a double-digit fourth quarter lead for the third time in its series against Memphis in a season-ending loss Friday. The Wolves were outscored 114-58 in the fourth quarters of Games 3, 5 and 6. Now they must ask themselves how they can get better and tougher going forward -- which starts with daunting questions about big-salary players Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell, who disappeared in Friday's fourth quarter. 14:00: The Wild earned home ice in its playoff series vs. St. Louis with a big 4-1 in over Colorado, but it might have lost Marcus Foligno to an injury after a dirty hit. Regardless, the Wild has the depth to make a deep playoff run. Is this the year it will happen? 18:00: The Vikings made another trade within the NFC North, this time helping the Packers get a talented wide receiver after doing the same for the Lions. Will those moves come back to haunt the Vikings, or will the accumulation of top-75 draft talent by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prove to be wise in the long run?

Introduction: The Vikings moved back 20 spots in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, adding additional picks in the process. But was it really worth it to drop from No. 12 to No. 32, where they selected Georgia safety Lewis Cine? Time will tell, but at first blush it seems like the Vikings didn't get enough value. Fans largely felt the same way, though you'll hear enthusiasm from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. 12:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins host Michael Rand to help set up the critical Game 6 of the playoffs Friday at Target Center. Can Minnesota fend off elimination and send the series back to Memphis for a deciding Game 7? If they are going to do it, they will need to rebound and execute better. 25:00: The Wild moved closer to gaining home ice in the first round of the playoffs with a 3-2 overtime win over Calgary. All Minnesota needs tonight is one point -- or a regulation St. Louis loss -- to clinch that edge. And the Twins won their seventh straight game, something that would be a major headline if not for other major stories.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand digs in on the NFL Draft and finds himself increasingly intrigued by the idea of the Vikings taking a wide receiver at No. 12 overall. While they still might end up taking a corner with that pick, there are good arguments to be made for choosing a game-changing offensive skill position player instead. 8:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to set up the final two regular season games and what's at stake. Plus how will the Wild handle its goalie rotation in the postseason, and just how good has Kevin Fiala been in this "prove it" season? 24:00: Joe Ryan delivered another gem for the Twins on Wednesday in a 5-0 victory that took just 2 hours, 23 minutes. Starting pitching continues to be a strength for this team, a major surprise.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes deep on the Wolves' Game 5 playoff loss, which again featured an alarming lack of execution on the part of Minnesota. After leading by double-digits in the fourth quarter, the Wolves allowed Memphis to rally thanks to a bevy of offensive rebounds and some poor shot selection of its own. But this one was more about what the Grizzlies did than what the Wolves didn't do, and it definitely wasn't about the officiating, Rand says. The bottom line: Ja Morant's game-winning layup put the Wolves in a 3-2 series hole, and they have to be feeling the sting of missed opportunities. 22:00: The Wild missed a chance to gain the upper hand in the battle for home ice with a 5-3 clunker of a loss to the lowly Coyotes. But St. Louis also lost, so the Wild still has a good chance to host a first-round series. 25:00: The Twins almost gave Tuesday's game away, but then Detroit one-upped them. A crazy final sequence on the bases led to a 5-4 walk-off win. Maybe that's how the first-place Twins are going to navigate the AL Central this season.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dissects the back-and-forth series between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies heading into Game 5 on Tuesday in Memphis and finds some pretty simple keys. The Wolves need to keep the Grizzlies from getting too many offensive rebounds -- a two-fold mission that limits Memphis' second-chance points and helps the Wolves get transition baskets. And they need to stay out of foul trouble. If they do that, they will have a chance to come back to Target Center leading the series. 8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand to help preview the upcoming NFL Draft. While there is always intrigue this time of year, it is heightened this week with new General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah making the picks instead of Rick Spielman. How will the Vikings' approach change in terms of what and who they value? And will that yield any different results starting Thursday when Minnesota has the No. 12 overall pick? 28:00: Taking note of Kevin Fiala's excellent season for the Wild and the big decision looming in the offseason.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at an overwhelmingly positive weekend in Minnesota sports. The Timberwolves proved that momentum can be a myth sometimes in sports by coming back after a devastating Game 3 loss to even their series against Memphis with a 119-118 victory at Target Center. Rand came to the realization that the games we watch are different from the games players play, while Reusse wants to know if the national narrative now shifts to Ja Morant being a poor clutch player. The Twins, meanwhile, swept all four games from the White Sox -- including Sunday's dramatic 6-4 win in 10 innings thanks to a three-run walk-off blast from Byron Buxton. After a sluggish start, the Twins have evened their record at 8-8.

Host Michael Rand goes all-in on the Timberwolves after their stunning Game 3 loss to Memphis at Target Center. Up by 26 points in the first half and 25 points late in the third quarter, the Wolves fell 104-95 after being outscored 37-12 in the fourth quarter. You'll hear from head coach Chris Finch, players Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell, plus the Star Tribune's Chris Hine and Chip Scoggins as they try to explain what happened Thursday night.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand previews the critical Game 3 showdown between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies, noting that he considers the Wolves' emotional response to a Game 2 blowout loss to be of utmost importance. Can the Wolves navigate evolving matchups and ride the positive energy of what is sure to be an energized Target Center to take a series lead? 8:00: Former North Dakota State standout and Marshall native Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, joins the show to talk about his journey, his future and a recent opportunity he had to raise a lot of money for an organization in southwest Minnesota. 16:00: The Twins were shut out on Wednesday, prompting manager Rocco Baldelli to have some critical comments about their approach at the plate. At 4-8, is it time to panic -- or at least worry -- about the direction they are heading? 22:00: Rand rolls through some listener questions and takes note of some positive developments in Gophers basketball.

Introduction: The Wolves' 124-96 loss to Memphis on Tuesday was predictable and unwatchable on multiple levels. Memphis had far more urgency than Minnesota after losing Game 1 at home, and the Grizzlies played to their strengths with depth, defensive tenacity and offensive rebounding. The Wolves, meanwhile, tried to generate too much offense in isolation and suffered through a night with Karl-Anthony Towns in foul trouble. It was a grinding game early, making it hard to watch -- if you could watch at all. Problems with blackouts and streaming services left many fans angry. 7:00: Marcus Fuller joins host Michael Rand for a breakdown of the Gophers men's basketball team's efforts in the transfer portal. After landing Dawson Garcia early in the week, Ben Johnson has turned his attention to bolstering the backcourt. 27:00: Kevin Fiala, Matt Boldy and Cam Talbot continued to shine for the Wild in an important 2-0 over Montreal, while the Twins bullpen blew another lead and misses Taylor Rogers more than ever.

Introduction: 21 different ESPN experts predicted how the Wolves vs. Grizzlies series would turn out, and all 21 picked Memphis. The Wolves are surely using perceptions like that as fuel as they try to take a 2-0 series lead Tuesday in Memphis, host Michael Rand said. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins the show to give his take on the Wolves, Wild and Twins. The Wild will be without Marcus Foligno for a few games after the wing went into COVID protocols. The Twins, meanwhile, have had surprisingly good starting pitching so far -- No. 5 in the majors in starter ERA through 10 games. 25:00: The Loons busted out for three goals over the weekend, the Gophers landed a huge recruit (more on that during Wednesday's show) and a major college hockey story.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look back at the biggest stories of the weekend and a look ahead at what's to come. It was a double dose of good news when it comes to the playoffs: The Wolves controlled Game 1 against Memphis for almost all of the 48 minutes in earning a 130-117 road victory, while the Wild earned three points over the weekend to secure a playoff berth. It's just the third time in their combined history that the Wild and Wolves have made the playoffs in the same year. We should savor this postseason because the way the Twins look through nine games, there won't be any October baseball. They have just 51 hits in nine games and injuries are already mounting.

Host Michael Rand was joined by Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine, who was in Memphis for the Wolves' convincing 130-117 Game 1 victory in the Western Conference playoffs opener. Rand and Hine talked about the big nights for Anthony Edwards (36 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (29) points and several supporting players. Plus does one win change the perception of the series, and what should we expect in Game 2 on Tuesday night?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand identifies the single most important thing in the Wolves' upcoming playoff series against Memphis: Karl-Anthony Towns playing well and having control of his emotions. Towns talked about adversity on Thursday, but one gets the sense that he doesn't always understand that some of it is self-inflicted. Can he use Tuesday's win over the Clippers as motivation? 6:00: Drew Hill, who covers the Grizzlies in Memphis, joins Rand to help preview the series. What made Memphis so good this season? Why did Ja Morant struggle against the Wolves, contributing to a very even season series? They'll explore those ideas and more. 23:00: Patrick Beverley vs. Morant should be a matchup worth watching, and it could stoke the fire of an emotional series. ... Beverley and the Wild's Ryan Hartman were both fined for obscenities this week, and both found help from fans. ... Minnesota connections have been prevalent in the NCAA women's gymnastics meet.

Introduction: A generational argument played out again Wednesday when Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was pulled after 80 pitches and seven perfect innings at Target Field against the Twins. Should he have been allowed to try to finish the perfect game? It all depends on who you ask -- including Kershaw, who was fine with the move given the circumstances. Regardless, the Twins' offense is in rough shape with Miguel Sano starting the year 0-for-19, Alex Kirilloff going on the IL and their top minor league affiliate in St. Paul getting zero hits on Wednesday. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand as they spin forward to the Wolves' first-round playoff series starting Saturday in Memphis. The level of confidence in Anthony Edwards after his 30-point game against the Clippers is matched by the level of concern over Karl-Anthony Towns' growing portfolio of postseason struggles. Simply put, KAT needs to find his game and his composure. 26:00: The WNBA has fewer than one-third of the roster spots as the NBA. That's a major problem that is spotlighted during the draft, which was earlier this week. Plus a major Gophers departure -- and perhaps a major addition soon.

Host Michael Rand ditches the usual format and goes all-in on the Timberwolves after Tuesday night's 109-104 victory over the Clippers in the NBA play-in game. You'll hear plenty of thoughts from Rand as well as from beat writer Chris Hine, head coach Chris Finch and guards D'Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley. With the victory, the Wolves secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will face Memphis in a seven-game series starting Saturday. But getting there was by no means easy. The Wolves had to overcome their own early jitters and a dismal performance from star Karl-Anthony Towns, who fouled out after scoring just 11 points in 24 minutes. Down 93-86 with more than seven minutes left after Towns' exit, the Wolves outscored the Clippers 23-11 the rest of the way thanks in large part to Russell (29 points) and Anthony Edwards (30). Beverley was the heart and soul of the game, finishing with a game-high 11 rebounds before letting out plenty of emotion after beating his former team.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand still isn't sure what to make of this year's Twins roster, but he will feel a lot better about things if Jhoan Duran keeps throwing the way he did in the opening series against Seattle. Duran pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Monday's 4-0 win, helping the Twins split the four-game series. If Duran can be a difference-maker, adding to elite talent like Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa, the Twins have a chance to be a playoff team. 6:00: Star Tribune Wolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand to preview Tuesday's play-in game against the Clippers. How much stock should we put in the Clippers' three wins over the Wolves in early November? How will the Wolves' inexperienced players fare against the playoff-tested Clippers? How much will Minnesota lean on Patrick Beverley? And how much credit should we give to coach Chris Finch, who just got a four-year extension? 28:00: The Lynx made two picks in Monday's WNBA Draft, but both players will have a hard time cracking the roster. ... And Kirk Cousins spoke for the first time since his one-year contract extension in March, saying he would like to retire as a Viking.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand during a very busy time on the Minnesota sports calendar. The Twins opened their season to mixed reviews, losing a pair of close games before exploding for six home runs in a 10-4 win over Seattle on Sunday. Reusse still likes the lineup a lot, but pitching questions will persist and were magnified by a blown lead in the ninth inning during Saturday's loss. Fans certainly seem to be in wait-and-see mode with the team (and the weather) judging by the weekend crowds. It's Super Tuesday in Minnesota: Wolves vs. Clippers in an NBA play-in game, Wild vs. Oilers in an offensive showdown, Twins vs. Dodgers and Saints home opener, all in the Twin Cities on Tuesday night. Can the Wolves continue their strong season and defeat the Clippers? Plus Reusse has thoughts on The Masters -- from Tiger to the tradition itself.

Introduction: Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand from Boston, where he covered the Gophers' season-ending 5-1 loss to Minnesota State-Mankato in Thursday's Frozen Four semifinals. It was a butt-kicking for most of the game, as Gophers coach Bob Motzko said, and it showed just how good these Mavericks are heading into Saturday's title game vs. Denver. For the Gophers, it was a season of overachieving to a degree. What comes next will be interesting. 8:00: Rand takes one more look at the Twins pitching staff, a highly volatile group considering there are numerous questions in both the rotation and the bullpen as the season begins Friday. Who is going to get the final nine outs of games with Taylor Rogers gone, let alone the first 18 in a rotation with a lot of candidates but few sure things? Plus the Wolves are locked into the play-in round now -- a fate that was a goal at the start of the year but now feels more like a punishment given how well they have played. 14:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show in advance of Friday's game against St. Louis. The Wild is a combined 0-4 against Nashville and the Blues this year. With three games left against those potential playoff opponents among its final 13 games, the Wild has some work to do. 30:00: An ode to Tiger Woods.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at a possible Twins-Padres trade that is reportedly nearing the finish line as of Thursday morning. The two key pieces: Twins reliever Taylor Rogers and Padres starting pitcher Chris Paddack. What's the appeal of Paddack and what would losing Rogers mean for the Twins? Rand breaks that down. 6:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for an overall preview of the Twins' season. After an offseason that can only be described as chaotic, what will happen as the dust settles? Miller talks about how much confidence the Twins seem to have after their additions -- most notably of shortstop Carlos Correa -- while conceding that pitching is still a big mystery. 24:00: LSU corner Derek Stingley, who has shown up in mock drafts as a possible Vikings target at No. 12 overall, had his pro day on Wednesday. ... The Vikings were good at taking leads but not holding them in 2021 ... Lindsay Whalen addresses the transfer portal.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Wolves' 132-114 loss to Washington on Tuesday and finds one word stands out: disappointing. Though getting the No. 6 seed and avoiding the play-in tournament was a long shot, a win coupled with what turned out to be a Denver loss to San Antonio on Tuesday would have given the Wolves a real chance. Instead, they are left to lament a defense that has been subpar lately and a focus that has been wandering in recent games. 6:00: The Wild has lost three lopsided games to Nashville this season, including Tuesday's fight-filled 6-2 defeat. If these teams end up facing each other in the playoffs, this specific tough matchup could become an issue. 9:00: The Gophers men's hockey team faces Minnesota State-Mankato in Thursday's Frozen Four semifinals. The pride of Minnesota is on the line in the game -- shown on ESPNU after being bumped because of MLB's schedule change -- and the Star Tribune's Randy Johnson helps break it all down. 20:00: Tiger Woods is going to play in The Masters, which makes the tournament infinitely more compelling ... a listener asks about the transfer portal, and Rand answers ... the Twins officially postponed their opener to Friday.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand attempts to tie together several subjects under one general theme -- that we don't know anything that is going to happen in sports, even if we can project what might happen. That is the case with the Vikings and Twins, both of whom are predicted in various circles to finish right around .500 in 2022. Do we really know how things will play out? Nope. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins the show to talk about The Masters and the prospect of Tiger Woods making his comeback on Thursday. Who could have predicted what would become of Tiger's career a decade ago. And who knows what will happen if he does play this weekend. 24:00: An unpredictable NCAA men's basketball tournament ended with an unpredictable title game when Kansas rallied for a 72-69 win over North Carolina. And a listener wants to know: What's up with Kellen Mond?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand as they talk through a very busy time in the world of sports. Both of them were at the recently completed Women's Final Four in Minneapolis, where South Carolina's relentless defense and offensive rebounding were far too much for UConn in Sunday's title game. If you consider retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski more of a villain than a hero, there was no more fitting end to his career than Saturday's loss to rival North Carolina in the Final Four. Plus Reusse gets going on Twins pitching, modern baseball, the Wild and the Wolves.

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune intern John Volk take you behind the scenes at the Women's Final Four in Minneapolis and get you ready for Sunday's title game between UConn and South Carolina.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has liked Joe Ryan from the moment the Twins acquired him from Tampa Bay last season in the Nelson Cruz trade. But Rand looks at Ryan's body of work -- five MLB starts, all last September against teams out of contention -- and can't help but think the Twins' decision to name Ryan the 2022 Opening Day starter is one of desperation. 6:00: New Wild forward Nicolas Deslauriers, brought in to provide grit and muscle for the playoff run, joins the show to talk about his role, fitting in after a midyear trade and the opportunity to play in the NHL postseason for the first time in his career. He certainly looked the part, sporting a black eye and a stitches on his broken nose during the interview. 20:00: Hear from Paige Bueckers as the Women's Final Four arrives Friday at Target Center; Another blow to the Gophers women's basketball program; The "ghost runners" in extra innings are unfortunately back in MLB.