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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.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wolves' recent slide. With four losses in five games, all of them against quality opponents, Minnesota is slumping as it heads toward the postseason. Quite simply, the Wolves need more from their core players -- particularly D'Angelo Russell, who is in the midst of a bad shooting skid. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show after spending last weekend at the thrilling women's basketball regional in which former Hopkins standout Paige Bueckers shot UConn into the Final Four in Minneapolis that begins Friday. What makes Bueckers so great? Scoggins has several answers to that. 23:00: The U.S. qualified for the World Cup ... Patrick Peterson is back again with the Vikings ... and an oddly timed extension for the Wild's Alex Goligoski.

Introduction: Another day, another few pieces of evidence that the Vikings are intent on trying to compete in 2022 -- and doing it largely with the same cast of characters from recent years. Head coach Kevin O'Connell offered ideas Tuesday for how to get more out of Kirk Cousins and Garrett Bradbury, two of the Vikings' most-discussed players. Owner Mark Wilf, meanwhile, reasserted his belief that the Vikings can compete for a division title and more. 7:00: Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion skier Lindsey Vonn joins the show ahead of Wednesday's induction into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame. Vonn discusses retirement, how it's hard for her to slow down, the publication of her recent memoir and the one thing she always wants to do when she comes back to Minnesota. 23:00: The Wild won again, and we're getting to the point of the season where playoff opponents matter. Should Minnesota be worried about a potential series with Nashville? Plus P.J. Fleck blames himself for how 2021 turned out, even though the Gophers went 9-4.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand sees the upside in the Twins' move to sign Chris Archer, but it still feels underwhelming if this is the final rotation move. There are a lot of question marks for Archer, 33, who is coming off of Tommy John surgery. Will he be more like Carl Pavano, who revived his career in Minnesota a decade ago? Or is this more like the Mike Pelfrey move? 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins the show to talk about the offseason moves for the Vikings and Twins as well as to answer a big question from Rand: How many combined playoff games will the Wild and Wolves win this year? 27:00: Paige Bueckers is coming home after UConn survived a double-overtime thriller to defeat North Carolina State and reach the Final Four. Plus the Vikings signed Jesse Davis to help bolster their offensive line, but how much he will help is a valid question.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. At the jump, they rave about the Gophers men's hockey team, which shut out Western Michigan 3-0 on Sunday to advance to the Frozen Four. Reusse likes the way the Gophers are playing -- and he thinks they are going to win it all in two weeks. They also bond over a shared distaste for Duke, even while acknowledging that a Duke/North Carolina meeting in the men's basketball Final Four should be fantastic. Plus thoughts on the NCAA women's basketball tournament, the Wild's sudden winning streak and what we think of the Wolves heading down the stretch.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand talks through a couple of notable Wild streaks: the team has won four games in a row while goalie Cam Talbot has won seven starts in a row. Minnesota has tightened up its game, in part as a response to its recent skid and in part because that's what is dictated this time of year. 6:00: Does the Wild have as good a chance as any Minnesota team to win a championship in the next five years? Rand takes a spin through his rankings of all the local teams. 11:00: Star Tribune college hockey writer Randy Johnson joins the show to set up the Gophers men's hockey team's NCAA regional game Friday vs. UMass. The Gophers have been on a roll, but playing the defending national champs in front of what should be a pro-UMass crowd will be a tough task. 22:00: Contract terms for new Vikings pass rusher Za'Darius Smith were released, making it clear this is more like a one-year deal than a three-year deal. His cap hit is just over $3 million this season, giving the Vikings plenty of flexibility going forward. Some of that might be used on Chandon Sullivan, a slot corner and -- like Smith -- a former Packers defensive starter. 26:00: The NCAA men's basketball tournament is suddenly wide open after co-favorites Gonzaga and Arizona lost on Thursday.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of two big news conferences Wednesday from Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and new Twins shortstop Carlos Correa. Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the Vikings are in a "competitive rebuild" whereby they are trying to play for the present and future. It's a fine line to walk, and it often results in mediocrity. Correa, meanwhile, gave some details of how his stunning deal with the Twins came together so fast. 11:00: College basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to break down the men's and women's Sweet 16s and to give perspective on the first year of the Ben Johnson era with the Gophers. 27:00: An immature performance by the Wolves doomed them against Phoenix, but it could be a good lesson in the near future.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand examines the Vikings' splash signing of Za'Darius Smith, giving them bookend pass rushers who -- if healthy -- could make their defense very formidable. More than that, this is the first real departure move of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell era. If you were waiting for them to make their mark on the roster, this was the first domino. 6:00: Star Tribune beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to break down the all of the trade deadline moves made by the Wild, with the signature move being the acquisition of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Will these reinforcements be enough for the Wild to make a deep playoff run? 28:00: Ash Barty, tennis champion, is walking away at the top of her game and teaching us a lesson.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand tries to make sense of the flurry of moves among Minnesota teams lately -- no pun untended, since the biggest deal before Monday's NHL trade deadline involved the Wild dealing for goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. With all their additions, the Wild should be primed for the stretch run and the playoffs. There are no excuses for a lack of confidence, even if the results are subject to the whims of hockey. 7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Megan Ryan joins the show to talk about all the moves the Twins have made since the lockout ended, including the signing of Carlos Correa over the weekend. While the Twins were expected to be active in building their roster, the magnitude of the moves has been unexpected. Ryan breaks it all down. 25:00: The Vikings, meanwhile, are pursuing former Packers edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, and the Wolves lost a close one in Dallas that underscored the intensity of the upcoming playoffs.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started with by far the biggest surprise of all: the Twins signed Carlos Correa to a lucrative free agent contract. Even if it only ends up being for one season, Correa is the type of impact player, at an impact price, that changes perceptions about the team. Plus plenty of talk about the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments and the red-hot local teams.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wild and Wolves both being strong contenders to make the playoffs -- a rarity in their combined history. Those teams have only made the playoffs in the same year twice: the 2002-03 season and the 2017-18 season. Both still have work to do, but let's enjoy the far-too-infrequent dual competence. 5:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins the show to discuss the relatively quiet start to free agency for Minnesota. The reason is not complicated: They don't have any cap space. What they did clear with the one-year Kirk Cousins extension went quickly. But another decision looms by Sunday on Danielle Hunter. Plus Goessling says the Cousins deal, which includes a no-trade clause, doesn't necessarily mean a Cousins trade is out of the picture. 26:00: Davante Adams is headed out of Green Bay; the Gophers women's basketball team headed out of Green Bay with a win.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the growing confidence of the Timberwolves, who clinched at least a berth in the play-in round after beating the Lakers 124-104 at Target Center on Wednesday. They have managed to walk a fine line of playing with swagger and not going overboard this year, and it's part of their identity. Speaking of identity, the Wild rediscovered theirs -- at least for one game -- in a much-needed 4-2 win over Boston. 7:00: Rand welcomes Jim Andrews and Kris Atteberry to the show for something totally new: a preview of this year's Formula 1 racing season. If you don't know much about F1 -- or even if you do -- you will learn plenty. 28:00: Are the Vikings going to trade Danielle Hunter? We don't know. But we do know the Loons are adding a key player via trade.

Introduction: The Wild made an interesting trade Tuesday, sending center Nico Sturm to division rival Colorado for center Tyson Jost. On one hand, it was a classic "change of scenery" move with both players seeking different roles on new teams. But it also comes as the Wild has lost 12 of its last 16 games and is in need of a jolt down the stretch. You'll hear plenty from GM Bill Guerin, who still has faith in his team but clearly isn't happy with the direction this season has taken recently. 11:00: Host Michael Rand is joined by a panel of women's college basketball experts to help break down the NCAA tournament and the Final Four that is headed to Minneapolis in a couple of weeks. What are the key story lines and themes to watch. 20:00: The Vikings agreed to terms with dependable veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks on Tuesday, which might signal the end of the Anthony Barr era. Aaron Rodgers is going to put the Packers in salary cap jail at some point. And Baseball Prospectus is higher on the Twins than almost anyone else.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of Karl-Anthony Towns' 60-point game in the Wolves' 149-139 shootout win over San Antonio on Monday. KAT's comments after the game show how coach Chris Finch and his teammates are pushing the right buttons, leading Towns to play the best basketball of his career. 6:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show to break down the three big trades over the weekend. If the Twins are really trying to compete in 2022, there is plenty of work to be done -- and there is money to spend after shedding a lot of payroll in the Josh Donaldson deal. What other chess pieces will move in the three weeks leading up to the season, and what other battles is Miller watching down in Florida as camp opens? 29:00: The Vikings are still searching for a suitable replacement for Linval Joseph. They took their third swing in three years on Monday.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand to break down the big stories over the weekend. Where to start? Well, Rand and Reusse began with Kirk Cousins' contract extension with the Vikings, which added a year to his deal and guaranteed the QB another $35 million while lowering his cap hit for this season. The creative deal, which has a couple of void years tacked onto it, makes some sense. But Rand hates it from the standpoint of it representing a status quo that hasn't been working over the past four seasons. Plus three big Twins trades over the weekend left Rand and Reusse mostly scratching their heads. If there aren't more moves to come, it feels even more puzzling.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand runs through the highlights of the new collective bargaining agreement that ended the MLB lockout. It's going to be a fast and furious next few weeks as teams, particularly the Twins, scramble to fill out rosters and get ready for a season that starts April 7. 7:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show to set up the start of the new NFL league year next week. The Vikings haven't done much of anything yet, which means they will have plenty of significant moves in the next few days to get under the salary cap. Plus Krammer will take a look at players the Vikings might be targeting in terms of adding during free agency. 28:00: A wild Wild win ... and two years since the NBA shut down.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the flurry of quarterback activity in the NFL this week, including trades of Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz, in an attempt to gauge what Kirk Cousins' trade value might be if the Vikings move on from him. Rand is becoming more convinced as time goes on that the Vikings will trade him, and he 100% believes they should. 7:00: Minnesota State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) joins the show to talk about sports betting legislation that was introduced this week. What is the timeline from here? And if the bill passes, how long will it be until Minnesotans can place legal sports bets in the state? 27:00: Another lopsided win for the Wolves, another week lost for MLB and the end of the season for Minneapolis hockey.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes stock of the massive Tuesday in the NFL that saw the Packers retain Aaron Rodgers (at least for 2022 if not longer) while Russell Wilson was traded from Seattle to Denver. Both of those events taken in tandem should make the Vikings' offseason priority clear: Trade Kirk Cousins. The Packers will be prohibitive favorites to win the NFC North again in 2022, and Cousins could be the best remaining QB available in a trade. The window to make a trade is right now. 7:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk about the red-hot Wolves, who are aiming for their first six-game winning streak since 2004 against Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Karl-Anthony Towns is playing as well as he has ever played, the bench has provided much-needed depth ... and yet the Wolves can't make up much ground because the teams above them in the standings keep winning, too. 26:00: A much-needed Wild win and perhaps some good news in MLB negotiations.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand connects the dots on two of the biggest stories of the day -- one national and one local. First, Minnesota is getting closer to legalizing sports betting after new legislation was announced Monday that has the backing of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. It's part of a proliferation of sports wagering that has permeated the modern sports fan, perhaps influencing reaction to Calvin Ridley being suspended for a year on Monday by the NFL for wagering on games. 7:00: Gophers men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to examine further his recent piece on the 10 players who left the program after last season, what they are up to now and how their departures have influenced this year's last-place Minnesota team. 24:00: Aaron Rodgers maybe could possibly sort of make a decision soon ... the Wolves continued their recent strong play with a blowout win over Portland ... and the first Twins homestand of the year will be wiped out if there is no labor deal today.

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse take a look at the Wolves and Wild, two winter sports ships passing each other in the night. While the Wolves are surging and piling up wins, the Wild is getting booed off its home ice as losses pile up. Is this a trend that is likely to continue? Plus Reusse gets fired up (again) about MLB's myriad problems, including its labor woes, and gives some great insights into his visit to Cooperstown with Tony Oliva.

Introduction: The Wild needed a late rally to defeat a bad team on Thursday, but after coming in having lost six of its past seven games style points were not of the greatest importance. Head coach Dean Evason will take the grinding effort that produced a 5-4 win at Philadelphia and hope that the mistakes that made the game too-close-for-comfort will be erased in the future. 6:00: St. Paul Saints General Manager Derek Sharrer joins the show to talk about actual baseball. Spring training started for the Twins minor league teams. As the Twins' Class AAA affiliate, St. Paul could end up being the only show in town if MLB's labor stoppage continues. Their season opens in a month -- April 5 -- and while everyone with the team is rooting for a resolution to MLB's woes, they are also preparing to deliver baseball to fans. 19:00: An amazing stat about the Sacramento Kings leads host Michael Rand down a Timberwolves coaching rabbit hole.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Minneapolis boys' hockey team, a cooperative of all seven public high schools in the city, reaching the state tournament after a 3-1 section final victory over Delano. It's the first time any Minneapolis School has been in the boys' hockey state tournament since 1994. They will play Wednesday in the Class 1A state quarterfinals at Xcel Energy Center. 5:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand from Indianapolis with the latest from the NFL Scouting Combine. The big headline this week was GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acknowledging that with QB Kirk Cousins this offseason everything is "in play" -- whether that means a trade, an extension or some other option. 25:00: Jamison Battle's 39-point effort in a Gophers loss on Wednesday was a "what-if" moment for this season ... if not now, then when for the Wild? ... A wonderful Patrick Reusse column on Tony Oliva.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand lays out his case for why Rob Manfred is the worst commissioner of any sport during his lifetime. It's not just this year's labor dispute -- which has resulted in the first two series of the regular season being canceled -- but rather the cumulative effect of Manfred's seven years. 7:00: Star Tribune writer Randy Johnson joins the show to discuss three hot topics: The success of the Gophers men's hockey team, a big weekend for Gophers women's hockey and the outlook for Gophers football at the NFL Scouting Combine. 19:00: Speaking of the Scouting Combine, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had some interesting comments about Kirk Cousins on Tuesday. 24:00: A big Wolves win and a continued tailspin for the Wild.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that by virtue of a dramatic 127-122 win over Cleveland on Monday -- keyed by a Karl-Anthony Towns three-pointer in the final minute -- the Wolves have already passed their four-game post-All Star Break schedule test with one game to go. At 2-1 and set to face Golden State in a back-to-back on Tuesday, the Wolves now have a chance to be taken even more seriously. 6:00: MLB's labor negotiations intensified Monday and enough progress was made that the two sides extended the deadline to avoid missing the start of the regular season. But the whole process has left baseball fans frustrated, and Twins Daily founder Seth Stohs joins the podcast to give voice to some of that -- and to analyze how and if the Twins will be able to compete for a postseason berth in 2022. 25:00: The Wild is in the midst of a major funk ... the Packers left Aaron Rodgers out of an important photo ... and is the NBA expanding to Seattle and Las Vegas -- which would be good news for nervous Wolves fans.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a run through the weekend in sports, including: *The Gophers men's hockey team shut out Wisconsin twice and claimed the Big Ten title. The Gophers have been on a huge and somewhat unlikely run lately, fueled by goalie Justen Close. *MLB is headed for missed games if it can't resolve its labor situation today. Will there be any progress? *The Gophers men's and women's basketball teams had opposite results over the weekend, with the women winning and the men losing. One thing is for sure: Moral victories will no longer apply to either team next season.

Introduction: Whether it was the recognition of the post-break stretch run, the opponent or some combination of both, Thursday's Wolves game against Memphis had a playoff-like feel to it. The intensity was excellent, the game was entertaining and the result for the Wolves was earned in a 119-114 victory. Getting the No. 6 seed in the West will still be a long climb, but Thursday was an encouraging sign. 8:00: Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath joins the show ahead of Saturday's season opener in Philadelphia. He talks about the increased role for midfielder Hassani Dotson, expresses optimism about this year's roster and has a fresh perspective on the Michigan/Wisconsin altercation. 25:00: The Wild's recent mini-slide continued with a 3-1 loss in Toronto ... the Gophers women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day in style ... some encouraging words from new Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.