StribSports Daily Delivery

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started, naturally, with the Wolves' second consecutive thrilling home win over the Lakers, which gave Minnesota 3-1 series lead. Anthony Edwards was brilliant in a must-have game. Plus thoughts on the Wild, the Twins and a Vikings draft that at least one publication did not like at all.

Michael Rand and Ryan Kostecka break it down.

Michael Rand and Ryan Kostecka break it down postgame

Introduction: host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings' decision Thursday to take Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson No. 24 overall. They seemed to have other options to trade down and add depth, but they chose a player that fit a need. Was that the right move? Did they play it too safe? The Wild, meanwhile, left no doubt. They clobbered Vegas 5-2 again to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series. Can they finish the job? 11:00: Chris Hine joins Rand to talk about another big Game 3, with the Wolves hosting the Lakers on Friday night. Can the Wolves bring "that third kind of heat?" 32:00: A big series for the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the NFL Draft and the first round Thursday in Green Bay. The Vikings are on the clock at No. 24 with a range of options. The best one is probably to trade down and accumulate more picks to bolster depth they don't have now and will need in the future. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their Daily Delivery debate. The big question: Who do you have more faith in to win their first round playoff series, the Wolves or Wild? And what are the percent chances one, both or neither team advances? 31:00: A Twins win and a must-read from Patrick Reusse.

Host Michael Rand tackles four big subjects on today's episode: A 5-2 victory in Game 2 at Vegas helped the Wild even their series at 1-1 heading back to St. Paul. Should we be optimistic about the series overall? The Wolves let an opportunity slip away in a 94-85 loss in Game 2 against the Lakers. They will need an offensive recalibration in Game 3 Friday at Target Center. Emily Leiker joins Rand to set up the Vikings' options in the draft. Byron Buxton called game for the Twins.

Michael Rand and Ryan Kostecka break down the Game 2 loss by the Wolves.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two listener questions about the NFL Draft, including one that wonders if they need to function more like Rick Spielman this year. 10:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale joins Rand for a breakdown of a 7-15 team that is facing a big week with home games against the White Sox and Angels. If the Twins are still struggling after this week, sound the alarm. 32:00: The Wolves and Wild are playing very late tonight. Here are the keys to both playoff games.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included Game 1 for both the Wolves and Wild. The Wolves won in a rout over the Lakers while Wild fell 4-2 to Vegas, but Reusse liked the way both looked. Rand, on the other hand, senses a short series coming for the Wild. Plus Reusse unloads on the Twins after they were swept in Atlanta and pays homage to a high school basketball coaching legend.

Michael Rand, Chip Scoggins and Ryan Kostecka break down the Wolves' 117-95 victory in Game 1 over the Lakers on Saturday.

On Part II of Friday's Daily Delivery extravaganza, Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins host Michael Rand to set up the playoff series between Minnesota and Vegas.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts Part I of Friday's podcast with the Vikings. With less than a week to go before the draft, where are they at in their preparation? GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talked to reporters Thursday. Plus Aaron Rodgers also talked Thursday, shedding some light on his contact with the Vikings. 9:00: Chris Hine joins Rand to break down Wolves vs. Lakers. 28:00: A top prospect joins the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the latest Twins win and his own history of watching bad baseball. From the Atlanta Braves of the 1980s to the Twins of the late 1990s, some of his biggest investments have been with teams that had little to no chance of winning. 11:00: Claire de Lune, a musician and write who covers the Lakers for The Guardian, joins Rand to help set up the playoff series between the Wolves and Lakers. It's a matchup of star power vs. depth, with the Lakers carrying the designation of being the favorites. 36:00: Anthony Edwards is locked in.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, who can't seem to do anything the easy way. But a goal with 22 seconds left in their final regular-season game clinched a playoff spot. Can they compete with Vegas, a team against which they went 0-3 during the regular season, in the playoffs? Plus a look at schedules reveals it is going to be bonkers around here next week between the Wild, Wolves and NFL Draft. 11:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus: Wolves vs. Lakers, Twins vs. themselves and Niko Medved vs. the transfer portal. 33:00: Byron Buxton looks like himself again.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who lost again and now sit at 5-12. Three things stand out: Their pitchers have committed six errors this season, twice as many as any other staff in the majors; the smallest announced crowd in non-Covid Target Field history watched Monday's game; and the Twins are tied for their worst start in franchise history. Plus the Lynx made significant moves during Monday's WNBA Draft and Paige Bueckers went No. 1 overall to Dallas, as expected. 10:00: Marcus Fuller joins Rand to break down Niko Medved's work in the transfer portal so far this season. With six new transfer additions and more to come, where do the Gophers stand? 35:00: A big night with clear stakes for the Wild.

Chip Scoggins pinch hits for Patrick Reusse on Monday's episode with host Michael Rand. They start with the Wolves' win over Utah on Sunday, which set up a playoff matchup against the Lakers. Game 1 of the series is Saturday, with the Wolves needing to find a way to stop Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Can they stay composed enough to use their depth to their advantage? Plus the Wild had a huge win in Vancouver on Saturday, leaving them on the verge of clinching a playoff berth. The Twins are staggering at the plate, even after a good win Sunday. And Rory McIlroy had a Sunday to remember at Augusta.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' big 141-125 win over Memphis on Thursday, which included a huge third quarter and a better finish than Tuesday's meltdown against Milwaukee. Mike Conley was the steadying force as the Wolves assured themselves of no worse than the No. 6 seed (and likely better) if they win their last two games. The Twins, on the other hand, dropped to 4-9. That's the same pace as their 12-27 collapse at the end of last year. 10:00: Ben Goessling joins Rand to share Vikings insights gleaned from last week's Florida meetings. The two biggest questions at this point: What will they do in the draft? And where will they land with a second quarterback? 35:00: One possible backup QB for the Vikings is off the board.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, who really couldn't have asked for much more on Wednesday. Injured stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek returned and combined for six goals. The Wild needed everyone one of them, including Kaprizov's overtime winner, in a bonkers 8-7 victory. They gained ground in the playoffs and are close to securing a berth. Meanwhile the Twins had a night of similarly good news in a 4-0 win. 9:00: La Velle E. Neal III on the Twins, Wolves and Wild. 30:00: The Wolves have put themselves in close to a must-win situation tonight.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the epic meltdown by the Timberwolves, who lost a 24-point fourth quarter lead in a loss to Milwaukee. The Bucks threw a zone defense at the Wolves, who proceeded to look like a middle school squad. The most embarrassing part was that the Wolves, who desperately needed a win, didn't seem all that embarrassed. Plus the Twins lost a game with shoddy defense right around the time the Wolves were falling apart. They are 3-8 on the season. 9:00: Sarah McLellan joins Rand for a look at the Wild, who have four games left to try to hang onto their playoff spot. Will injured stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek return? 30:00: The Nuggets did what?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who fell to 3-7 with another sad loss to the Royals. Rocco Baldelli was ejected, bringing to mind another angry manager: the leader of the Durham Bulls in the fictional movie Bull Durham, who lamented that baseball is a simple game. "You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball." The Twins aren't good at any of those things right now. 9:00: Chris Hine joins Rand to break down the final four games of the Wolves season and the very crowded playoff race. 32:00: Florida wins the title and the Gophers land a recruit.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand look at the weekend in sports, starting with the Twins. They were three outs away from mostly erasing the bad vibes from their 0-4 start, but a late Astros rally thwarted those vibes and put the Twins at 3-6. The pitching hasn't been nearly as good as advertised so far, and the defense is worrisome. On a happier note, the Wild got a huge two points over Dallas, local superstar Paige Bueckers won an NCAA title and the Wolves found some more company in the crowded Western Conference playoff race.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with naming rights for Williams Arena, which the Gophers are pursuing as a revenue source. How much money would it bring in and what does it mean for the future of the building? Plus two listeners sound off on the idea of rehanging the 1997 Final Four banner. 8:00: The Wolves won in Brooklyn, keeping pace in the extremely competitive West. 12:00: Phil Miller joins from Target Field after the Twins' loss to the Astros in their home opener. Minnesota is 2-5 and its offense looks flat. 29:00: A look at the Wild's playoff push.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who won their second straight game after four losses to start the year. Harrison Bader has three homers already, making a bid for some more playing time. Plus the Wolves and Lynx sale moved one step closer to being official. 8:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins for the Daily Delivery Debate on the Vikings, Twins and Wolves. 31:00: A championship for the Gophers and a point for the Wild

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two dramatic wins on Tuesday. The Wolves fended off Denver and some of their own mistakes to prevail 140-139 in double overtime. It was a huge win in the playoff race, and it came with more twists and turns than one could imagine. Plus the Twins finally got their first win of the season, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to beat the White Sox 8-3. 13:00: Kent Youngblood joins the show to set up the Gophers women's basketball team playing Belmont in the WBIT championship game Wednesday. 30:00: A listener who used to work at Williams Arena shares the story of taking down the Final Four banner a quarter-century ago.

Host Michael Rand starts with the 0-4 Twins, who have been outscored 28-6 to start the season. Manager Rocco Baldelli was preaching patience after the latest drubbing, a 9-0 loss Monday to the White Sox, but this season is already at an urgent point before April began. 8:00: Jon Marthaler joins Rand to break down the good start by Minnesota United, to talk about the U.S. Men's National Team and to discuss the similarities and differences between the MLS TV model and what MLB might eventually want to do. 36:00: Kevin O'Connell's first comments on Aaron Rodgers, a key point for the Wild and Minnesota women's hoops in the spotlight.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started with the Twins, who had about as bad an opening series as possible in getting swept by the Cardinals. The starting pitching was largely bad. The offense was nonexistent. And the defense was suspect. We shouldn't overreact, Reusse says, but we also shouldn't underreact. Plus a discussion of the new "torpedo" bats that are helping the Yankees hit homers, the Wolves brawling (and winning) against Detroit and a young defenseman who should give the Wild a lift in a couple weeks.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Gophers men's hockey team, which neither made its own luck nor received any good fortune in the third period and overtime of a 5-4 NCAA tournament loss to UMass that ended their season Thursday. Was their passive approach or officiating to blame? Two things can be true at the same. Rand also dives into the Twins' opener and their brave new world of television, which included some good and bad from their 5-3 loss. 13:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus this week: Niko Medved, Twins predictions and the Wild's playoff push. 35:00: A great win for the Wild and a good win for Gophers women's basketball.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins TV situation, which frustratingly went down to the wire but was resolved just before this episode went live. We know what channels and carriers they will be on for Opening Day today and beyond. Plus Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah discussed J.J. McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers on Wednesday. We know where they stand, but the situation is still fluid. 14:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk about the final nine games of the season. The Wolves have five opponents they should beat and four that will be a bigger challenge. Which set of games is more daunting? 36:00: The Gophers men's hockey team heads to Fargo for NCAA regional play.

Host Michael Rand starts with Niko Medved's opening news conference. He came off as a genuine person and certainly didn't shy away from how much money it takes to win in college basketball these days. But the big question came late: Will you play St. Thomas? He seems open to it, which is a good thing. Plus, former Gophers coach Richard Pitino reportedly is on the move, too. 10:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale joins to talk about the season, which starts Thursday in St. Louis. Plus an update on the sale of the team and TV plans. 35:00: A loss for the Wild has made their playoff position a bit precarious.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves, who lost for the third time in four games. While this one was more forgivable in result (at Indiana), the style of play and focus lately have been lacking. It's a bad development for a team trying to fight for a playoff spot. Plus the Wild also lost. They have a very tough week coming up. 11:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a breakdown of why the Gophers hired Niko Medved as well as an examination of where the money is going to come from as athletic budgets venture into new territory. 26:00: A finalized Twins roster reveals a couple surprises and one big issue.

On a special Monday afternoon edition of the podcast, host Michael Rand and columnist Chip Scoggins break down the news that the Gophers men's basketball program has hired Colorado State's Niko Medved as the next coach.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in Minnesota sports, which starts with a game between Colorado State and Maryland. A buzzer-beater loss for Colorado State on Sunday means head coach Niko Medved is available. Will the Gophers hire him as soon as Monday? Plus a larger look at big schools dominating the NCAA men's basketball tournament and a preview of the Gophers men's hockey team in the NCAA tourney as well as the Twins starting their season this week.

Host Michael Rand starts with the dominance of Pharrel Payne (Texas A&M) and Elijah Hawkins (Texas Tech) on the first day of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Both ex-Gophers left for more NIL money this past offseason, which had a direct impact on Ben Johnson eventually getting fired. 10:00: Minnesota United soccer manager Eric Ramsay joins the show to talk about adjusting to Major League Soccer, his path to get here and what he has learned from other Minnesota teams. 34:00: Two key injuries and one big game.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves, who gave away another game to an inferior opponent on Wednesday in a 119-115 loss to the Pelicans. Turnovers and rebounding did the Wolves in, which speaks to a lack of maturity. Plus the Wild had a completely opposite game and the Gophers lost a player to the transfer portal. 10:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. This one is in the Gophers men's basketball program, quarterbacks and Royce Lewis.

Host Michael Rand starts with a bit of a curious rant about the flexibility MLB managers seem to crave when it comes to carrying a third catcher. It was a popular thing during Ron Gardenhire's time with the Twins, and now it seems Rocco Baldelli has been inflicted with the virus. Plus Rand looks at some fresh reports about Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings. 10:00: Star Tribune writer Randy Johnson joins Rand on three subjects: Gophers football, which begins spring practice this week; Gophers men's hockey, which awaits its NCAA fate; and Gophers wrestling. 27:00: An opportunity for the Wild, Wolves and Gophers women's hockey.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two big games Monday, which saw the Wild and Wolves change course. The Wild had been struggling to hang on through key injuries, but they managed an important (if boring) 3-1 win over the Kings. The Wolves let a banged-up Indiana team snap their eight-game winning streak, a game that brought the return of some bad habits. 9:00: Marcus Fuller joins Rand for a look at the Gophers men's basketball coaching search. Niko Medved has emerged as the front-runner, but the Colorado State coach will lead his team in the NCAA tournament later this week. What is the timeline and what should we be watching for in the search? 33:00: The Vikings have done a lot of really good things in the last week, including a trade for running back Jordan Mason.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which begins with a look at where the Gophers men's basketball coaching search is at the moment. It sounds like former U assistant and current Colorado State coach Niko Medved is the front-runner, but timing will make things interesting this week. Plus Reusse and Rand get into the Timberwolves' eight-game winning streak and another ill-timed injury for the Twins' Royce Lewis. And the Wild are in free-fall while the Loons somehow coughed up a three-goal lead this weekend.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a second-day thought on the Gophers men's basketball coaching situation. AD Mark Coyle fired Ben Johnson after four seasons, and there's a long list of potential replacements. One guy who would probably be on the list and really is an ideal coach for this era: Richard Pitino, the guy Coyle fired four years ago, who is thriving at New Mexico and could be in line for the Virginia job. 8:00: Star Tribune writer Ben Goessling joins Rand to break down the latest on the Vikings' free agency moves, which mostly have been about upgrading their offensive and defensive lines. But one question that hasn't gone away yet: What about Aaron Rodgers? 34:00: The Wild are really struggling to score.

In Part two of Thursday's Daily Delivery podcast, Chip Scoggins and Michael Rand break down the news that Ben Johnson has been fired as Gophers men's basketball coach. What were the underlying causes? What didn't work with Johnson? Who will AD Mark Coyle try to target in his next hire? And how will a new coach benefit from increased money being pumped into the program?

It's a newsy day on Daily Delivery! On Part One, host Michael Rand starts with the overnight news that Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson has been fired. 8:00: The Wolves rolled the Nuggets by 20 for their sixth consecutive victory. 12:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins from Florida for an update on the Twins, including the sale of the team. 34:00: Aaron Rodgers just won't go away.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings, who are going for it in free agency. Themes that have emerged: J.J. McCarthy is going to be the guy at QB this year; interior line play on both sides of the ball has been bolstered; and the Vikings clearly see themselves as contenders in 2025. 12:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand to break down red-hot Minnesota, which has won five straight games heading into Wednesday's showdown against Denver. 28:00: Wayzata did it again, this time winning at Hopkins to take another boys basketball section final.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings, who have been very busy in free agency in the first 24 hours of negotiations. Letting Sam Darnold go (to Seattle) opened up a bunch of cap space, which the Vikings are using to beef up the interior of their offensive and defensive lines. It's a new era of Vikings football. 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to break down the state of the men's team heading into the Big Ten Tournament. The 12th-seeded Gophers will play 13th-seeded Northwestern on Wednesday. Whenever the season ends, which could be very soon, a decision on Ben Johnson's future is sure to follow. 30:00: Listeners weigh in on the future of the Gophers men's basketball team.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Plenty of things happened on Sunday, but they had to start with the biggest one: Reusse joined the social media platform Bluesky after dumping Twitter/X after a dustup over a Beastie Boys song. They eventually got to sports, which included another strong Wolves victory (their fifth in a row), a Wild loss, a Gophers men's basketball loss and a surprising Gophers men's hockey defeat. Plus some thoughts on NFL free agency, with teams free to negotiate with players officially starting today even if they clearly have been negotiating for a while now. Where will QB Sam Darnold wind up?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild's second trade in the last week, this one for 6-6 Bruins forward Justin Brazeau. The move didn't clear salary cap space, so maybe more is to come for the Wild before Friday's trade deadline. Rand also looks at the boys' hockey state tournament and a big matchup Friday between Edina and Moorhead. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. With Neal in Florida for Twins spring training, this one was all about baseball. Three big Twins questions that sparked disagreement: Relying on the healthy of their three big players; the depth of the starting rotation; and just how good the bullpen really is. 26:00: A good result Thursday for the Twins and a listener in support of Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with three basketball games from Wednesday. The Gophers women lost in the Big Ten Tournament opener against Washington, leaving their NCAA tournament hopes in jeopardy. The Gophers men lost at home to Wisconsin, but a bigger question about their future emerged. And Jaden McDaniels had 29 points in a Wolves win, continuing a stretch of excellence. 11:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand to break down everything he learned during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Where do things stand with Sam Darnold? And who will the Vikings be targeting in the draft and free agency? 33:00: Defensive players to watch in free agency.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves, who produced a satisfying result Tuesday in a 126-112 win over Philadelphia. The game was tied late in the third quarter before Minnesota pulled away from the slumping, short-handed 76ers. Facing a bunch of beatable teams, can the Wolves lock in and stack up some wins? Plus Rand dissects the news that the Vikings didn't use the franchise tag on QB Sam Darnold. 10:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for a look ahead to Friday's NHL trade deadline. The Wild, who won 4-3 late Tuesday at Seattle, are in a precarious place with their salary cap and with injuries to three of their top players. 30:00: Wednesday is a huge day for Gophers basketball.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the complex world of NFL finances, which makes the Vikings' decision on whether to keep Sam Darnold far more difficult than it might have a generation or two ago. Plus an opportunity tonight for the Wild and Wolves, and why they can't afford a letdown. 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a further exploration of Scoggins' recent project on the changing landscape of high school sports. Demographic shifts have altered the landscape, particularly in hockey. 24:00: Star Tribune high school sports reporter David La Vaque checks in with thoughts on the upcoming boys' hockey state tournament. 29:00: A big week for Gophers basketball.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a much-needed victory for the Timberwolves on Sunday night in Phoenix. Reusse compares Anthony Edwards to Randy Moss, but not necessarily in a good way. From there, they get into a pair of 1-0 victories for the Wild and Loons, with Reusse decrying the lack of attacking spirit from Minnesota United. Bill Guerin is cranky about being asked all the time about injured stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. Plus thoughts on Gophers basketball, the Twins and Sam Darnold.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' loss to the Lakers on Thursday, which had a number of subplots. A report suggested that Dallas reached out to the Wolves about a Luka Doncic for Anthony Edwards trade before they dealt Doncic to the Lakers. Rand wonders if he would make that trade. Plus Ant picked up his 16th technical foul Thursday, earning an ejection and likely suspension for Friday's game. 10:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling has all sorts of updates from the scouting combine in Indianapolis. We know how long Kevin O'Connell's contract is, and Goessling also learned things about other contract negotiations. Plus an update on Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins. 27:00: The Wild's slide.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Gophers women's basketball team's loss to Washington on Wednesday, a blow to their NCAA tourney hopes. Minnesota lacks impressive victories this season and fell to 8-9 in conference play with the home loss. Plus Rand notes that Detroit has won eight straight games, meaning the Pistons are very likely to give up their first-round pick to the Timberwolves in the 2025 draft. 10:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand on three subjects for their weekly debate segment: the impact of Justin Ishbia leaving the Twins ownership picture; whether the Gophers men's basketball team will even reach the Big Ten tournament; and whether the Vikings will use the franchise tag on Sam Darnold. 28:00: Players love the Vikings.