Introduction: Your bleary-eyed host Michael Rand returned home from the Gophers' 19-17 loss to North Carolina on Thursday night, grabbed a few hours of sleep, then tried to make sense of it at the start of today's show. The best way to describe it: There were very few figurative fireworks in a close but uninspiring game. And the literal fireworks at the end, mistakenly shot off when Minnesota missed a potential winning field goal in the final seconds, were a fitting end to it all. 9:00: Dana Wessel, a radio morning show personality on 93X as well as a movie expert (and friend of Rand), joined the podcast for a fun segment on the best kids sports movies of the 1990s. Which ones hold up the best and should be shown to the next generation? 40:00: It's a big weekend for Pablo Lopez and the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who lost again and are 1-5 on this homestand. Manager Rocco Baldelli attributed their recent slide to one of many streaks they've had this season. The Twins and their fans better hope he's right because any help for a sagging roster has been slow to come, if at all. The Lynx are going in the other direction, though, surging into second place in the WNBA and looking every bit like a title contender. 9:00: Rand welcomes in the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen for part of Thursday's football feast. Paulsen gives insights into his Dream Team of the top high school football players in the entire state of Minnesota and sets the stage for Thursday's first big slate of games. 22:00: Randy Johnson provides the second helping of football, getting listeners ready for Thursday's Gophers football opener against North Carolina.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two emails from listeners. Shane is blaming himself for J.J. McCarthy's injury because of a parallel his life to Teddy Bridgewater's injury eight years ago. And Bob thinks the Twins have missed some critical chances to close the gap on Cleveland even though they had a strong overall homestand and good win Thursday in Texas. 13:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson gives us the latest on running back Darius Taylor's hamstring injury and goes game-by-game through the entire 12-game schedule with Rand. 36:00: The Lynx are back and didn't miss a beat; the Wolves are being treated (correctly) as one of the NBA's top teams.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Twins offense through eight games, finding a team that is second to last in runs per game at 2.88 and struggling to sustain rallies. There are multiple reasons for the poor start at the plate, but the net effect is a team that is now 3-5 and not looking very dangerous at the plate. 11:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a look at all the potential quarterbacks available in the draft. What will the Vikings end up doing? And what is their best-case scenario with the draft a little more than two weeks away? 34:00: UConn triumphs and the Gophers men's hockey team gets a key addition.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Women's basketball again took center stage, with South Carolina capping an undefeated season by outlasting Iowa and Caitlin Clark in Sunday's NCAA title game. Iowa advanced after a controversial offensive foul helped it defeat UConn in the semifinals. On the men's side, Purdue and UConn will offer a contrast in styles in Monday's title game. Reusse and Rand also get into the Twins, whose early offensive struggles are a bad sign for a team that will need a more balanced approach to be successful this season. And the Wolves won a key game out west against the Lakers, keeping alive their chances of being the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, whose playoff hopes were almost completely dashed with a 5-2 loss to Colorado on Thursday. It's been a middling year for the franchise. Can it get any better next season, the final year of salary cap jail? 6:00: Friday is a huge night for women's college basketball with the national semifinals. Plus an interesting WNBA mock draft says Angel Reese will wind up on the Lynx. 11:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a look at the Twins. After a loss in their home opener Thursday, they are 3-3 and are struggling at the plate. What takeaways do we have from the season so far? 32:00: A sign of the times for Gophers men's basketball.

Host Michael Rand starts with some key games from Wednesday. Anthony Edwards broke out of his shooting slump by making five three-pointers as the Wolves moved back into first place in the Western Conference. The Twins hit a home run for the first time since their opening game, keying a win over the Brewers and sending the team back to the Target Field opener with confidence. And the Gophers women's basketball team advanced to the finals of the WNIT. 11:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer Tony Kennedy joins Rand to talk about a unique story he is working on. Which of the 11 states that have Big Ten schools is the best for deer hunting? 32:00: Stefon Diggs wore out his welcome again.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the good and the bad from three Minnesota games Tuesday. The Wolves won and kept pace in the West, but Anthony Edwards is now 0-for-19 on threes in his last few games. They can't afford an Ant slump in the playoffs. The Twins lost 3-2 and their home run leader (Royce Lewis) has been injured for all but three innings this season. They also aren't getting enough innings from starting pitchers. The Wild won, but time is running out -- a shame because they are actually playing pretty well since the break. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a look at the Gophers men's basketball program in the wake of losing several players to the transfer portal. How is a program supposed to improve in an era of instant transfers as well as name, image and likeness? Scoggins and Rand also set up what should be a great women's Final Four matchup between UConn and Iowa. 36:00: Women's basketball is setting TV records.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the biggest stories in sports. They started with Monday's thrilling NCAA women's basketball games, as Iowa's Caitlin Clark and UConn's Paige Bueckers dazzled fans and set up what should be a Final Four matchup for the ages on Friday. Reusse also shed more light on the Timberwolves ownership situation and his conversations with Glen Taylor. Plus he has a theory that the NBA probably doesn't like all the acrimony between the Taylor side and the Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez side. But let's not pretend any of this really influences how the players play on the court. Plus thoughts on the Twins' opening series and the Frozen Four.

On a jam-packed episode of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand starts with the brewing ownership drama with the Timberwolves. Glen Taylor announced Thursday that the Wolves and Lynx are no longer for sale after investors Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez missed a payment deadline to become majority owners. But Lore and A-Rod have a different version of the story. 7:00: On a normal day, the Twins winning their MLB opener and losing Royce Lewis to injury would have been the top story -- or at least shared the spotlight with the Gophers men's hockey team rallying to win 3-2 in the NCAA tournament. 12:00: Star Tribune high school sports editor Kevin Bertels joins Rand for a look at the impact of transfers on the prep sports landscape, particularly the recent boys' basketball state tournament. 32:00: Speaking of transfers, the Gophers have a bunch of players in the men's basketball transfer portal, threatening the progress are making as a program.

Host Michael Rand pauses to note the Timberwolves' 50th victory of the season Wednesday and what that means in the context of their franchise history. It's just the fifth time they've reached that mark. This is already going to be the second-best season in team history. Can it be No. 1? Plus some optimism as the Twins start the year. 10:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand fresh from the owners meetings in Orlando, where he gained valuable insights from head coach Kevin O'Connell into the process the Vikings will use to evaluate quarterbacks leading up to the draft. 35:00: Transfer portal news for the Gophers men's basketball team and a big opportunity for the Gophers men's hockey team.

On the second half of Wednesday's podcast extravaganza, host Michael Rand welcomes in Star Tribune Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale for an advance of the Twins season that begins Thursday in Kansas City. There is earned optimism that the offense will be an asset this season, and you'll hear from Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa about just how confident the team at the plate. But pitching depth could be a question after losing two key starters off of last year's division-winning squad as well as several relievers to spring training injuries.

Host Michael Rand starts with a look at the Vikings' decision to let go of kicker Greg Joseph, who signed Tuesday with the rival Packers. Rand thinks it was a good move by the Vikings and that he had lost confidence in Joseph in the past year. Plus two more interesting mock drafts. 9:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at how Minnesota has adapted to life without Karl-Anthony Towns. Down the stretch of the season, what is a realistic goal for the Wolves? 33:00: The Gophers women's basketball team continues thanks to two key players returning from injury.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand toward the end of the week instead of at the start. Rested up from a rustic trip into the Woods, Reusse has all sorts of thoughts on whether the banged-up Twins can sustain their momentum on a tough upcoming road trip. Reusse and Rand also get into the impact of J.J. McCarthy being out for the season and the consideration that it might just be one of "those" years for the Vikings. And the Lynx return to action Thursday after a monthlong Olympic break.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is intrigued by the Vikings' process as they spend the next month getting to know several candidates to be their QB of the future -- particularly the role that star receiver Justin Jefferson will play. 7:00: Star Tribune Gophers hockey and football writer Randy Johnson joins the show to preview the NCAA men's hockey regional. Minnesota will begin play in Sioux Falls against Nebraska Omaha on Thursday and needs two wins to reach the Frozen Four in St. Paul. Plus how does new QB Max Brosmer look in spring practices? 26:00: North Dakota hockey tickets will set you back a lot of money ... gambling in sports is dominating headlines ... it's the NCAA women's basketball tournament's time to shine.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. It's one of the busiest times of the year, with basketball dominating the landscape, so they started with another good Timberwolves win Sunday over the Warriors. From there, the conversation took a lot of twists and turns -- from college basketball to the Twins, Shohei Ohtani's mess, back to high school basketball and eventually college hockey. The Twins open their season Thursday, the same day the Gophers open the NCAA men's hockey tournament against Omaha.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a couple of interesting Day 1 story lines from the NCAA men's basketball tournament as he tries to get himself into college hoops again. Don't show anything other than the Gonzaga game is one key takeaway. 9:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show to talk about the team's recent rash of injuries and how they will test Minnesota's pitching depth. Will the Twins be in the market at some point for another proven starter? 30:00: What would it take for the Vikings to move up to various spots at the top of the draft?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand walks listeners through the Star Tribune's story on how a Timberwolves executive allegedly had his hard drive stolen by a disgruntled subordinate. Rand also gets into the Wild's damaging 6-0 loss to the Kings, which put a dent in Minnesota's playoff hopes. 8:00: A conversation with Susan Sheridan Tucker, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling. More than 250,000 Minnesotans are estimated to have a gambling problem, and March is problem gambling awareness month. 39:00: ESPN's story on Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter is another don't-miss read.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft, which has the Vikings taking Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy at No. 11. Kiper also suggests the Patriots might be willing to trade down from No. 3, which could put Drake Maye in play for the Vikings -- whom Kiper calls "the most interesting team in this draft" after last week's trade for the No. 23 pick. 8:00: A strong effort by the short-handed Wolves came up short in a key game against Denver. Get used to that sort of tension for the rest of the season. 12:00: Kent Youngblood joins Rand for a look at the NCAA women's basketball tournament, Caitlin Clark and what the Gophers need to do to join the party next season. 30:00: A clutch win for Ben Johnson's Gophers, a rise up the standings by the Wild and more concerns about Twins pitching depth.

Introduction: Anthony Edwards had another transcendent moment Monday with a massive poster dunk that sparked the Wolves to a key win over Utah. With several key Minnesota players injured, Edwards is finding another gear down the stretch this season. Plus host Michael Rand looks at a Twins injury situation that is suddenly very unsettled. 10:00: Star Tribune men's college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand for a look at the postseason. Need help picking winners in your NCAA bracket? Marcus can help. Also, they talk about former Gophers coaches Dan Monson and Richard Pitino making it to the Big Dance as well as the Gophers' prospects for next season. 32:00: Joshua Dobbs didn't quite cash in; the Wild's goalie situation is getting complicated.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournament fields are set, and the men's side has some familiar names from the past. Both Dan Monson and Richard Pitino are coaching in the men's tournament, leading to a discussion of Gophers men's basketball history. Ben Johnson's team, meanwhile, received an invite to the NIT. Reusse gives the Vikings high marks for their moves in free agency so far -- including, most importantly, letting go of Kirk Cousins. Plus a few stray thoughts on the Wolves and college wrestling.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with comments Thursday from Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell, who did their best to dispel the narrative that perhaps they didn't align on whether to keep Kirk Cousins. Also, Rand takes issue with Adofo-Mensah once again saying the Vikings though they could win a Super Bowl with Cousins. If they did, he would still be here. 14:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale joins Rand for a look at spring training. Less than two weeks before the start of the season, there are very few roster battles. But there is intrigue all across the team. 31:00: A win and a strong debut for the Wild; a disappointing loss for the Gophers.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spends the early part of the show on three big takeaways from Kirk Cousins' introductory news conference Wednesday in Atlanta. You'll hear what Cousins was looking for from the Falcons -- which give us a lot of clues about what he wasn't getting in Minnesota. 10:00: Star Tribune editor Jeff Day and sports intern Gavin Dorsey join Rand for an in-depth conversation about Name, Image and Likeness. Both Day and Dorsey are part of the Star Tribune's series on NIL, which is transforming college sports. 44:00: A key Viking is coming back, and the Gophers have a big game on Thursday.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was as surprised as many of you to see the Wolves pivot from a 22-point second-quarter deficit at the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday into an 18-point victory. It was an important win for the Wolves, who are still trying to adapt to life without Karl-Anthony Towns while maintaining high seed in the West. The Wild, meanwhile, picked up two points with Kirill Kaprizov continued to shine. But time is running out. 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for some Kirk Cousins talk. The two big discussion points: Would the Vikings and Cousins make the same decision in 2018, when Cousins signed as a free agent, if they could do it all over again? And how do the Vikings navigate the draft when everyone knows they need a quarterback? 36:00: Danielle Hunter got a nice payday, and a Jonny Flynn anniversary.

Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a quick rundown of the bad news that came Minnesota's way on Wednesday. First, then Vikings announced that quarterback J.J. McCarthy's meniscus tear will require a season-ending surgery, an outcome that wasn't surprising but is still a buzzkill for this season. Goessling and Rand analyze the impact of that news. Plus receiver Jordan Addison left Wednesday's joint practice in Cleveland on a cart. Though coach Kevin O'Connell said that the injury is to Addison's ankle and doesn't appear serious, it was not the scene anyone needed after the McCarthy news.

Host Michael Rand spends a bunch of time on all of the major moves by the Vikings since mid-day Monday. Kirk Cousins is gone; Rand talks about Atlanta's absurd offer, praise for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and whether the Falcons ultimately saved the Vikings from themselves. Plus Rand has more on new quarterback Sam Darnold, running back Aaron Jones and more. 18:00: Kent Youngblood joins Rand for a discussion of women's basketball -- everything from the Gophers to Caitlin Clark to the Lynx in 2024. 36:00: Intrigue for the Wild.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at Minnesota sports at a time when so much is happening. Reusse recalls seeing Caitlin Clark more than two years ago, when she was already great but before all the attention, and marvels at where things are now after this weekend's Big Ten Tournament at Target Center. Reusse also talks about his recent column on Lou Nanne, who said this weekend's boys high school hockey tournament will be his last as a broadcaster. Plus Reusse and Rand get into the biggest story. The Vikings seem to be the only team not playing in Minnesota right now, but Kirk Cousins' impending free agency will dominate the day.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand marvels at the Thursday performance of Anthony Edwards, who dominated offensively down the stretch against Indiana and made an incredible game-preserving block in a 113-111 Timberwolves victory. On the same day the Wolves learned Karl-Anthony Towns would be out at least four weeks, it was a huge performance. It was also a reminder of how important it is to have stars -- something we will learn again Friday as Caitlin Clark takes over Target Center. 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about what's at stake the rest of this season -- and next year -- for Ben Johnson's team. 27:00: A Wild win, a trade and an unbelievable high school hockey streak continues.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand lauds the Gophers women's basketball team for regrouping and winning its opening round game of the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center. Even though it was just a game featuring the No. 11 and No. 14 seeds, it felt important for a few reasons. The Gophers men, on the other hand, had a bad night when they could least afford it. 8:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a long look at the team's late-game offensive woes. The challenge will be even more daunting now that reports have emerged that Karl-Anthony Towns is out indefinitely with a torn meniscus. 35:00: All the things the Vikings need plus a tribute to Lou Nanne.

Introduction: We are days away from knowing which direction the Vikings are headed at quarterback. Conventional wisdom has shifted in recent days to him leaving -- likely to Atlanta -- but host Michael Rand takes a different approach during this unknown time. He talks about how the decision to keep or let go of Cousins will impact Vikings decisionmakers, potentially shifting more of the burden to Kevin O'Connell if Cousins is gone. Plus two big games for Gophers basketball teams on Wednesday. 9:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to look ahead to Friday's NHL trade deadline. With the Wild hanging onto the fringes of the playoff race but probably starting to look toward the future, which players are candidates to move before the week is over? 30:00: A shootout thriller for Minnesota's PWHL team and the greatest time of the year for boys' hockey.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dissects the Timberwolves' 4-3 home stand, which included a ton of back-to-back games plus wins over the teams they were supposed to beat and losses to all the true contenders. It leaves Minnesota 43-19 with 20 games left -- and still in search of a little more consistency before the playoffs arrive. 8:00: D. Orlando Ledbetter, longtime Falcons beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution joins Rand for a breakdown of Atlanta's quarterback pursuit. With Kirk Cousins approaching free agency next week, Ledbetter says the current Vikings QB will be Atlanta's No. 1 target if he becomes available. Will the Falcons offer more stability than Minnesota? 25:00: Rand connects the dots between the Falcons, Vikings and Broncos QB situations. Could Russell Wilson wind up in Minnesota? 31:00: The end of the road for Josh Donaldson.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports and a look ahead to a busy week. It must be March because Reusse and Rand got into a bunch of topics, including: The Timberwolves' sputtering offense, particularly in late-game situations ... another bad blowout loss for the Gophers women's basketball team ... and Reusse's impressions of the Twins down in Florida. But that wasn't it. They also had a little hockey talk and took a deeper dive into Reusse's burgeoning soccer expertise after attending Saturday's Minnesota United home opener. Come for the sports talk. Stick around for Reusse ripping ... kids doing a spelling bee?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes hockey-heavy in the opening segment. The Wild's 6-1 loss at Nashville, which dropped Minnesota eight points behind both the Predators and Kings in the chase for the two Wild Card spots, was very damaging. With just a week until the trade deadline, the Wild's playoff odds are not promising. Plus a college hockey snub and a huge high school hockey upset. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand from Indianapolis, where its been a newsy week for the Vikings at the Scouting Combine. Krammer has good insights into the market for Kirk Cousins and what a potential deal to return to Minnesota might look like. And he tells us which quarterback we should pay particular attention to when it comes to the Vikings and the first round of the draft. 35:00: The Vikings say good-bye to Alexander Mattison; Caitlin Clark announces she is saying good-bye to college basketball.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spends the opening part of the show on the Caitlin Clark phenomenon. The Iowa star had 33 points against Gophers at Williams Arena on Wednesday, breaking the Division I women's basketball scoring record. It was a remarkable performance that underscored Clark's brilliance but also the downward spiral of the Gophers, who lost the game 108-60. Plus thoughts on the men's team's loss at Illinois and the Wolves' win over Memphis in a basketball-heavy first segment. 13:00: A quick switch to hockey as Rand welcomes in Randy Johnson to talk about a big weekend for the Gophers men and women, plus a big game Thursday for the Wild. 27:00: Brian Flores in Year 2 for the Vikings is a big deal.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand retraces the last couple years of Kirk Cousins with the Vikings, all the way to comments from head coach Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at Tuesday's NFL Scouting Combine. The Vikings are saying they want Cousins back, which probably means a multi-year deal with guaranteed money. But if that was true, they also could have signed him a year ago. What changed between then and now? Also, the Vikings just hired a coach who once broke their heart. 10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand from Florida right after watching Byron Buxton play center field for the first time in 554 days. Buxton's health is always dicey, but he's as happy and healthy as he's been in a long time, Miller reports. Plus other nuggets from Fort Myers. 28:00: The Wolves keep winning and the Wild take a step back.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the debut of Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews and just how much Minnesota is relying on young throwers drafted in the middle-to-late rounds by Derek Falvey. Is this the arrival of the much-anticipated Falvey pitching pipeline? And if so, how will Matthews, David Festa, Bailey Ober and Louie Varland fare down the stretch of a pennant race? Rand also makes two big points about J.J. McCarthy's injury and its impact on this year's Vikings. 14:00: Rand welcomes in Star Tribune reporter Jeff Day, who wrote the story of the week about a dispute over a house on Lake Minnetonka that has former Viking Chad Greenway as a key character. Plus Rand and Day talk about their favorite subject, the Timberwolves. 37:00: Another significant injury, this time with the Gophers football team.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at Monday's Twins trade from three perspectives. They targeted a player they wanted, Manual Margot, and got him; they got insurance against a Byron Buxton setback right as he is ready to play center field again; and they depleted their 2021 draft class. Plus a quick thought on Minnesota United. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand on a number of subjects. Scoggins will be at Williams Arena on Wednesday to witness the spectacle of Caitlin Clark when Iowa faces the Gophers. What makes her so special? Plus thoughts on the Wolves and later the Vikings. 34:00: Are the Vikings becoming the old Wild?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Reusse is down in Florida for Twins spring training and remains concerned about the team's pitching staff. He and Rand went deep on Joe Pohlad's comments last week about payroll and wondered whether Louie Varland will make the Opening Day roster. The Gophers men's basketball team had been hot from three-point range lately, but they cooled off in a 73-55 loss at Nebraska on Sunday. At 8-8 in the Big Ten, the Gophers still have a lot of work to do to be in NCAA tourney contention. The Gophers women's basketball team, meanwhile, will be the latest to try to slow down Iowa star Caitlin Clark. She'll be at a sold out Williams Arena on Wednesday -- and then back again early next month for the Big Ten Tournament.

Jeff Day of the Star Tribune joins host Michael Rand to discuss his story on Max Exsted, a 16-year-old from Savage who is one of the best junior tennis players in the world. What does it take to be one of the best junior tennis players in the world? Exsted, a teenager from Savage, is traveling the world to find out. You'll learn all about him and his journey on this special weekend episode.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the latest Gophers men's basketball win, a big one Thursday against Ohio State. Ben Johnson is in the conversation for conference coach of the year, and he is preaching process over results. Enough good results, though, could get Minnesota into the NCAA tournament. 8:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand to talk about Minnesota's pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference as the post-break schedule resumes Friday against Milwaukee. Plus they break down the extension for point guard Mike Conley Jr. and look ahead to a complicated summer. 27:00: Rand is wondering about the Twins' pitching staff. Baseball players are wondering about pants.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand took note of Twins executive Joe Pohlad giving an honest interview on WCCO radio earlier this week, when he said the Twins are not in the market for any of the remaining big-ticket MLB free agents. Rand appreciates the candor but doesn't like the message. This team has a lot of momentum from last year. Why close off opportunities to get better? Plus Rand weighs in on La Velle E. Neal's strong column on Gophers baseball and softball at U.S. Bank Stadium. 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to give good perspective on Minnesota's improvement and what it means to be a contender to reach the NCAA tournament. Plus a look at some recent lineup changes and some of the best high school dunkers in Minnesota. 32:00: Another way to look at the Vikings and Kirk Cousins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the approved 12-team College Football Playoff format and comes to the conclusion that the landscape of the sport going forward will both help and hurt the Gophers. They will have a harder time competing for a Big Ten title in a loaded conference, but during their truly special seasons they should be able to compete for a playoff spot. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand on a number of subjects, including Minnesota United's head coach search, big-name free agents still available in MLB and how the Vikings can't ignore their defense in free agency. 32:00: Disappointing losses for the Wild and Gophers women's basketball teams.

Introduction: On a jam-packed episode of the podcast, host Michael Rand starts out with the Wild's 10-goal outburst against Vancouver -- the best team in the NHL -- on Monday, which included six goals over a six-minute span from late in the second period to the early part of the third. Minnesota set all sorts of records in the victory, which helped the Wild creep closer to a playoff spot. 6:00: Mike Conley Jr. and the Wolves agreed on a two-year extension, which will solidify the team's future at point guard while muddying the offseason salary picture. 10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale joins Rand from Florida to break down the big early spring training stories. The biggest so far seems to be Byron Buxton's health and optimism, both of which are welcome signs for the Twins. 31:00: Minnesota United is closing in on its next head coach, and he's seven years younger than any other head coach in Major League Soccer.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand on Monday's show, which features Reusse remembering some of the best moments -- and biggest changes -- from the first Twins spring training he covered in 1974 until now. The characters make the game, and Reusse has seen a lot of them in the last half-century down in Florida. 26:00: Speeding back to the present, Reusse and Rand get into the Gophers men's basketball team's strong win over Rutgers on Sunday. Aside from a three-minute blip, it was as good as Minnesota can play, Reusse said. 35:00: On the not so bright side, the NBA All-Star Game continues to be a farce. Unless you like final scores of 211-186.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at over-under totals set for Big Ten football teams in 2024 and can't help but be alarmed by where the Gophers are. Long story short: Odds suggest they have the best chance to be the worst team in the league. The Gophers basketball team, meanwhile, missed a chance at an upset in Purdue. 10:00: Star Tribune writer Rachel Blount joins the show for a look at the World Cup cross-country ski event at Wirth Park this weekend. A huge crowd is expected for an event many years in the making -- one that wouldn't be possible without the work of Minnesota's Jessie Diggins. 26:00: The Wolves cruised into the All-Star break with another lopsided win, but things will heat up after the break. ... Caitlin Clark continues to amaze. ... Rob Manfred is speaking Rand's language when it comes to streaming games.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand sees the Wild's four-game post-break winning streak and wonders if they can get this sort of goaltending on a more consistent basis. Their goalie play has been a weak link so far this season, but if it's better down the stretch the playoffs could be in sight. Plus a look at a big day coming for the Wolves on ESPN next week. 9:00: Rand welcomes Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins for some interesting talk about the Vikings and Gophers football teams. It's a big offseason for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. It could be a big 2024 for head coach Kevin O'Connell. And they get into the P.J. Fleck-to-UCLA rumors and whether O'Connell or Fleck could feel the heat in 2024 if they don't have good seasons. 35:00: Mike Zimmer is introduced in Dallas and sounds happy.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Monday's double dose of concerning news. After a very encouraging Saturday preseason debut, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy was held out of Monday's practice with a sore knee. And in the midst of an 8-3 win over the Royals on Monday, Byron Buxton had to leave the game with a hip problem. Even without knowing the timetables for either injury, that's not the news anyone wanted. 13:00: "Higher" by Creed became an unofficial anthem of the Vikings during a winning streak last year. On today's show, Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti joins Rand to talk about that phenomenon and other aspects of the band as they prepare to play Treasure Island on Saturday. 26:00: The Jets are being the Jets.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has details on the latest Timberwolves victory, which included a three-point barrage from Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the fourth quarter to put away the Blazers. Minnesota is surging into the All-Star break and looks to have the depth of a true contender. 9:00: Star Tribune Gophers football and men's hockey beat writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a breakdown of his busy weekend. As the hockey team was earning back-to-back shutouts, Johnson was also chasing down rumblings that P.J. Fleck was a candidate to coach at UCLA. That didn't come to fruition, but Johnson has good details on the process and why Fleck is still at Minnesota. 26:00: An interesting men's Frozen Four stat, a struggling Gophers team and a stray thought about Kevin O'Connell.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand opens with two impressive Minnesota road victories from Monday night. The Wolves dominated the third quarter in winning their Western Conference showdown with the Clippers. The game was also a seamless transition to adding Monte Morris into the rotation, and he helped keep several other players fresh. The Wild, meanwhile, earned a strong win at Vegas. Whether it's too little, too late is still yet to be determined. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins the show to break down the financial implications of a complicated Vikings offseason. It's officially the offseason, and the new league year begins in a month. The clock is ticking on a decision on Kirk Cousins -- and potentially on selecting a new quarterback in the draft. How does that domino impact the salary cap, a Justin Jefferson extension and more? 39:00: The Twins TV deal wasn't exactly what anyone wanted.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, leading of course with Sunday's Super Bowl. Kansas City won 25-22 in overtime over San Francisco, showing again why having the best QB on the planet matters in crucial moments. What did the game tell us about both teams -- and perhaps what did it tell us about the Vikings and Kirk Cousins now that the offseason is officially here. 15:00: Reusse and Rand get into the P.J. Fleck-to-UCLA speculation that perked up and died down over the weekend. Minnesota is actually a better job than UCLA. But why does Fleck's name come up so often when there are coaching vacancies? 26:00: Ben Johnson's Gophers lost a tough in in Iowa, while Reusse gives us a head start on Twins spring training with some early insights from Florida.