StribSports Daily Delivery

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'...

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 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, whic...

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...

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...

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...

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: Andre...

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 franchis...

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 pro...

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...

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 suspe...

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 Timberwol...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with comments from Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the scouting combine Tuesday. Both are correct in asserting the Vikings still have options at quarterback, but the time is coming soon to make a decision. You'll hear their comments and have a chance to read between the lines. 11:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves write...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' stunning comeback victory over West-leading Oklahoma City on Monday. Down 106-82 early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota stormed back to force overtime and eventually won 131-128. Jaden McDaniels continues to be a story for the Wolves, who according to Rand shouldn't fear anyone in the West. The Wild, on the flip side, got some concernin...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which unfortunately for Minnesota teams did not include a lot of successful basketball. The Gophers took a bad loss to Penn State, while the Wolves lost twice coming out of the break. Where does each team stand after those results? We also learned that Justin Ishbia is no longer in the running t...

Introduction: On a wide-ranging edition of the podcast, host Michael Rand starts with Canada's 3-2 overtime victory over Team USA in the Four Nations championship game. Plus a look at the Timberwolves' relatively soft schedule in March and the breakup between MLB and ESPN. 10:00: Jon Marthaler joins Rand to preview the Minnesota United season, which begins Saturday at LAFC. Is this the year the Lo...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with an important win for the Gophers women's basketball team, which knocked off Purdue 74-61 on Wednesday to solidify its NCAA tournament status. Plus a look at the confidence of Anthony Edwards and the shakiness of Luka's Lakers. 9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus: The Gophers have changed the narrative of their...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Gophers men's basketball team's stunning comeback in at UCLA late Tuesday. The Bruins missed their free throws and Minnesota capitalized, getting a huge performance from Dawson Garcia and three tremendous plays from Lu'Cye Patterson down the stretch. And UCLA coach Mick Cronin, denied his 500th career win, blamed ... the fans? 8:00: Kent Youngblood j...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the beginning of the period during which NFL teams can place the franchise tag on players. Much of the intrigue centers on quarterback Sam Darnold, but Rand thinks we should be paying attention to Byron Murphy Jr. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show to discuss his recent column on what athletes want from team owners. The subject tak...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The live viewing options were sparse because of the worst scheduling coordination in pro sports history. Unless you wanted to watch the NBA All-Star Game (nope) or the Four Nations Tournament (maybe later), you were stuck between seasons. But they found plenty to talk about, still: The Twins beg...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves' bounceback win over Oklahoma City, which gave them some good vibes going into the break. Young players have been stepping up lately. That bodes well for the future and also the present. Plus a near-comeback by the Gophers women's basketball team and a virtuoso performance by JuJu Watkins. 8:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' 103-101 loss to a Bucks team that was missing its two best players. Sure, Minnesota is also shorthanded. But this was a loss they couldn't afford, and it came on a night where Anthony Edwards shot a dreadful 10 for 33. 9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. Their topics: The impact of the Wolves ownership...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a listener question about Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson and the challenges he has faced. Rand also notes a tough ending for the Frost and another signing for the Twins. 12:00: Poetry is back! Rand and Keith Richotte Jr. revive their NFL poetry for the Super Bowl. 27:00: A dramatic reading of a long-lost letter and what remains unresolved for...