Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 1.7.26
The Takeout turns five years old this week, minus a couple elongated hiatuses. Thanks for reading around 500 versions of this thing.
Koi Perich enters the portal and if I’m P.J. Fleck, I don’t take the cornerback back if he finds the waters not bluer elsewhere. Perich was a freshman sensation. This year? Not so much, especially as the Gophers tried him for a minute on offense, too. Yesterday, he Gophers got portal commitments from former Michigan State cornerbacks Aydan West and his brother, Elisha West, and former Southwest Minnesota State safety Parker Knutson.
Wolves Blitz Hawks for Third Straight Win
How much better is the NBA’s Western Conference than the East? Miami is 20-17 but just turtled against the Timberwolves for the second time in less than a week last night at Target Center. Minnesota exploded for a 122-94 win. They’ve beaten their last three opponents - all out of the East - by a combined 64 points. Minnesota has a home-and-home with another middle-of-the-road Eastern opponent (Cleveland) Thursday and Saturday.
The Heat actually led by two after 12 minutes - the Wolves being notorious slow starters especially at home. But the Wolves did a number on Bam Adebayo (six points, 3-of-11 shooting), while getting balanced scoring across its own lineup. That’s easy to do of course in a blowout win.
Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 26 points. How good has Rudy Gobert been all season? You know I’m not a huge Rudy fan. He had 13 points and 17 rebounds and was a team-best plus-20. Even big Joe Ingles got in the game for five minutes; same as Rob Dillingham, whose Wolves career may soon be over.
Wild Ends Road Trip Thursday in Seattle
For much of the Wild’s 4-2 loss in Los Angeles late Monday, the team looked like one ready to get home after a long road trip. Unfortunately for the Wild, they’ve got one more game left on the seven-game road trip Thursday in Seattle.
The Wild has won just three of its last eight games. But a win Thursday still would give them a 4-1-2 road trip.
Minnesota is still tied for second in the Central, as Dallas has lost six straight.
Gopher Hoops Update: Men’s Hoops Wins Second Against Ranked Foe
The Gopher men earned their second top 25 win of the season - both at home - holding off a furious Iowa rally in a 70-67 win at The Barn last night. It’s rare that Cade Tyson doesn’t lead the Gophers in scoring; he had 16, but it was all about Langston Reynolds (22). Minnesota led by double figures, but the Hawkeyes had actually taken a one-point lead with 74 seconds left. But Jaylen Crocker-Johnson hit a 3-pointer to give the Gophers back a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Iowa had lost just two games all season. Minnesota has won five straight and is 10-5 overall and 3-1 in the Big 10. A lot of empty seats at Williams Arena last night, however.
The Gopher women lost a 10-point game Monday at No. 10 Michigan and hosts Northwestern tomorrow.
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