MINNEAPOLIS — When it comes to sports in Minnesota, we just about have it all.
Here in the KARE sports department, we do our best to try and cover as much as possible on-air and online. But sometimes, we just can’t get to it all.
That’s why we’re starting a weekly article called, “This week in sports: 11 things to KARE about,” as a way for us to talk about what’s coming up, and to cover some stories we might not have time to mention in our daily sportscasts.
Here’s the first iteration, and as always, if you have something you think we should include, be sure to reach out and let us know.
1. Local ties to the NFL Playoffs
Well, it’s been a week since the Vikings’ playoff dreams crashed and burned against the Rams, but there are still some local connections competing in the Conference Championships this week.
Former Gopher Benjamin St-Juste is set to suit up for the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. The cornerback played from 2019-20 for P.J. Fleck. He has 56 tackles this season.
Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal has made a major impact for Kansas City’s defense and hails from Grantsburg, Wisconsin. His impact includes a blocked kick in this past weekend’s divisional-round win over the Houston Texans.
2. Wolves this week
The ups and downs of the 2024-25 Timberwolves season continued this week. On Friday, the Wolves pulled off an impressive road win against the Knicks but came home a night later and lost to the Cavaliers. With the Cavs having the best record in the NBA right now and their last two games being back-to-back, it’s not a loss worth panicking about.
This week, the Wolves’ tough tests continue with games against Memphis, Dallas and Denver. One player to watch is Donte DiVincenzo. He missed the past two games due to injury.
3. Wild still dealing with injuries
It appears the injury bug is starting to affect the Wild’s win-loss record. They enter this week on a three-game losing streak and start the week off tough as they go on the road to face the Avalanche. They do so without key pieces such as Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon.
The good news for the Wild is they started off well enough to still sit in the playoffs as of this week. But if things continue to go this way, it may be time to panic.
4. Lynx players star in Unrivaled
The debut of the new women’s basketball 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, featured plenty of action, including quite a bit from the current Lynx playing in the league.
Napheesa Collier, one of the founders, averaged 29 points per game in her first two games, while Kayla McBride came in with a vengeance as she knocked down seven 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 28 points on Saturday.
Courtney Williams also had a solid weekend, as she averaged 12 points per game in two games.
The action continues Monday with McBride’s Laces squad in action. Games happen Monday-Saturday until April in Miami.
5. Gopher women’s hoops keep on rolling
It’s been a while since the words “Minnesota Gopher basketball” and “NCAA Tournament” have been connected in the same sentence. However, it is growing more and more likely as a possibility for the Gopher women’s basketball team.
Dawn Plitzuweit’s is off to a 17-2 start, including Sunday’s come-from-behind win against Northwestern where the Gophers erased a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
The Gophers’ next opponent, Michigan, features a familiar face in Benilde-St. Margaret’s alumna Olivia Olson. She is averaging more than 15 points per game this season.
6. Gopher men’s hoops get off the schneid
When Dawson Garcia’s half-court buzzer beater went in for the Gopher men’s basketball team, the weight of past failure lifted off many of those on the Minnesota sideline. The shot gave Ben Johnson his first win against a ranked opponent since taking over the program. The team also earned its first Big Ten win of the season.
Postgame, Johnson sounded positive about his group which has struggled this season. We’ll see if this success is sustainable starting Tuesday when the Gophers go on the road and face Iowa.
7. St. Thomas men’s hoops stay unbeaten in conference play
It can be easy to forget about the St. Thomas men’s basketball team as the Tommies compete without a chance at the NCAA Tournament — but they are a team worth watching. St. Thomas enters the week 5-0 in Summit League play, tied for first with Omaha.
The two teams will battle for first place on Thursday as the Tommies head to Nebraska to take on the Mavericks.
8. Hockey Day hits the rides
For the first time, Hockey Day Minnesota heads to an amusement park. Valleyfair is the host of this year’s events, which kick off Wednesday and continue through Saturday.
This year’s slate of Saturday games features a pair of high school games, a Gopher women’s hockey game and the grand finale — the Wild taking on the Flames.
Next year’s event heads to Roseville.
9. Minnesota stars at national dance team competition
The college dance team nationals took place in Orlando this past weekend. As usual, Minnesota’s programs were the cream of the crop.
The Gophers took home first in the pom category and second in jazz in the Div. IA category. St. Thomas took home second in jazz and sixth in Hip Hop in the Div. I category.
In the open divisions, Minnesota State-Mankato and University of Minnesota-Duluth finished one-two in both jazz and pom. St. Cloud State and St. Ben’s finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in both jazz and pom.
10. Maple Grove hoops roll
It was a good weekend to be a Maple Grove basketball fan. The girls, currently ranked No. 3 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, rolled on Saturday against No. 5 St. Michael-Albertville 78-47 as standout Jordan Ode tallied 27 points in the win.
The boys’ team, meanwhile, took down Faribault 64-45. Keegan Harney set a school record with 10 3-pointers made in the win.
11. St. Cloud State wrestling stays atop Div. II
Successful wrestling programs in Minnesota have been around for quite some time now. One that is setting the standard this year is St. Cloud State.
The Huskies are ranked No. 1 in Div. II and picked up their fourth top-10 win of the season this past Saturday when they defeated No. 7 Augustana 32-3. All 10 of the Huskies’ starting wrestlers are ranked, including Anoka native Colby Njos. He’s ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 149-pound weight category.
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