Recent content from Jim Souhan
Lehigh University won the Patriot League tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA women's tournament. The team has six Minnesota players on its roster.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 21, 2021 — 9:55am
The Mountain Hawks are seeded 13th and open up against West Virginia on Sunday. This is what coach Sue Troyan had to say about the six Minnesotans on the team.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 20, 2021 — 4:17pm
Coyle needs to hire a coach who will be a distinct upgrade from the fired Richard Pitino. And he knows this might be his last chance for a while to hire a person of color.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 19, 2021 — 5:15am
Hired before he was ready, Richard Pitino was asked to compete with the titans of the Big Ten when he should have been apprenticing for one of them.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 16, 2021 — 12:30am
Chris Williams was the rare youngster in his neighborhood who felt drawn to hockey. To paraphrase NBA coach Doc Rivers, he loved the game, but the game did not love him back.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 7, 2021 — 10:35pm
When the Vikings signed Kyle Rudolph in 2019, he was three years past his high-water mark as a receiver. As such, they carry a $4.35M dead cap hit by releasing him.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 6, 2021 — 11:08pm
The Wolves right now are a bad team playing as badly as ever. But assuming that their losing ways are predestined ignores the realities of modern sports.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 5, 2021 — 12:10am
Renee Montgomery, who played for the Lynx from 2015-17, is part of the three-person team that bought the Atlanta Dream, making her the first WNBA player to move into ownership.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 1, 2021 — 10:36pm
The final round of Sunday's tournament brought back memories of a Tiger Woods moment that was all about stars of his magnitude.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated March 1, 2021 — 6:25am
The rumors of Kirk Cousins potentially being traded away from the Vikings are out there. But unlike up to 18 other teams in the NFL this offseason, the Vikings won't be making a change under center.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 28, 2021 — 12:13am
Kirill Kaprizov is not just good. He may be transformative. He may be changing the way the Wild looks and plays.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 25, 2021 — 9:33pm
If he never plays again, Tiger Woods will remain the most compelling American athlete of the past 20 years for making golf history while bouncing between heroism and villainy.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 24, 2021 — 5:06am
Ryan Saunders was hired because of who he was instead of what he had done. Then he was never put in a position to succeed.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 22, 2021 — 12:06am
Despite losing to Nebraska, watching the Gophers was a reminder of what a dynamic sport volleyball is, and what a pleasant counterpart it is to so many other sports.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 21, 2021 — 9:01pm
Minnesota sports fans are accustomed to the same pleas from local teams: Rebuild. Patience. Future. But the Lynx have not taken this path.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 21, 2021 — 12:34am
Some advice for fans: Pack away those negative thoughts for now and look forward to when we can gather again at Target Field and watch entertaining baseball.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 19, 2021 — 12:20am
The Greatest Athlete of All Time is a category created to create debates, not end them. Those who think it's LeBron James could enter Tuesday's game as evidence.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 17, 2021 — 1:48am
Better times are ahead, and in sports as well as life, better times require health and normalcy. Here's a list of what could make 2021 an uncommonly good sports year.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 15, 2021 — 7:18am
Once again this NFL season, this columnist was correct about everything. Well, almost - er, maybe not.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 13, 2021 — 10:36pm
Call Marcus Carr's winning shot vs. Purdue lucky if you must, but the junior point guard paid for it by enduring hard fouls and floor burns.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 12, 2021 — 7:05am
Paige Bueckers, the UConn freshman from Hopkins, already is a can't-miss superstar. Like so many great athletes before her, she appears to be unique.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 10, 2021 — 5:08am
If you're a coach and the son of a coach, those family connections come in handy. Just look at the Vikings, who are an example of a problem in the NFL.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 9, 2021 — 5:07am
After Sunday's loss, Patrick Mahomes would need to win six more Super Bowls to tie Tom Brady, the only quarterback to have ever won more than four.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 8, 2021 — 12:30pm
Many teams wanting to change quarterbacks may have to wait until the salary cap hit on their quarterback is reduced in a year or two. Who does this system benefit?
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 7, 2021 — 1:37am
Should the Twins stop signing players who have been caught using performance enhancing drugs? That would be an admirable stand — and also get the entire front office fired.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 5, 2021 — 6:24am
When Byron Buxton and Andrelton Simmons are on the field together, every ball hit anywhere near them will become an object of suspense and entertainment.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated February 3, 2021 — 7:08am
Patrick Reed's rule-bending reputation resurfaced over the weekend while he won the Farmers Insurance Open.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 31, 2021 — 11:41pm
Some of the WNBA's best players will be wearing different uniforms in 2021, and the Lynx will sign at least three free agents
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 31, 2021 — 12:11am
In these unpredictable times, Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey is always looking for the pieces to an ever-changing puzzle.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 29, 2021 — 12:28am
Wolves fans should not have mourned Ricky Rubio's first departure, nor his second when it comes. He's a bad fit.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 27, 2021 — 5:01am
Tom Brady, 43, will face 25-year-old Patrick Mahomes in two weeks in Tampa.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 24, 2021 — 11:19pm
Hank Aaron, who dealt with hate mail and death threats, showed toughness and perseverance in his Hall of Fame career on and off the ballfields.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 23, 2021 — 4:47pm
Joel Eriksson Ek's developing game could be the best bet to get the puck on the sticks of goal-scoring threats Zach Parise and Kirill Kaprizov.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 22, 2021 — 6:31am
In a normal season, the Wolves' 3-9 record might be justification for making changes. In 2021, this would be the wrong time to bow to fan anger and fire Saunders
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 20, 2021 — 6:23am
Scoring, playing solid defense and making key decisions on the sidelines, Vikings and Gophers connections played key roles all weekend in the NFL.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 18, 2021 — 6:42am
The skill set the Gophers' men's basketball team showcased against Michigan on Saturday should hold up well the rest of the way in the Big Ten.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 16, 2021 — 5:15pm
Minnesotans have gotten excited about foreign players before only to be let down. Will this time be different with Kirill Kaprizov?
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 15, 2021 — 6:47am
The Wild has had talented players in the past. But never two players like Kevin Fiala and Kirill Kaprizov who have such elite skills and speed to create goals.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 14, 2021 — 7:02am
The Gophers have no one else who can do what Gabe Kalscheur does when he's at his best — make treys, be productive without dominating the ball and play outstanding perimeter defense.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 10, 2021 — 11:23pm
The former Vikings executive maintains a positive outlook despite being bombarded with criticism for how he has handled the pandemic.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 9, 2021 — 4:51pm
This weekend, former WNBA star Becky Hammon will coach at Target Center as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs. Another former WNBA point guard found herself nodding in approval.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 8, 2021 — 12:40am
Assuming better defensive health is fair. But so is assuming less good fortune in terms of offensive health, which is worrisome because of the Vikings' lack of quality depth at wide receiver, offensive line and quarterback.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 6, 2021 — 12:34am
Is Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson the NFL offensive rookie of the year? And did he have a better rookie season than Randy Moss turned in?
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 3, 2021 — 10:57pm
The quarterback has been excellent of late, but the Vikings have missed the playoffs in two of his three seasons.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 3, 2021 — 10:53am
Mike Zimmer is in the midst of negative trends that extend beyond this season. He has entered his past three Decembers with contending teams carrying championship aspirations. The past three Decembers his teams are 5-9.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated January 2, 2021 — 10:31pm
Black and women athletes especially laid themselves on the line for their causes over the past 12 months.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 31, 2020 — 5:53pm
As their team bus glided from an empty stadium into New Orleans' dark and empty streets Friday night, all the Vikings had to show for this season was excuses.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 25, 2020 — 7:10pm
The Vikings' Dalvin Cook and the Saints' Alvin Kamara were taken in the same 2017 draft. Who is more valuable right now?
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 25, 2020 — 3:00pm
Kirk Cousins' decision-making skills often make everyone scream. So are you surprised that rookie receiver Justin Jefferson let Cousins know what was on his mind last weekend?
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 24, 2020 — 12:03pm
The two high draft picks need to develop into top players if the Wolves want to stop drafting in the top slots.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 22, 2020 — 10:56pm
Mike Zimmer is the longest-tenured coach in the NFC North, but his team falters too often in divisional games. Sunday's loss was the latest example.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 21, 2020 — 6:12am
The last time the teams played, Hicks was ruining the Vikings' running game until he got hurt. What will happen Sunday?
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 20, 2020 — 11:18am
Two losing teams can play a meaningful game, but they can't play a big game, no matter how hard the NFL tries to sell it as such.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 20, 2020 — 1:27am
When a player has one job and loses confidence in the mechanics that allow him to do it well, he leaves you little choice.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 14, 2020 — 6:11am
Let's relish the excellence on the field in Tampa: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Dalvin Cook are among the best in the NFL.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 13, 2020 — 10:33am
Sunday's showdown with one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history might define what has been an up-and-down season.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 12, 2020 — 11:44pm
The Vikings defense has stopped allowing opposing stars to operate at will, and that has given their offense chances to win shootouts.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 11, 2020 — 6:59am
The slugger was a throwback player and served them well. But change is here, and more of it could be on the way.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 9, 2020 — 5:23am
It would be tempting Minnesota-style sports fate to predict future playoff success, but there is no question Minnesota United has found its franchise player.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 9, 2020 — 2:25am
The Vikings have won five of six. They have also lost to the Falcons and Cowboys at home, and needed to work overtime — and make Dalvin Cook work far harder than is healthy — to beat a one-win team.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated December 7, 2020 — 12:16am
The first-round pick is on pace to break Randy Moss' team rookie records for catches and receiving yards.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated December 5, 2020 — 11:28pm
Emanuel Reynoso's deft passing touch has transformed Minnesota United into a playoff force.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated December 4, 2020 — 6:56am
This isn't working. Seven (seven!) healthy Gophers women's players? That's not a plan. A better plan: practice safely now, get back to playing games after this COVID spike.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated December 2, 2020 — 7:07am
Are the Vikings a good team digging out of a hole, or a bad team that's in too deep? What we know is they're a flawed team still in the playoff chase.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 30, 2020 — 5:09pm
The Vikings enter Sunday's game desperately needing to win, planning to feature Dalvin Cook heavily and hopeful that he can prove to be one of the rare exceptions to the rule of running back usage.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 29, 2020 — 9:21am
The Wolves know they need to keep Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota for the long term, or risk another long stretch of hopelessness.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 27, 2020 — 7:08am
The surprise with the Gophers-Badgers cancellation is that the Gophers have made it through five games.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 24, 2020 — 11:09pm
If the Vikings miss the playoffs by one game, a defining moment will be reserve cornerback Chris Jones playing matador on a long touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 23, 2020 — 11:23pm
Middle linebacker Eric Kendricks and safeties Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith have controlled the middle of the field as their young teammates find their way.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 22, 2020 — 9:40am
Kim Ng is eminently qualified to run a professional sports team, as are many other women and people of color.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 20, 2020 — 7:29am
Anthony Edwards would be a better choice with the No. 1 overall pick than LaMelo Ball, who doesn't play defense.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 18, 2020 — 6:54am
The world's No. 1-ranked player won his second career major and his first green jacket.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 16, 2020 — 5:40am
Dustin Johnson, the leader by four after three rounds of the Masters, plays golf in a strangely casual way. He takes little time before he swings, then launches line drives, making golf look effortless.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 14, 2020 — 11:49pm
Setting up another dramatic weekend at The Masters, the morning wave of players finishing the rain-delayed first round took advantage of wet greens, and the afternoon wave found them suddenly slippery, leading to a logjam at the top.
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by JIM SOUHAN
Updated November 14, 2020 — 1:38am
Bryson DeChambeau is at 1-over through 12 holes. He'll complete his second round on Saturday morning thinking more about making the cut than winning a green jacket.
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by Jim Souhan
Updated November 13, 2020 — 9:44pm