Banham-Wagner inspire a ranking of great Minnesota sports tandems

Rachel Banham returned from knee surgery to play basketball for the Gophers as a fifth-year senior this winter. This teamed her with sophomore Carlie Wagner, creating Minnesota's own version of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

This Banham-Wagner pairing inspired this list of fabulous sports tandems with a high profile that we have had in Minnesota. I went back to 1960 and chose this ranking:

1-Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva. Termed "KO Punch'' by St. Paul writer Arno Goethel. Were in the Twins lineup together from 1964 to 1974.

2-Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek. "Kirby and Herbie.'' Starred together for the Twins from 1984 to 1994.

3-Randy Moss and Cris Carter. Four amazing seasons [1998-2001] as Vikings receivers.

4-Alan Page and Carl Eller. With Jim Marshall for company, the two Hall of Famers created havoc on Vikings defensive line for a decade starting in 1967.

5-Lindsay Whalen and Janel McCarville. Took Gophers women's basketball from oblivion to the Final Four in three seasons together [2001-04].

7-Bobby Bell and Carl Eller. Magnificent Gophers together in 1961 and 1962. Only Eller makes this "dynamic tandem'' list twice.

8-Lou Hudson and Archie Clark. Gophers basketball greats from 1963 to 1966. The senior season was hindered when Hudson broke his dominant hand (right) and used his left hand to shoot.

9-Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III. In 2003 and 2004, the Gophers were the first teammates to rush for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons in Division I history.

10-Tom Mulso and Jeff McCarron. You couldn't mention one without other. As a nod to prep sports, I'm putting the duo that led small-town Sherburn to the last one-class state basketball title in 1970 in the Top Ten.

Honorable mention: Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau (Twins). Ron Yary, Ed White (Vikings). Sandy Stephens, Bill Munsey (Gophers football). Kevin Garnett, Wally Szczerbiak (Timberwolves). Trent Tucker, Darryl Mitchell (Gophers hoops). Greg Eslinger, Mark Setterstrom (Gophers football). Jordan Leopold, Paul Martin (Gophers hockey). Bill Brown, Dave Osborn (Vikings).

Current Minnesota tandems with a chance to become legendary:

*Andrew Wiggins, Karl Anthony-Towns. The Wolves cannot possibly have this coupling of talent turn into a mess (as did Garnett-Steph Marbury). Can they?

*Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton. Once Buxton adjusts to big-league pitching (and it will happen for the Twins this summer), watch out.