Recent content from Chip Scoggins
Scoggins: Why 'championship or bust' fits these Wolves
Karl-Anthony Towns said it himself, almost two years ago, and now this woebegone franchise finally looks ready for a deep playoff run.
Scoggins: Anatomy of a game-saving play as Correa throws out Ohtani
Four components to one play that had zero margin for error. The Twins beat the Dodgers thanks to a crucial throw home from their star shortstop.
Scoggins: McCarthy or Maye? Ex-U coach breaks down Vikings' options
The two quarterbacks in the NFL draft most linked with the Vikings both played the Gophers last season in the span of a month.
Scoggins: Cory Provus getting ready for 'biggest challenge' of career
Today's game will mark the first Twins home game with Provus, who had been the Twins' radio voice, replacing Dick Bremer on TV.
Scoggins: Transcendent stars meet again in Bueckers vs. Clark battle
Friday night's NCAA semifinal between Paige Bueckers of UConn and Caitlin Clark of Iowa — their first on-court meeting since 2021 — will have millions of TV viewers riveted. But neither player needs a title to validate her legacy.
Scoggins: College teams evaporate before fans' eyes in transfer portal nightmare
It was another rough transfer portal week for Ben Johnson's Gophers, the product of a system gone awry.
Scoggins: March Madness a travel puzzle for this Minnesota family
With one son at Iowa State and another playing for Minnesota State Mankato, the Jones family of Prior Lake has been zigzagging the country to watch NCAA basketball tournament games.
Scoggins: We can't go on like this: NIL chaos in six words.
Yes, student-athletes should be compensated. Yes, "name, image and likeness" is here to stay. But leaders should not accept the current approach as the proper way forward.
Scoggins: State tourney-bound player named Poet knows right word
Minneapolis South is headed to the boys basketball state tournament for the first time in 32 years because its floor leader, Poet Davis, stayed at the school while so many of his ex-teammates left.
Scoggins: 'Lindsay Whalen babies' show out at state tourney
Many playing in the girls basketball state tournament grew up watching Lindsay Whalen star for the Lynx. Now they're drawing offers from D-I schools and following the path paved by the likes of Paige Bueckers.
Scoggins: It rained buzzer-beaters, and Orono rode out the storm
A two-overtime boys basketball section final against Benilde-St. Margaret's featured last-second baskets at every breaking point.
Scoggins: Vikings' Darnold era may not be lengthy, but it's the right step for both sides
Both Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Sam Darnold danced around the implications of the new quarterback's one-year contract.
Scoggins: O'Connell must choose a QB -- and the GM has to draft him
Sam Darnold serves a purpose, but his purpose won't be to lead the Vikings for years to come. Coach Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah need to get that quarterback in the draft.
Scoggins: Cousins got his money, and Vikings were right to start over
Kirk Cousins became too expensive, and the Vikings bosses didn't cave. Bravo. Now, ace the next text: who's the new QB?
Scoggins: Clark recovers from horrid 1st half to lead Iowa comeback
Caitlin Clark missed shots that she probably makes with her eyes shut most days. She slammed her fist in frustration. She complained to the refs. Then she took control.
How a gruff 'teddy bear' became the winningest coach in state history
In his 46th season at New London-Spicer, Mike Dreier has compiled 1,069 victories, two state championships, six runner-up finishes — and three technical fouls.
Scoggins isn't a Swiftie, but sure he witnessed basketball's version
Fans packed the Barn to the rafters and the greatest scorer in women's college basketball history. Caitlin Clark swished a three-pointer on the game's first possession. And three more in quick succession.
Scoggins: Are Twins strikeouts a problem? Or am I the problem?
Are we going to have to sit through another summer of K after K after K? Derek Falvey calmed Chip Scoggins down (a little).
Scoggins: U's other players must step up to fill void left by Braun's absence
The drop-off in playmaking in Mara Braun's absence is impossible to ignore. Coach Dawn Plitzuweit needs to elevate the rest of the roster for the Gophers to be successful.
Scoggins: World Cup skiing at Wirth Park serves as Diggins family reunion
Among the crowd of nearly 20,000 cheering for Jessie Diggins on Saturday were 30 or so family members, including "pretty much the entire St. Croix Valley."
Scoggins: Super Bowl lessons for Vikings — keep stars, fix defense
The Vikings have a quarterback quandary, a star receiver awaiting a massive payday and holes galore in their defense. But there's a solution for every problem, right?
Scoggins: Why waste energy complaining to referees?
Watching the Wolves' Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns makes you wonder about the effectiveness of griping to officials.
Scoggins: The Barn can still rock, but U needs to rethink ticket prices
The Gophers' win over Michigan State on Tuesday showed that you don't have to tear down Williams Arena to get an incredible college basketball experience in Dinkytown.
Scoggins: The clock is ticking — and that's making basketball even better
All of the improvements were on display this week when two of the top high school teams in the area played. One rallied from a huge deficit to win; both combined for more than 200 points and a thrilling finish.
Scoggins: The Wolves played like adults at OKC, and that mattered
Mike Conley was out, and the Timberwolves finally made winning decisions without him. Now they need to prove that wasn't just a one-night thing.
Scoggins: Why Chanhassen's Ragnow is the 'stud' of the Detroit Lions' rise
All NFL eyes are on the Detroit Lions, and Frank Ragnow is their rock. What drives his powerful performances? It's a family thing.
Twins top prospect Brooks Lee speeding through minor leagues, but wants much more
Little more than a year after turning pro, Brooks Lee is awed at being with the St. Paul Saints — just 10 miles from his ultimate destination: Target Field. But he wants more than to merely arrive.
Roseville's Mike Muscala finds 'gratitude' in an unexpectedly long NBA career
The average second round draft pick lasts 3.3 seasons in the NBA, Mike Muscala is entering his 11th. The Roseville native now speaks with a veteran's clarity on the game and life.
What's it like to watch the Twins from Target Field's towering new neighbor? I went up to find out
Construction workers in that can't-miss project next to Target Field get to watch day games on their lunch break. I joined them, despite my fear of heights.
St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso takes 'new job' — serving as assistant to his daughter Anna
Glenn Caruso, the longtime St. Thomas head coach, didn't need any time to think about the job offer — to be his daughter's assistant with a girls softball team in St. Paul. It's 'wicked awesome,' he says.
Scoggins: Amid firing frenzy, Finch gets another year to coach Wolves
Timberwolves ownership decided to show patience by sticking with coach Chris Finch after an erratic season that was a bucket of cold water to the face. Was that the right move?
How Paige Bueckers is using endorsement deals to give back, in Minnesota and beyond
Paige Bueckers could secure as many endorsement deals as she wants. But the UConn and ex-Hopkins star is being intentional about her NIL deals, and she has a stipulation she calls "non-negotiable."
High school spring sports clash again with their nemesis: Winter weather
The annual issue is even more of an inconvenience this year because the cold is lingering and snow levels have been historic.
Scoggins: Here are two things Twins need to do less often in 2023
Sonny Gray unwittingly became the most popular Twins player in uniform last week, a hero to many before even throwing his first pitch of the season. He did it by a pointed message to his bosses.
Scoggins: Professor Fleck? Yes, that's the coach in a U of M classroom
P.J. Fleck's lecturing style is fast-paced and energetic. And loud. Really loud. His students in the Carlson School of Management class get the full Hurricane Fleck experience.
Ricky Davis' life takes surprising turn as Timberwolves veteran gets Minneapolis North coaching job
Davis played 117 games over two seasons for the Timberwolves and never envisioned putting down roots here once he retired from pro basketball. He understands why people were shocked by his new job.
Scoggins: Can Wolves make Towns fit into their winning formula?
When he returns from the injury that has sidelined him for 33 games, it will be up to Karl-Anthony Towns and Chris Finch to work KAT's game into a formula that's working well right now.
Scoggins: Kaliakmanis' injury, poor field conditions create anxiety
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis seems to have avoided serious injury in the Gophers' Pinstripe Bowl victory over Syracuse at Yankee Stadium, but it's time for the Big Ten to stop playing bowl games on baseball fields.
Scoggins: Fleck signals future plans with Kaliakmanis, new receivers
The Gophers football program is making moves that suggest it will build around freshman QB Athan Kaliakmanis, which meets with the approval of one former U quarterback.
Scoggins: Officiating made Vikings' job that much more difficult in epic comeback victory
Chandon Sullivan had two defensive touchdowns erased by questionable calls.
Scoggins: Unraveling Vikings defense threatens to sink the season
Veteran coordinator Ed Donatell has managed to do the unthinkable: Take a bad defense and fail to improve it despite a concerted effort by the organization to upgrade the talent last offseason.
Scoggins: Here's why Fleck got that $1 million raise
Beating Wisconsin is great for Minnesota, but the win-loss record is only one factor these days determining college coaches' salaries.
Scoggins: Getting respect from coach leads to Cousins' increased success
It serves no purpose to dredge up issues or personality conflicts with the previous regime, but the way Kevin O'Connell talked about Kirk Cousins publicly from the moment he took the job had purpose behind it.
'Did we really win, or did I dream that?' Meet the team that pulled off a Prep Bowl miracle
Football Across Minnesota: New London-Spicer's state championship was like no other, and they'll talk about this walkoff forever. And some final FAM thoughts of the season.
Scoggins: On off day, Cousins takes hits, makes throws when they matter
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was uncharacteristically erratic against the Jets, but when his team faced a gut-check moment he put his toughness on display.
Red Lake Nation football team hasn't won a game in years, but its coach keeps kids undefeated
They often play against opponents with twice as many players. Sometimes, coach Nolan Desjarlait wonders how he keeps doing it. The answer always comes: "I refuse to give up on them."
Red Lake Nation hasn't won in years, but its coach keeps kids undefeated
Sometimes, coach Nolan Desjarlait wonders how he keeps doing it. The answer always comes: "I refuse to give up on them."
Scoggins: KAT-less Wolves need Edwards to play, lead like an MVP
Anthony Edwards had that look he displayed so often last season, a look of determination from a competitor about to unleash like a tsunami. The Timberwolves are going to need that now.
A big delay, then a big win; former Gophers QB leads another winner
Football Across Minnesota: Bethel's surprising playoff victory came 30 hours after landing in Oregon. Bryan Cupito has found a new football love in Minneapolis: the Phelps Falcons. More on P.J. Fleck's "you all" comment, Justin Jefferson's greatness and more.
Scoggins: New QB Kaliakmanis delivered for Gophers' new offense
Freshman quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis played with skill and poise Saturday as the Gophers focused on the pass and kept Paul Bunyan's Axe.
Scoggins: Fleck's old-school offense needs star upgrade before next year
The Gophers had a prolific, balanced offense in 2019 but have turned one-dimensional and stubbornly remains that way.
Scoggins: Vikings appear ready for Patriots. If they are, credit O'Connell
In his first real test, first-year coach Kevin O'Connell needs to set the tone this week after the Dallas Debacle. If he succeeds and the Vikings win ... what Dallas Debacle?
This record-breaking QB-receiver combo got started in third grade
Football Across Minnesota: Longtime friends Brandon Alt and Brendan Beaulieu are behind Bemidji State's big-time success. Also, brutal weekend for Vikings and Gophers. A delayed weekend for a solid Prep Bowl.
Scoggins: Fleck's choice of cautious play calls over boldness backfires again
This loss, P.J. Fleck's sixth in six games against Iowa, belongs in the category of self-inflicted, not the result of being overmatched by a superior team.
Scoggins: Here's how Fleck, 0-for-Floyd, can end Iowa's streak
The Gophers have won three in a row and are still hunting a Big Ten West title. To keep that goal, they'll need to change how they've handled the Hawkeyes' strengths.
Scoggins: Vikings are rolling, and rolling the tape is big part of success
The line that separates winning and losing is incredibly thin, so coaches and players spend hours upon hours analyzing video. Here's a look at how they do it and how it has changed.
Jefferson's catch: Legends and local stars weigh in with amazement
Football Across Minnesota: Cris Carter, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and an area high school standout are among those wowed by Justin Jefferson's incredible catch. Plus: St. Thomas and its title, and a prep player who won't come off the field.
Scoggins: Let's all appreciate Ibrahim as record-setting career winds down
Another three touchdowns on Saturday against Northwestern further burnished Mohamed Ibrahim's stature as one of the Gophers' all-time greats.
Scoggins: Fleck should give QB keys to Kaliakmanis right now
For all the good that Tanner Morgan has brought to Gophers football, it's time now to turn the offense over to Athan Kaliakmanis. The freshman opens up the offense, and more time this fall will pay off in 2023.
Scoggins: How are Vikings 7-1 after all those close losses in the past?
Skeptics continue to attribute the Vikings' record to gale-force gusts over-inflating how good the team truly is. That presumption misses a larger point.
When you need a 100-yard dash to put your team in the title game ...
Football Across Minnesota: A rare "Pick Two" helped the Royals get to the MIAC championship game and avoid a shocking upset. In Mankato, a team leader who once had the NFL in his sights is determined to write his own ending.
Scoggins: Vikings seized moment in mediocre NFC with Hockenson trade
The Vikings took a look at their 6-1 record, the calamity in the NFC North and mediocrity throughout the entire conference and did the math. It added up to this trade.
From high school hoops to St. John's end zones to . . . the NFL?
Football Across Minnesota: Alex Larson is hoping to complete a successful and unusual journey from prep basketball at East Ridge to pro football by way of the Division III football power at St. John's.
How big screens and high-tech have reshaped state's football coaching
Football Across Minnesota: Sideline huddles now feature big-screen TVs. Tackle Cancer is one of the most important initiatives in all of Minnesota football. And how quickly things have changed for the Gophers and Vikings.
Scoggins: Gophers' grand plans falling apart before our eyes
A third straight Big Ten loss exposed the issues in a Gophers team suddenly struggling to execute their game plan.
Scoggins: In game befitting heated rivalry, Gophers rally behind powerful Knies
Mason Nevers scored the equalizer late in the third period, and Matthew Knies posted the overtime game-winner against North Dakota in front of 10,418 at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
In game befitting heated rivalry, Gophers rally past North Dakota behind powerful Matthew Knies
Mason Nevers scored the equalizer late in the third period, and Matthew Knies posted the overtime game-winner against North Dakota in front of 10,418 at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
State's farmers are in the fields, but won't miss action on the fields
Football Across Minnesota: Harvest is a day-and-night, time-consuming operation throughout Minnesota. But farming and following football from the tractor is a longstanding tradition that has been aided by technology.
Bloomington football player remains positive despite paralysis
Football Across Minnesota: Jefferson freshman Ethan Glynn insists on a "glass half full" outlook as he rehabilitates in Colorado from his spinal cord injury. "I'm just so thankful," he said.
Scoggins: Stanley Cup? Wild's season looks more like 'competitive rebuild'
Plans for this season sound an awful lot like GM Bill Guerin's need to extricate the Wild from the albatross buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter while remaining relevant.
Scoggins: In Madison, Lincoln and everywhere else, college sports change shifts into warp speed
Patience? Long gone. Now, no matter the cost, change will come quickly if you don't win or if you fall behind in one of the new arms races in college sports.
One can coach anywhere, one can play anywhere: Meet Underwood and Jakes
Football Across Minnesota: Scott Underwood lost his job in the oddest of ways, but he's found a new team to lead. Meanwhile, the most versatile player in Minnesota is Zach Jakes of Gustavus.
Scoggins: Gophers implode in first loss as self-inflicted mistakes pile up
Looking lost from the start, the Gophers were dominated at the line of scrimmage and couldn't match Purdue's execution.
Scoggins: Fleck puts pride aside to make one of his best calls with Gophers
Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca left P.J. Fleck and the players after the epic 2019 season for Big Ten rival Penn State. Why welcome him back after that?
Scoggins: Yes, injuries hurt Twins. But team needs to make fundamental changes
The Twins just announced plans for new uniforms and a huge scoreboard. Is it too much to ask for some rebranding of the actual baseball product?
