Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 2.5.24
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Wild’s back from the All-Star Break this Wednesday in Chicago.
Pat Mahomes Sr., the former Twin and dad of Chiefs star Patrick, faces third DUI charge in Texas.
Monday golf? Should be a regular occurrence. Happy for the rain yesterday at Pebble Beach.
Did Taylor Swift release new music the week of your kid’s THIRTEENTH birthday?
Wolves Finally Close One Out
The Wolves took a 20-point lead into the fourth against Houston last night, and finally finished one out 111-89 at Target Center. After blowing a 17-point lead against Orlando two nights prior, Anthony Edwards just took over in the third quarter, scoring 20 of his game-high 32 points in a span of 6:28.
Edwards has been largely absent the last two weeks as Karl-Anthony Towns has been the team’s big scorer. ANT goes through periods of time where he’s not aggressive, and he’s just got to learn to be the go to guy in tough situations.
And it’s nice to see the win helped Chris Finch get to the All-Star Game too, after ANT spent much of this week lauding Finchy.
The Wolves hit the road now for a season-high five-game road trip that includes Milwaukee and the Clippers, but also two against 14th-place Portland and one versus ninth-place Chicago.
Twins Sign Carlos Santana, Jay Jackson
The Twins promised to be spenders with the money saved in the Jorge Polanco trade last week, and they’ve signed two players to make you a believer. Carlos Santana, an aging but still productive 1B/DH type, will add some patience to the Twins lineup. Jay Jackson is a late bloomer-he’s 36 and has pitched in just 84 games. But he sported a 2.12 ERA last season in Toronto and has more strikeouts than innings pitched in his career.
GMH Split in Madison Ends in Controversy
An entertaining Border Battle in Madison this weekend-not that we could watch it-as the Gophers and Badgers split a pair of extra time decisions. Minnesota won Friday in OT but dropped Saturday’s controversial game in a shootout. The Gophers are 0-11 on shootout attempts this season.
The Gophers had a pair of goals that didn’t count-one overturned on replay, and another that was waved off on the ice and then not overturned after a challenge by Bob Motzko.
Minnesota is now unlikely to catch second-place Wisconsin, which has six more points and two games in hand.
The Gophers host Penn State this weekend in a possibly first-round Big 10 playoff matchup.
Murphy Propels GWH Sweep of St. Thomas
The voting for the Patty Kazmaier Trophy as the best player in women’s college hockey is going to be very interesting this year.
Abbey Murphy’s reputation precedes herself. No one has more goals (27) than Murphy-in fact only four have more than 20. But opposing coaches hate her, so much that last year she was inexplicably named Third Team All-WCHA. The 13 Patty Kaz voters are a mix of head coaches and media.
And in Saturday’s 5-2 series sweeping win over St. Thomas, we got to see all Murph has to offer. Two goals-one of the highlight reel variety; she drew three penalties on the Tommies. But she got two of her own, including a five-minute major and ejection late in the second period. That was an anomaly-she’s not a dirty player. She does most of the damage with her mouth, and with her stick, and you can count on her for an embellishment or two per game. She’s oneof the most exciting players in women’s college hockey in the last 10 years, and she’ll have one more year before turning pro. She’ll be a bowling ball in the PWHL which allows checking.
Absolutely filthy 🤢@Abbey18Murphy pic.twitter.com/wnZ0w48jUm
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) February 4, 2024
Abbey Murphy given 5 and a game for boarding pic.twitter.com/srVuRl3dLr
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) February 4, 2024
Minnesota is only four points back of Wisconsin for second but there are no head-to-head games left. The Gophers have a home-and-home with an improved St. Cloud State team this weekend. The Huskies took Wisconsin to OT this past weekend.
Gopher Hoops
Remember when everyone wanted to give up on Ben Johnson last year? Or ready to say Gopher men’s basketball could never hack it in the Big 10. The Gophers’ 75-66 OT win over a Northwestern team ahead of them in the standings moved Minnesota to 5-5 in the Big 10 and 14-7 overall. They’re one of eight teams separated by just a game between fourth and 11th in the conference. Dawson Garcia scored 20 points Saturday against Northwestern as the Gophers rallied from nine points down in the second half.
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