Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at several big stories in Minnesota sports, including: *The surprising Gophers men's basketball team, which improved to 8-1 with a win at Michigan -- its third consecutive road victory. Early returns on Ben Johnson are quite positive, Reusse says. *The Gophers volleyball team's run in the NCAA tournament ended one match short of the Final Four with a loss Saturday at Wisconsin. *Thursday's Vikings game and whether we would be talking about a coaching change right now if not for Minnesota hanging on to win. *The Grey Cup, the FCS playoffs, the Wolves and the Wild all get bandied about as well. It is the most wonderful and busiest time of the year.