Wild, Wolves 2018-19: Early Exits

For the second consecutive year, the NHL Minnesota Wild and NBA Timberwolves ended their seasons at the same time.  Last year, you will recall, both teams made it to the first round of the playoffs before bowing out.  This time, neither of them qualified and the playoffs are going ahead without them.

Wild:  You Can't Win If You Don't Score

The team ended up out of the running for Lord Stanley's Cup for the first time since 2012 with 83 points (37-36-9) and last place in the Central Division.  Despite signature wins at league leaders Tampa Bay, Winnipeg and Washington, they had too many bad losses to bad teams and failed to take advantage of home ice.

The Wild scored 211 goals this season, and gave up 237.  Despite heroic efforts by the goaltending staff, it was all negated by the collective failure to put the puck in the net.  They had consecutive games last season in which they were shut out, including season-ending losses to the Boston Bruins at home and the Dallas Stars on the road.

Yes, injuries played a part with several players--notably Mikko Koivu, Zack Parise and Matt Dumba (in a fight, no less)--spending time on the disabled list.  General manager Paul Fenton, in his first season, tried to help by trading popular players Charlie Coyle to the Bruins, Mikael Granlund to the Nashville Predators, and Nico Niederriter to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Younger players tried to step up, whether they came through trades or through the Iowa Wild:  Joel Eriksson Ek, Luke Kunin, Jordan Greenway and Ryan Donato.

Coach Bruce Boudreau has one season left on his contract, and a final chance to prove that all the inconsistency the Wild has been noted for in recent years isn't completely his fault.  Another season like this one, though, and Fenton might get the opportunity to name his own coach.

First, they need to re-learn how to score goals.

Stanley Cup Final Matchup in June:  Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators.

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Timberwolves:  Familiar Territory

During the NCAA Men's Final Four in Minneapolis, Charles Barkley, TV's best-known basketball commentator who was covering the tournament for CBS, went off on the Wolves during a Katy Perry concert.  He said the reason he hasn't been back in town for years was that the team "sucked".

Tell us something we didn't know, Sir Charles.

The Wolves landed in familiar territory, with a 36-46 record that left them out of the Western Conference playoff picture.  But so did LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, which means they'll have a better draft pick than the Wolves will.  Because they're the Lakers.

In a season that began with Jimmy Butler whining his way to Philadelphia, followed by his partner-in-crime coach Tom Thibodeau out the door, the Wolves took their usual place as the team where good things seldom happen.  Karl-Anthony Towns seems to think he has a future here, having signed a contract extension.  So did Andrew Wiggins, although the way he played at times this season seemed to suggest (as Sheryl Crow would put it) a change would do him good.

Thibodeau's replacement Ryan Saunders (yes, Flip Saunders' son) and general manager Scott Layden are both on the bubble in terms of returning next season.  But don't be surprised if both come back.  Because with the Wolves, it's not what you know, but who owner Glen Taylor knows and feels comfortable with.

If Charles Barkley ever decides to come back to the Twin Cities, it should be because the Timberwolves have an improved team that are making the playoffs with regularity.  Not because the NCAA was so impressed by the way Minneapolis handled the Men's Final Four that they gave this city another one.  That's assuming, of course, that the Wolves are still here by then.

NBA Finals Matchup in June:  Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics.

NCAA: Virginia and Baylor Rule College Basketball

The University of Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team rewrote the narrative of a top-seeded team who, only last season, lost to a 16th seed named Maryland-Baltimore County and was ridiculed everywhere they went.  They just won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship for the first time in Minneapolis, defeating Texas Tech in overtime 85-77.

De'Andre Hunter scored 27 points and Kyle Guy scored 24 to lead the Cavaliers to victory, not to mention being nearly perfect against the Red Raiders in OT to seal it. 

This time around, Virginia was an under-the-radar team that somehow skipped over the top seeds in the tournament to get where they are. They got past Gardner-Webb, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue and Auburn on the way to Minneapolis.  It also helped that fellow ACC conference teams Duke (with all-world freshman Zion Williams) and North Carolina were both defeated. 

Granted, the final four of Virginia, Texas Tech, Auburn and Michigan State did not set CBS' TV ratings on fire.  But the teams did compensate with good basketball and exciting finishes, and that's all you can really ask.  Oh, and a controversial finish that ended up benefiting the Cavaliers while deflating Auburn and famous alum Charles Barkley.

So yes, Virginia.  The school that was founded by Thomas Jefferson is a national basketball champion.

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In Tampa, Florida Sunday, Baylor won its third women's basketball title, defeating defending champion Notre Dame 82-81.

The Bears' first title since 2012 came with Chloe Jackson scoring 26 points and the winning score with 3.6 seconds remaining.  They had to overcome not only Lauren Cox' third quarter knee injury that took her out of the game, but also a late charge by the Irish that culminated in Arike Ogunbowale closing out her college career by missing free throws that would have tied the game.

Pat Mulkey, Baylor's coach, is now only the third person in NCAA history to win at least three women's championships.