Welcome back Nooners, what a week of college basketball.

We didn’t see many upsets across the field, but we were gifted with several gems and great games. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the women’s bracket might be more exciting right now. So much great talent. It’s hard not to be excited about the future of women’s basketball.

And of course, we uploaded another YouTube video: The Evolution of the Euro Bigs, a fun exploration and look back at some of our favorite prospects who came across the sea and helped open the game to the world.

Check it out here:

But today we’re here to talk about the Wolves and the late-season turnaround no one saw coming.

From the preseason slander that followed the blockbuster trade to the scornful eye tracking their early struggles, it looked like Minnesota was in for another long winter.

But now the snow is thawing and the Target Center is rocking once more.

So what changed?

Randle’s Resurgence

Julius Randle got off to a rough start this season, there’s no way around it. 

The Timberwolves offense looked noticeably clunky with number 30 on the floor, and as he worked his way into a rhythm he regressed back into some old ball stopping habits.

But it was way too early to write him off. Now with time to adjust and learn the offense, Randle looks like the bruising, downhill playmaker who once carried MSG on his back.

The numbers mirror the eye test here, the former Knick has increased his efficiency across the board while boosting his playmaking numbers in the process.

The second star they were hoping for is finally here.

Don't forget about Donte

Remember the other guy in that trade? The long lost Nova brother starring in AT&T commercials? He’s found a groove of his own.

Part of the appeal of that deal for Minnesota was the supplementary creation and complementary attributes of Donte DiVincenzo on the wing, and he has not disappointed.

There was a slight figuring it out period here too, but in the last 15, Donte has put up 14 a game on 47% fg, and a ridiculous 46% from 3. Add in the steady, low-mistake playmaking, and you’ve got a rare offensive catalyst.

Two Way McDaniels

Jaden McDaniels has always been capable of throwing your best scorer in a padded cell, but it usually came with a sacrifice.

McDaniels offensive game was raw and unrefined, The kind of shaky arsenal that gets exposed in April, but that’s looking like less of a problem moving forward.

The lanky forward has found ways to reliably attack off the bounce, probing the open lanes with patience and composure.

With the three-ball coming along too, Minnesota might have that high-end 3&D wing everyone’s searching for.

New and Familiar

The results have been hard to argue with. Now, with Randle operating at full capacity, and their perimeter rotation ironing itself out, Minnesota looks like Minnesota again.

In the last 15 games they’ve been 5th in offensive rating, 7th in defensive rating, and 2nd in net rating. By any stretch of the imagination, those are elite numbers.

Defensively, it’s been about getting back to what built them in the first place. Ball pressure, effort, and awareness. But offensively, it’s meant taking playmaking leaps in both production and efficiency that we haven’t seen from them before.

Tough to gameplan for something that’s still evolving.

The Cast Coming Together

We all knew what we were getting from Ant man this year. We knew the burgeoning superstar was capable of fueling a deep playoff run, and carrying a roster well into the summer, but he needed those other pieces to come together.

To sync up, connect the tissue, and function like one organism.

They needed time to adapt to the changing parts, or to adjust to their increased roles. But now it looks like they have. Like they’re back to the take no prisoners wolves of last year's playoffs, and no one wants to see that in round one.