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Host Steve Hartman opens this episode talking about the rough couple of weeks for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

Then Steve talks with Travarus Bennett, former Golden Gopher and 2002 Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Year, about his path from high school basketball in Mississippi to Minnesota to playing professionally overseas. Bennett talks about what made him into a great defensive player, tips for youth players, and how he translates his defensive toughness into the Totino-Grace Eagles girls basketball team as they get healthy and gel at the right time of year. 

Finally, Steve breaks down his Minnesota boys high school, NSIC, & MIAC teams of the week. 

It's a full episode with lots of fun, laughs and hopefully some tips on great defense! 

Listen on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky. 

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In this episode, we break down an electric finish in one of the most intense rivalries in college sports following Tuesday's heart-stopping Wisconsin vs. Minnesota clash. Host Steve Hartman is joined by Princeton, MN native and Wisconsin Badgers All-Big Ten Forward Jared Berggren. We take you inside Williams Arena to relive the intensity of the most recent Border Battle, and Jared shares how much it means to Minnesotans wearing the red and white to win in their home state. 

Jared opens up about his journey from a developmental freshman to a Second-Team All-Big Ten leader, offering a unique perspective on how the modern era of NIL and the transfer portal is shifting the traditional "growth" model of college hoops. We also travel overseas to explore Jared’s six-year pro grind in Europe and Japan, diving into the viral debate sparked by Steve Nash regarding the U.S. "pay-to-play" model versus the fundamental-heavy European club system.

Finally, we look at Jared’s new mission with Catalyst Training. Discover the "Catalyst Philosophy," why footwork is the non-negotiable foundation for every player, and how detail-oriented reps are the key to mastering the craft. Whether you're a player, coach, or fan, this episode is a masterclass in the long game of basketball.

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In this episode, host Steve Hartman welcomes St. Francis High School girls basketball coach Kyle Waterworth. The two discuss Kyle's transition from coaching boys to girls basketball, driven by his desire to watch his daughters play. He outlines the similarities and differences between coaching genders and emphasizes communication early, being able to have difficult conversations that positively impact players, coaches and the team. 

They also cover the team's performance so far, and upcoming key games. They tackle the issue of high coaching turnover in girls' sports. Kyle also talks about the importance of multi-sport participation for athletes and addresses the decline in girls' basketball participation due to other activities. 

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In this episode, Steve talks the Wolves latest in over Miami and Rudy Gobert's monster impact. 

But the main topic is an exciting night in college basketball. Near upsets for Michigan and Kansas, Florida gets right, and Houston survives Texas Tech. 

Finally, a high school roundup of some surprising results in MN boys basketball. 

It's all in the Splash City Basketball podcast! 

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This week, Steve Hartman is joined by long-time friend, coach, former official and a pillar of the Minnesota basketball community, Barnesville Trojans Head Boys Coach Matt Askegaard. With a resume that includes head coaching stints for both boys and girls programs—plus years of experience as a college and high school official—Matt brings a unique perspective to the game. We discuss how officiating, and a few books, changed his coaching philosophy, the lessons learned through parenthood, and how his  Trojans are gearing up for a tough Heart O' Lakes conference stretch after their HLWW Invitational title. 

Plus, Steve breaks down a massive week for the Wolves, the Gophers, and his Teams of the Week in Minnesota high school, NSIC and MIAC action. 

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In this special Christmas Eve edition of the Splash City Basketball podcast, Steve lists out his 4 items on the basketball wishlist as well as shares some wishes from listeners.

Steve finishes the year with the final men's college basketball top 10 poll of the year. Some shake-ups in the final poll.

Thanks for listening throughout 2025! 

If you can share with your friends, like a post, leave a comment or a review and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Happy holidays everyone! 

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Is defense still the secret to winning in the shot-clock era? This episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast goes inside the huddle with Kevin McKenzie, head coach of the 4A #7 ranked Eagan Wildcats. Coach McKenzie breaks down what makes his defensive system so effective, holding opponents to just 47 points per game so far. McKenzie shares what it meant to the Eagan community to finally snap a 15-year drought against powerhouse Lakeville North. We also discuss the unique dynamic of coaching his son, Michael, during this historic 6-0 start.

After our deep dive into the South Suburban Conference, we sprint through our Teams of the Week across all four classes:

• Class A: The undefeated Rothsay Tigers and Karson Jensen’s 1,000-point milestone.
• Class AA: The #1 ranked Goodhue squad as they prepare for a massive Hiawatha Valley showdown.
• Class AAA: The dominant Totino-Grace and their recent tear through Class 4A giants.
• Class AAAA: Maple Grove following a perfect 3-0 week against top-tier competition.

We wrap things up by heading to the college hardwood to highlight Gustavus’s first win at St. John's in over a decade and Jakob Braaten’s historic turn as the D2 National Player of the Week for Southwest Minnesota State.

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One-third of the way through 2025, the Minnesota Timberwolves are right in the thick of a crowded West. Steve Hartman and Andrew Dukowitz (The Missing Wolves Podcast and ZoneCoverage.com) break down the biggest surprises of the year, the evolution of Jaden McDaniels, and why Rudy Gobert remains the most polarizing (yet essential) piece of the puzzle.

1:39 Andrew Dukowitz joins and shares his journey into the world of basketball and media

8:46 KG is officially back as part of the Timberwolves organization

14:00 How the 2025-26 team is living up to expectations

24:42 How pace plays a role in the team's and individual success

30:07 The Wolves bench players and their importance

42:22 What has been the biggest difference in Jaden McDaniels' offense

48:35 The polarization of Rudy Gobert: The metrics tell one story, but the eye test tells another one

57:00 Steve and Andrew discuss the upcoming stretch of games vs Oklahoma City, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets

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Steve gets you ready for the weekend of basketball. 

NBA Cup semi-finals taking place in Las Vegas. Can anyone slow down the Thunder and will we see an NBA Finals preview?

The Timberwolves have an important weekend ahead at Golden State and home versus the Sacramento Kings. Yes, the Kings...again. 

Interesting college games in the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12. Also, mid-major teams looking to make a statement before heading into conference play. 

Finally, Steve covers the best Minnesota high school games happening this weekend. 

It's all here for you at Splash City Basketball Podcast! 

Find us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and listen Spotify and Apple. 

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are climbing the standings, but the biggest story might be their rising two-way star. Host Steve Hartman dives deep into Jaden McDaniels' massive breakout, revealing how he went from a defensive stopper to one of the most efficient shooters in the league, currently ranking 3rd in the entire NBA in 3-Point Percentage! 

We break down the Wolves' five-game winning streak—including the gutsy home win over the Clippers—and discuss how J-Mac's scoring  is transforming the team's ceiling.

Then, we hit the hardwood for a rapid-fire review:

• College Hoops Chaos: Niko Medved notches his first Big Ten win as coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, beating #22 Indiana. Steve also breaks down the stunning 81-58 blowout of No. 1 Purdue by Iowa State, Duke's tough road win
• High School Spotlight: Steve shares his detailed takeaways from the Breakdown Big Stage Classic at Hopkins, highlighting impressive teams like Richfield and Orono, and the must-see performance from NDSU commit Max Iversen.

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Steve is joined by J Schwartz, Director of the East Metro Wave AAU program. They touched on a lot of subjects starting with J's story as a Park High coach and what brought him to start East Metro Wave. 

They also discussed coaching and training in this era, and new challenges and opportunities in today's youth basketball landscape. 

Steve also shares some of his favorite websites and apps to use for keeping up with Minnesota high school scores. 

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Steve breaks down the Wolves back-to-back excruciating losses. What happened in Sacramento 3 nights after a collapse in Phoenix?! How much is on head coach Chris Finch? It's a brutal trend that doesn't seem fixable with this current group of players. Plus thoughts on the Feast Week in college basketball.

1:26 Timberwolves blow another 4th quarter lead late
7:39 Wolves need to develop a rotation beyond 7 players
11:25 Naz Reid is back to doing Naz Reid things
14:45 Local teams not making it to the next level
18:01 Steve unveils his top 10 college basketball teams 
24:25 Preview of some big upcoming college games
26:00 Minnesota loses to San Francisco and St. Thomas goes 2-1 in Portland
27:26 Show wrap

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This week on Splash City Basketball, we dive deep into the heart of Upper Midwest hoops history! Host Steve Hartman welcomes UND basketball alum Ben Brickson, a key player from the 1995 North Central Conference (NCC) Championship team, to explore the seismic shift from Division II to Division I.

Ben pulls back the curtain, sharing personal stories from the intense 1995 NCC Championship season and painting a vivid picture of what it took to come back and win that grueling league. But the story doesn't stop there: we explore the profound legacy of their shared mentor, coach Rich Glas. We reminisce about Glas's passion, and discuss his incredible coaching tree, which sprouted major D1 success stories like Creighton’s Greg McDermott and Northern Iowa’s Ben Jacobson.

We also tackle the challenge of the D1 transition itself—the financial burdens, the recruiting in the NIL era, and how the rising visibility of basketball and FCS football compares to the decades-long, national-power reputation of D1 hockey. This episode is packed with personal history, basketball nostalgia, and a fun look at basketball in the Upper Midwest.

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In this episode Steve breaks down the past week in the NBA and for the Timberwolves and college. We also look at some of the notable Minnesota prep hoopers committing to play college basketball.

Finally, I give my Bucket List of college basketball venues. 

0:10 Intro

1:28 Wolves go 2-1, but still haven't beaten a team over .500

10:28 NBA Performances of the Week: Steph and the Pistons

12:22 National Signing Day from Minnesota

15:59 Big week in college hoops. Terrence Brown Jr is the Player of the Week and Purdue delivers in Alabama.

24:12 Steve's Bucket List of college basketball venues. 

32:22 Show wrap

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In this episode Steve reviews the brand-new $180M Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, home to the St. Thomas Tommies. 

Plus, Derek Bolden joins to talk all things NBA fandom, including updates at Target Center and the Wolves new app, plus basketball trading cards and innovation across the NBA. 

1:20 Steve's review of Lee & Penny Anderson Arena

9:07 We're live at Scoreboard Bar & Grill in Minnetonka

10:05 New Target Center Experience including a one-stop shop app for tickets, merch and food

15:11 Where to find the NBA on TV. We get a little nostalgic over the return of the NBA on NBC

18:45 New partnership in NBA trading cards.

21:47 The Los Angeles Clippers are leading the way with in-arena innovation and fan engagement.

26:25 A special gift that harkens back to the guys' childhood

27:35 Show wrap

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November 7, 2025

It's been a while since we talked NBA and the Minnesota Timberwolves so...

1:07 Steve is joined by Tyler & Tate for a long segment talking Wolves who sit at 4-4 through 8 games. What's up with the defense? What happened to their bench? 

16:57 Steve talks more NBA, including Wemby and the Spurs as a playoff team. He also talks surprises in both the Western and Eastern conferences. 

26:28 Wrapping up this episode with talk on the first look at college basketball. The Gophers make it look easy. St. Thomas runs into a BIG obstacle. And the fabulous freshman in college basketball impress, most notably from Arizona's Koa Peat. 

31:29 Show wrap

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The college basketball season is officially here. It's never too early to start thinking about upsets in your bracket. 

2:03 Games to watch on opening night, Monday, Nov 3rd including defending national champion Florida AND potential top NBA pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU

4:32 Set up your viewing Thanksgiving or "Feast Week" with the best early season tournaments or Multi-Team Events (MTEs)

8:20 Rivalry games in Nov/Dec that you won't want to miss

11:50 My Top 10 Mid-Major teams to watch

19:15 Keep an eye on these MN high school stars playing at the mid-major level

24:48 Show wrap

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Steve breaks down the Big East conference for the 2025-26 season. 

Coming off their first Big East championship in 25 years, St. John's looks to defend its title against highly ranked UConn. Rick Pitino. Dan Hurley. What else can you ask for at the top of this league? 

Other challengers with experienced coaches will contend. Marquette, Creighton lie in the wings, and Villanova under new coach Kevin Willard and Kim English and Providence look for a bounceback seasons.

Finally, it's a family affair with Richard Pitino joining the Big East at Xavier, facing off against his father Rick Pitino and St. John's. 

All that and more on the Splash City Basketball Podcast! 

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Steve breaks down the top of the SEC, the other contenders, key coaching changes and picks his darkhorse to win the best college basketball conference in the country. 

With a mass exodus of the league's leading scorers things could get wild and crazy in the SEC. Can the SEC replicate its record 14 teams to make the NCAA tournament? 

It's all in Splash City Basketball's SEC conference preview.

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We're back with our ACC Preview looking at 3 storylines and a darkhorse.

1. Will anyone challenge Duke this year? Is Louisville ready? And how hot is the seat in Chapel Hill?

2. New coaches are everywhere, including at some of the best programs in the ACC. Who will have the biggest impact? 

3. Can the ACC improve on its 4 NCAA tournament bids from a year ago? 

My darkhorse pick: Find out which who I think can challenge for an NCAA tourney bid and a top 6 finish in the ACC. 

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Will Houston continue running the Big 12 as they have in their first two seasons in the league?  Will Kansas experience a resurgence behind freshman star Darryn Peterson or will the other star freshman, AJ Dybantsaa and BYU stake their claim?

The Big 12 has loads of storylines. Steve breaks down his top 3 storylines and projects a darkhorse team that pushes Houston atop the conference standings. 

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In this episode Steve and his friend Tyler talk all things Big Ten. Who will challenge Purdue? Will the Big Ten finally break the national title drought? All this and more in the Splash City Basketball Podcast.
 
0:00 Intro and musings from opening night in the NBA. Rockets & Thunder go to 2OTs and Steph + Jimmy are too much for the LeBron-less Lakers

2:58 Kick off Big Ten discussion

4:40 Purdue is the preseason #1 in Big Ten and will be battle tested

8:35 Michigan wins in the portal, Yaxel Lendeborg is a monster

12:27 Brad Underwood brings another European invasion to Illinois

14:47 Wisconsin success hinges on their experienced backcourt and Brad Davison returns!

18:20 Will Indiana get back to the top of the Big Ten? Can their success in basketball match football? 

20:10 Another amazing B10 backcourt in UCLA. Mick Cronin is a “top 3 scary coach.” Will the Bruins push for a top 4 NCAA tourney seed? 

23:13 Is Iowa being overvalued and Maryland undervalued? Will different styles of play in Iowa City and College Park drive NCAA tournament appearances? 

26:20 Why did it take us so long to talk Michigan State? Will Izzo work his magic once again? 

28:35 Former Totino-Grace star Taison Chatman returns from injury for Ohio State. 

29:38 Is Steve Pikiell on the hottest seat in the B10? 

31:00 Steve & Tyler break down the possibility of the Big Ten breaking the drought and finally win a national championship. 

32:47 Wrap it up

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In this episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast, host Steve Hartman gets the first look at Niko Medved's 2025-2026 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team. Steve brought his son and two of his buddies for in-depth analysis and hot takes on best food items at the concession stand. You don't want to miss it! 

1:00 Biggest takeaways from the Gophers scrimmage - Cade Tyson impresses

6:15 Breaking down the Gophers backcourt - No questions here

10:22 Long wings who can shoot but will they be able to defend? 

12:52 Gopher bigs are sturdy. Can the lock down the paint? 

17:08 Overall takeaways: Good, bad and the unknown

23:31 The Great Takes: Go to concession foods with middle school experts

29:01 Show wrap

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In this episode host Steve Hartman welcomes the first guest on the Splash City Basketball Podcast as his buddy Tate provides his thoughts on the Lynx collapsing (1:28), both on the scoreboard and in keeping their cool.

Then they dive into NBA training camps (14:07) to discuss teams with the most pressure. Is it the Timberwolves trying to get over the Western Conference Final hump, or other teams (21:56) including the Thunder looking to repeat? In the East (33:15) is this the year the Knicks get back to the Finals? It's anyone's guess with key players hurt and rising stars still rising. Steve and Tate also look at some win totals projected for key NBA teams (39:10).

Finally, we'll jump back into the college scene (49:20). Steve breaks down the 10 best teams heading into the preseason with a Minnesotan on the roster. And then we look at the St. Thomas Tommies (53:02) as they enter their first year of NCAA tourney eligibility. What do they have in common with the 2008-2009 NDSU Bison? 

Find out now on the Splash City Basketball Podcast !

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Episode 2: New Era for Gophers, Recruiting Buzz & Lynx Legacy

1:31 Niko Medved is the new men's basketball coach at Minnesota
4:43 New look Golden Gophers roster
15:00 Expectations for Medved in year 1
16:26 Local recruiting and transfer portal news
22:15 Look at Big Ten teams Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and more
32:27 Cheryl Reeve's legacy as it stands today
36:35 Show wrap and look ahead to next episode

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Welcome to the very first episode of the Splash City Hoops Podcast! Host Steve Hartman takes you to Las Vegas for his debut at the 2025 NBA Summer League to give you a front-row seat on what he witnessed.

This episode dives deep into the standout performances from local Minnesota players. Steve also gives a detailed breakdown of the Minnesota Timberwolves' young core. He discusses Terrence Shannon Jr.'s standout performance and readiness for the NBA, the potential and concerns surrounding Rob Dillingham , and the debut of rookie Joan Beringer, noting his shot-blocking ability and Gobert comparisons.

The episode also covers the highly anticipated matchup between number one pick Cooper Flagg and number two pick Dylan Harper. Steve offers his personal takes on their performances, and what their Summer League play means for their respective teams. Additionally, he touches on the Denver Nuggets' offseason moves and other league musings.

Finally, Steve shares his experience as a fan, highlighting the accessibility and family-friendly atmosphere of the Summer League.