Happy Hour with John Gaskins

FULL THURSDAY SHOW - Vince Benedetto (SDSD TE coach) and Final Wolves Wrap after KO in OKC


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Who says you can't go to your second home again?

Vince Benedetto is a Chicagoland native, but he feels back at home in Brookings, where his South Dakota football journey has come full circle. 

As a South Dakota State tight end from 2010-13 and graduate assistant in 2014-15, Benedetto helped the Jackrabbits grow into a consistent Top 20 FCS program before starting a decade-long high school coaching run that included working under prep legends Craig Clayberg and Kim Nelson, then building a brand new program at Sioux Falls Jefferson into a state champion in the school's second year of existence in 2022.

After the sixth season in what was trending as a long and successful high school head coaching career, Benedetto took up new coach Dan Jackson's offer to come "home" and coach the position he played at his alma mater.

Benedetto describes the whirlwind of the last four months, which included an immediate, fast break recruiting blitz to salvage a roster ravaged by departures — mostly with former coach Jimmy Rogers to Washington State — and his travels all over the Rushmore State.

The stories flow — his recruiting trip to SDSU as a player, Kalen DeBoer's recruiting pitch to Benedetto at USF, a front row seat to the Zach Zenner show, Clayberg and Nelson, taking over powerhouse West Central as his first head gig, and moving on up to Jefferson. 

Before that —

The Thunder struck early to knock out the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Western Conference Finals.

That's back-to-back trips and two "gentleman's sweeps" in the NBA's penultimate playoff round. 

To channel Hall and Oates, the Wolves appear to be "so close yet so far away" from being a true title contender. So, now what?

Should general manager Tim Connelly merely tinker with a loaded-but-flawed lineup? Or should he take a mighty swing like he did after last season's run with the seismic trade that brought Julius Randle to Minnesota (plus Donte DiVincenzo) for long-time franchise face Karl Anthony Towns?

What is the top personnel priority? And which players might the Wolves be best off discarding?

In their final "Wolves Wrap" of a gripping playoff run, Happy Hour host John Gaskins and die-hard Timberwolves fan Jon Oppold — owner of Orion Pub, the downtown Sioux Falls Wolves viewing headquarters — walk through what's best for a club that has blossomed the last three seasons but needs to be weary of a growth stunt in an ever-changing NBA and in a conference where OKC appears to be a stealth contender for at least another year or two.

 

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Happy Hour with John GaskinsBy John Gaskins

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