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Big game Sunday: Wolves Watch, NBA Trades, and Gopher Hoops

In this special Big Game Sunday episode, Steve is joined by Tyler and Tate as they watch the Minnesota Timberwolves and discuss various topics in sports. The conversation covers the Ayo Dosunmu and LA Clippers trades, the Minnesota Gophers' basketball upset over Michigan State, and predictions for the upcoming games. The trio also revisits their NBA predictions, evaluates team performances, and debates potential changes for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They share their thoughts on key players, team dynamics, and coaching strategies. The episode wraps up with Super Bowl predictions, favorite game-day foods, and reflections on past NFL games.

00:00 Introduction and Super Bowl Sunday Setup

00:41 NBA Trade Reactions and Predictions

02:29 Minnesota Sports Frustrations

03:19 Coaching and Team Dynamics

15:51 Gophers Basketball Analysis

23:38 Duke vs. Carolina and College Basketball Insights

25:40 Clemson and Arizona's Basketball Performance

26:19 Purdue's Disappointing Season

26:42 St. Louis Billikens: A sleeper no more?

27:33 High School Basketball Highlights

30:04 Gophers' Struggles and Strategies

34:27 Wolves analysis

43:21 Super Bowl Predictions and Food Talk

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This week on the Splash City Basketball Podcast, host Steve Hartman is joined by Andrew Dukowitz (Zone Coverage, The Missing Wolves podcast) to break down a pivotal stretch in Minnesota hoops.

The Timberwolves have reeled off four straight wins, but as the trade deadline looms, the rumors are getting wild. We dive into the "Giannis to Minnesota" hypothetical: what would the Wolves actually have to sacrifice to land the Greek Freak, and would it ruin the chemistry they’ve built? Who else could the Timberwolves consider to bolster the roster without mortgaging the future? 

Plus, Andrew switches gears to the hardwood at Williams Arena. With the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Women’s team sitting at a shocking #13 in the NET rankings, we look at their NCAA Tournament resume. Are they a lock for an at-large bid, or is the bubble still a threat? 

Episode Timestamps

[00:00] – Intro: Welcome to the Splash City Basketball Podcast 

[01:10] – Thrilling weekend in MN high school boys games

[02:10]  College basketball whip around: Recapping the weekend for the Gopher men, BYU and Kansas was a showdown of the potential top 2 NBA draft picks and the top heavy Big Ten beats up on each other. 

 [04:50] – The Timberwolves annual January snooze. After some mid-January struggles, the Wolves have won 4 straight.

[13:33] – Return to Form?: Wolves defense overwhelms OKC 

[16:23] – Wolves Trade Talk: How essential is Jaden McDaniels in trade talks

[23:50] – Should the Wolves stand pat?: Steve and Andrew debate a potential move, short and long-term, of adding Giannis 

[42:13] – Gopher Women are #13 in the NET: Andrew breaks down Minnesota's elite defense and their NCAA tournament chances. 

[54:17] Episode Wrap

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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! 

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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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