Splash City Basketball Podcast

Steve Hartman
  • 5.0 (9)
  • BASKETBALL

Splash City is your go-to basketball podcast, diving deep into all the basketball that matters in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. From tactical breakdowns and recruiting news to live game commentary, we cover it all from the land of 10,000 lakes.

  1. 3D AGO

    March Madness Prep: Mid-Majors to Watch PLUS MN Teams of the Week

    Send a text In this episode, host Steve Hartman walks through some of his mid-major teams that you'll want to know as you prepare for March Madness and preparing your bracket. From coast-to-coast Steve walks through what makes these teams dangers and potential upset picks.  Then it's the weekly teams of the week for Minnesota boys basketball and small colleges. St. Paul Central in AAAA, Northfield in AAA, Minnehaha Academy in AA, Dawson-Boyd in A, plus St. Cloud St. captures the NSIC regular season crown and St. John's makes their 14th straight MIAC tourney.  Steve starts the show talking about Anthony Edwards winning the NBA All-Star Game MVP and the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's basketball team winning 8 straight and solidifying their NCAA tourney resume.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    26 min

  2. FEB 11

    Solving the College and NBA Challenges of Transfers, Load Management & More

    Send a text In this episode, host Steve Hartman tackles issues plaguing both NCAA basketball and the NBA and what he thinks could fix them both.  Steve discusses the current state of college basketball, highlighting the exciting mix of experienced players who can now stay longer due to NIL opportunities and high-performing freshmen. He also identifies key concerns such as decreased fan loyalty due to frequent player transfers and the adverse impact of the transfer portal on high school recruits and mid-major programs. Hartman suggests implementing a compensation model for mid-majors losing players to high majors and exploring relegation and tiered systems in the NBA to reduce load management issues and make games more meaningful. The proposal includes reducing NBA games, creating a three-tier system in professional basketball, and implementing a three-year contractual commitment for college players. Then Steve breaks down his weekly Top 10 men's college basketball power rankings. Seven of the last week's top 10 lost so there's a lot to discuss and a big shake-up in the top 10. There's a new #1 and teams that fell off. Rivalries, huge home-court advantages were at play this week.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    33 min

  3. FEB 9

    The Basketball Appetizer: Watching Wolves & Gophers before the big game

    Send us a text 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 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    55 min

  4. FEB 2

    Giannis in MN? + Wolves Win Streak & Gopher Women's Hoops’ on the Rise | Feat. Andrew Dukowitz

    Send us a text 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 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    55 min

  5. JAN 26

    Travarus Bennett Talks Defense & Determination PLUS MN Teams of the Week

    Send us a text 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.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    59 min

  6. JAN 15

    Former Badger Jared Berggren on Badgers/Gophers Rivalry, NIL, Euro Ball, Training & much more!

    Send us a text 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. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    34 min

  7. JAN 12

    St. Francis' Kyle Waterworth on Coaching and Family in Basketball

    Send us a text 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.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    45 min

  8. JAN 8

    CBB Surprises, Disappointments & Latest Top 10

    Send us a text 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!  Instagram @splashcitypodcast Facebook YouTube Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Splash City is your go-to basketball podcast, diving deep into all the basketball that matters in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. From tactical breakdowns and recruiting news to live game commentary, we cover it all from the land of 10,000 lakes.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Hartman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Splash City Basketball Podcast
  • Show Website
    Splash City Basketball Podcast