Splash City Basketball Podcast

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.

Splash City Basketball Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Steve Hartman, with 69 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Steve Hartman hosts Splash City Basketball Podcast, a sports show with 69 episodes published.

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  Episode #69

  Greatness at the Position: Minnesota’s Best Small Forwards & All-Time Top 5 w/ Marcus Fuller

  Aug 24, 202643 min

  What defines an elite small forward in today's game? In installment #3 of the Greatness at the Position series, host Steve Hartman sits down with Minnesota Star Tribune insider Marcus Fuller (Strib Varsity) to unpack the evolution of the "3" spot, from positional versatility, 3-level scoring, and athletic rim pressure to off-ball cutting. Steve and Marcus dive deep into the vault to rank and debate the top small forwards in Minnesota high school and college basketball history. They discuss stars like Sam Jacobson, Amir Coffey, Royce White, Devean George, Isaiah Dahlman, Alan Anderson, and Jamison Battle. Plus, they build their All-Time NBA Small Forward top 5 lists, clashing over legends, scoring stars, highlight reels, and all-defensive studs. But who made the list? Listen to find out! In this episode: The Modern Blueprint: Key traits of elite wings (length, 3-level scoring, cutting, defense). Minnesota Legends: Ranking the best state small forwards and unsung heroes. All-Time Rankings: Debating the GOAT small forwards and notable omissions. Local High School Outlook: Standout wings to watch in Minnesota hoops. Don't forget to subscribe , leave a 5-star rating, and check out Marcus Fuller’s coverage on StribVarsity! Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Amazon or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook and Bluesky .

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  Episode #68

  Greatness at the Position: The elite scoring guards of all-time

  Aug 19, 202657 min

  Host Steve Hartman is joined by longtime Twin Cities high school/college basketball coach and owner of McKenzie Shooting Academy, Kevin McKenzie, for Part 2 of the 5-part series Greatness at the Position . This week, the guys dive deep into the world of shooting guards, scoring guards, and combo guards. Steve and Kevin break down what truly separates an elite two-guard in today's game. From three-level scoring and mid-post mastery to defensive intensity, short memories, and pure swagger. They also debate the evolution of defensive switching, positionless basketball, and how modern teams defend elite scoring threats. Key Topics Covered: Anatomy of an Elite Shooting Guard: Key attributes including three-level scoring ability, short-memory confidence, reading screens, navigating mid-post defense, and bringing perimeter defensive dog. Defensive Strategy & Positionless Hoops: How defenses overload against stars like Anthony Edwards and how modern switching impacts position matchups. Top 5 Minnesota Shooting Guards of All Time: Comparing local legendary scorers. Listen to find out our list and compare it to yours Top 5 NBA Shooting Guards of All Time: Debating the greatest two-guards in history. There isn't much debate about the top two, but after that the guys differ. Bonus Gopher Hoops Talk: Coach McKenzie counts down his top 5 Minnesota Golden Gophers shooting guards, nostalgic memories from 1990s games at The Barn, and a preview of the upcoming season. Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Amazon or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook and Bluesky .

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  Episode #67

  Greatness at the Position: What makes great point guards

  Aug 16, 202655 min

  Welcome back to the Splash City Basketball Podcast ! In this episode, host Steve Hartman kicks off the first of a five-part series exploring the primary positions in basketball. Joining Steve is his former high school teammate and longtime friend, Eric Quackenbush, to dissect everything about point guards. The duo starts with a quick reaction to the Minnesota Timberwolves' upcoming schedule release, including their home Christmas Day matchup against the Thunder and opening the season in Miami with LaMelo Ball. From there, Steve and Eric dive into the evolution of the point guard position, shifting from traditional floor generals who initiate sets to today's heavy-scoring, pace-setting playmakers. They detail the core traits every elite point guard needs, including high basketball IQ, toughness, unselfishness, and non-traditional finishing techniques around the rim. Finally, Steve and Eric reveal their personal Top 5 lists for the best point guards born and raised in Minnesota, along with a debate on the all-time greatest NBA point guards. Key Topics Covered: Wolves News: Reacting to the Wolves' Christmas Day game vs. Oklahoma City and LaMelo Ball joining the squad. Position Blueprint: What defines a point guard? Exploring team leadership, defensive responsibility, and the concept of "pace vs. speed." Finishing Against Bigs: Eric breaks down the mental approach and technique small guards need to score over taller defenders in the paint. Top 5 Minnesota Point Guards: Debating local legends from both the metro and greater Minnesota, male and female, plus some underrated stars. All-Time NBA Point Guards: Comparing icon achievements, from Magic Johnson and Steph Curry to John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash. Find out who we have in our lists of the top 5 greatest point guards both from Minnesota and among the all-time greats. Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Amazon or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook and Bluesky .

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  Episode #65

  Twin Cities Pro-Am & NIL Insights with Matt Kourouma

  Jul 26, 202648 min

  In this episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast , host Steve Hartman sits down with former Columbia Heights and North Dakota State player, and current St. Anthony assistant coach and Twin Cities Pro-Am team sponsor, Matt Kourouma. Matt shares his firsthand experiences from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, including a look at the premiere of the Hoop State documentary featuring Columbia Heights alum Terrence Brown. He reflects on his journey from Minnesota high school hoops to playing against Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament at NDSU under Dave Richman, and breaks down what it takes to build a competitive roster in the Twin Cities Pro-Am with Sidiki Capital . Plus, Steve and Matt dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of college NIL, the financial realities facing modern student-athletes, and the core coaching philosophies Matt passes along to the next generation of Minnesota hoopers. In this episode, we cover: NBA Summer League, the film festival, and regional talent storytelling Lessons learned playing at NDSU and under Coach Dave Richman Behind the scenes of sponsoring a team in the Twin Cities Pro-Am The practical realities of NIL, player movement, and contract structures The upcoming Twin Cities Pro-Am Youth Night details Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Amazon or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook and Bluesky .

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  Episode #64

  Coaching High-IQ Defense, Math (yep!) & the 1st-Place Minnesota Lynx with Victoria Larson

  Jul 23, 202647 min

  In this episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast, host Steve Hartman is joined by Victoria Larson, former Riverland Community College player and current coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx Basketball Academy! Victoria opens up about her transition from a record-setting three-point shooter in college to coaching youth hoops and sharing her passion for the game. The two dive deep into what it takes to build high-IQ players, simple ways to teach anticipation and court angles, and why bringing a little "math logic" onto the floor can completely change how young players understand spatial awareness. Topics Covered in This Episode: Victoria’s Journey: Transitioning from high school to junior college ball, dealing with the speed of the game, and finding a love for shooting. Coaching & Player IQ: How to teach spatial awareness, defensive positioning, active hands, and reading passing lanes. Youth Development: Essential fundamentals every kid needs, from pounding the dribble to mastering help defense. Timberwolves & Lynx Basketball Academy: The mission behind getting kids in the gym, having fun, and learning the right way. WNBA Breakdown: Napheesa Collier’s explosive return, Courtney Williams' mid-range dominance, Cheryl Reeve’s Coach of the Year case, and the impact of Rookie of the Year candidate Olivia Miles on the first-place Lynx! Connect & Learn More: Check out camp schedules and sign up at Timberwolves Basketball Academy . Don't forget to Subscribe , Rate , and Leave a Review wherever you listen to podcasts! Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook and Bluesky .

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