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 66 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 66 episodes published.

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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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  Episode #63

  Unpacking the Vegas Summer League Notebook PLUS: Lynx, TC Pro-Am, & Breakdown Series

  Jul 13, 202639 min

  In this action-packed episode, host Steve Hartman sits down with friend Derek Bolden to unpack their annual pilgrimage to the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Despite the blistering desert heat, the guys spent two days at Thomas & Mack Center to scout the future of the league. From dodging the legendary arena Dairy Queen lines to watching star prospects like Cameron Boozer Caleb Wilson, and Mikel Brown Jr, they give their raw, firsthand notebook drops on what stood out. Plus, they share insights from a fascinating courtside conversation with an assistant GM from the Japanese B-League, Indiana Pacers scout and track how local Minnesota standouts are faring on the big stage. But before diving deep into the desert recap, Steve runs through a massive wave of local hardwood news shaking up the Land of 10,000 Lakes: Lynx Make History: Celebrating Cheryl Reeve’s legendary, record-breaking 380th regular-season victory and a strong win over the powerhouse New York Liberty. Napheesa Collier's return is looming, which will give the Lynx a boost going into the stretch run. Wolves Summer Session: A look at the early summer league showings for Isaiah Evans, Rocco Zikarsky, and the consistency of Zyon Pullin. Twin Cities Pro-Am is BACK: Everything you need to know about the premier (and free!) local summer tradition. https://www.twincitiesproam.com/schedule Breakdown Summer Series: Highlighting the fast-paced high school circuit sweeping through St. Louis Park, Fergus Falls, Austin, Delano, and beyond. https://breakdownsportsusa.com/boys-summer-series/ Tune in for unfiltered basketball energy, listener mailbag questions, and a sneak peek at the annual tradition that is NBA Summer League. Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook and Bluesky .

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  Episode #61

  Bringing the City Back: St. Paul Central’s Cam Jones on his 1st year with the Minutemen

  Jun 15, 202650 min

  Fresh off an incredible 25-4 debut season that brought packed stands back to the St. Paul community, St. Paul Central Head Coach Cam Jones joins the podcast. As the reigning St. Paul City Conference Coach of the Year, Jones pulls back the curtain on what made last season's team so special and what he learned to help prepare this year's team with summer workouts starting. We trace his relentless journey from volunteer AAU circles to the collegiate ranks at Bethel University, and how those foundational experiences shaped his high-level, detail-oriented approach at Central. Inside the Episode: The Power of Trust: How long-term player relationships and having a "floor general" like Eli Moseman fueled a championship run. The College Blueprint: The lessons Jones learned coaching at Bethel and how those defined his coaching staff roles at the high school level. Offseason Reality Checks: Navigating year two with a young roster, moving past a historic 11-senior class, and why "comparison is the thief of joy" when measuring program success. Brutal Recruiting Truths: What college coaches are actually looking for on the circuit, and the body language habits that will get a player crossed off a recruiting list instantly. Lightning Round: The toughest road environments in the St. Paul City Conference (shoutout to Johnson and Highland), a surprising take on the LA vs. Twin Cities food scene, and the ultimate non-negotiable of his program: "dying to yourself" for the team. Host Steve Hartman also kicks off the show with a look at the latest headlines: the newly confirmed Gophers/St. Thomas home-and-home series, the Lynx’s dominant run and star rookie Olivia Miles, and the Knicks finally snapping their 53-year title drought. Connect with the Show & Guest: Follow the Pod on Socials: @SplashCityPodcast on Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook Website: SplashCityBasketball.com Read Steve’s Latest Blog: Check out the Gophers vs. St. Thomas breakdown at HittingTheHardwood.com Follow Coach Cam Jones: @coach_camjones If you love the breakdown, make sure to hit that subscribe button, leave us a 5-star review, and share the show with a fellow hoops fan. Your support makes it all possible! Listen on Spotify , Apple Podcasts or YouTube . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram , Facebook and Bluesky .

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