After a 72-62 win at North Dakota State last night, South Dakota State is in the driver's seat of the Summit League regular season and No. 1 seed in the tournament, even though they aren't in first place and there are eight games remaining on the conference slate. Why? John Gaskins explains how SDSU is now the team to beat.

Then — another glaring example of USD's attendance issues for the major sports, and why the most fault lies on the fans.

For the final 55 minutes, a fun Friday happy hour chat with self-admitted curmudgeon (but mellowing with age) and 17-year University of Sioux Falls men's basketball coach Chris Johnson, who talks about why he absolutley loves this season's team and all the ebbs, flows, and evolutions in college hoops and the game of basketball, in general, since he came to Sioux Falls from Div. I University of North Dakota, where he was the head assistant.

Johnson describes the unique relationship he has with USF women's coach Travis Traphagen, describes the adjustments he has had to make in his coaching style and approach to players, and why local high school product and freshman Taylen Ashley has him excited for the next four years.

The South Dakota men's basketball team strormed back from a 13-point halftime hole to deal first-place Omaha its first Summit League loss in a game that could be a turning point for the high-flying, up-tempo Coyotes.

After John Gaskins opines on why a late-season USD heater would be awesome — for both the Coyotes and Jackrabbits fans — third year head coach Eric Peterson spends a half-hour with John describing how the Yotes got it done. Peterson also unpacks the program's struggles his first two years, and why he scrapped its style of play for this new, maddening pace. Plus, a crazy story about an early win Peterson experienced with former USD coach Craig Smith in their first season at Utah State together — crowdsurfing, court-storming, and locker room brawl.

Then, Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer joins to explain how Augustana hockey has become a Top 20 team in its second year of existence, how Augie women's hoops is healing after a disastrous first season without Dave Krauth in 35 years. Also, a glimpse into the absurdly red-hot shooting of the No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln High School boys team.

Oh, and, by the way, Trent grew up in the same Tennessee neighborhood as Johnny Cash and went to high school with Taylor Swift. So, enjoy our detour into those memories.

In a rollicking, one-hour pow-wow from the Gateway Lounge, 17-year friends and 5-year podcast partners John Gaskins and Matt Zimmer take their maiden voyage on a made-for-TV (well, YouTube) episode and dive further into the nation's obsession and aggression toward the Kansas City Chiefs, then steer into local football matters like Zim's interview with Steelers offensive lineman and former Roosevelt and SDSU stud Mason McCormick.

Speaking of offensive linemen, the best in state high school history just chose Iowa over Nebraska and Minnesota — why? Then, a dip into the dynamic of best friends and South Dakota football legends Kurtiss Riggs and Kalen DeBoer — and how the latter could really use the former to give Alabama a jolt back into the national title picture. Next, a delve into the most recent news of both Dan Jackson's recruiting efforts and success at SDSU (Semchenko/Kabrera) and good buddy Jimmy Rogers' continued luring of South Dakota talent to Washington State (Schlimgen).

The boys round third and head toward home plate with an "A League of their Own" analogy to the current state of Jackrabbits and Coyotes hoops after both SDSU squads beat up USD again.

Perhaps the best offensive lineman in South Dakota high school football history, 6-4, 320-pound Hudson Parliament chose Iowa over Nebraska after a long and heated recruiting process that included offers from Minnesota, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Northwestern, and Georgia Tech, plus interest from Oregon, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Alabama.

Parliament's father gave John Gaskins deep insight into the process and factors in the decision, which John relays. Plus, what kind of history does Iowa have sending offensive linemen to the NFL, especially in the last decade?

Midco Sports college basketball analyst Brad Newitt breaks down the SDSU men's 91-70 romp over USD on Saturday in Brookings, and why the Jackrabbits consistently field better basketball teams and get bigger crowds than the Coyotes. Also, why is the Summit League such an offense-heavy conference, and what should we expect out of SDSU vs NDSU on Thursday?

What should we make of SDSU football's latest staff hires and incoming transfers (from all levels - Big Ten to NAIA)? Should USD vs. SDSU basketball games be doubleheaders like the old days?

John answers those questions and dives into last night's Jackrabbits and Coyotes basketball results, then digs in with SDSU men's coach Eric Henderson, who has guided the Jackrabbits to four Summit League regular season titles and two NCAA Tournaments, all the while exuding positive vibes and energy that make even bouncy football coach Dan Jackson say, "whoa." Where the infectious spirit come from? Hendo is teased about always talking about defense first, even after 109-point surges, and talks seriously about defending the fireworks display the Coyotes will bring to First Bank & Trust Arena. Also — life with Oscar Cluff, the dominant Jacks big man (17.7 points, 12.3 rebounds) who grew up in Sunshine Coast, Australia, and may feel like a fish out of water in frigid Brookings.

After that, John explains why Vikings fans should be happy about Kevin O'Connell's contract extension and Raiders fans should welcome Pete Carroll.

Finally, a sit-down with popular Kansas City sports radio talk host Bob Fescoe, who has colorfully commentated on the Chiefs for 15 years, including a famous viral rant calling them out for sucking and not caring. Now, the three-time Super Bowl champs have become villains. Why? And will they make it 4-0 versus the Bills and a first-ever Super Bowl three-peat?

In his six years in Brookings, Hendo has guided the Jackrabbits to four Summit League regular season titles and two NCAA Tournaments, all the while exuding positive vibes and energy that make even bouncy football coach Dan Jackson say, "whoa."

John Gaskins catches up with the Iowa native to find out where the infectious spirit comes from as SDSU (13-8 overall, 4-2 in Summit League with three straight wins) gets ready for "State vs U" Saturday against USD. Hendo is teased about always talking about defense first, even after 109-point surges, and talks seriously about defending the fireworks display the Coyotes will bring to First Bank & Trust Arena.

Also — life with Oscar Cluff, the dominant Jacks big man (17.7 points, 12.3 rebounds) who grew up in Sunshine Coast, Australia, and may feel like a fish out of water in frigid Brookings.

A week after the passing of 54-year Hall of Fame Brewers radio announcer — Bob Uecker one of the most beloved and celebrated American broadcasters, beer pitch men and comedic entertainers of our lives — one of his booth partners for the last nine seasons joins us to capture intimate Uecker essence and experience.

Lane Grindle is a Hastings, Iowa, native and University of South Dakota graduate who started his sportscasting career as a daily radio sports talk host in Yankton and Coyote football and basketball broadcaster. He moved on to the Huskers radio network in Lincoln as a sports host and football sidelines commentator for the University of Nebraska. But it was as the Big Red's play-by-play baseball announcer for a decade that earned Grindle his call to the big leagues to work alongside Uecker in the Brewers booth starting in 2015.

What was it like to meet and work alongside, to the end, one of the funniest and most talented play-by-play announcers ever, who was also the most famous person in Milwaukee and heaped with love and admiration everywhere he went? Stories of Uecker's humor, wisdom, advice, and calls, plus the American sports icons that would drop by the booth.

Lane also shares his stories of another best friend and play-by-play man who battled cancer this past year — Greg Sharpe — the 17-year voice of Huskers football and baseball. Lane was called from the bullpen to fill in for Sharpe for Nebraska' final two football games, at Iowa and in New York for the Pinstripe Bowl.