Episodes

  • Jacks-Bison, USD-NDSU, Augie-USF hoops talk with Gaskins & Singer on a Thirsty Thursday from Orion Pub

    Jacks-Bison, USD-NDSU, Augie-USF hoops talk with Gaskins & Singer on a Thirsty Thursday from Orion Pub
    Feb 19 2026
    ,South Dakota State's men's basketball team played Summit League leader North Dakota State in front of 3,619 fans at FB&T Arena on Wednesday. The underdog Jackrabbits leaped to an early lead before a late first half run sprung the Bison on their way to a 74-66 win. SDSU has lost six of its last eight games, with three of those losses coming in a building that had been one of the 10 toughest in the nation to play over the last decade-plus.

    On a Thirsty Thursday local sports session over beers, the Happy Hour host opines with Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer on why the Jacks' haven't lit a late-season spark yet. They also dig in to the weekend ahead for the Summit League, including a golden opportunity for the USD women at home on Saturday against conference leader North Dakota State, who is 12-0 in league play. The two also preview Round 2 of Augustana vs USF hoops, which will be waged in Augie's Elmen Center on Saturday and where things sit heading into next week's Northern Sun conference tournament. Heading into the backyard battle, the Cougars will be coming off one of the best individual performances in school history — true freshman Brogan Madson's 45-point barrage in a thrilling Thursday overtime home win over Wayne State to take the Coo step closer to hosting a first round game on Wednesday.
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    42 mins
  • USF women's coach Travis Traphagen on the bumps, brusies, breakthroughs and big wins of his 18th season

    USF women's coach Travis Traphagen on the bumps, brusies, breakthroughs and big wins of his 18th season
    Feb 19 2026
    Round 2 of of this season's Augustana vs USF hoops will be waged in Augie's Elmen Center on Saturday, and both the men's and women's games will have an impact on where things sit for all four teams heading into next week's Northern Sun conference tournament. The Cougar men will be coming off one of the best individual performances in school history — true freshman Brogan Madson's 45-point barrage in a thrilling Thursday overtime home win over Wayne State to take the Coo step closer to hosting a first round game on Wednesday. The USF women also beat the Wildcats to keep their hopes alive for a postseason game in the Stewart Center on Wednesday. Everything has been hard-earned for Travis Traphagen's injury-riddled Cougars, who were picked to finish second in the NSIC but lost potential All-American center Kami Wadsworth — first team All-NSIC last year — to a torn knee ligament in their exhibition game at Utah in November. At 12-15 (9-12 NSIC), it hasn't been the most dazzling of seasons, but there have been bright spots and a progression that makes Traphagen optimistic they could pop for a big late-season run. One freshman's recent surge wets the appetite for a monster season when she teams up with Wadsworth in the post next year. Traphagen, now in his 18th year, describes the bumps, bruises, breakthroughs, and some big wins over some of his league's best teams that have come along the way. "Trap" also regales of stories of Augie-USF past, when he went toe-to-toe with former Vikings coach Dave Krauth, who mentored Traghapen for five years before the latter took the head job three blocks up the street.
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    35 mins
  • FULL SHOW: Jacks & Yotes dream football scenarios and Prep Hoops talk with Nate Kaeding

    FULL SHOW: Jacks & Yotes dream football scenarios and Prep Hoops talk with Nate Kaeding
    Feb 18 2026
    For a decade, North Dakota State officials, (some) Bison fans, and prominent Fargo media dreamed of the Bison graduating from the dominance of the FCS to a new life in higher stakes FBS. Now, it is a reality, with the "pinch me" moment coming on Tuesday, when Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez and other league officials toured Fargo and the NDSU campus on Tuesday and, predictably, had glowing things to say. In just over six months, the Bison will be mixing it up with teams like UNLV, New Mexico Air Force, Hawaii, San Jose State, Wyoming, UTEP, and Northern Illinois. In some cases, they'll be going to those places. And some of those games will be on national TV regularly. The Bison are expected to "win, baby, win" right away. Should they win big, they might be playing in primetime on FOX for the league title and maybe even a G6-saved spot in the College Football Playoff. Should this make South Dakota State and USD envious? Should it make their school leaders hellbent on putting the resources in place to attract FBS leagues in the coming years? Which league would be most attractive — Mountain West, American, or the newly Sac'd-Up MAC? Or with only two combined national titles — both at SDSU — should the Jackrabbits and Coyotes put their time and energy into only competing for easier-to-attain Missouri Valley Football Conference and national titles forever and ever and ever? Should they win at least one national title before feeling like it is time to take the plunge? That's the focus of Wednesday's "John-o-logue" on "Happy Hour with John Gaskins." The host gives his opinions and delivers some feedback from the fans of both teams. Then, a conversation with Nate Kaeding, Midwest Sports Plus Prep Hoops Analyst. The former Div. I assistant coach and USF associate head coach — now the Sanford Sports Academy basketball coordinator in Sioux Falls — has been on the call for dozens of local games this season, including Tuesday's showdown between the top two teams in boys Class AA, No. 1 Lincoln and No. 2 Roosevelt. The Patriots controlled most of the game and won 59-47, making them still the undisputed top team in the state and championship favorite. But did Tuesday prove they are a slam dunk to hoist the hardware in Rapid City? What other Class AA boys teams can make things interesting in March? Is Class AA girls an absolute two-horse between No. 1 Brandon Valley and No. 2 O'Gorman? Same question for Boys Class A, with No. 1 West Central and No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian appearing to be on a state final collision course? By the way, Midwest Sports Plus will carry the Lincoln boys game at Jefferson on Friday, along with the Spearfish-Brandon Valley doubleheader, plus Saturday's Spearfish-Harrisburg doubleheader. Next week, all doubleheaders: Brandon Valley at Mitchell (Tuesday), Mitchell at O'Gorman (Thursday), and Huron at Brandon Valley (Friday). The Happy Hour host will be on the call for the latter two twin bills. It's not too late to jump in on the prep hoops fun and get all the games with the Midwest Sports Plus app. Find out how at midwestsportsplus.com.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • John-o-logue: Jacks & Yotes dream football scenario for five years from now

    John-o-logue: Jacks & Yotes dream football scenario for five years from now
    Feb 18 2026
    For a decade, North Dakota State officials, (some) Bison fans, and prominent Fargo media dreamed of the Bison graduating from the dominance of the FCS to a new life in higher stakes FBS. Now, it is a reality, with the "pinch me" moment coming on Tuesday, when Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez and other league officials toured Fargo and the NDSU campus on Tuesday and, predictably, had glowing things to say. In just over six months, the Bison will be mixing it up with teams like UNLV, New Mexico Air Force, Hawaii, San Jose State, Wyoming, UTEP, and Northern Illinois. In some cases, they'll be going to those places. And some of those games will be on national TV regularly. The Bison are expected to "win, baby, win" right away. Should they win big, they might be playing in primetime on FOX for the league title and maybe even a G6-saved spot in the College Football Playoff. Should this make South Dakota State and USD envious? Should it make their school leaders hellbent on putting the resources in place to attract FBS leagues in the coming years? Which league would be most attractive — Mountain West, American, or the newly Sac'd-Up MAC? Or with only two combined national titles — both at SDSU — should the Jackrabbits and Coyotes put their time and energy into only competing for easier-to-attain Missouri Valley Football Conference and national titles forever and ever and ever? Should they win at least one national title before feeling like it is time to take the plunge? That's the focus of Wednesday's "John-o-logue" on "Happy Hour with John Gaskins." The host gives his opinions and delivers some feedback from the fans of both teams.
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    34 mins
  • Prep Hoops with Nate Kaeding (Midwest Sports Plus TV analyst & Sanford Sports Academy coordinator)

    Prep Hoops with Nate Kaeding (Midwest Sports Plus TV analyst & Sanford Sports Academy coordinator)
    Feb 18 2026
    The former Div. I assistant coach and USF associate head coach — now the Sanford Sports Academy basketball coordinator in Sioux Falls — has been on the call for dozens of local games this season, including Tuesday's showdown between the top two teams in boys Class AA, No. 1 Lincoln and No. 2 Roosevelt. The Patriots controlled most of the game and won 59-47, making them still the undisputed top team in the state and championship favorite. But did Tuesday prove they are a slam dunk to hoist the hardware in Rapid City? What other Class AA boys teams can make things interesting in March? Is Class AA girls an absolute two-horse between No. 1 Brandon Valley and No. 2 O'Gorman? Same question for Boys Class A, with No. 1 West Central and No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian appearing to be on a state final collision course? By the way, Midwest Sports Plus will carry the Lincoln boys game at Jefferson on Friday, along with the Spearfish-Brandon Valley doubleheader, plus Saturday's Spearfish-Harrisburg doubleheader. Next week, all doubleheaders: Brandon Valley at Mitchell (Tuesday), Mitchell at O'Gorman (Thursday), and Huron at Brandon Valley (Friday). The Happy Hour host will be on the call for the latter two twin bills. It's not too late to jump in on the prep hoops fun and get all the games with the Midwest Sports Plus app. Find out how at midwestsportsplus.com.
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    27 mins
  • NLA pt. 1 - Zim on Sac State to MAC, FBS/FCS near future landscape for Jacks & Yotes

    NLA pt. 1 - Zim on Sac State to MAC, FBS/FCS near future landscape for Jacks & Yotes
    Feb 18 2026
    "It's about money! Just g*****n money!" The fictitious coach Pete Bell — played by Nick Nolte — said that about high stakes college basketball in the 1994 film about the sport and its scandals, Blue Chips. There's no scandal at Sacramento State, but anybody with a brain able to compute deductive reasoning can strongly surmise that the Hornets' acceptance into the illogical geographic non-fit of the Mid-American Conference — elevating an also-ran FCS program into the FBS — was first and foremost about the money. The MAC is charging SSU an $18 million entry fee and the Hornets are also paying the FCS-to-FBS fee to the NCAA while agreeing to cover the travel costs of MAC teams that reside 2,175 to 3,000 miles away when they visit Sacramento. This is the price of poker when you are desperate to join the FBS and the geographic fits — the retooled Pac 12 and Mountain West — said "no." Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer wrote about this on Monday, and there was plenty more to unpack over beers at the Gateway Lounge during the weekly "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcast for "Happy Hour with John Gaskins." What kind of poker hands do the South Dakota Div. I schools have now that North Dakota State is in the Mountain West and the MAC gladly takes in high enough bidders? SDSU athletic director Justin Sell continues to employ the holding pattern approach, but also braces to be ready in case the Jackrabbits get a call. In his Happy Hour interview last week, USD's Jon Schemmel gave that general stance for the Coyotes. They're not selling out. But when might they ever have a chance to buy in? Can they just sit back and hope "the big split" of the Power Four leagues from the Group of Six conferences is going to just happen, bringing the waves all the way to SDSU and USD (and Montana and Montana State, for that matter) and everyone can just slide into a new "second tier" FBS ocean? Again, plenty to unpack.
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    44 mins
  • NLA pt. 2 - Zim on Summit League stability beyond this season after Denver leaves

    NLA pt. 2 - Zim on Summit League stability beyond this season after Denver leaves
    Feb 18 2026
    By now, anyone who follows college athletics understands the only constant is change, especially when it comes to conference affiliation. The Summit League has spent most of its 40-plus years in constant flux of teams, but the current stable of teams seems to make the most sense for, well, stability in both the opinion of Zim and the host. And yet, there's a horse that appears to be huffing and puffing to leave its stable again. Omaha brought in representatives from the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Conference in recent years but did not receive an invitation. But according to its well-connected play-by-play announcer, the public school in the heart of the largest city in Nebraska is well-positioned again to attract a different league. Considering Denver is on its way out and dropping the basketball affiliation to eight teams next year — and considering at least a couple of the schools not in the Dakotas are reportedly displeased about being shut out of a non-conference basketball event featuring teams from the Dakotas, Montana, and Idaho next year — should we consider the league to be on shaky ground? A couple of guys who have been covering the Summit League and its annual March gathering in Sioux Falls have their thoughts and what a future without the Summit League Tournament in the city would mean for SDSU and USD.
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    22 mins
  • NLA: Zim on Sac State MAC fleecing, FBS options down road for SDSU/USD, Summit League looking not-so-stable

    NLA: Zim on Sac State MAC fleecing, FBS options down road for SDSU/USD, Summit League looking not-so-stable
    Feb 18 2026
    "It's about money! Just g*****n money!" The fictitious coach Pete Bell — played by Nick Nolte — said that about high stakes college basketball in the 1994 film about the sport and its scandals, Blue Chips. There's no scandal at Sacramento State, but anybody with a brain able to compute deductive reasoning can strongly surmise that the Hornets' acceptance into the illogical geographic non-fit of the Mid-American Conference — elevating an also-ran FCS program into the FBS — was first and foremost about the money. The MAC is charging SSU an $18 million entry fee and the Hornets are also paying the FCS-to-FBS fee to the NCAA while agreeing to cover the travel costs of MAC teams that reside 2,175 to 3,000 miles away when they visit Sacramento. This is the price of poker when you are desperate to join the FBS and the geographic fits — the retooled Pac 12 and Mountain West — said "no." Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer wrote about this on Monday, and there was plenty more to unpack over beers at the Gateway Lounge during the weekly "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcast for "Happy Hour with John Gaskins." What kind of poker hands do the South Dakota Div. I schools have now that North Dakota State is in the Mountain West and the MAC gladly takes in high enough bidders? SDSU athletic director Justin Sell continues to employ the holding pattern approach, but also braces to be ready in case the Jackrabbits get a call. In his Happy Hour interview last week, USD's Jon Schemmel gave that general stance for the Coyotes. They're not selling out. But when might they ever have a chance to buy in? Can they just sit back and hope "the big split" of the Power Four leagues from the Group of Six conferences is going to just happen, bringing the waves all the way to SDSU and USD (and Montana and Montana State, for that matter) and everyone can just slide into a new "second tier" FBS ocean? Again, plenty to unpack. By now, anyone who follows college athletics understands the only constant is change, especially when it comes to conference affiliation. The Summit League has spent most of its 40-plus years in constant flux of teams, but the current stable of teams seems to make the most sense for, well, stability in both the opinion of Zim and the host. And yet, there's a horse that appears to be huffing and puffing to leave its stable again. Omaha brought in representatives from the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Conference in recent years but did not receive an invitation. But according to its well-connected play-by-play announcer, the public school in the heart of the largest city in Nebraska is well-positioned again to attract a different league. Considering Denver is on its way out and dropping the basketball affiliation to eight teams next year — and considering at least a couple of the schools not in the Dakotas are reportedly displeased about being shut out of a non-conference basketball event featuring teams from the Dakotas, Montana, and Idaho next year — should we consider the league to be on shaky ground? A couple of guys who have been covering the Summit League and its annual March gathering in Sioux Falls have their thoughts and what a future without the Summit League Tournament in the city would mean for SDSU and USD.
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    1 hr and 7 mins