No Place I'd Rather Be …

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Welcome back, Brandon! Today, the guys caught up with 2024 grad Brandon Adelman about his journey post SJU, which includes a successful season in Kosovo and then a run with the Iowa Wolves of the G League. Thanks for making the time, Brandon!

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- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group 

- Matt Johnson

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Today, the boys caught up with senior assistant coaches Danny Quinn and Zach Filzen. Thanks, guys, for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- John S...

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Today, the boys caught up with senior Thomas Menk. Thanks Thomas for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- John Schultz

- Klerissa a...

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Today on the program the guys caught up with freshman Jack Gross, Brayson Sawyer and Deonte Meeks. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

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Today, the boys caught up with sophomore Gavin Olson and freshman Noah George and Max Spanier. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

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Today, the boys caught up with freshman Tommy Auge and junior Jamison Lien. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- John Schultz

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Welcome back! Today, the boys caught up with managers C.J Cummins, Harisson Kreft, Logan Schad and Justin Holden (4 for 4 on celebrity shots) who talked with the guys about all things managing, how they ended up with the team and much more. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group 

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Today, the boys caught up with freshman Peyton Podany and Hudson Hochstedler along with a quick midseason visit with the head coach. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- S...

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In honor of the 2020 team's upcoming recognition at Saturday's alumni day game we're republishing last year's episode with the team. Enjoy!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- J...

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Today, the boys caught up with sophomore guard Justin Johnson and junior Anthony Thorman. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- John S...

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We're back! Today, the boys caught up with junior guard A.J. McCleery and freshman post Evan Weichert. Thanks, guys, for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

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Hello! We're taking a break from publishing new episodes over the holidays. We'll be back with brand new episodes in January. Until then, happy holidays!

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Thanks to Charlie, Parker and Eli for making the time to talk to the guys! 

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- John Schultz

- Klerissa an...

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We’re back to our regularly scheduled programming this week as they guys caught up with sophomore guard Liam Farniok and redhsirt freshman Henry Tschetter. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

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We're off this week, but wanted to stay on track with our weekly updates on the latest with the Cardinal and Blue. So we decided to re-air one of our favorites from past seasons in anticipation of the return of the rivalry. Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use...

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Today, the boys caught up with juniors Vincent Hillesheim and Baiden Bean, who talked some early-season ball with the guys, their roles on the team and some academic success stories. Thanks Vinnie and Baiden for taking the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- M...

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Today, the boys caught up with new assistant coach Zach Filzen, who was nice enough to take some time to talk a bit about the path that led him to SJU. Thanks, Zach, for making the time! 

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group for the use of their beautiful facilities 

- Matt Jo...

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We're back! Season four starts today with a portion of the second annual Tip-Off Party at Basement Bar. Today's show includes interviews with Kyle Johnson, Thomas Menk and Vincent Hillesheim as well as with head coach Pat McKenzie. The full video is available at our YouTube page @benchwarmersmediamn. 

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group f...

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Hello everyone and welcome back! We’re here today with assistant coach Danny Quinn, who was nice enough to take some time Wednesday evening between team activities in Chicago to talk with the guys about the team’s travel plans changing due to the winter storm, some sight-seeing while in the windy city and the proper way to prepare a hot dog from a Chicago area native. Thanks, Danny!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

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- The Sexton Family Foundation

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Hello and welcome to the Season 3 finale! Today, we welcome Jubie Alade, Lucas Walford, Colton Codute, Kyle Sorensen, Oakley Baker, Ethan Novacinski and Sean Ryan from the 2020 team who were generous enough to tell us about their experience with the covid-shortened 2020 season and NCAA tournament -- with a couple assists from Mark Lewandowski. 

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- S...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we welcome back Griffin Rushin and Luke Budzyn to the program, who were nice enough to take some time Tuesday morning to get into the weeds on defensive philosophies, post graduation plans and a little breakdown of the final two regular season games.

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group<...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we welcome a handful of parents of this year’s team for our second installment of our version of The Parent Trap. We can’t thank Dave Scwhob, Cathy Budzyn, Heather Bean, Brian Healy, and Jeanine Wagner enough for their willingness to put into words what their experience with Johnnie Basketball has been from the perspective of a parent.

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- Bobbi and John Augu...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we welcome back Luke Healy and Kyle Johnson to the program to talk about the last couple games of the regular season and how practices can differ from early in the season to now. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we revisit a fairly notable piece of the legacy of one of our previous guests this season … Fr. Roman Paur and his relationship with The Rats. Along the way we have some contributions from Joe Deignan, Troy Bigalke and Mike Dady along with the usual crew. Thanks to those guys for their contributions!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

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- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Ma...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming back Andrew Wagner, Kooper Vaughn and Zach Longueville to the program to talk about their senior season. Thanks guys for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we feature the voice of Johnnie sports over the last quarter century -- Mark Lewandowski -- who talked with the guys about his start in radio, his transition to St. John's and some of his observations as he's had a front row seat for some memorable moments over that past 25 years. Thanks Mark for sitting down and talking with the guys!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming back Ryan Thissen, Blake Berg and Connor Schwob to the program to talk about their collective decision to return for a fifth year. Thanks guys for making the time! 

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group

- Matt Johnson

- R...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we focus on the tail end of Smitty’s incredible run as head coach of St. John's basketball and welcome the only other person to occupy the coach’s office since 1964 Head Coach Pat McKenzie. Which ties directly to the very first episode of this podcast. Some of this might sound familiar, but this time with some fresh perspective from longtime voice of Johnnie football and basketball -- Mark Lewandowski -- who had a front row seat to the changing of the guard. Not much more to say that won’...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we pulled from the archives to find some never before heard parts of our conversation with Smitty and longtime thorn in the Johnnies side, legendary St. Thomas coach Steve Fritz where they get into some of the finer points of their coaching philosophies, other coaches around the conference and some of the insights they gained while athletic directors at their respective institutions. Let’s get to it. Here’s Coach Steve Fritz with Coach Smith, Tom Connell and John Russett. 

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Hello and welcome back! Today, there’s a bit of a different bent in store as we shift the perspective from the court to carpet row as we welcome ‘71 grad Mike Dady, who played for coach smith during his student days and served as Board of Regents chair from 1992-1995 as well as President of the Alumni Association and is the founding partner of Dady and Gardner PA, along with Fr. Roman Paur, who received both an undergrad and masters of divinity from Saint John's, was ordained in 1966, completed graduate degrees in clinical and coun...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, senior manager Andrew Nerud joins the show to talk about his decision to come to St. John's, the transition from player to manager and some of the unique insights he has gained from seeing the game from a different perspective. Thanks Andrew for making the time!

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Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

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- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings...

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Hello and welcome back! Today, we have one of the most successful teams in St. John's history in the same room to turn back the clock and reminisce about their time together. Usually reserved for later in the episodes, we’re going straight to the source for some context before we begin. From The Record, Thursday March 1, 2001, page 14.
"Basketball Success Leads to Windfall of Awards. In the wake of its recent 15-game winning streak and conference titles, several members of the SJU basketball team received awards Monday. Junior forward Mike Nester was named MI...

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Hello! Today, we're back with Coach McKenzie for our mid-season update. 

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Thanks to Coach McKenzie for taking the time to talk with the guys. 

Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

- Sixth Man Enterprises

- The Sexton Family Foundation

- Bobbi and John Augustine

- Maggie and Marty McCaslin

- Steve Cummings at Nova Group

- Matt Johnson

- Rick DesLauriers

- Sue and Jim Bowe

- John Schultz

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Today, we welcome another J-Club Hall of Honor member. This 2001 grad is the third-most prolific scorer in St. John's history with 1,568 career points, trailing only '57 grad Dick Matchinksky and '79 grad Frank Wachlarowicz. He is one of a handful of players to crack the starting lineup as a freshman during Smitty’s five decades at the helm, earning MIAC all-rookie honors that season. And, he followed that up with three consecutive years as an All-MIAC selection, earning the conference MVP his junior and senior seasons -- one of only five players to receive th...

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Hello Johnnie basketball fans and welcome back to No Place I'd Rather Be, the podcast about St. John's University basketball and the legacy of Minnesota’s all-time collegiate wins leader Coach Jim Smith. Today, we’re back with our regularly scheduled programming as we continue to traverse the decades of Smitty’s 51-year career. But unlike our first two seasons, season three has a little something different … by the time we get to the end of this season we will have entered a new era of St. John's basketball as we get an insider’s look at...

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This week we welcome assistant coach and former player Lucas Walford to the show. Lucas was nice enough to sit down and talk with the guys about his path through basketball, how he got to St. John's and his role with the team. Thanks, Lucas!

The Johnnies wrapped up their trip to our nation's capital with a couple convincing wins, bringing their win total to 10 on the season. Up next, a nice holiday break before a Jan. 4 matchup against Hamline.

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This week for our On the Court feature we welcome junior Thomas Menk, who was nice enough to find some time to sit down and talk with the guys about some injury updates, his role with the team and what to grab at Kwik Trip for a solid late-night snack. Thanks for taking the time, Thomas! The Johnnies picked up two road wins against Minnesota-Morris and St. Mary's to move to 8-2 (3-0 MIAC) on the season in advance of their trip to the nation's capital for a couple games next week. 

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This week, we welcome Andrew Wagner, senior guard from Prospect Heights, Ill., to the show as he was kind enough to carve out some time Thursday morning following the Johnnies first conference game of the season ... a 75-60 win over St. Olaf to bring the win total to five (1-0 in conference play, 5-2 on the season) for your favorite basketball team. A big thanks goes out to Andrew for being willing to chat with the guys. 

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First of all, we hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We’re back today with Head Basketball Coach Pat McKenzie as he was kind enough to talk with the guys first thing Monday morning after the team’s second consecutive weekend on the road, going 2-0 in Iowa and 1-1 at last weekend’s great lakes invitational in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

As always, we are very appreciative of Coach McKenzie's time. Be sure to tune in each week as we continue with our "On the Court" series and shift the focus to current...

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Welcome back to "No Place I’d Rather Be," the podcast about Johnnie basketball and the legacy of Minnesota’s all-time collegiate wins leader coach Jim Smith. We have a very special episode of the show to bring you today. While we’re hard at work getting the rest of season 3 of the podcast ready to go, the basketball season starts Saturday with a 5 p.m. tip against UW Oshkosh at Sexton Arena, right here in Collegeville. We wanted to make sure everyone was as excited as we are for the start of another great...