Eric Henderson on his first year at Drake, his time at SDSU, bringing Jacks with him, and navigating NIL & transfer portal

FULL SHOW: Eric Musselman and a Thirsty Thursday reaction to USD's "Coach Piv" presser, USHL expansion, state track, state softball

It's a small basketball world after all. At least in South Dakota. If you were wondering whether there was a local tie to USD and Summit League leading scorer Isaac Bruns' transfer portal landing spot at USC, you were correct. Well, kind of. It partly circles back to Trojan coach Eric Musselman's time with the Rapid City Thrillers almost 40 years ago. Yes, that Eric Musselman, the son of former Golden Gopher coach and the first-ever Minnesota Timberwolves coach Bill Musselman. Eric was in his 20's when the Thrillers and Sioux Falls Skyforce waged a heated in-state rivalry. And, yes, Musselman remembers those days well, including back-and-forth shenanigans with Skyforce fans. He was more than happy to share those memories during a nearly 40-minute conversation about his long, strange basketball coaching journey. It started in Rapid City and took him to plenty of highs and lows in the CBA, USBL, and NBA—where he led both the Warriors and the Kings — the NBA D-League and G-League and, for the last 14 years, the college game. He took Nevada to its first Sweet 16 and Arkansas to its first Elite Eight since the Nolan Richardson glory years— and famously took his shirt of and twirling it around on-camera along the way. Now 61 and running several miles a day on the beaches near the University of Southern California, Musselman describes the lessons he has learned after humbling times since those Rapid City days. He also explains exactly how Isaac Bruns ended up in Los Angeles and what Bruns must do to see significant playing time at USC. Plus, how has Musselman's experience as a professional coach honed his ability to deal with NIL roster payroll? Thirsty Thursday and Shannon Pivovar media conference On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/shannon-pivovar-excited-to-build-on-momentum-for-usd-softball] This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-coach-piv-on-usds-proud-viral-moment-the-power-of-a-a-team-and-its-town-in-a-title-chase] With almost all questions coming from Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host, Pivovar opened up about how her experiences as an SDSU assistant coach (2015-2018) and University of Sioux Falls head coach (2019-23) helped shape the associate head coach she became at USD before Wagner's contract was not renewed. Pivovar also fielded questions about how much of the current roster (that is eligible for next season) and current commitments will remain intact because of her hiring. Shortly after the media conference, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer joined the Happy Hour host to react to it, plus the news of the USHL's expansion plans. What does that mean for the Sioux Falls Stampede and the landscape of all levels of hockey— high school, junior hockey, college and the pros? The Thirsty Thursday session from Orion Pub finishes on headlines and takeaways from last weekend's state high school track and field meet and this weekend's state softball tournament.

USD-Shannon Pivovar media conference

On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/shannon-pivovar-excited-to-build-on-momentum-for-usd-softball] This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-coach-piv-on-usds-proud-viral-moment-the-power-of-a-a-team-and-its-town-in-a-title-chase] With almost all questions coming from Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host, Pivovar opened up about how her experiences as an SDSU assistant coach (2015-2018) and University of Sioux Falls head coach (2019-23) helped shape the associate head coach she became at USD before Wagner's contract was not renewed. Pivovar also fielded questions about how much of the current roster (that is eligible for next season) and current commitments will remain intact because of her hiring.

USC's Eric Musselman on Isaac Bruns, his 90's rivalry with the Skyforce & college vs. pro hoops

It's a small basketball world after all. At least in South Dakota. If you were wondering whether there was a local tie to USD and Summit League leading scorer Isaac Bruns' transfer portal landing spot at USC, you were correct. Well, kind of. It partly circles back to Trojan coach Eric Musselman's time with the Rapid City Thrillers almost 40 years ago. Yes, that Eric Musselman, the son of former Golden Gopher coach and the first-ever Minnesota Timberwolves coach Bill Musselman. Eric was in his 20's when the Thrillers and Sioux Falls Skyforce waged a heated in-state rivalry. And, yes, Musselman remembers those days well, including back-and-forth shenanigans with Skyforce fans. He was more than happy to share those memories during a nearly 40-minute conversation about his long, strange basketball coaching journey. It started in Rapid City and took him to plenty of highs and lows in the CBA, USBL, and NBA—where he led both the Warriors and the Kings — the NBA D-League and G-League and, for the last 14 years, the college game. He took Nevada to its first Sweet 16 and Arkansas to its first Elite Eight since the Nolan Richardson glory years— and famously took his shirt of and twirling it around on-camera along the way. Now 61 and running several miles a day on the beaches near the University of Southern California, Musselman describes the lessons he has learned after humbling times since those Rapid City days. He also explains exactly how Isaac Bruns ended up in Los Angeles and what Bruns must do to see significant playing time at USC. Plus, how has Musselman's experience as a professional coach honed his ability to deal with NIL roster payroll?

Reaction to Piv USD presser, USHL expansion, state track, and state softball on another Thirsty Thursday from Orion Pub with Trent Singer

On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/shannon-pivovar-excited-to-build-on-momentum-for-usd-softball] This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-coach-piv-on-usds-proud-viral-moment-the-power-of-a-a-team-and-its-town-in-a-title-chase] With almost all questions coming from Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host, Pivovar opened up about how her experiences as an SDSU assistant coach (2015-2018) and University of Sioux Falls head coach (2019-23) helped shape the associate head coach she became at USD before Wagner's contract was not renewed. Pivovar also fielded questions about how much of the current roster (that is eligible for next season) and current commitments will remain intact because of her hiring. Shortly after the media conference, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer joined the Happy Hour host to react to it, plus the news of the USHL's expansion plans. What does that mean for the Sioux Falls Stampede and the landscape of all levels of hockey— high school, junior hockey, college and the pros? The Thirsty Thursday session from Orion Pub finishes on headlines and takeaways from last weekend's state high school track and field meet and this weekend's state softball tournament.

FULL SHOW: USD hires "Coach Piv," Vikings new GM & the QB quandary, and Post-Election views from Sioux Falls Live editor Patrick Lalley

The "national search" for a University of South Dakota softball coach circled right back to the USD softball offices. Associate head coach Shannon PIvovar was promoted to the lead role on Tuesday by athletics director Jon Schemmel. This promotion came two weeks after Robert Wagner's contract was not renewed. Two days before that, "Coach Piv" became a viral sensation for her moment of emotional exhuberance with a player during the NCAA Tournament. The Happy Hour host thinks this was the right move and not because of "Coach Piv's" 15 seconds of national fame. However, what led to that moment is exactly why Piv appears perfect for the job right now. Her hiring also makes Wagner's firing seem more logical. Hear why. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings hired the Seattle Seahawks' assistant general manager to become the Vikes next GM, and Noah Teasley faced the Vikings media for the first time on Wednesday. While Teasley was tame in his remarks, he and managing owner Mark Wilf offered a tiny crack of insight into how Teasley will operate with head coach Kevin O'Connell. Teasley's generic remark about the quarterback situation gave Vikings fans one nugget to chew on, considering the team's current state. Post-Election Lallygagging with Patrick Lalley How, oh, how, was entrenched South Dakota Republican luminary Dusty Johnson left in the dust in Tuesday's gubernatorial primary? How did political newcomer Toby Doeden rise to the top? What can current Gov. Larry Rhoden do to keep his seat in the three weeks leading up to the run-off? Meanwhile, Sioux Falls drew a step closer to electing its first female mayor. Christine Erickson garnered the most votes on Tuesday and will take on former gubernatorial candidate Jamie Smith on June 26. What separated these two from the pack and how can they distinguish themselves leading up to the run-off? Also, what do these election results say about the voting public in the Rushmore State and "the best little city in America?" Patrick Lalley has covered state and Sioux Falls politics for over 30 years and brings his candid insight to boil it all down in a 40-minute bull-shooting session at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls, where Lalley and the host broke a sacred bar rule — no talking politics.