No Place I'd Rather Be …
A podcast about St. John’s University (MN) basketball that features legendary coach Jim Smith as well as head coach and Johnnie alum Pat McKenzie ‘04. Hear from notable players and personalities that make this program one of the very best in all of Division III athletics. Whether a long-standing Johnnie basketball fan, a relative newcomer, or just a student of history, there's sure to be something for everyone on "No Place I'd Rather Be…"
Episodes
45 episodes
On the Court with Lucas Walford
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!
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Season 3
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23:25
On the Court with junior guard Thomas Menk
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-nigh...
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Season 3
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18:24
On the Court with senior guard Andrew Wagner
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...
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Season 3
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27:33
On the Court with Head Coach Pat McKenzie
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, go...
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Season 3
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18:43
JBAA Preseason Tip-Off Event Live From Basement Bar with Special Guest Host Eric Thomes
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 wor...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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37:13
Special announcement -- 2024-25 Season Tip-Off Party details
Hey Johnnie Basketball fans! While we're hard at work getting season 3 of "No Place I'd Rather Be" all ready to go we didn't want you to miss out on the chance to get together with current players, Head Coach Pat McKenzie and his staff, reconne...
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3:30
Mankato State Game 45th Anniversary
45 years ago today, "Norma Rae" was just released and number one at the box office, Rod Stewart’s "Do Ya Think I’m Sexy" topped the charts of the Billboard Hot 100, and the St. John’s University basketball team was on its way to Mankato for wha...
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Season 2
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1:19:06
On the Court with Luke Budzyn and Griffin Rushin
This week, as the johnnies wrap up the regular season, we welcome Luke Budzyn and Griffin Rushin to the program to talk with the guys about the recruitment process, their approach off the bench, some housing plans for senior year, and Gary’s Pi...
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Season 2
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19:29
A Flyer By Another Name: Travis Weiss
We are very excited to bring you today's program as we close out season two with '94 grad Travis Weiss along with the last minute addition of our very special guest Bob Alpers, who aside from being athletic director and a hall of fame golf coac...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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1:01:30
On The Court with Ethan Youso
This week senior manager Ethan Youso took a few minutes before Monday's game to talk to the guys about his plans after graduation, why he came to St. John's and his role with the team. ...Thanks Ethan for taking the time.
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Season 2
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18:01
The Parent Trap: Bassett Edition
Today, we step off the court and welcome one of the staunchest and longest-tenured supporters of St. John's basketball, ‘58 grad Jim Bassett, who is the 2024 recipient of the Father Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award, which recognizes out...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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47:28
On the Court with Kyle Johnson and Luke Healy
This week sophomore Kyle Johnson and junior Luke Healy were kind enough to take some time to talk with the guys about game prep, their approach as they come off the bench as well as how they got to St. John’s in the first place. And the late ni...
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Season 2
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21:34
Hometown Boys Make Good pt. 2
Today we get to the conclusion of our conversation with ‘87 grad Phil Johnson and ‘84 grad John Wiehoff. Both of whom played key roles in making the ‘80s one of the most successful decades in Johnnie basketball history. With a couple more timel...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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57:00
On the Court with Head Coach Pat McKenzie (mid-season update)
This week we circle back with head basketball coach Pat McKenzie as he joins the guys from the road for a mid-season check-in. ...This season of "No Place I'd Rather Be ..." is sponsored by the Sexton Family Foundation, help...
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Season 2
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16:34
Hometown Boys Make Good pt. 1
On today’s episode we are lucky enough to have Phil Johnson and John Wiehoff. Two seminal figures in SJU basketball history during what was one of the most sustained stretches of on-court success seen in Collegeville. From 1976 to 1988 the John...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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54:32
On the Court with junior guards Zach Longueville and Kooper Vaughn
This week juniors Zach Longueville and Kooper Vaughn sit down with the guys to talk about the team, what makes them such a tight group and a little about their own paths to collegeville. ...This season of "No Place I'd Rather Be...
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Season 2
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16:35
Friendly Rivals
Today, we venture into new territory as we welcome Steve Fritz … yes, that Steve Fritz … the one who played at St. Thomas University from 1967-71 … joined the coaching staff under Tom Feely … took over the program in 1980 … won an NCAA Division...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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51:54
Bill Sexton pt. 2
We are back and excited to bring you the conclusion of our time with Bill Sexton and his son Jim. If you haven’t listened to the first part of our conversation you should know how this works by now. What are you waiting for? Do it now … go ahea...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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38:34
Happy Holidays from Benchwarmers Media
Happy Holidays! We’re off this week, but wanted to take the time to say we hope you all are getting exactly what you need from this holiday season. We’ll be back next week to bring to you the conclusion of our two-part episode with Bill Sexton,...
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Season 2
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2:08
Bill Sexton pt. 1
From time to time certain names carry certain reputations which tend to to precede their owner. There are fewer names, however, which are so ubiquitous it’s hard to imagine them being attached to an actual human being. The subject of the next t...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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33:48
On the Court with senior managers Ryan Engel and Tommy Ornburg
Senior team managers Ryan Engel and Tommy Ornburg take some time during their trip to Florida to talk to the guys about their journey to Collegeville, the responsibilities and challenges of the manager role, what makes it all worth it as well a...
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Season 2
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32:40
The Mankato State Game
Last week we heard all about what set the class of '79 apart from the rest. If you haven’t, go back and listen to last week’s episode first. Because today, as the conversation shifts to their senior season, we get a glimpse at just how special ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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51:42
On the Court with SJU seniors Brandon Adelman, J.T. Gaffney and Connor Schwob
St. John's University seniors Brandon Adelman, J.T. Gaffney and Connor Schwob sit down with the guys this week to talk continue with the theme of new offense and scoring a bunch as well what to do over the holiday break and plans for after grad...
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Season 2
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19:38
The Class of '79
Frank Wachlarowicz … John Patterson … Dan Smith … Ted Nowak … Pat McKenzie … Paul Wotta … and John Harvey … never before or since has a single class contributed to more on-court success than that of the class of '79. It’s the stuff of legends. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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45:16
On the Court with SJU seniors Blake Berg and Ryan Thissen
Today, we break new ground as we welcome two current players to the show. Ryan Thissen and Blake Berg take some time to talk to the guys about the team's new offensive approach, their own telepathic defense and what got them to Collegeville in ...
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Season 2
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19:27