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On today's episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast, we’re crossing the border to the center of Midwest basketball: Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

While our focus is usually on the gyms of Minnesota, all roads lead to the Sanford Pentagon this week for the NSIC Championships and the kickoff of the Summit League Tournament. To understand how Sioux Falls became a premier destination for programs like Gonzaga, Baylor, and Iowa State, we’re sitting down with the man behind the brand.

Joining the show is Terry Vandrovec, Marketing Manager for Sanford Sports. A fellow Concordia Cobber (joining us on the heels of our conversation with Coach Tyler Bormann), Terry spent 20 years as an award-winning sports journalist before transitiong to the marketing side of the game.

We discuss:

• The Recruitment of Blue Bloods: How a 3,000-seat "throwback" gym attracts the biggest names in the NCAA.
• The "Pro" Experience for Local Kids: Why hosting high school and DII tournaments is the heartbeat of the Sanford Sports Complex.
• The Journalist's Lens: How Terry uses his storytelling background to market the "Heritage Court" aesthetic.
• March in the 605: A look at the madness of the NSIC and Summit League tournaments happening right now.

I started the show off with some Timberwolves talk and my appreciation for Donte DiVincenzo.

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