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 counseling psychology and has filled numerous roles at the university including a faculty resident, psychology professor, vice president of Student Affairs, residential programs director, as well as the director and founder of the Human Resource Center among other roles. Still feels like I sold these guys a little short, but that’s what the rest of the episode is for. So without further ado ... here’s Mike Dady and Fr. Roman Paur with Coach Smith, Tom Connell and John Russett.

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Thanks to Troy Bigalke, Bryon Krause, Sam Bugbee, Luke Witt, Ryan Dusha, Chris Nordmann, Ryan Keating and Mike Nester for all getting together and being so willing to share their stories. And, of course, thank you to Coach Jim Smith.

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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

"No Place I’d Rather Be" is a Benchwarmers Media production in association with Nine Pines Podcasts.

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:

- 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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

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 MIAC men's Basketball Player of the Week. During the MIAC playoffs, Nester averaged 15.5 points per game and 6 rebounds per game including 23 points on 10-11 shooting against Gustavus in the MIAC final. Nester is ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting at a 69.3 percent clip. Senior guard Troy Bigalke was named MIAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Bigalke, the Johnnies' leading scorer, shared the award last year with Geoffrey Reed of Augsburg SJU head coach Jim Smith was named MIAC Coach of the Year. Smith is in his 37th season and has 588 career wins. Nester, Bigalke and junior guard Ryan Keating were named to the All-MIAC first team."
And they advanced further than any other team to-date in the NCAA tournament, making it to the sweet 16. Buckle up, it’s a long one … with some bleeps because, well, you all know Mike Nester. And if you don’t … you sure will after this. OK, here we go … 2001 team right now on "No Place I'd Rather Be …"

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Thanks to Troy Bigalke, Bryon Krause, Sam Bugbee, Luke Witt, Ryan Dusha, Chris Nordmann, Ryan Keating and Mike Nester for all getting together and being so willing to share their stories. And, of course, thank you to Coach Jim Smith.

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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

"No Place I’d Rather Be" is a Benchwarmers Media production in association with Nine Pines Podcasts.

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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

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 that recognition multiple times since 1990 and also was named to the all-region first team as a senior. A lot of good stuff to get to today so let’s get to it. Here is troy Bigalke with Coach Smith, Tom Connell and John Russett …

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Thanks to Troy Bigalke for sitting down and talking 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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

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 the transition from Coach Smith to head coach Pat McKenzie, now in his tenth season at the helm of your favorite basketball team and entered the season with 174 wins to 53 losses. That’s … pretty good. But enough on that. We’ll get there. Today, we pick up right where we left off at the end of season two, smack dab in the middle of the 90s with ‘95 grad Joe Deignan, a two-time academic All-American who played 105 career games in the cardinal and blue, Deignan sits 27th all-time for SJU in points with 1,113 … 4th all-time with 333 career assists … fifth in three pointers made with 172 … 8th in games played … 8th in total minutes with 2,839 … tied for 10th in games started … and was a two-time All-MIAC selection. Also, while we try to keep this show as family-friendly as we can, there is some expressive language used on occasion throughout the episode with the bleeps. So with all of that, here is Joe Deignan with Coach Smith, Tom Connell and John Russett.

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Thanks to Joe Deignan for sitting down and talking 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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

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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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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

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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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

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org

Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.