Coach Dave Richman on North Dakota State's Record-Breaking Run & The Road Back to the Dance

The Splash City Basketball Podcast is gearing up for the Big Dance! In this special Selection Sunday segment, we are joined by Dave Richman, head coach of the 14-seeded North Dakota State Bison.While this interview was recorded before the brackets were unveiled—revealing a first-round matchup against 3-seed Michigan State in Buffalo—Coach Richman dives deep into the "competitive character" that led this squad to a program-record 27 wins.In this episode, we discuss:Cutting Down the Nets: A recap of the Bison’s 70–62 victory over in-state rival UND to claim the Summit League Championship.The 2020 Heartbreak: Richman reflects on the "dominant" 2020 team that had the tournament "ripped from them" due to the pandemic.Building a Culture: How the Bison navigate the "transactional" era of the transfer portal and NIL while keeping a focus on "transformational" relationships.The "Nash" Factor: The development of sophomore point guard Andy Stevanowicz, whose elite vision and "eyes-up" playmaking have become a luxury for the Bison offense.Preparation Mode: Why Coach Richman focuses on "the best version of ourselves" rather than worrying about the opponent during the long wait for Selection Sunday.Tournament Info:The Bison (14) take on the Michigan State Spartans (3) this Thursday at 3:05 PM CT in Buffalo, NY.Don’t Miss the Breakdown:Catch our full Selection Sunday live stream replay on YouTube or the Splash City Basketball Podcast feed, available wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook for live updates during all the madness!Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.