NLA: Zim's SDSU NCAA draw reaction, ranking past Jacks "big dances," an Alex Rodriguez story, SDSU spring football storylines, boys state hoops preview

  A couple of days before St. Patrick's Day, fabled South Dakota sportswriter Matt Zimmer received a stroke of good luck.   The Sioux Falls Live sports editor saw South Dakota State's name pop up under a pod of teams headed to Fort Worth, Texas, for the NCAA women's basketball tournament's opening weekend.   For Zim, this was fortunate news because he gets to avoid flying, an activity he avoids like the plague. Yes, he's choosing a 12-hour solo drive instead of a nonstop flight.   Far more noteworthy things surround the 11th-seeded Jackrabbits' draw against No. 6 Washington in a game that likely will decide who meets the No. 3 seed TCU, which is hosting this particular "Sacramento 4" pod.   For one, does this feel like a potential repeat of SDSU's win over similarly seeded Oklahoma State in last year's NCAA first round?    Zim taps into that storyline and into the brilliance of Aaron Johnston in his matchups against major conference teams in the Big Dance.   This is also an opportunity to bring up stories from past SDSU teams that played in "March Madness" on the national stage. What is his favorite Jacks NCAA win?   And that leads Zim and the Happy Hour host down a rabbit hole of Matt describing some of his favorite sporting events he has ever covered — which leads to a story about the presence (and scent) of Alex Rodriguez.   Also covered in this epsiode:   * Kyler Murry to the Vikings — good thing?   * Zim's new "Jacks Chats" series of 1-on-1 conversations with football players   * Biggest takeaways from SDSU spring practice so far   * A preview of the boys state AA basketball tourney, which is seeping with storylines   * A pair of Mick Garry stories from Rapid City state basketball tourneys of the past