On this episode, Mike and Jason delve into the recent NBA All-Star Game, discussing its shortcomings and the overall format. They express their disappointment with the lack of competitive spirit and the excessive downtime filled with entertainment that detracted from the basketball experience. The conversation evolves into a critique of the All-Star Game's structure, exploring potential solutions to enhance player engagement and viewer satisfaction. Next they hit on the skills challenge, the thr...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 1061
Welcome to the 74th edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month. February’s Round Table question is: What frustrates you the most as a coach and what actions do you take to overcome that frustration? Our Coaching Lineup this month: · Jim Baker – Cannon (NC) School · Jake ...
Feb 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1060
Cory Baldwin is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at South Georgia State College. During his tenure, which began in 2009, the Hawks have won more than 340 games, won three conference tournaments, and played in the NJCAA National Tournament in 2023, 2021, and 2011. 110 student-athletes have moved on to continue their education at four-year institutions while playing basketball at the four-year level. Also, over the past 14 years, 94% of Baldwin’s basketball players have graduated with an Associate ...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 1059
On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the recent trade involving Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Los Angeles Lakers, analyzing the fallout for both teams. They delve into the implications of the trade for the Mavericks and the Lakers over the second half of the season and into the playoffs. The conversation highlights the unprecedented nature of the trade and the strong emotions it has stirred among Mavs' fans. Next, the focus turns to the Cavs, delving into the impac...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 1058
Ben Veshi is the Basketball Operations Director and Head Boys’ Post Grad Coach at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. Before taking on the title of Operations Director, Ben coached the Boys’ High School Varsity Basketball team at Hargrave leading the team to four straight VISAA Elite Eight appearances and setting a modern school record for wins (26 wins) in a season in 2016-17. Prior to joining Hargrave, Ben held the position of Assistant Boy’s and Girl’s Varsity Basketball Coach at ...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 1057
The 16th episode of “The Triple Double” with Rob Brost, Bolingbrook (IL) High School Boys’ Basketball Head Coach. Rob, Mike, & Jason hit on three basketball topics in each episode of “The Triple Double”. 1. Pre-game warmup philosophy 2. Preparing a team for state tournament play 3. Lessons learned as a parent that have made him a better coach On this episode Mike and Jason welcome back Rob Brost to discuss what his team does during pre-game warmups, how he prepares his team for state tournam...
Feb 07, 2025•56 min•Ep. 1056
On this episode, Mike and Jason delve into the recent shocking trade of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. They discuss the implications of the trade, the perspective from both teams, and the broader impact on the NBA landscape. The conversation explores the rationale behind the Mavericks' decision, the Lakers' acquiring yet another star player, and the potential future dynamics between Luka and LeBron James. The hosts also engage in a devil's advocate discussion, c...
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 1055
Justin Newton is in his 6th season as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Reinhardt University. He has amassed over 120 Head Coaching wins and has 13 years of experience as a college coach. Newton has had 3 top 2 Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season finishes in his 5 years at Reinhardt. Newton previously served one season as the Head Coach at Andrew (Ga.) College where his team had a record-breaking 24-8 mark in 2018-19. He also spent time as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Universit...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 1054
Eric Demers is a professional basketball player currently playing in Spain. He also spent two season with the Maine Red Claws in the NBA G League. Demers played his college basketball at D3 Gordon College where he scored over 2,500 points and averaged 32.4 points per game as a senior. He is also a member of the We are D3 TBT team. On this episode Mike and Eric discuss Eric’s journey from Division 3 basketball at Gordon College to playing professionally in Spain, highlighting the challenges and t...
Jan 31, 2025•42 min•Ep. 1053
On this episode, Mike and Jason dive into midseason playoff predictions, focusing on the Eastern Conference. They discuss the play-in tournament matchups, and evaluate the performance and potential of teams like the Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons. The conversation highlights key players, injuries, and the overall playoff landscape as they make predictions for potential first round series in the East and hypothetical matchups in the NBA playoffs, focusing on the ...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 1052
Chris Kreider is the Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach at Rice University where he is in his second stint at Rice and his sixth season working with Head Coach Rob Lanier, including the last two years as an assistant coach at SMU and three seasons at Georgia State. Kreider was selected to the Top Connect Basketball Symposium in 2022 and 2023, a networking and leadership event that includes athletics directors and some of the top assistant coaches in the country. He was also invited to the 202...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 1051
Dave Klatsky is the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at New York University. He was named head coach of the Violets in May of 2022. Klatsky produced his second consecutive winning season at NYU in 2023-24, as he led the Violets to a 21-6 record, the University Athletic Association (UAA) Co-Championship (the program’s first title in 30 years), and to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. In his first season at NYU, Klatsky led the Violets to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2015...
Jan 24, 2025•59 min•Ep. 1050
On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the biggest disappointments in the NBA so far this season. They analyze the struggles of key players and teams, including Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler drama. They also express their disappointment over the absence of NBA analyst Zach Lowe, highlighting the impact of his insights on the basketball community. Next, Mike & Jason delve into the current state of several NBA teams and players, focusing on JB Bicker...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1049
Matt Mann is a basketball shooting coach and the Founder of Skills Within Hoops. Mann's journey began in Australia where, with no formal training available, he taught himself basketball fundamentals using makeshift equipment and a relentless drive for improvement, eventually playing professionally in five different countries. Today, he channels his experiences into a thriving platform that transforms players into confident, consistent, and strategic scorers. I bring a global perspective to my co...
Jan 20, 2025•59 min•Ep. 1048
Welcome to the 73rd edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month. January’s Round Table question is: What is an unconventional tactic, process, or strategy you've used that more coaches should be willing to try? Our Coaching Lineup this month: · Jerry Buckley – Bishop Kenn...
Jan 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1047
On this episode of the Hoop Heads Podcast, Mike and Jason discuss their return after a brief hiatus, reflecting on the holiday season and the NBA Christmas Day games. They analyze the performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers, particularly their recent games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, highlighting the team's resilience and playoff potential. The conversation also touches on the All-Star selections and the impressive performances of key players like Darius Garland and Evan...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 1046
Michael Rejniak is a Senior Recruiting Specialist at NCSA, the GM/Head Coach of the “We Are D3” team in the TBT tournament, and a former college coach. Rejniak began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at The College of New Jersey from 2004-2006. His next stop was an assistant coach at Plymouth State for one season before he joined Hall of Fame Coach Dave Hixon as an assistant at Amherst for four seasons from 2007-2011. Coach Rej got his first opportunity as a head coach at Suny New Palt...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 1045
Joel Wallace is the Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach at LeTourneau University where he works under his brother James who is the YellowJackets Head Coach. Wallace was named the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Small College Assistant Coach of the Year following the 2023-24 season. Previously, Wallace spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the Minot State men's basketball program. Prior to Minot, Wallace spent two years at Ridgewater College as an assistant coach after beginnin...
Jan 10, 2025•50 min•Ep. 1044
On this episode of the Hoop Heads Podcast, Mike goes solo and shares wishes & resolutions for all 30 NBA teams as they head into 2025. The conversation is divided into two main sections: insights on Eastern Conference teams and Western Conference teams, providing a comprehensive overview of the current NBA landscape. Visit our Sponsors! Dr. Dish Basketball Our friends at Dr. Dish Basketball are here to help you transform your team’s training this off-season with exclusive offers of up to $4,...
Jan 08, 2025•46 min•Ep. 1043
Rick Boyages has worked inside the college sports industry as a basketball coach, special assistant, conference administrator, and consultant for 39 years. Most recently, he spent 12 years as vice president for men’s basketball at the Big Ten Conference in Chicago. His role included oversight of event management, game operations, conduct policies, and officiating. During his tenure, Rick served as sport liaison to 31 head coaches, 30 athletic directors, and dozens of network television executive...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 1042
Jason Smith is in his first season as the women’s basketball head coach at NAIA Tennessee Wesleyan University. He previously served as the head women’s coach at Peru State during the 2023-2024 season and Cedarville University from 2021-2023. Prior to Cedarville Smith had a ten-year run as the women’s head coach at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. He produced an impressive resume at Bryan where he is the school’s all-time winningest coach. Smith guided the Lions to an overall record of 219-85 inclu...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 1041
Tiffany Sardin is in her first season as the Women’s Basketball Head Coach at Presbyterian College in . She was previously the Associate Head Coach at Saint Louis University where she helped the Billikens win the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament Championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to her one season at Saint Louis, Sardin was the Head Coach at Chicago State where the 2021-22 team matched their total number of victories from the previous four years combined. As an assistant ...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 1040
The 15th episode of “The Triple Double” with Rob Brost, Bolingbrook (IL) High School Boys’ Basketball Head Coach . Rob, Mike, & Jason hit on three basketball topics in each episode of “The Triple Double". Rob's induction to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame End of practice drills/activities to end practice on a high note Keys to a good scouting report On this episode Mike and Jason welcome back Rob Brost to discuss the honor of being inducted into the Illinois Basketba...
Dec 20, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1039
On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the NBA Cup Championship game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. They express their thoughts on the game's significance, attendance issues, and the overall format of the NBA Cup. The conversation delves into potential changes to the tournament structure, player motivation, and how these factors affect fan engagement. They also analyze the performance of the Bucks and Thunder, considering their prospects for the season ahead. Mike an...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 1038
welcome to the 72nd edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month. December’s Round Table question is: What is the most underrated aspect of running a great practice? Our Coaching Lineup this month: Jake Boyd - Luther College Jerry Buckley – Bishop Kenny (FL) High School Ch...
Dec 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1037
Brad Fischer is in his 13th season as the Women’s Basketball Head Coach of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Fischer has won more than 265 games in his 12 plus seasons and guided the Titans to the NCAA Division III Championship nine of the past ten tournaments. Under Fischer’s guidance UW-Oshkosh reached the Elite Eight in 2022 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2024 in addition to numerous second and third round appearances. Fischer earned 2014 and 2021 Central Region Coach of the Year honors from D3h...
Dec 13, 2024•48 min•Ep. 1036
On this episode of the Hoop Heads Podcast, Mike and Jason discuss the NBA Cup Quarterfinals and delve into the strengths and weaknesses of the Milwaukee Bucks, the struggles of Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, and the rising potential of the Atlanta Hawks. They express disappointment in the Phoenix Suns due to injuries, discuss the Memphis Grizzlies' unexpected success, and critique the Christmas Day matchups. The conversation also touches on Zion Williamson's uncertain future with the Peli...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 1035
Tom Sadler is in his second season as a varsity boys’ basketball coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Previously, he was the Head of Performance Basketball at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. Tom was also the Director of ONE2ONE Basketball from 2015-2022 in addition to working at several other academies in the U.K. Tom played collegiate basketball at Franklin Pierce University and enjoyed a six year professional career including stops in Denmark, England, France, and the Uni...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 1034
Rus Bradburd was an assistant men’s basketball coach for 14 seasons at UTEP and New Mexico State University. He eventually left the game to pursue a life in writing. Rus’s latest book is the satirical novel, “Big Time” a mirror to the distorted reality of sports on modern American college campuses. All five of his books focus on the intersections of sport, social progress, politics, and race. He was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to return to Ireland to work on his next book about refugees in Be...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 1033
On this episode of the Hoop Heads Podcast, Mike and Jason dive into the NBA Cup and the future of Zion Williamson. They also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic. The conversation also touches on the Brooklyn Nets' playoff potential and the overall state of the Eastern Conference. Next, Mike Jason discuss the implications of two-way contracts, analyze the Washington Wizards' roster, and highlight the performance of "theoretical" DeAndre Hunter as a potent...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 1032
