In Episode 110 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I catch up with New Mexico State University men's basketball coach Jason Hooten. He enters his third season as coach of a program he took over amid a complete rebuild. How will the Aggies be this season? How does he feel the rebuild is going? And a whole lot more.
In Episode 109 of the Talking Grammer podcast, UNM had its first open summer practice on Tuesday with the entirely new men's hoops roster under first year coach Eric Olen. I give some of my quick, first reaction thoughts on some players, even projecting a way-too-early starting five and we hear audio from Olen and senior guard Chris Howell, one of the players who followed Olen to UNM from UC San Diego.
In Episode 108 of the Talking Grammer podcast, we get to know new UNM Lobo assistant men's basketball coach Sam Stapleton, one of three assistants who followed head coach Eric Olen from UC San Diego. Sam, a former D-III player, says he knew since 5th grade he wanted to be a basketball coach.
In Episode 107 of the Talking Grammer podcast, as the NBA Finals are upon us this week, I caught up with former New Mexico State and UNLV coach Marvin Menzies, who recruited and coached Pascal Siakam. The former Aggies great was a 2016 first round draft pick of the Toronto Raptors and is now with the Indiana Pacers, who are in the NBA Finals, which start this week. I talk with Menzies, who is now the head coach of the Kansas City Roos, about Siakam's growth as a player and a person at NMSU and w...
In Episode 106 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I talk with one of the new UNM Lobo men's basketball assistant coaches, Michael Wilder. He played at UC Irvine and coached there the past 11 years. We talk about what he learned from successful head coach Russell Turner, which former Lobo great ended his high school career, his role with the Lobos, whether Kobe on his all-time starting 5 and, of course, his glorious head of hair.
In Episode 105 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I talk with Albuquerque's own Lauren Green, who just completed her first season in the NBA as a sideline reporter and host with the Utah Jazz. The Volcano Vista High School graduate who went on to run track at the University of Nevada and get a graduate degree from Arizona State before returning home to work for KOB, is now in the world professional sports journalism.
In Episode 104 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I talk with new UNM Lobo basketball assistant coach Tom Tankelewicz, whose primary role with the team is coordinating the offense under new coach Eric Olen. We discuss style of play, the type of recruit this system is looking for, his playing and coaching history, whether "Coach Tank" could have coached "Player Tank" in college and we even discuss the Blue Hose.
In Episode 103 of the Talking Grammer podcast I talk with UNM Vice President for Athletics Fernando Lovo who in his first 120 days on the job conducted a national search for a new football coach, navigated the 60-day legislative session with intense lobbying efforts to secure money for UNM Athletics, conducted a national search for a new coach of Lobo basketball, put together most of his leadership team and moved a family of four from Austin to Albuquerque.
In Episode 102 of the Talking Grammer podcast I get to know new UNM Lobo men's basketball coach Eric Olen, who has coached at UC San Diego the past 21 years and led he Tritons to a 30-5 record, a Big West championship and the NCAA Tournament this past season in the program's first year eligible for the Big Dance. The 44-year-old is considered a rising star in coaching and we talk offense, defense and some background on his coaching history.
In Episode 101 of the Talking Grammer podcast I have an exit interview of sorts with the now former UNM Lobo men's basketball coach Richard Pitino, who about 36 hours prior accepted the head coaching position at Xavier University, ending his four-year run in Albuquerque. We talk about the decision to leave, taking staff, his talking with current Lobos, skyline chili vs. New Mexico chile and more important stuff like where all his Lobo gear is now.
In Episode 100 of the Talking Grammer podcast I'm in Cleveland previewing the NCAA Tournament for the UNM Lobos with sound from Sunday's Selection Show through Thursday's NCAA pregame press conferences in Rocket Arena, the site of Friday's first round games. The No. 10 seed UNM Lobos play against the No. 7 Marquette Golden Eagles from the Big East. Hear from Richard Pitino, Shaka Smart, Donovan Dent, Nelly Junior Joseph, C.J. Noland, Jon Rothstein and more.
In Episode 99 of the Talking Grammer podcast I catch up with Lobo senior guard C.J. Noland, who this week is playing his first ever NCAA Tournament. We go through his journey from Texas to Oklahoma out of high school to the University of North Texas and then his transfer to UNM for his final season. We also talk about support — from fans, teammates, coaches and his family during his basketball career.
In Episode 98 of the Talking Grammer podcast, it's a joint effort with the Albuquerque Journal, the Field of 68 and Bronco Nation News offering up a preview of this week's Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas. Geoff Grammer, B.J. Rains, Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman give predictions, storylines, dark horse picks and talk potential coaching changes in the offseason.
In Episode 97 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with UNM guard Filip Borovicanin, the 6-foot-9 transfer from Arizona whose progression over the past month has been one of the reasons the Lobos are tied for first at the midway point of Mountain West play. We talk getting discovered in Serbia, his time at Arizona, finding confidence at UNM, his relationship with teammate and fellow Serb Jovan Milicevic and the support of his father.
In Episode 96 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with UNM Lobos forward Jovan Milicevic, the 6-foot-10, 237-pound freshman who has been playing his best basketball recently as the Lobos have been hitting their stride in Mountain West play. We talk about his Serbian roots, role on the team, playing with a great point guard and for a sarcastic coach, and lots more.
In Episode 95 of the Talking Grammer podcast, The Field of 68's Rob Dauster and I do a cross-over (both podcasts broadcasted this), talking all things Mountain West hoops as the conference season is about 1/3 of the way done. We talk postseason chances, contenders, pretenders and go over the big surprises so far around the league while also setting up things to come.
In Episode 94 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a midseason check in with UNM Lobo men's basketball coach Richard Pitino, whose team is 9-3. We cover a lot of ground, from player updates and his thoughts on UNM's new Athletic Director and new football coach to how his son, Jack Pitino, taunts referees and his dad, Rick Pitino, isn't a very good gift giver. Before the interview, I also talk some more about Donovan Dent's huge 40point game vs. VCU.
In Episode 93 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with UNM Lobo junior point guard Donovan Dent, who takes over as the lead guard in this, his junior season, after having shared the backcourt his first two seasons with two other ball-dominant guards. Dent, a preseason ALl-Mountain West selection, talks about his role on the team now, his evolution on the court and the special connection he's developed on the court with one teammate.
In Episode 92 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez in Las Vegas, Nev., at the 2024-25 Mountain West Men's Basketball Media Days event at Resorts Worlds hotels and casino. We primarily talk conference realignment, football breaking off, future Mountain West members (including New Mexico State?) and much more.
In Episode 91 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I had UNM Lobo Associate Head Coach Isaac Chew on a live show talking about this year's team, recruiting and more and we took viewer questions live on the show. Now in his fourth season with the Lobos, Chew oversees the recruiting and many other aspects of the program, but is quick to point out the process is a team effort the entire staff gets involved in.
In Episode 90 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I talk with Jack Nixon, who after 45 years of calling New Mexico State University sporting events on the radio will be retiring after this season. The "Voice of the Aggies" will call his final Aggie/Lobo football game this weekend. Sportscasting wasn't always his dream. We also talk about "The Shades", the sunglasses-wearing rock band he and friends formed in high school in Omaha and, of course, walk down memory lane through his career.
In Episode 89 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I talk with Tony and Ashley Snell about how their lives have changed since appearing on the Today Show a year ago, telling the world about not only their son's diagnosis with autism, but how it led to the former UNM Lobo star and nine-year NBA veteran getting diagnosed himself -- a rarity for an adult -- and the foundation they've started. Known in college as the "Silent Assassin", Tony Snell says his diagnosis at the age of 31 brought clarity to a l...
In Episode 88 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I catch up with old friend, Albuquerque native and New Mexico State University graduate Gadi Schwartz as the NBC News correspondent is in Paris working his fifth Olympic Games. We talk about mimes, laundry day in Paris, the dad duties that await him when he gets home and his prank wars from the decade he spent working at KOB-TV earlier in his career.
In Episode 87 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I interview former UNM Lobos Morris Udeze, Anthony Mathis, Isaac Mushilla and Kenny Thomas and Del Norte High graduate Scott Bamforth who are all part of The Enchantment TBT team playing in this month's $1 million, winner-take-all TBT (The Basketball Tournament). We talk TBT, their careers, Tuesday's exhibition against a UNM Lobo alumni team and honoring late Lobos Greg Brown, Ruben Douglas and Drew Gordon.
In Episode 86 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I sit down with La Cueva High School great and former UCLA Bruin Bryce Alford, who is coming back to Albuquerque this week to both host his annual Bryce Alford Basketball Camp but also to take part in playing for The Enchantment, the team of players with New Mexico ties competing in the $1 million TBT basketball tournament later this month.
In Episode 85 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I sit down with UNM Lobo men's basketball coach Richard Pitino to talk about the past season, the current offseason and the 2024-25 season ahead. The Lobos broke a decade-long NCAA Tournament drought but now with NIL and the transfer portal changing how rosters are maintained and how coaches handle the spring, what is the plan of attack for the Lobos?
In Episode 84 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I join the Field of 68 crew of Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman for their weekly Mountain West Insider podcast where we preview the six Mountain West teams — New Mexico, Colorado State, Boise State, Nevada, Utah State and San Diego State — that made the NCAA Tournament and talk about their first games and potential paths out of the first weekend.
In Episode 83 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I recap UNM's Saturday loss at Utah State, final conference standings, go over the All-Mountain West awards from the media poll and preview the Mountain West Tournament, from breaking down each of Wednesday's opening round games and potential quarterfinal matchups to reviewing win probabilities for all 11 teams and giving you my always so accurate tournament predictions. • 3:40 -- UNM's Donovan Dent on Boise State's Max Rice • 6:40 -- Recapping Satur...
In Episode 82 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez (starts at 8:50 mark). We talk about the fantastic men's basketball season the league has had enjoyed, how many teams might make the NCAA Tournament, traditional power conferences taking shots at leagues "gaming" the NET rankings and about the future of the league, including the ever-present topic of conference expansion.
In Episode 81 of the Talking Grammer podcast, I have a conversation with businessman, radio analyst and Lobo hoops legend Hunter Greene (7:35 mark) about his unique perspective calling games for the past decade. We dive into some Lobo hoops memories, including lots of Kelvin Scarborough talk, and his thoughts on the current Lobos, from Saturday's loss to Air Force to current players passing him in the record books.
