Marching To Madness

The Santa Clara Broncos finished third in the WCC this season as Coach Herb Sendek once again had a player bound for the NBA. Golden State made Brandin Podziemski the 19th pick in the first round as he led the Broncos with 19.9 points per game while making 48.3 percent of his field goals. Coach Sendek and his staff also turned Jalen Williams into a solid guard who averaged 30 minutes per game at OKC last season. The Broncos are 44-22 in the last two years as guard Keshawn Justice was also a key player for the Utah Jazz in the NBA Summer League. Topics of discussion include: Williams, Podziemski and Keshawn Justice in the NBA Chris Tilley and Cameron Tongue as the top two returning scorers Adama Bal and Tyeree Bryan as 6-7 and 6-6 guards Making positive corrections to help players’ struggles … And Much More!

Coach Chris Beard is back on “Marching to Madness” as he takes over the program at Ole Miss. Coach Beard sports a 70.1 percent winning percentage at UALR, Texas Tech and Texas. In four of his seasons as a head coach, he has taken teams to NCAA Tournaments and in 2019, he had the Red Raiders in the national championship game where they dropped an 85-77 overtime matchup to Virginia. Topics of discussion include: Coach Beard’s relationship with legendary head coach Tom Penders The excitement and focus of being head coach at Ole Miss Reuniting with his former assistant coach Wes Flanigan The presence of returnees Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield …And much more!

Coach Smith had the Cougars pick their games up this past season as they finished tied for 5th in the Pac-12 and moved back into an NIT berth once again. His Cougars had a 7-game winning streak late in the season, but they lost Justin Powell to the Miami Heat’s Summer League squad as well as TJ Bamba’s transfer to Villanova. This coming season, Coach Smith is going to have more depth in the post as well as more speed in the backcourt. Topics of discussion include: The addition of Idaho guard Isaac Jones and Kansas transfer Joseph Yesufu This summers’ skill developing, conditioning, and fundamentals The creativity or head coaches and their staffs with the continual changes in college athletics The idea to “get old and stay old” …And much more!

Western Carolina Catamounts head coach Justin Gray was a phenomenal shooting guard at Wake Forest for the late Skip Prosser. He averaged 2.7 made three-pointers per game in his 120-game career. Coach Gray led Western Carolina to an 18-16 record and a CBI appearance this past season. He returns a strong backcourt of Tre Jackson and Vonterius Woolbright. Topics of discussion include: The correlation of finding the three-pointer and an inside attack Jackson and Woolbright as a one-two punch in the backcourt Kamar Robertson and the Catamounts’ transfer portal How you can teach players to upgrade competitiveness …. And much more !

Coach Gillen once again is a guest on “Marching to Madness” where he discusses San Diego State and their run to the national title game where they eventually lost to UConn. Coach Gillen is an analyst for CBS Sports Network where he also focuses on the Mountain West as one of his conferences. He also discusses the Big East and Providence where the Friars went to the Elite Eight in 1997 before losing an overtime game to eventual national champion Arizona. Coach Gillen won 392 games which were 65 percent of the matchups in his career as the head coach at Xavier, Providence, and Virginia. Topics of discussion include: The emergence of the San Diego State Aztecs in this season’s NCAA Tournament Sean Miller’s influence on Xavier in his return to the Cincinnati-based university Coach Gillen’s Elite Eight appearance with Providence in 1997 The Denver Nuggets’ first World Championship in NBA History … And Much More

Coach Skinn checks in as he begins his first season as the head coach at George Mason. He played on coach Jim Larranaga’s Final Four team at George Mason in 2006 as he played on the point and drove the Patriots by Michigan State, North Carolina, and UConn in that run. He takes over after assistant coaching stints at Maryland, Ohio State, Seton Hall and Louisiana Tech. Topics of discussion include: Coach Skinn’s Final Four appearance as the point guard of the Patriots in 2006 The pursuit of becoming a head coach The influence of the assistant coaching positions with the Terps, Buckeyes, Pirates and Bulldogs Leading returning scorer Ronald Polite’s leadership and talent skills … And much more!

Coach Rodney Terry returns to “Marching to Madness” as he took the Texas Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight after they won their second Big 12 basketball title in the last three seasons. He took over the Longhorns in Game 9 as they finished 29-9, overall, and 22-8, in Coach Terry’s tutelage. Texas keeps a solid experience level in Dillon Mitchell, Tyrese Hunter, Dylan Disu, and Brock Cunningham. Topics of discussion include: Coach Terry’s impact on Longhorns roundball The influence of former Longhorn coaches Tom Penders and Rick Barnes The impact of the depth and experience level of the upcoming Texas Longhorns Adding former Miami,  Missouri, and Tulsa head coach Frank Haith to his quality coaching staff … And Much More!!!

Coach Bruce Pearl is back on “Marching to Madness” as he continues his 72 percent winning percentage, overall, which includes a D-2 national championship in 1995 with the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles. He has one of the top winning percentages in the game when combined with his D-1 experience at Auburn, Tennessee, and Milwaukee. The Tigers return Johni Broome, Jaylin Williams, and Dylan Cardwell with Lior Berman as the four accentuate experience on the 2023-24 Tigers Roundball team! Topics of discussion include: Coach Pearl’s 1995 national championship with Southern Indiana How returnees such as Broome, Williams, Cardwell, and Berman solidify team culture The addition of Aden Holloway as a 5-star point guard Opening the season with Baylor on Nov. 7 at the Sanford Pentagon … And Much More!

Coach Russell Turner returns to “Marching to Madness” as he discusses building the UC Irvine program when he came 14 seasons ago. He has 11 consecutive winning seasons and eight of those have encompassed 20 wins or more. Two that did not were in the COVID years. Coach Turner discusses losing DJ Davis and Dawson Baker in the transfer portal, but he has recruited at a high level again with solid depth a usual foundation for his team. Topics of discussion include: Coach Turner’s building blocks for the Anteaters’ pedigree The advantage with Bert Leuchten as an inside threat The Anteaters’ defensive initiative Depth in Big West basketball … And much more!

Coach Pettway moved from Alabama where he was an assistant coach to Mark Gottfried, Avery Johnson, Anthony Grant, and Nate Oats over the past 15 seasons. He played guard for the Crimson Tide from 2001-2004 and he played with a high level of energy and was a player who made key plays in the clutch of close basketball games. He spent two years as an assistant at Jacksonville State before his run as a top Crimson Tide assistant. Topics of discussion include: Coach Pettway’s mentors in Mark Gottfried, Anthony Grant, Avery Johnson, and Nate Oats Following Amir Abdur-Rahim’s four seasons where he turned the Owls into winners Terrell Burden and Demond Robinson as leading returning scorers Thoughts on game-planning and recruiting … And much more!

Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew checks in as he has put together a 19-10 postseason record in Waco with a national championship in 2021 as well as the Final Four and two Elite Eight appearances. He discusses his returning players as well as additions via the transfer portal and recruiting the high school hardwood. Coach Drew also checks in on the NBA opportunities for guard Keyonte George, who was the 16th pick on the first round. Coach Drew was enshrined into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in April. Topics of discussion include: Coach Drew discusses four of his former assistant coaches and have moved to head coaching positions How his Texas Hall of Fame induction illustrates the work of his assistant coaches and players His philosophy of how to grasp change and move forward Discussion of Bears players who return to the hardwood as well as incoming Baylor players … And much more!

Coach Mills take over the legendary Shockers program after he led ORU to two NCAA Tournaments in their last three seasons. Shockers big man Kenny Photo is the leading returning scorer after he started all 30 games and shot 49 percent from the floor. Coach Mills discusses his philosophy of prioritizing people and how that makes for the opportunity to help in the many ways he leads his program. Topics of discussion include: Coach Mills’ thoughts on building Wichita State back to it’s highest levels His relationship with Rockets’ legendary former head coach Rudy Tomjanovich Spending 14 seasons at Baylor in Coach Scott Drew’s program Kenny Pohto as the leading returning scorer … And much more!

Coach Jans led the Bulldogs to their second NCAA appearance in the last 13 seasons as they lost a tough 60-59 decision to Pitt in the opener. Mississippi State will return its starting five which should give the ‘Dogs an impactful group as Tolu Smith is a key inside performer beside of the athleticism of 6-7 DJ Jeffries. Cameron Matthews can also score in the paint and guards Shakeel Moore and Dashawn Davis provide MSU with a solid backcourt. Topics of discussion include: The NCAA Tournament appearance in Year 1 of Jans’ regime The return of the five starters Tolu Smith’s versatility The shooting ability and offensive acumen of Marshall transfer Andrew Taylor … And much more!

Coach Todd Golden took over at Florida last season after three years at San Francisco where he brought the Dons to a 57-36 record and placed them into the NCAA Tournament in 2022 for the first time since 1998. Will Richard and Riley Kugel return from last season’s team as they were the second and third leading scorers. The Gators’ staff has added six transfers as five players left Gainesville via the transfer route. Topics of discussion include: The transition from the Univ. of San Francisco to the Univ. of Florida The return of Richard and Kugel Using analytics in today’s basketball culture Competitive challenges in college basketball … And much more!

First-year USF Bulls head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim discusses last season’s 26-9 finish for his Kennesaw State Owls as he led them to their first D-1 NCAA Tournament and the A-SUN regular season and tournament championships. He also discusses his system and how he looks to build USF within his philosophies and ideology. The Bulls return Selton Miguel, Sam Hines, and Corey Walker, Jr. from last season as well as a talented recruiting class. Topics of discussion include: Building Kennesaw State into a winner in his four seasons Coach Abdul-Rahim’s system and how to apply it to USF Basketball The return of Selton Miguel, Sam Hines, and Corey Walker, Jr., from last season’s USF roster Coach Billy Kennedy’s influence … And much more!

Coach Adam Fisher enters his first season as a head coach at Temple after he was an assistant at Villanova and Boston University before spending eight years at Miami and two at Penn State, his alma mater. Coach Fisher gives Miami coach Jim Larrañaga credit for helping him to solidify himself inside the game and learn many of the phases of coaching. He also credits Micah Shrewsberry, who was the head coach at Penn State as another key figure in his career ascension on the hardwood. Topics of discussion include: The legendary status of Temple basketball Key elements in recruiting Hysier Miller as the Owls’ leading returning scorer The importance of transfers Jordan Miller and Quante Berry … And much more!

Coach Barnes discusses his role of being the chair of the NCAA Rules Committee and a couple of rules changes going into this upcoming season. He also talks about His Tennessee Volunteers, who made it to the Sweet 16 this past season, despite the loss of point guard Zakai Ziegler. He has posted 779 career wins at George Mason, Providence, Clemson, Texas, and Tennessee throughout his 36 seasons as a head coach. Topics of discussion include: Working on the rules as the chair of the NCAA Rules Committee A change to the block/charge call The loss of guard Zakai Ziegler for the post season Key in continuing to win at a high percentage … And much more!

Coach Bobby Lutz was the head coach at Charlotte from 1999-2010 and he raised the 49ers to a high level of play where they went to six NCAA Tournaments as well as two NITs in that time period. During his 11-year run in Charlotte, Coach Lutz became the winningest coach in program history with 218 ‘Ws’. He then became an assistant at Iowa State, Nebraska, and Ole Miss and the associate head coach at NC State. Topics of discussion include: Coaching assignments in the SEC, ACC, Big 12,  and Big Ten after the 11 years at Charlotte The pinnacle of success with the 49ers Thoughts on college basketball as of now NCAA Tournament and NBA Playoffs … And much more!

Coach A.W. Hamilton makes his debut on MTM as the Colonels have set 49 program records in his five seasons at EKU. The coach talks about his friendship with NC State head coach Kevin Keatts, who has been a solid person throughout his career. Hamilton is a stellar offensive coach whose Colonels averaged 78.6 points per game this past season and they shot 34.3 percent from three. Topics of discussion include: Developing a winning mentality at Eastern Kentucky How NC State head coach Kevin Keats has been an influence in his career and life How Devontae Blanton became a solid leader and contributor for the Colonels Developing an offensive approach that has allowed his teams to be successful … And much more!

Coach Tinkle discusses this third rebuild in his eight-year tenure as head coach of the Beavers. Oregon State picked up 11 wins this past season which is eight more than two years ago. OSU welcomed freshman point guard Jordan Pope after Georgia transfer Christian Wright was injured last season. Coach Tinkle also discusses ideas and philosophies throughout running the program. Topics of discussion include: How Coach Tinkle and his staff have brought back the Beavers’ culture Three rebuilds in nine seasons The play of freshman point guard Jordan Pope Depth on the point with Tyler Bilodeau and Michael Rataj in the post … And much more!