Hardwood Hustle

This week TJ and Sam discuss pros and cons of different defensive decisions you’ll have to make for your team. This season, don't get caught without a process that allows you to identify the strength and weaknesses of your defense and knowing ahead of time where you'll need to invest more time.Show Notes:• Current trends• To pressure or not to pressure• What comes with pressuring the ball• Have a process that allows you to be great at what you do• Personnel factors• More pressure may equal more opportunities• 5 to the glass?• Why to send 5 to the glass• Winning the margin• Can't be in limbo• When to punt on it• Switch everything?• Double the post?• Inbounds Underneath Defense?• Forcing to a side?• Trap or under on ball screen D?• Transition D - press or sprint back?• 1 Type of closeout or personnel driven?• Positioning of backside helpSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.If you believe your impact should go beyond wins and losses, take the Be a Light Pledg

To kick off the Be A Light Pledge and we want to give you the opportunity to join like-minded transformational coaches, learn the L.I.G.H.T. framework to put your values into practice and receive free resources for coaching beyond the game. In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss what that looks like with the 4 must-wins to sustain success.Winning on the court and off the court The quadruple win Leaders put themselves last The impact of coaching on your body and health The value of boundaries Evidence of excellence in the quadruple win Planning and executing Being great at the process The power of consistency Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam talk all about offensive actions and what personnel they’re good for to give you ideas for building and enhancing your offensive strategy.Show Notes:• Figuring out the best offensive actions for your personnel• Learning from what we're seeing in the NBA• Best players and role players in their best spots• 1, 2, and 3 player actions and hammering out pros and cons• Reads, counters, & adjustments• Maintaining pace within your actions• What gives defenses the most trouble• Implement specific actions for specific personnel• Getting every player to be dangerous• Having good terminology and making it simple for your playersSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Like your X’s and O’s, but not sure what’s missing? - This week TJ and Sam explore what it looks like to up your conditioning level and get your players to give max effort in practices and games. It might just be the x-factor you need for next season. Show Notes:• Defining max effort reps and rethinking conditioning• Why this is important• What’s good conditioning• Physical and mental fatigue• Sharing past experiences• Comparing to pick-up basketball• Fighting human nature• Coach effort• Giving players specifics• Practice ideas• Going to the players for individual buy-in• Rewarding max effort possessions• What effort can achieve for a team• Improving both physically and mentally• Boost in confidence• Focusing on the right thingsSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re joined by Justin Joyner, Assistant Coach at Michigan to first breakdown all things ball screen defense. Then we dive into culture, leadership, and what he’s learned in his coaching journey. Justin Joyner spent 7 seasons at Saint Mary’s College under Head Coach Randy Bennett and this past season joined the staff Coach Dusty May’s staff at the University of Michigan. Last year they finished second in the Big Ten and reached the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.Show Notes:• Where ball screen defense starts – Knowing who you are• Having two types of coverages• The Why and personnel considerations• Guarding the 3• Contingency plans and switching• What offenses are doing• Matchups, switching, and must do’s of ball screen D• Flat/middle ball screens• Rebounding teaching points• Being aggressive against unorthodox ball screen offense• Weakside rules / zone – helping on ball v. the roll• Culture of joy and flexibility in leadership & coaching• Learning your team in the summer• Having an approac

This week we discuss various ways and give tangible ideas for training leaders in your program. And coaches, if you want to go deeper on this topic with PGC Coaching staff and members there is an upcoming leadership track to help you master this facet of your coaching. Go to PGCCoaching.com to learn more.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam jump into the topic of player development and the 4 steps you need to take to ensure your players are improving for next season.Show Notes:Nick Saban quoteGetting talent v. developing talentWhen development is your only optionGetting to actionWhat if you focused on development over systems & strategiesEvaluating the quality of your player developmentVarious facets of player developmentHaving a shared vision & creating a planFocusing on strengths or weaknessesGood coaches are problem solversDeveloping the mental aspectMaking it tangible and measurableSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam are joined by Head Coach Andre Cook from St. Edward’s University. With over 400 collegiate wins and 20 years of coaching experience Coach Cook shares how he coaches the offensive side of the ball - specifically looking at their pace, shot selection, player development and more.Show Notes:• Setting his offensive foundation & keeping the ball moving• Implementing sets & constant pressure on the defense• Defining shot selection for your team• Developing pace in practice• What are the hardest actions to guard & paint pressure• What translates from player development• How his coaching has evolved and finding the path• Know thy self• Adapting to zone defenses• Offensive rebound philosophy• Marrying the offense to the defense• Find what's best for youMore about Coach Andre Cook:Andre Cook has helmed St. Edward’s men’s basketball since the 2009-2010 season, becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach during the 2022-23.The Hilltoppers have posted 11 consecutive winning seaso

This week TJ and Sam tackle the topic of how to best approach summer basketball with your club or high school team because when it comes to spending your time and money wisely as a coach, parent, and player, you want to be confident you're getting it right. In this episode the topics range from having the right goals, understanding referees, setting expectations with parents, and ultimately how to think outside the box to ensure everyone wins.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week Coach Graham Maxwell joins TJ and Sam to go through 4 Quarters discussing tips for coaches when it comes to having a better passing teams, working with Parents, designing your practices, and what we’re seeing in the NBA Playoffs.Show Notes:Passing• Grow their understanding• Take coaches out• 4 T'sParents• Expectations on communications• Letting go• The parents perspective• Doing betterPractice• Less is more• The arc of a practice• Let the drills be the teacherNBA Playoffs• How role players show up• Defense, Role ID, & Coaching• Adjustments & Style of playSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In light of Gregg Popovich’s decision to step down as head coach of the Spurs, this week TJ and Sam discuss the impact he’s had on the game and specifically 5 learnings from his leadership you can apply to your own coaching.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam are joined by PGC Basketball Owner and President, Mano Watsa, along with Better Basketball founder Rick Torbett, first to discuss how relationships are foundational to everything we do as coaches, and how to build them and grow your network. They’re also excited to share an important announcement with everyone about PGC Coaching and Better Basketball once again coming together to deliver resources and build community with coaches.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re excited to be joined by Coach Jamon Copeland, head men’s basketball coach at Ave Maria University. This past season he led his team to a conference tournament championship and a win in the NAIA national tournament. With 15 years of head coaching experience, in this episode Jamon shares the ins and outs of how he implemented an aggressive style and fast paced system.Show Notes:• Having an identity as a coach• Switching Styles, 'touch the wall' drill, and marrying offense & defense• Winning possession battle: turnovers and rebounding• Full court defensive pressure concepts & decision making• Starting Aggressive then pulling back• Ability to make adjustments• Dictating the pace and fast paced principles• Half-court principles• Selling your system to your players• How it looks in practice and manipulating load• Different defensive looks and teaching points• Personnel implications• Advantages of playing fast• Match your coaching style with your personalitySend us a Message. If you

This week Sam and TJ dive into how important it is for coaches to be great teachers and we can level up in this area.Show Notes:• What is master teaching• Finding teachable moments• Being intentional about what you're focusing on• Opportunities to coach the mental side of the game• Priming the environment and priming the mind• Using constraints in drills to emphasize what you're teaching• Coaching habits• Paying attention during practice• Two common teaching errors• Having a common language• Early season practice musts and tapering off• Having a team identity• Humility as a teacher• Increasing efficiency and improving over time• Progressing and layering in teaching• Challenge yourself and applySend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re joined by Coach Raul Placeres from Maryville College. He's led his program to 5 straight regular season championships and won 3 out of the last 5 tournament championships. As the quickest coach in program history to 100 wins, we're honored to have him share with listeners what he's learned throughout his coaching journey, especially now as a head coach, and how he's defined his own success.Show Notes:• Following a hall of fame coach• Transitioning from assistant to head coach• Making the decision - fatigue, pressure, and time• Listening to and talking with your players• Working through the mental side of the game• Listening to your players• Coach Raul's practice setup• Focused on the most important boxscore• How do you know you're getting it right• Leadership examples• Culture examples and player to player mentorship• Player development• Empowering your players• Growth mindset• Knowing your teamSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact

Whether it’s parents, recruiting, or analytics the game is changing, and this week TJ and Sam discuss how it’s affecting coaching at all levels.Show Notes:• More changes more rapid then before • Coaches staying and going • Players skill level • Parents investing in athletic careers• AAU basketball a waste? • Recruiting today • Freedom and transfer dilemma • Emotional investment in coaching • Officials - Who wants that job... • Women’s hoops • AnalyticsSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Sam is joined by Coach Graham Maxwell to discuss in-game and late-game coaching tactics that we often see in March or tournament time with our teams.Show Notes:Inbounds underneath / BLOBsShot selectionUsing timeoutsLate clock Fouling up 3Stopping their best playerHaving a non-free throw shooter in the gameSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week Sam is joined by Josh Merkel, Head Men’s Coach at Randolph-Macon to discuss end of season evaluations, off-season plans, and ways to continue improving your program.Show Notes:• Postseason feelings• Locker room after your last game• Finding 1%ers• How do you talk about championship goals• Value of player IQ• Getting better during the season• Getting player feedback• Off-season goals• Leadership lessons• Evaluating and implementing changes• Josh's off-season plan• Implementing shooting challenges• Sam's practice shooting routines• Evaluating offensive and defensive systems• Finding the curve ball• Taking notes from March Madness• The hedgehog concept• Knowing your strengths and who you are• Focusing on the most important thingsMore about Head Coach Josh Merkel and his program.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Having just finished their seasons, TJ and Sam discuss how they process that end of season feeling we all have as coaches.Show Notes:• The feeling of it being over• Approach to the locker room • Expressing gratitude• Modeling for your players• Approaching individual players• Adapting to the new reality• How recruiting has changed• Transitioning to a new routine• Turning the page to growth• Finding shortcuts and mentors• Post season evaluations and exit interviews• How to helpful feedback• Committing to telling the truth• Putting yourself out there• The opportunity to impactSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re joined by Coach Charli Turner Thorne winningest coach in Arizona State program history and now assistant coach with the Phoenix Mercury. In this episode she shares both successes and learnings from her long coaching career.Show Notes:• What's changing in the game• Everyday fundamentals• Characteristics of the best teams• Investing in your culture• Role of rest and recovery• Creatively holding your team accountable• How to build toughness• EFT • Helping your players perform• Investing in relationships with players• Fatigue in coaching• Leading yourself well• Being a learner• Book recommendations• What it takes to develop leadersAbout Coach Charli Turner Thorne:• 2024 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Inductee• WNBA Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach• The winningest head coach in ASU women’s basketball history and No. 2 all-time in career wins (488) by a Pac-12 coach, Two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, 3 Pac-12 championships (two regular season titles and the league’s