Hardwood Hustle

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 approach of gratitude• How Randy Bennett at Saint Mary's wins the margins• What separates Dusty May at MichiganSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week 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 seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances under Cook, including a program-record 30 wins in 2018-19, snagging the Heartland Conference Regular Season Title, Heartland Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA Regional Final while climbing as high as No. 2 in the national rankings. In 2019, Cook was named the Clarance Gaines Award winner by CollegeInsider.com to the Division II National Coach of the Year and NABC District Coach of the Year. During his tenure, Cook has coached 31 players to 44 all-conference selections, one LSC Freshman of the Year, and guided six players to all-region honors.Cook came to St. Edward's from Hudson Valley Community College, where he compiled an overall record of 119-40 (.748) in five seasons. In his last two seasons there, his Vikings combined for a 62-5 overall record and a 32-0 mark in conference play. Cook was named Region III Coach of the Year and BCANY Junior College Coach of the Year in 2007-08. In 2008–2009, the Vikings advanced to the NJCAA Division III national tournament semi-final.Credit & More info: https://gohilltoppers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/andre-cook/14Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

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'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

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 info.

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 first tournament title in 2002) and the program's only two NCAA Elite Eight appearances• Past president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) Executive Committee• During the summer of 2009 Turner Thorne served as the head coach of the USA Women's World University Games Team which went undefeated (7-0) and captured the gold medal at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. In the summer of 2007 Turner Thorne served as an assistant coach on USA Basketball's U21 World Championship Team which won the gold medal at the FIBA U21 World Championship in Moscow, Russia.• As a player, Turner Thorne lettered four years at Stanford where she played three years under Tara VanDerveer. She graduated from Stanford in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and later earned her master's degree in education from Washington in 1990.Credit: Sun Devil Athletics webpageSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam share 3 tips for your late season and postseason success. To finish on a high note they discuss how to rebound well, keep your team fresh, and strategies for performing under pressure.Show Notes:• Double down on rebounding• The little things win games• Habits and desire• Utilize your best rebounding lineups• Celebrating rebounding• 3 winning stats to know• Fresh February• Why teams get worn down• Player check-ins & getting pulse of your team• It's never too late - keep fighting for what is right• Handling pressure• Focus on the right things• Coaches - understand how you show up• Players - keep it simple• Where you put the extra energy• Calming your team downSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Whether it's a game plan, season plan, or plan for your program, at some point when it doesn't go well we're all faced with questions, concerns and challenges about if our plan should change. In this week's episode TJ and Sam discuss how coaches adapt and assess while also staying true to who they are.Show Notes:• The skill of being adaptability as coaches• Culture & Leadership are the base• Failure to adapt• When to change strategies and schemes• How to assess the situation• Style of play• What type of coach are you?• Fringe things v. winning habits• When your adjustments won't make a difference• Preparing for the best teams• Winning multiple waysSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week, in order to unpack some best practices and strategies to coach development and growth, TJ and Sam reflect on 4 ways coaches can choose the best approach.Show Notes:Intro to topic, different approaches to takeHow to pick the right oneFind your authentic voiceWhen it's time to reinvent yourselfKnowing yourselfIdentifying your gifts & blind spotsCoaching to your North starDeveloping coaching skillsApologizing to your former playersLoving, hostile, firm, and permissiveRecapSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week, Coach Graham Maxwell joins Sam and TJ to discuss how your leadership and team culture affect your Xs and Os, especially your team's shot selection.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week, Sam and TJ discuss 4 important tips and strategies for your player development that you're going to want to incorporate right away.If you're interested in going deeper on this topic, or joining our community of coaches, go to https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/ to learn more about upcoming coaching tracks and membership.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.Mark your calendars! The first 300 coaches to register for a PGC Basketball camp this summer will receive FREE tuition! 2025 camp dates and locations will be announced Jan 21st and registration opens Monday, Jan 27 at 9am EST. Spots sell out fast!Go to https://PGCbasketball.com/coaches/ to learn more and see why over 12,000 coaches have attended a PGC camp.

This week, is a reminder of the importance of the mindset and approach you bring to every practice and every game throughout the entire season. TJ and Sam discuss how to avoid complacency and maintain enthusiasm for the standards.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.Mark your calendars! The first 300 coaches to register for a PGC Basketball camp this summer will receive FREE tuition! 2025 camp dates and locations will be announced Jan 21st and registration opens Monday, Jan 27 at 9am EST. Spots sell out fast!Go to https://PGCbasketball.com/coaches/ to learn more and see why over 12,000 coaches have attended a PGC camp.

For most of us, the off-season is closer than we think. This week we're joined by Mano Watsa, president of PGC Basketball to discuss how players, coaches, and parents can focus on the most important aspects of player development. Show Notes:• Introduction• Preparing players• Personal trainers and how to utilize them• Overskilled and underdeveloped• The quality of the experience: Time, Energy, and Money• Dreams, Direction, and Discipline• Matching the player's aspirations, not the parent's• Increasing passion and confidence• The camp experience• Why PGC•. Go to https://pgcbasketball.com/ to find out moreSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.Mark your calendars! The first 300 coaches to register for a PGC Basketball camp this summer will receive FREE tuition! 2025 camp dates and locations will be announced Jan 21st and registration opens Monday, Jan 27 at 9am EST. Spots sell out fast!Go to https://PGCbasketball.com/coaches/ to learn more and see why over 12,000 coaches have attended a PGC camp.

This week TJ and Sam discuss coaching tips and strategies that impact winning and can make a big difference for your team and season.Show Notes:• Playing harder• Play hard, smart, and together• What loses• Coaching effort• Coaching examples• Identifying the standard without emotion• Avoid coaching out of frustration• The game is held hostage• Coaching the mistake• The role of analytics• Effecting winning - What gets lost• Shot generation & Shot selection• Getting the map right• Substitutions and balanceSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.Mark your calendars! The first 300 coaches to register for a PGC Basketball camp this summer will receive FREE tuition! 2025 camp dates and locations will be announced Jan 21st and registration opens Monday, Jan 27 at 9am EST. Spots sell out fast!Go to https://PGCbasketball.com/coaches/ to learn more and see why over 12,000 coaches have attended a PGC camp.

This week we discuss a quote from UCONN Men's Coach, Dan Hurley about wanting his players to be obsessed, how we agree and disagree with his statement, and what that might look like for your team.Send us a Message.

This week is a 4 quarters episode with TJ and Lisa discussing ball pressure, preparation, rebounding, and what we do in our culture when we're winning versus when we're losing.Show Notes:• Ball pressure• Compete and anticipate• Anticipate what they do if you apply pressure• Changing pressure – keep offense guessing• Mental pressure = mental fatigue• Teach players the nuance of pressure• What types of teams to pressure• Preparation & Scouting• What you do physically to prepare matters• Layer it in and build – grow over time• Emphasis everything and get nothing• Implications of switching• Rebounding• Habits & Individual Approaches• Mentality & Urgency• Personnel options• Playing the percentages & angles• Culture – When you're winning v. losing• Focusing on the process• The importance of honesty• Knowing the heartbeat of the team• Meeting your standards every daySend us a Message.

This week TJ and Sam hit on an important topic for coaches which is how you confront your players and be honest with where they're at while also creating a team culture that genuinely cares about each other. Send us a Message.

Coach Micah Mills is back on the show to discuss troubleshooting your offense and player development in order to find solutions to your offensive frustrations midseason.Send us a Message.

This week TJ and Sam discuss managing your roster in terms of number of players along with playing time decisions in order to limit the headaches and maximize the potential of your team.Send us a Message.

This week we're talking about aspects of your program that make for a winning culture such as setting high standards, building accountability, and growing through conflict and adversity.Show Notes:Intro episodeLevels to coaching and winningReality of Accountability and holding the line on standardsBeing unattached emotionally to standards Standards vs RulesSetting the BarHaving a powerful WHYRelationships and RebellionCoach mode at homeTransformational v Transactional Approach to AdversitySend us a Message.

Joined by special guest, Jason Peery, this week we dive into how he built a successful high school program as he shares his best practices when it comes to creating drills, teaching the game, and developing players.  Show Notes:Coach Jason Peery's backgroundBlood DrillsYour motive in care is really important Creating Connection Clear expectations Positive, negative or neutral coachingCoachabilityTeaching the little things What basketball can learn from pickleball Naming your drills Mental toughness vs emotional toughness More about Jason Peery:Currently assistant varsity coach at American Heritage High School in Utah under head coach Paora Winitana. Both of us have sons on the team.Former Head Coach at Pinewood High School (CA)Consulted Stanford Men's (Johnny Dawkins) and Women's Basketball (Hall-of-Face coach Tara Vanderveer) teams in 2013-2014, installing Triangle Offense in both programs, which went to Sweet 16 and Final Four respectively that year. Article in NY Times, "Riding the Triangle to the Pinnacle"Coach of top Pro pickleball players, including Tyler Loong, Meghan Dizon, Etta Wright, and Alix Truong. Founded the UHSPA (Utah High School Pickleball Association) with his wife Lisa, to the bring the sport of Pickleball to high schools in Utah.Runs various businesses and investments, including commercial real estate an angel investing group, also works with youth and young adults, including mental health initiatives.Founded Sportstalk.com (1999) (Acquired by ESPN, turned into ESPN Insider, now ESPN+)Once Bishop in LDS Church, very interested in promoting gospel throughout the world. Served 2-year mission in Brazil.Send us a Message.

This week TJ and Sam discuss how to start the season off right by knowing what you need out of your first practices, how to evaluate your first games, and setting up your team for success not just at the start, but throughout the season.Show Notes:• General Thoughts on how to prepare your team for the first game of the season• First week of practice• Identifying the goal• How can you stack things• Balance Offense and Defense• Creating standards of practice• Attitude and effort• Capturing the vision of who you want to be as a team• Cover your butt coaching• Player Development• Handling adversity• Leadership• Holes in the ceiling• Working in 3s• Getting the foundation right• Learning and improving season to seasonSend us a Message.

This week we discuss the offensive and defensive implications of the 3pt line, how it affects your players and it's changed all levels of the game.Show Notes:How the 3 is changing the game.Defensive implicationsThe equalizerThe Steph Curry effectWhere coaching mattersThe next trendA coaching mistakeGuess TJ's favorite NBA player right nowValue of players beyond the 3The hardest teams to play against The risk of being 3 point heavy Coaching shot quality Send us a Message.

This week Graham Maxwell joins the show to discuss how coaches can win in their relationships with opponents, players, and staff and why it can be the difference maker for you this season.Show Notes:• Opponent relationships• Healthy competition• Finding middle ground• Setting the example• Tony Bennett example• Staff relationships• Who over What• Coaching hard• Jockeying for positions• Being a generous listener• Acknowledging and celebrating• Catch them doing something good• What hurts relationships with players• Playing time• Sharing the burdenSend us a Message.

In light of Coach Tony Bennett's recent retirement announcement, we thought we'd honor his legacy and what he's given to the game by reposting his 2021 interview with us where he laid out his foundation as a coach and how his team bounced back to win a National Championship.Show Notes:• 5 Pillars / Core Values• Getting player buy-in• How you face adversity• Knowing your Why• Vulnerability & Leading by example• Developing leaders• Style of play & paying the price• Becoming a great teacher• What truly mattersSend us a Message.

In the world of coaching and leadership we often hear phrases and mantras that serve our coaching in a positive way. And there's also statements and quotes that initial appeal to us and may even carry some truth, but if we put too much stock in them, they could also steer us in the wrong direction. Before we know it, we may end up be off course. This week TJ and Sam discuss different 'coachisms' in the form of 3 truths and 3 lies where they debate what's reasonable, what's practical, and what ultimate makes sense to apply to your coaching and sharing with your team.Show Notes:• Intro to Topic• Relationships are paramount to coaching and leadership• Competing is the ultimate equalizer• How you do what you do is the separator• Winning cures everything• Leaders are born, not made• Talent trumps teamSend us a Message.

This week TJ and Sam discuss the importance of practice design and share common mistakes you'll want to avoid in your practice planning this season.Show Notes:• 1. Lack of preparation• Communication and delegation + more tips• Picking the right things to practice• Enrolling your players• Knowing your strengths and practices• What to pay attention to• 2. Distributing roles in practice• "If you try and watch everything, you'll see nothing."• 3. Identifying influential practice factors• Doing your best stuff most of the time• 4. Designing more than the 'What'• Flow of practice• 5. Marrying the practice planSend us a Message.

This week we're joined by Micah Mills, head coach at Wilmington College and PGC Coaching mentor to discuss managing the energy, emotions, and egos of your players as well as yourself.Show Notes:• Bringing energy & being your authentic self as a coach• Teach players how to bring their own energy• Individual hype numbers• Engaging with individual players• Managing your own energy• Changes with time• Consistency with the option to change it up• "Don't let your circumstances dictate your behavior."• Regulating emotions• Individual differences• Helping your players - Walking a fine line• Ensuring your team has an edge• Buying into a team mentality• Having the right conversations• The role of social media today• Speaking the truth to players• Controlling the narrative• Getting it right before its too lateSend us a Message.

A good passing team is often a well coached team. This week we discuss all things related to helping your players be better passers this season.Send us a Message.

Building a successful program is all about how you cultivate the identity of the team. This week, TJ and Sam discuss 4 principles to help shape your team culture and strengthen your team identity in something bigger than any individual.Show Notes:• Topic Intro• Shared Ownership- Getting players to lead- Working through conflict• Shared suffering- giving players ownership• Individual Responsibility- Having it come to life in practice• Collective pride- Why its important- The challenges coaches faceSend us a Message.

This week the team discusses “Less & More” -  where as coaches we should be looking to add more to our programs both on and off the court and where can we make additions by subtraction.Show Notes:What should players do less and more of?Relationships, social media, fundamentalsWhat should parents do less and more of?Perspective, teaching, blaming, relationship buildingWhat should coaches do less and more of?Preparation, mindset, drama, improvementOffense: Shot selection, transition, teachingDefense: Aggressive, switching, emphasisSend us a Message.

TJ and Sam discuss the Xs and Os decisions all coaches have to make going into their preseason and the implications for your team.Show Notes:• Topic IntroOFFENSE• Why + Who = What + How• Does it matter if it's a fun offensive system to play in?• Balancing freedom & structure• Testing your team's IQ• Does your team know:- What they're hunting- How to hunt it- How to improve• Does talent need structure?• Getting player buy-in• Ability to spread the floor• Making up for deficits• Questions to ask• How many things can you be great at?DEFENSE• To pressure or not• Matching your offense and defenseREBOUNDING• Both sides of the ball• Tagging• Creating rolesSPECIAL TEAMS• How committed do you want to be?• Defense• Low Clock / Late GameSend us a Message.

This week we're joined by Head Coach Missy Traversi from Army women's basketball. With over 16 years of coaching experience at all levels, Missy shares how she's developed as a leader, been able to adjust her team's style of play and how the culture at West Point has shaped her coaching.Show Notes:• Leadership• Sprinting toward failure• Changing style of play• Understanding the analytics• Generating the right shots• Finding what will help your team win• What others are doing well• Controlling the pace of the game• Next Right Thing• West Point Culture• Being the model for your athletesMore about Coach Missy Traversi:Coach Traversi is going into her 4th season as the Head Coach for Army Women's Basketball. Previously, Missy spent 5 seasons as the head coach at Adelphi University. At Adelphi, she coached the Panthers to an 83-37 (.692) overall record, two NE10 Southwest Division regular-season championships, an NE10 Tournament Championship in 2017, and two NCAA Division II Tournament berths. In 2019-20, Traversi guided Adelphi to a historic season that consisted of a 27-3 overall record on her way to capturing All-Met Division II Coach of the Year honors. Winners of the NE10 Southwest Division regular-season championship, the Panthers were selected as the East Region's top seed in the 2020 NCAA Division II Tournament before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the tournament before it began. Adelphi finished the season ranked No. 8 in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Poll.She has 13 years of coaching experience ranging across the Division I, Division II, Division III and high school ranks. The Attleboro, Mass. native was a standout Division I player at the University of Maine from 2001-05 and played professionally overseas before beginning her coaching career.Send us a Message.Find out more about PGC Coach's Courtside Retreat here: https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/courtside-retreat-special/

How does your team react when they face a high pressure defense? This week the discussion is around the habits, mindset, and principles you'll want to instill next season in your players in order to be great at breaking and handling pressure.Show Notes:• Intro to Topic• Teaching necessary skills and habits• Flipping the mindset - Pressure is a facade• Being the aggressor• Making it part of your style• Who passes the ball in• Availability of the first pass• Squirrel analogy• 3 available receivers• Attack out of first or second reversal• Alignment and stretching the defense• Why you should be a pressing team• Role identificationSend us a Message.Find out more about PGC Coach's Courtside Retreat here: https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/courtside-retreat-special/https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/courtside-retreat-special/

This week TJ and Sam discuss fundamentals, but maybe not in the same way you're used to. They're talking about how to develop and communicate core principles that set the foundation for your team's success.Send us a Message.Find out more about PGC Coach's Courtside Retreat here: https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/courtside-retreat-special/https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/courtside-retreat-special/

If you want to better teacher of the game it's important to understand how your coaching is received. This week the discussion is about putting yourself in the shoes of the learner so you can maximize your coaching.Show Notes:Why focus on your teachingOvercoaching v. undercoachingSetting goals and creating a learning environmentConnecting with playersContinuous improvement in your coachingUnderstanding the psychology behind coachingEmbracing the role of the learningFinal thoughts and a challenge for coachesSend us a Message.

Show Notes:• Thoughts after watching Team USA• Coaching philosophies• Managing egos• Honesty and empathy• The realist vs. optimist conversation• How many in a rotation?• Navigating challenges• Other factors• The Impact on player rhythm and chemistry• The importance of communication and leadership• The value of every player• Challenges in implementation• Adapting to the team's talent• Who's to blame• Closing thoughtsSend us a Message.

This week Sam and TJ share 3 Preseason Mistakes you'll want to avoid in your planning for the upcoming season and how you can begin preparing to have your best season yet.Show Notes:• Lack of vision• Defining the win• Reverse engineering weekly and monthly plans• Role clarity for staff• Humility, empower, train & delegate• Building culture• TJ's experience at Emmanuel• Creating a culture plan• Sharpening the axeInterested PGC Coaching Tracks? - Click here: https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/tracks/Send us a Message.

This week Sam shares Coach Pat Summitt's Definite Dozen as the team discusses leadership principles that have withstood the test of time and how coaches can apply them to their teams.Show Notes:1. Respect Yourself and Others2. Take Full Responsibility3. Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty4. Learn to be a Great Communicator5. Discipline Yourself so No One Else Has To6. Make Hard Work Your Passion7. Don't Just Work Hard, Work Smart8. Put the Team Before Yourself9. Make Winning an Attitude10. Be a Competitor11. Change is a Must12. Handle Success Like You Handle FailureSend us a Message.

This week we discuss our topic comes to us from a question posed by one of our listeners as we discuss what it takes to incorporate new players into your team. When players leave and new players come in, how do you ensure that your culture as well as your systems and strategies are going to be the right for your current group? In this episode TJ and Sam share things you need to be aware of as you avoid growing complacent and seek to bring the best out of the group in front of you.Show Notes:• Intro: The Impact of Player Addition or Subtraction• Acclimating New Players while Maintaining Confidence and Roles• Starting from Ground Zero Each Season• The Interplay Between Culture and X's and O's • Adapting to Changes in Personnel for Long-Term SuccessSend us a Message.