Hardwood Hustle

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 • Analytics Send 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: Send 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 things More 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 impact Send 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 leaders About 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 webpage Send 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 down Send 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 ways Send 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 choose the best approach. Show Notes: Send 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 more 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 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 balance 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 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.

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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.

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: More about Jason Peery: Riding the Triangle to the PinnacleSend 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 season Send us a Message.