The Basketball Podcast

Guest: Ben Taylor, Founder of Thinking BasketballThe founder of Thinking Basketball Ben Taylor joins the Basketball Podcast to challenge and dive deeper into new and old basketball concepts that can help our coaching. Ben Taylor is the founder of the Thinking Basketball YouTube channel, podcast and author of Thinking Basketball the book. In all his platforms, Taylor goes deeper on basketball analysis, history, philosophy and theory. Thinking Basketball challenges a number of common beliefs about the game by taking a deep dive into the patterns and history of the NBA. He explores how certain myths arose while using our own cognition as a window into the game's popular narratives.  He is a behavioral scientist who loves basketball. He has had his blog in some form or another since 2011. Since then he has developed a bunch of historical metrics, hand-tracked hundreds of games, tried to start a basketball data company, written a book about basketball and cognition, and started creating podcasts / YouTube content about the NBA. Breakdown1:00 - Difficult Concepts5:00 - Cognitive Scientist8:00 - Applied Science11:00 - Not Connecting Perception13:30 - Data Gathering15:00 - Evaluating Their Defense17:00 - Old vs New School Thinking20:00 - Advocating Coaches22:00 - Lob Pass24:30 - Passing28:30 - Yoga31:17 - 32:00 - Membership Sales Ads32:00 - Split Cut34:00 - The Right Structure38:00 - Coaching Perspective42:00 - Concept of pre Switching46:00 - Adaptability50:00 - Overload Concept55:00 - NBA Skill Sets59:00 - Goal of Offense1:02:00 - Empowering Players Ben Taylor’s Bio:Website: https://thinkingbasketball.net/Twitter: https://twitter.com/elgee35Podcast: Thinking Basketball -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-basketball/id1428290303?mt=2Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/thinkingbasketballBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 248: Gordon Herbert, Philosophy, Roles, and IdentityGuest: Gordon Herbert, German National Team Head CoachGerman National Team head coach Gordon Herbert joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on philosophy, roles and identity. Herbert has extensive experience having coached throughout Europe, most notably in the German League and the Euroleague, and in the NBA as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, and the Georgian national team and the Canadian National Team. In September 2021, he was named head coach of the Germany national team. He guided the German team to a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships. He also has coaching titles, winning the Basketball Bundesliga: 2003–04, the FIBA Europe Cup: 2015–16, the French Cup: 2006–07 and the Finnish Cup: 2009. Breakdown1:00 - National Team2:00 - Importance of Roles4:00 - Organization and Creativity6:00 - Concept of Spacing10:00 - Triggers14:00 - Offensive Advantage16:00 - Adjustments on the Wings21:00 - Influence of Hockey25:00 - FACC Program25:35 - 26:20 - Membership Sales Ad28:00 - Three Factors30:30 - Teaching Defense33:00 - Player Enjoyment36:00 - Defensive Decisions39:00 - Special Situations43:00 - Coaching with Nick Nurse45:00 - Pace in Practice52:00 - Sorting Roles to the Players55:00 - Conclusion Gordon Herbert’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Herbert Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Joe Crispin, Rowan Head CoachRowan head coach Joe Crispin joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on offense wins and how to help players enjoy the game more. As Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Rowan University, Joe Crispin has advanced the team to the NCAA Division III Championships and been selected as the NABC Atlantic District Coach of the Year and the D3Hoops.com Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. Prior to being named head coach, Joe spent two seasons as the assistant coach for both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams at Rowan University. Joe Crispin is also the primary director for Crispin Basketball where he runs various camps, clinics, and club teams throughout the year. He focuses his energy on our overall development philosophy and programs. He enjoyed an extensive and successful playing career that has seen him play basketball for 28 different coaches. Breakdown1:00 - Offensive Tempo and Creating Pace6:00 - Have Fun11:00 - Mantra13:00 - Basics of Walking16:00 - Half and Full Court18:00 - Structure the Workout21:30 - Fundamentals25:00 - Three-Leg Program28:00 - Playing in the Triangle32:00 - Constraint-Led Approach35:19 - 36:04 - Membership Sales Ads37:00 - Game Situations39:30 - Constraints of the Shot Clock42:00 - Security vs Pressure49:30 - Importance of Recruiting52:00 - Creating Decisions55:30 - Changing Mentality1:02:00 - Mindset for Success1:07:00 - Part of the Process Joe Crispin’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_CrispinTwitter: https://twitter.com/joecrispin Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Trevor Woodruff, Bucknell Head CoachBucknell head coach Trevor Woodruff joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on defense and mindset, and how it has made an impact everywhere he has coached. Through three seasons with the Bison, Woodruff has compiled an outstanding 57-17 (.770) overall record, including a 40-10 (.800) mark against Patriot League opponents. On top of that, Bucknell is 30-5 (.857) when playing at home under Woodruff and 4-2 (.667) in Patriot League Tournament contests. For his career, Trevor Woodruff owns a 170-27 (.863) record coaching NCAA women’s basketball and a 329-162 (.670) overall NCAA basketball record when factoring in his 11 seasons as the men’s coach at Misericordia. In all, Woodruff has eight conference titles, 11 appearances in national postseason tournaments, and 10 Coach of the Year awards. Breakdown1:00 - Defensive Conviction4:00 - Offense6:00 - Mindset Training7:30 - Drills and Live Play10:00 - Non Negotiables14:00 - Ball Screen Defense16:00 - Passing Piece20:00 - Connecting Things to Mindset25:00 - Practice Plan29:38 - 30:23 - Membership Sales Ads30:30 - Weak Side33:30 - Base Defense38:30 - Weak Defensive Concepts41:00 - Challenges43:00 - Variability46:00 - Emphasis on Recovering50:00 - Shift52:00 - Offensive and Defensive Talent55:00 - Conclusion Trevor Woodruff’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://bucknellbison.com/staff-directory/trevor-woodruff/265Twitter: https://twitter.com/trevorwoodruff Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Roy Rana, International CoachInternational coach Roy Rana joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on building an unbreakable mindset and a defensive base with adaptability. Roy Rana is a Canadian professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Kyoto Hannaryz of the B.League and head coach of the Egyptian men's national basketball team. Rana served as head coach for Canada's Senior Men's National Team during the 2019 FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers where he led Canada to a 10-2 record and a first-place finish in Group F to secure a 2019 FIBA World Cup bid. Rana was a guest coach at the NBA Summer League for the Utah Jazz in 2014 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2015. In 2019, Rana was hired as an assistant coach by the Sacramento Kings of the NBA where he served in that role for three seasons. Rana has incredible international experience serving as the national team head coach for Canada at the senior level on down to the youth level. Most notably in 2017, Rana led Canada to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup title, the nation’s first-ever title in the tournament. He also served as Germany’s lead assistant at the Tokyo Olympics last summer. Breakdown1:00 - Opportunities5:00 - Evolved Philosophy8:00 - Defensive Base10:00 - Heels14:00 - Scout16:00 - Professional Schedule20:00 - Driven by Imports22:30 - Defending Isolations23:30 - Analytics26:03 - 26:47 - Membership Sales Ad27:00 - Adaptability29:00 - Building Base32:00 - Natural Questioning34:30 - International Competition37:00 - Unbreakable Mindset39:00 - Player Development42:00 - Takeaways from the NBA45:00 - High School Coaching49:00 - Canada Basketball52:00 - Egypt Basketball55:00 - Conclusion  Roy Rana’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_RanaTwitter: https://twitter.com/roy_rana Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Gary Williams, Hall of Fame Basketball CoachHall of Fame coach Gary Williams joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on the flex offense, full-court pressure, and removing the grey areas. Gary Williams is the winningest head basketball coach in Maryland history. During his 22 seasons at the helm, the Terrapins went 461-252, a winning percentage of .646. His tenure included 14 NCAA tournament berths, seven Sweet 16 appearances, back-to-back trips to the Final Four, and the 2002 national championship. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and has the basketball court at the Xfinity Center named after him. Breakdown1:00 - Introduction3:00 - Flex Offense5:00 - Removing Down Screen9:00 - Less Structured13:00 - Manipulation and Flexibility16:00 - Vs. Pressure18:00 - Vs. Switching24:00 - Triangle Influence26:30 - Three Point Line29:24 - 30:08 - Membership Sales AD30:09 - Toughness33:00 - Press Defense37:00 - Sideline Press Defense40:30 - Points Per Possession43:00 - Playing Full Court47:00 - Remove The Grey Area51:00 - Cross Matchups and Press54:00 - Press Break59:00 - Playing 5-on-5 Press1:00:00 - The Current Game Gary Williams’ Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_WilliamsTwitter: https://twitter.com/garywilliams02 Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Randy Norton, UAB Head Coach UAB head coach Randy Norton joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on communication, attitude, and solution-based coaching. Since Randy Norton arrived on campus in 2013, he has guided the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) to at least 15 wins in seven of the last eight seasons. From 2017-2020, he led the Green and Gold to three consecutive 20 win seasons for the first time in school history. He led UAB to its first C-USA Regular Season title in 2017-18. Randy Norton was named the 2017-18 C-USA Coach of the Year after leading the Blazers to a record-setting 27-7 overall record and a 13-3 conference record. The Blazers have finished with 12 or more conference wins from 2017-2020. Breakdown1:00 - Work On Their Own6:00 - Positive Things During Practice9:00 - Useless Information11:00 - Timeouts and Coaching15:30 - Communication18:00 - Mental Toughness22:00 - Thinking Solutions27:00 - Being Proactive28:12 - 28:59 - Membership Sales Ads30:00 - UAB Player-Led Development33:00 - 5-and-538:00 - One on One43:00 - Competition46:00 - Shooting Drills51:00 - Challenges Coaching Randy Norton’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://uabsports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/randy-norton/1798Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachnorton1 Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Tricia Cullop, Toledo Head Coach Toledo head coach Tricia Cullop joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on how to build by culture and the blue collar gold standard. As the winningest coach in University of Toledo Women’s Basketball history, Head Coach Tricia Cullop has transformed the program into a nationally-recognized powerhouse. The 2022 WBCA Carol Eckman Integrity in Coaching Award is a testament to her success in creating space for authenticity and community on and off the court throughout her 30-year coaching career. Under her leadership, Toledo has made nine trips to the postseason and has hung five championship banners, including a postseason WNIT title in 2011, a MAC Championship in 2017, and three MAC regular-season championships (2010-11, 2012-13, and 2021-22). The Rockets’ 2011 WNIT Championship was the first major postseason tournament title won by a Mid-American Conference team. Cullop has been named MAC Coach of the Year a record-tying four times (2009, 2011, 2013, and 2022). Breakdown1:00 - Conversation Around Lynn Roberts8:00 - Done It That Way11:00 - Mindset Training14:00 - Challenges During COVID17:00 - Built By Culture20:30 - Blue Collar Gold Standard22:00 - Great Schedule25:00 - Playing Man to Man27:56 - 28:41 - Membership Sales Ad29:00 - Adavantages of Switching35:00 - Rebounding38:00 - Special Situation41:00 - Constructive Criticism46:00 - Captain Ideas49:00 - Highlights and Lowlights51:00 - Individual Freedom53:00 - Ball Screens55:00 - Perception Precedes Communication Tricia Cullop’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricia_CullopTwitter: https://twitter.com/coachcullop Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Tom Hovasse, Japan National Men’s Team Head Coach Japan National Men's Team head coach Tom Hovasse joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on the 5-Out offense style of play and Japanese Basketball. During his career as head coach of the Japanese women’s basketball team, Tom Hovasse did what no one thought possible, leading the team to silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Tom is now channeling his skills into coaching the Japanese men’s team. Tom played college basketball at Penn State and played professionally from 1989 to 2001, including a brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks and 10 seasons for teams in Japan.He also served as assistant coach to the Japanese national team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where the Japan team made it as far as the quarterfinals. Breakdown1:00 - Japan Women's Team Success3:00 - Adapting 5-Out System5:00 - Mirroring8:30 - Creating Gaps13:00 - Calling Plays16:00 - Freedom From Choice18:00 - Overload Spacing21:00 - Screens24:00 - 24:46 - Membership Sales Ads25:00 - Tagging Up Concept28:00 - Offensive Rebounding System32:00 - Putting in Long Hours36:00 - Following Structure41:00 - Best Roster44:00 - Conclusion Tom Hovasse’ Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_HovasseTwitter: https://twitter.com/TomHovasse Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Ted Hotaling, New Haven Head Coach New Haven head coach Ted Hotaling joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on seeking basketball solutions to our questions as coaches. With 173 career victories, Ted Hotaling stands second among nine head coaches in the history of the New Haven men’s basketball program and, with 27 more wins, would become just the second coach in program history to win 200 career games. The 2022-23 season will mark his 12th season strolling the sidelines of Charger Gymnasium. Ted Hotaling led the Chargers to back-to-back appearances in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship game, a pair of nine total appearances in the conference tournament under his tutelage. In addition, Hotaling’s teams have earned four bids to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, the most recent coming in 2022. Breakdown1:00 - Basketball Solution To Our Questions5:00 - Silence Condense8:00 - Skill Execution10:00 - Connection13:00 - Three Seconds15:00 - Clips of Turnover17:00 - Advance Stats21:00 - Shot Selection23:00 - System and Talent26:00 - Practice28:00 - Game of Change27:32 - 28:18 - Membership Sales Ad30:00 - Time Management32:00 - Playing More 5-on-535:00 - Weak vs Strong Hand Finish37:30 - Audition42:00 - Individual Close Outs43:30 - Offensive Philosophy47:00 - Book Phrase49:00 - Learning Language51:00 - Culture Around The Program Ted Hotaling’s Bio:Bio/Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_HotalingTwitter: https://twitter.com/tedhotaling Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com