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No Shot Clock — College & High School
No Shot Clock

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen’s weekly look at Chicago area high school basketball.

Latest Episodes:

No Shot Clock, Ep. 173: Revealing the 2024-25 preseason Super 25 rankings Nov 20, 2024

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball is back for its 11th season.

This episode is all about the preseason Super 25 rankings. We go in-depth on the top teams and discuss each of the 25 that earned a spot. And there is even room at the end to talk about the teams that just missed out.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 172: Breaking down the 2024 IHSA basketball state finals Mar 13, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

This week's episode is a look back at all the action in Champaign this weekend. Mike and Joe break down the state championship games, discuss the format, the crowds and then take a look ahead at next season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 171: Previewing the 2024 IHSA state finals Mar 06, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

This week's episode is all about the 2024 IHSA State Finals in Champaign. We break down the Class 4A and 3A games and take a quick look at the smaller classes.

No Shot Clock high school basketball podcast, Ep. 170: Previewing the IHSA sectionals Feb 27, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

This week's episode opens with a discussion about the Kenwood news and then Mike and Joe dive into sectional previews, taking a look at each of the matchups in Class 4A and some of the Class 3A brackets.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 169: Previewing the IHSA Class 4A regionals Feb 20, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

This week's episode is all about the regionals. Mike and Joe focus on the Class 4A bracket, going through each of the sectionals and talking about the best regional matchups.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 168: Overlooked star players and successful teams Feb 13, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

Mike and Joe give their Two Takes and then take a look at several teams and players putting up big numbers and big win totals that haven't received much attention so far this season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 167: Listener questions mailbag Feb 06, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

This episode is all questions and answers. Mike and Joe dive into a big mailbag full of questions from No Shot Clock listeners.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 166: The stock report Jan 30, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

Mike and Joe give their Two Takes on the busy week of basketball and then it is time for the Stock Report, where they decide to buy, sell or hold the stock of each team in the Super 25.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 165: Discussing the area's top five conferences Jan 23, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

Mike and Joe give their Two Takes on the busy week of basketball and rank the top five conferences in the Chicago area so far this season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 164: Previewing the When Sides Collide shootout Jan 16, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

Mike and Joe give their Two Takes on the busy week of basketball and preview this weekend's When Sides Collide Shootout at Benet: Normal vs. DePaul Prep, Downers Grove North vs. H-F, Young vs. Yorkville, Kenwood vs. Mount Carmel and Benet vs. Thornton.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 163: This season’s surprises Jan 09, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

Mike and Joe give their Two Takes on the busy week of basketball and break down four big surprises so far this season. New rules, conferences that have impressed and more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 162: Reviewing the holiday tournaments Jan 02, 2024

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

Mike and Joe give their Two Takes on the busy week of basketball and look back at Pontiac, Proviso West, York, the Big Dipper and Hinsdale Central.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 161: 2023 Holiday Tournament preview Dec 23, 2023

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

This is the annual holiday tournament preview episode. We dive into the fields at Pontiac, York's Jack Tosh, Proviso West, Hinsdale Central, Bloomington and Rich's Big Dipper.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 160: Listener mailbag Dec 19, 2023

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

In this week’s episode, we each give our two takes and then we jump right into a big mailbag of questions from the listeners.

Which players are NBA bound? Is Benet for real? Will Brother Rice's hot streak continue? What's the best/deepest Class 4A sectional? All those questions and many more are answered.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 159: The case for No. 1, breaking down the top teams Dec 12, 2023

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly look at Illinois high school basketball.

In this week's episode, we each give our two takes and then we break down the eight teams that have a case to make to be ranked No. 1 so far this season. It's been an interesting three weeks and things are wide open right now.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 158: This season’s first impressions Nov 28, 2023

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen’s weekly breakdown of Illinois high school basketball.

In this week’s episode we give our first impressions of the season, our Two Takes and provide a look ahead at a busy week of basketball, including the Chicago Elite Classic.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 157: Preseason sleepers and storylines Nov 20, 2023

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly breakdown of Illinois high school basketball.

In this week's episode we talk about six sleeper teams, six underrated players and six storylines we'll be following all season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 156: Revealing the 2023-34 preseason Super 25 rankings Nov 14, 2023

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen’s weekly look at Illinois high school basketball is back for a tenth season.

This episode is all about the preseason Super 25 rankings. We go in-depth on the top teams and discuss each of the 25 that earned a spot.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 155: Reviewing the IHSA State Finals Mar 14, 2023

The season has wrapped up. Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien look back at the IHSA State Finals, breaking down the action in Class 4A, 3A and 2A.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 154: Previewing the IHSA state finals Mar 08, 2023

The big week has arrived. It's state finals time. Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien preview all of this week's action in Champaign.

Mike and Joe start out with a discussion of Downers Grove North's big win against Kenwood and then break down the Class 4A state semifinals, which feature the Trojans, Moline, New Trier and Benet.

Next up is a look at the Class 3A field, which includes Simeon, East St. Louis, St. Ignatius and Metamora.

The episode wraps up with a quick look at Class 2A and 1A.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 153: Previewing the sectionals and looking back at the regionals Feb 27, 2023

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen comb through the brackets and preview the most enticing sectional matchups of the Illinois High School Association state basketball playoffs.

We also look back at some of the biggest regional final games.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 152: Previewing the regionals Feb 20, 2023

The playoffs are here. Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien go in-depth on the Class 4A regionals, discussing some underdogs and some of the best matchups around the state this week.

The episode wraps up with a quick look at some Class 3A regionals.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 151: Regular season winners, city tournament review Feb 14, 2023

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly discussion of high school basketball.

This episode starts off with Two Takes, hitting on a variety of topics.

Then Mike and Joe go through some of the "winners" from the regular season, some tournaments, teams and rules that can consider 2022-23 a success.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 150: Selecting surprise teams, breakout underclassmen and more Jan 31, 2023

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly discussion of high school basketball.

This episode starts off with Two Takes, hitting on a variety of topics, from Hinsdale Central to the Public League.

Then Mike and Joe take part in a multiple choice test, picking their favorite answers to a variety of questions on the season so far.

Which team is the biggest surprise this season? Who are the breakout underclassmen? Which unranked team should be getting more attention? All those questions and many more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 149: Listener questions Jan 24, 2023

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly discussion of high school basketball.

This episode begins with a look back at the When Sides Collide shootout and then we dive into a big listener mailbag full of questions.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 148: Kenwood’s rise, When Sides Collide Preview Jan 17, 2023

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien’s weekly discussion of high school basketball.

This episode begins with a look back at the big Simeon vs. Kenwood game. Then we do our regular Two Takes segment, which includes a look at state tournament attendance in Champaign. There's also a look ahead to this weekend's big When Sides Collide Shootout and some talk about Camden, NJ and the country's No. 1 player, DJ Wagner, who is in town on Friday.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 147: The Stock Report Jan 10, 2023

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly discussion of high school basketball.

This episode begins with the regular Two Takes segment and then we dive into the annual stock report, declaring if we would buy or sell stock in a team based on the rest of the season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 146: Breaking down the holiday tournaments Jan 03, 2023

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen look back at the busy holiday tournament week.

We go in-depth on Proviso West, York, Pontiac and the Big Dipper. Other tournaments mentioned include DeKalb, Bloomington, Pekin, Centralia, Maine East, IC Catholic, Hinsdale Central and Effingham/Teutopolis, Wheeling, Jacobs and Centralia.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 145: Holiday tournament previews Dec 24, 2022

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen sit down and preview the state's biggest holiday basketball tournaments in this episode.

We go in-depth on Pontiac, Bloomington, York, Proviso West and the Big Dipper and take a look at a handful of other tournaments around the state as well.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 144: Answering listener questions Dec 20, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien take on a big mailbag, answering questions from the listeners. They also give their Two Takes.

Topics include which teams still have something to prove, what the future holds for several prominent holiday tournaments, which schools have potential to be basketball powers, Jeremiah Fears and Jordan vs. Plumbers.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 143: Early surprise teams Dec 13, 2022

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen break down six teams that have surprised us through the first three weeks of the season.

We also give our Two Takes, which includes a look at the DuPage Valley conference, some unknown players turning heads and more.

All that and a look ahead at the upcoming week of games.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 142: Reviewing the Chicago Elite Classic Dec 06, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien talk about last weekend's loaded Chicago Elite Classic in this week's episode.

We also discuss the new recruiting/transfer rule that has been proposed and debate whether or not the area's top 10-15 teams are stronger overall this year than last season.

That and more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 141: The season opens with a bang Nov 29, 2022

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen are back with their weekly discussion of high school basketball.

The season is underway. We break down two of the biggest games of the first week: Kenwood vs. Young and Joliet West vs. St. Rita and give our early impressions of several other teams. The episode wraps up with a preview of this week, including a look at the loaded Chicago Elite Classic.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 140: This season’s top storylines Nov 21, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly discussion of high school basketball is back and all geared up for the first day of the season.

In this episode we discuss some of this year's top storylines, break down some sleeper teams that didn't crack the preseason Super 25 rankings and take a look at the busy Thanksgiving week of games.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 139: Breaking down the preseason Super 25 rankings Nov 15, 2022

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly look at Illinois high school basketball is back for a new season.

This episode is all about the preseason Super 25 rankings. We go in-depth on the top teams and discuss each of the 25 that earned a spot.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 138: Recapping the IHSA basketball state finals Mar 15, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien take a look back at the Illinois High School Association's state finals.

There's a lot to cover after a busy weekend of state championship basketball: Where does Glenbard West rank among the state's all-time great teams? How did the new format go? Was the return to Champaign a success?

No Shot Clock, Ep. 137: Previewing the IHSA basketball state finals Mar 09, 2022

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen break down the Illinois High School Association's state finals.

We take a look at the semifinals in all four classes and talk about the tournament's return to Champaign.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 136: Regional preview Feb 22, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien break down the week in high school basketball. Mike and Joe give their Two Takes and then dive into a look at some of the most competitive games and best storylines in the IHSA state basketball regionals.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 135: Surprise teams, breakout players Feb 15, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien break down the week in high school basketball. The episode opens with some listener questions, and then Mike and Joe give their Two Takes.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 134: Mailbag and in-depth review of Sierra Canon vs. Glenbard West Feb 08, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien break down the week in high school basketball. The episode opens with a mailbag and then Mike and Joe give their Two Takes.

We dive into more than a dozen listener questions and also go in-depth on the big Glenbard West vs. Sierra Canyon game.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 133: Previewing Glenbard West-Sierra Canyon and the city tournament Feb 01, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien break down the week in high school basketball. The episode opens with a mailbag and then Mike and Joe give their Two Takes.

This week's feature segment is all previews. We take a look at the recently revealed Public League playoff bracket and then talk all about the two big shootouts this weekend at Wintrust and UIC

No Shot Clock, Ep. 132: The Stock Report Jan 25, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien break down the week in high school basketball. The episode opens with a mailbag and then Mike and Joe give their Two Takes.

This week's feature is one of the most popular every season, The Stock Report. Mike and Joe go through the entire Super 25 (and some other teams) and reveal if they want to buy, sell or hold their stock for the rest of the season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 131: Listener mailbag, When Sides Collide preview Jan 19, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien break down the week in high school basketball. The episode opens with a mailbag and then Mike and Joe give their Two Takes.

This week's feature is a look at the When Sides Collide shootout on Saturday at Benet. It's one of the best lineups of the season with Young vs. Glenbard West, Simeon vs. Glenbrook South, New Trier vs. Yorkville Christian and St. Ignatius vs. Benet.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 130: Public League basketball heats up Jan 11, 2022

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen return to the traditional No Shot Clock podcast format. The episode opens with a mailbag and then Mike and Joe give their Two Takes.

We wrap things up with a look at an exciting week of Public League basketball, breaking down some of the best matchups, surprise players and interesting storylines so far this season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 129: Reviewing the Holiday Tournaments Jan 04, 2022

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien take a look back at a busy week of high school basketball, reviewing numerous holiday tournaments from all around the state.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 128: Holiday Tournament preview Dec 24, 2021

It's an all Holiday Tournament episode. Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen break down the brackets at Proviso West, Pontiac, York, Rich South, Hinsdale Central, Pekin, Bloomington, Centralia and Plano.

LISTEN: Early season surprises | No Shot Clock, Episode 127 Dec 14, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien discuss the Team Rose Classic and other action from a busy week of high school basketball.

We answer some listener questions to open the episode and then give Two Takes, a weekly segment where we sound off on current issues in the sport or highlight certain teams and players.

Then it's time for the feature segment of the show. We discuss six teams that are off to surprisingly good starts this season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 126: December shootout recaps and previews Dec 07, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien discuss the Chicago Elite Classic and other action from a busy week of high school basketball.

Joe and Mike give their Two Takes and then give an in-depth look at some of this week's biggest games, including the Team Rose Classic at Mount Carmel.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 125: First week impressions. Nov 30, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien break down what they saw in the opening week of the 2021-22 high school basketball season.

The episode wraps up with a look at the busy week ahead.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 124: Preseason Two Takes Nov 21, 2021

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien continue to preview the 2021-22 high school basketball season.

We dive into the following topics:

* Two surprise teams not in the rankings that could do big things. * Two seniors set to blossom this year * Two breakout underclassmen (juniors or sophomores) that people will get very familiar with this season. * Two storylines we are looking forward to following this season.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 123: Breaking down the Chicago Sun-Times preseason Super 25 Nov 16, 2021

It's finally here. A real, full high school basketball season is on the way. The first games start on Monday. Get ready for the next five months with the preseason preview.

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen start the season with an exclusive look at the preseason Super 25, talking about each of the teams that cracked the rankings.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 122: Discussing the weird end to a strange season Mar 16, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen debate the format of this hastily thrown together answer questions from the listener mailbag and give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.

-Why didn't CPS plan a season-ending event or set of games?

-Player of the Year discussion

-Breaking down DePaul Prep's big Chipotle tournament win

-An in-depth look at all the Chipotle games

-Why did Simeon and Young get knocked out of the tournament?

-Would the basketball season been more successful in the spring?

All that and more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 121: Chipotle Clash of Champions preview and more Mar 12, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien answer questions from the listener mailbag and give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.

The mailbag is the biggest and longest of the season, with tons of questions addresed:

-Is Simeon senior/Michigan recruit Isaiah Barnes a Player of the Year contender?

-Mid-Suburban League title game predictions

-Building the perfect conference

-How good has Indian Creek been the last two years?

-Who are the best underclassmen in the Chipotle event?

-Could Downers Grove North upset Glenbard West?

The episode wraps up with debate and predictions for all four of the Chipotle Clash of Champions quarterfinal games and of course picks to win it all.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 120: Listener mailbag Mar 05, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien answer questions from the listener mailbag and give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.

The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-How good is Glenbard West and why they aren't in the Chipotle Classic

-More shot clock debate

-Should the overtime format be changed?

-Is Bryce Hopkins the best Catholic League player since Corey Maggette?

-Why can't schools just hold their own state tournament?

-Is this the most offensive firepower ever in the Mid-Suburban League East?

-Thoughts on the East Suburban Catholic

-Debating the area's best rivalry and best student sections

-First impressions of Kenwood sophomore JJ Taylor

-Are Simeon and Young the state's two best teams? And by how much?

-Curie, once again, is surprisingly good despite a lack of experience. What is the ceiling for the Condors?

All that and more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 119: The surprise teams Feb 25, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien reveal the five teams that have surprised them the most with major success so far this season.

The episode opens with a listener mailbag and then Joe and Mike give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.

The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-What's going on with Player of the Year and All-Area?

-Is there really a holiday tournament happening on Saturday?

-Diving in to Kankakee's success under Chris Pickett

All that and more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 118: Previewing the Public League Feb 18, 2021

On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen debate the recently revealed season-ending tournament, the Chipotle Classic.

Then we preview the top six basketball teams in the Chicago Public League, which begins its basketball season over the next week.

Then Joe and Mike give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.

The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-A look at Hersey's high-scoring Ethan Roberts

-Is St. Rita's James Brown the state's next star?

-Appreciating Mundelein big man Scottie Ebubue

-Why Notre Dame's ceiling is still so high, despite losing the No. ranking

All that and more

No Shot Clock, Ep. 117: First impressions of the new season Feb 12, 2021

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien talk about their initial impressions of the very young and very short high school basketball season.

The episode opens with a brief news update and a listener mailbag. Then Joe and Mike give their Two Takes.

The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-Which players may have their recruitment hurt by the lack of a full season?

-What is the best way to find streaming games?

-How are we going to pick a season-ending No. 1 team?

-Lincoln-Way East's potential

-Bolingbrook's ceiling this season

-Why white numbers on white uniforms just don't work

All that and a ton more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 116: Breaking down the preseason Top 10 Feb 03, 2021

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen get started on a new season of the podcast.

The episode opens with a big mailbag of listener questions. After that we break down the preseason Top 10, which is revealed for the first time.

The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-How COVID-19 has changed recruiting

-What is the status of Public League basketball?

-How will Evanston look without Jaylin Gibson?

All that and a ton more.

Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, it helps new listeners find the podcast.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 115: Wrapping up the season and a look ahead Mar 17, 2020

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode opens with a big mailbag of listener questions. After that we break down every Class 3A and Class 4A sectional semifinal, since that is the last basketball fans across the state will get this season.

The podcast concludes with a look at the possible top ten teams for next season.

Topics include:

-The Illinois High School Association's decision to cancel the state tournament

-Fenger's terrific season

-What is the deal with sub-sectionals?

-Is there a clear-cut preseason No. 1 team next season? Is it Notre Dame, Simeon or Evanston?

All that and a ton more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 114: Sectional preview, All-Area next five Mar 10, 2020

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode opens with a quick preview of the Class 1A and Class 2A supersectionals and then we breakdown the five players that received votes for the Sun-Times All-Area team but didn’t make the final list of 20 players.

After that it is all sectional talk. We break down every Class 4A sectional semifinal in the state and hit on all of the Class 3A semifinals in the Chicago area.

Topics include:

-Aurora’s two underdogs

-Appreciating Wauconda’s season

-The Fox Valley’s chances at Peoria

-Very in-depth looks at Bloom vs. Marian, H-F vs. Thornton, Curie vs. Morton

All that and a ton more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 113: Regionals preview, Peoria predictions Mar 03, 2020

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode opens with an in-depth discussion of the Illinois High School Association’s tentative schedule for the new state finals weekend format.

Topics include:

-Why is the IHSA playing third place games at 7 pm on Thursday and Friday in the new state format?

-Is Notre Dame the clear favorite in Class 3A?

-Could Joliet West really play for the Class 4A state title?

-Don’t miss a possible Dom Martinelli vs. Max Christie matchup on Friday

-Why the state tournament has to move to Champaign

-The top ten regional games in the Chicago area

-Watch out for Lincoln and Peoria Notre Dame

All that and a ton more.

LISTEN: Listener mailbag | No Shot Clock, Episode 112 Feb 25, 2020

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode starts up with our Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, where we dive into a huge listener mailbag full of all types of questions.

Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-Could Barrington make a state tournament run?

-Will Evanston make it to Peoria?

-What trades would you make to improve teams?

-How will Rolling Meadows and Buffalo Grove fare in March?

-Rants on the seeding process

-Will Oak Forest finally win the conference?

-More on Indian Creek

-Aquan Smart’s commitment to Maryland

All that and a ton more.

Answering the big questions | No Shot Clock, Episode 111 Feb 18, 2020

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode starts up with a big listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, where we answer some of the season’s big questions.

Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-Does Joliet West have enough to make a run to state?

-Player of the Year talk

-What is the state’s best conference?

-The season’s biggest surprise?

-Our favorite teams to watch

-Which player would you want to take a game winner?

-What team has the most to prove in March?

-This season’s biggest disappointment

-The team no one is talking about but should be

All that and a ton more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 110: Conference surprises Feb 11, 2020

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode starts up with a huge listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, Conference Surprises, where we breakdown some of the things that have surprised us so far in various conference races.

Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-Should the Public League ditch the super conferences?

-Sleeper picks for state in all four classes

-Top five candidates for Player of the Year

-Undefeated Indian Creek and the Little Ten

-Should non-boundaried schools play for a different state title?

All that and a ton more.

The Stock Report | No Shot Clock, Episode 109 Jan 28, 2020

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode starts up with a quick listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, The Stock Report, where we each breakdown five teams whose stock we think is overvalued and five teams whose stock we would purchase.

Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-How good was Ronnie Fields as a pro prospect?

-A look back at the When Sides Collide Shootout

-Which White Division teams could pull off upsets in the city tournament?

-Has Simeon turned the corner?

-Previewing the Public League playoffs

-Undefeated Indian Creek

All that and a ton more.

Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, it helps new listeners find the podcast.

The podcast is on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so please subscribe.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 108: The best teams no one is talking about Jan 21, 2020

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode starts up with a listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, talking about eleven teams that have flown under the radar while putting together excellent seasons.

Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-Why didn't a Chicago venue bid on the state basketball tournament?
-Has Orr considered moving up in class?
-DePaul Prep's resurgence
-Appreciating Thornton
-Why it appears the state tournament is moving back to Champaign
-A look at Buffalo Grove, Naperville Central, St. Patrick, Richards and more as we get into the under the radar teams

All that and a ton more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 107: The ten breakout players of the 2019-20 season Jan 14, 2020

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.

The episode starts up with a huge listener mailbag and then Mike and Joe each pick five breakout players that have opened eyes this season. Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead.

Topics include:

-DeKalb’s new status

-More shot clock talk

-The state bracket has been determined. A look at the draw in Class 3A and Class 4A

-The Pat Gordon situation at Lincoln Park

-Fun White Division basketball

-Aquan Smart’s recruitment

All that and a ton more.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 106: Reviewing the decade's best teams and players Jan 07, 2020

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien take a look back at the past decade. The episode opens with a small mailbag of listener questions and a brief discussion of some happenings from the last several days.

Then it is time to dive into the 2010s. First we discuss the ten best players of the decade, breaking them down into a first and second team.

Up next is an in-depth discussion of the 13 best teams of the decade, including a handful of great teams that just missed the cut.

Both those lists have been revealed previously, but there is some No Shot Clock exclusive content as well. We reveal the ten programs that arrived on the scene this decade. It's a list of teams that never had winning programs or had been dormant for ages and came alive and experienced great success the past ten years.

LISTEN: Holiday Tournament wrap-up | No Shot Clock, Episode 105 Jan 03, 2020

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review all the holiday tournament action from around the state, including tournaments at Pontiac, Proviso West, Hinsdale Central, Wheeling, York, Maine East, Effingham, Pekin, Centralia and more.

The episode starts up with a huge listener mailbag and then Joe and Mike each pick five players or teams to give a post-holiday tournament stamp of approval. Things finish up with a brief look at this weekend’s games.

Topics include:

-Would AJ Casey be putting up the same numbers at Simeon?

-Could Max Christie or Bryce Hopkins win Player of the Year this season?

-Status checks on Bloom, Cary-Grove, Marian Catholic heading into January

-Don’t forget about Zion-Benton’s Amar Augillard

-Rich East’s rugged schedule

-Joliet West and emerging star Jamere Hill

-Why Curie started the season at No. 12

No Shot Clock, Ep. 104: The 2019 Holiday Tournament preview Dec 20, 2019

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen preview the state’s major holiday tournaments. Full previews of Wheeling, Pontiac, Proviso West, York (Jack Tosh) and Hinsdale Central.

-Which teams have the most to prove at the holiday tournaments?

-What player in each tournament is the most underrated?

-Three players to watch at each holiday tournament

-The best first round game at each holiday tournament

-The favorites to win, a sleeper pick to win and our picks to win each holiday tournament

-Has the Pontiac title game lost steam in the last few years and would switching to Pekin’s schedule be a good move?

We also take a look at some of the other holiday tournaments around the state, including Effingham/Teutopolis, Bloomington (State Farm), Rich South (Big Dipper), Centralia, Pekin and Plano.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 103: The early season surprises Dec 17, 2019

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review all the action from the past week of Chicago-area high school basketball including the Team Rose Shootout.

The episode opens with a mailbag of listener questions. Then we each give our Two Takes, which includes a breakdown of Thorton’s big win against top-ranked Thornton last week in Harvey. This week’s major feature is early season surprises. Mike and Joe each reveal three teams and/or players that have surprised them so far this season.

Also discussed on this episode:

-Notre Dame’s statement week

-Why Bloom’s Christian Shumate is the area’s most-feared player

-Is Bogan’s Antione Bloxton the top scorer in the city?

-How will Orr and Corliss stack up in Class 2A?

-Did anyone see Kendrick Nunn becoming an NBA star?

-What’s the point in committing before senior year?

-Watch out for Collinsville

No Shot Clock, Ep. 102: Chicago's holiday tournament problem Dec 10, 2019

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the Chicago Elite Classic and the other major events of the past week. The episode opens with a mailbag of listener questions. Then they each give their Two Takes. Then it is time to dive into what has been the elephant in the room in December the last few seasons: Why doesn’t the Chicago area have a major holiday tournament? Proviso West has slowly diminished over the past few years and nothing has replaced it. Can any of the current tournaments step up in its place? Can Proviso West rebound?

Also discussed on this episode:

-Is Corliss a major factor in Class 2A?

-How good is Evanston?

-Will it be a rough December for Simeon?

-Appreciating Niles North’s Aquan Smart

-How does Joe determine the Top 35 games?

-Why weren’t their programs at the Chicago Elite Classic?

No Shot Clock, Ep. 101: Opening week review Dec 03, 2019

The season is up and running in full swing. Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the Thanksgiving week storylines, including six teams that surprised everyone by pulling off undefeated starts. Then they each give their Two Takes from the first week. The episode opens with a big mailbag of listener questions (everyone is asking about Dom Martinelli).

On this episode:

-Breaking down No. 2 Morgan Park vs. No. 3 Young

-The south suburbs live up to the hype in Week 1

-Six teams that surprised everyone over Thanksgiving

-Is Willowbrook senior Everett Stubblefield underrated?

-Could Glenbrook South’s Dom Martinelli be the Player of the Year?

-How firm is Adam Miller’s commitment to Illinois?

-Barrington is 4-0. Can the Broncos keep it up?

-Don’t judge Westinghouse by the 1-2 start

No Shot Clock, Ep. 100: Previewing the 2019-20 season Nov 24, 2019

The 2019-20 basketball season starts on Monday. Welcome to the 100th episode of No Shot Clock. Hard to believe we've made it this far. Thanks to everyone for listening and sending in questions every week.

This episode is all about the upcoming season. We revealed the rankings on last week's episode, so check that out. We go in-depth on each team, starting with No. 1 all the way down to No. 25.

This week's topics:

-Six sleeper teams that were not ranked in the preseason Super 25.

-Five players that will have breakout seasons.

-Five under-appreciated players to keep an eye on.

-Five storylines we will be watching this season.

-Previewing Morgan Park vs. Young and the Thanksgiving tournaments.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 99: Breaking down the preseason Super 25 rankings Nov 18, 2019

Welcome to the 2019-20 basketball season. It’s the sixth year of No Shot Clock. Thanks to everyone for listening and sending in questions every week. The games start in just a week so there is a ton to preview.

This episode is all about the Sun-Times preseason Super 25. The rankings are revealed for the first time and we go in-depth on each team, starting with No. 1 all the way down to No. 25.

Things begin with a mailbag of listener questions. Topics include:

-DePaul's recruiting bonanza
-Updates on uncommitted seniors
-What new teams are on the radar?
-Which newly promoted teams will survive in the Red?
-Will the state split into boundaried and non-boundaried tournaments?

No Shot Clock, Ep. 98: State finals review, season wrap-up Mar 19, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 98: State finals review, season wrap-up

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen answer a bunch of listener questions, give their Two Takes and discuss the state finals this past weekend in Peoria.

-A ton of Evanston analysis
-Rockford East appreciation
-IHSA gossip
-Southwestern vs. CPS shootout?
-Who is next season's 4A favorite?
-Henricksen on Liddell
-O'Brien gushes on Terrence Hargrove

That and a ton more…

No Shot Clock, Ep. 97: State finals preview Mar 13, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 97: State finals preview

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien answer listener questions, give their Two Takes and discuss the state finals this weekend in Peoria. It's a historic episode: We finally have a guest. Ben Pope, the Sun-Times intern, joins the show to give his Two Takes and give an outsider's impression of our basketball scene.

-Genuine state finals weekend excitement
-So much Rockford East talk
-Discussing the North Lawndale-Farragut brawl
-Where does Providence-St. Mel rank among small school title winners?
-Will Belleville West repeat as Class 4A champs?
-Analyzing Evanston
-Can anyone beat Curie?

That and a ton more…

No Shot Clock, Ep. 96: Sectional preview, regional review Mar 04, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 96: Sectional preview, regional review

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen answer listener questions, give their Two Takes and discuss the state playoffs, including a look back at all of the regional action and a look ahead at this week's sectionals.

-Simeon vs. Brother Rice through the years
-Don't forget about Evanston
-High academic Public League schools stepping up in basketball
-Lake Park's turnaround

That and a ton more…

No Shot Clock, Ep. 95: Regionals preview Feb 25, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 95: Regional preview

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien answer listener questions, give their Two Takes and discuss the state playoffs, including an in-depth look at the Class 4A regionals.

-What is the best recent team not to win the state title?
-Taking a look back a the 2005 Player of the Year race
-MSL title game rewind, the fantastic Fremd-Prospect game
-Which team has the toughest road to the Class 4A title?
That and a ton more…

No Shot Clock, Ep. 94: State playoff seeds, city title game talk Feb 19, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 94: Playoff seeds, city title game talk

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen answer listener questions, talk about the city tournament drama give their Two Takes and discuss the state playoff seeds and the seeding system.

-An appreciation of Orr's Sherif Kenney
-Why don't the top four seeds host regionals?
-Breaking down Maine South's resurgence
-Lawless award drama in the Catholic League
-Curie's remarkable season

That and a ton more…

No Shot Clock, Ep. 93: The season's biggest surprises Feb 12, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 93: The season's biggest surprises

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen answer listener questions, talk about the possible new state tournament format, give their Two Takes and discuss this season's biggest surprises (players, teams, conferences).

-Which local players are making the biggest impact in college?
-What do we think of the possible three-day format for the state tournament?
-Notre Dame vs. St. Patrick
-Plenty on Waukegan, Stevenson, Waubonsie Valley,
-Public League playoff talk

That and a ton more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 92: Public League playoff preview Feb 05, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 92: Public League playoff preview

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien dive into a big mailbag, give their Two Takes and preview the Public League playoffs.

-Who is the best suburban player this century? Best suburban team?
-The .500 teams that could make a run in the state playoffs
-This season's late-blooming senior prospects
-Things are looking up at Oak Lawn
-Revisiting Geneva's playoff chances
-Simeon vs. Belleville West, what did it mean?

That and a ton more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 91: Public League dominance Jan 29, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 91: Public League dominance

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien dive into a big mailbag and discuss this season's Public League dominance.

-Is the city championship up for grabs?
-Can anyone beat Curie?
-Why doesn't Illinois have a burger boy?
-Are shootouts good or bad?
-Who was better, Sherron Collins or Will Bynum?
-Discussing Sean Dockery

That and a ton more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 90: Upsets? Discussing a season of parity Jan 15, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 90: Upsets? Discussing a season of parity

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien dive into a big mailbag and discuss this season's wide-open feel.

-Breaking down the Player of the Year race
-Is Kenwood's Seryee Lewis a high-major prospect?
-Why West Aurora hasn't cracked the Super 25
-Why Bogan, not Bloom is ranked No. 2
-Who are the area's best young coaches?
-Could Benet win the state title?

That and a ton more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 89: The stock report Jan 08, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 89: The stock report

It's time for the annual stock report. Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien decide whether to buy, sell or hold the stock of more than 60 teams.

-A check in around the state. What is happening in the Quad Cities, Peoria and Rockford?
-A look ahead at a busy week of games, including Morgan Park at DePaul Prep and Curie at Bogan.

That and more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 88: Holiday Tournament review Jan 03, 2019

No Shot Clock, Ep. 88: Holiday tournament review

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen review the top holiday tournaments in the state and take listener questions.

-Which teams are poised for major runs after the holidays?
-Can Curie finish the regular season undefeated?
-Two takes from Pontiac, Proviso West, York, Hinsdale Central and the Big Dipper
That and more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 87: Holiday Tournament preview Dec 22, 2018

No Shot Clock, Ep. 87: Holiday tournament preview

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien break down the top holiday tournaments in the state and take listener questions.

-Small school title game preview in Bloomington
-llini recruiting/Brad Underwood discussion
-Previewing the loaded Pontiac Holiday Tournament
-Proviso West memories, Hinsdale Central hopes for the future
-Big Dipper breakdown
-The pros and cons of 32-team holiday tournaments
-Looks at York, Wheeling and Centralia

That and more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 86: The early season surprises Dec 18, 2018

No Shot Clock, Ep. 86: The top surprises so far this season

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen each detail the three things that have surprised them the most so far this season.

Before that we take listener questions and give our Two Takes, the regular weekly segment where we pick a subject from the past week to talk about in-depth.

-Does Simeon deserve to be ranked?
-A look at the East Suburban Catholic
-What is up with undefeated Dunbar?
-Why is Curie so much better this season?
-Fun in the Fox Valley, talking Crystal Lake Central and Cary-Grove
-Breaking down Lincoln Park's upset of Young
-A look at the East Suburban Catholic

That and more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 85: Terrific Team Rose shootout headlines wild week Dec 11, 2018

No Shot Clock, Ep. 85: Terrific Team Rose shootout headlines wild week

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen break down a wild week of action, from the Mid-Suburban League to the Public League and the Team Rose Shootout.

Before the review we take listener questions and give our Two Takes, the regular weekly segment where we pick a subject from the past week to talk about in-depth.

-Is Kankakee's backcourt the best in the state?
-Is Westinghouse guard Devin Davis the real deal?
-Should Brother Rice, Oak Park, Notre Dame and Farragut be concerned?
-How good is Danville?
-Are more teams starting large groups of underclassmen?
-Does St. Viator have a deep enough bench?

That and more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 84: Breaking down the top five conferences Dec 04, 2018

No Shot Clock, Ep. 84: Conference call. Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen break down the area's five best conferences and then each pick one more conference with an intriguing title race.

Before the top conference breakdown we take listener questions and give our Two Takes, the regular weekly segment where we pick a subject from the past week to talk about in-depth.

-Which team is a sleeper in Class 4A?
-What is up with the success factor?
-Initial impressions of Curie, Orr, DePaul, Providence-St. Mel, Evanston, Uplift, Bogan, Young, Simeon, Morgan Park, Joliet West, St. Patrick, Benet, St. Viator and De La Salle
-Discussion of the Mid-Suburban League, a growing basketball destination
-Glenbrook South's emergence

That and more...

EPISODE 84
00:00 – Listener questions
20:34 – Two takes
40:00 – Top five conferences
55:00 – Previewing this week’s games

No Shot Clock, Ep. 83: Thanksgiving week review Nov 27, 2018

No Shot Clock, Ep. 83: Thanksgiving week review

On this week's episode we discuss our impressions from the first week of the season. Thanksgiving tournaments discussed include the Chicago Heights Classic, Riverside-Brookfield and Oswego.

Then we dive into a big listener mailbag full of questions:

-Which players surprised us most with their post-high school achievements?
-Which players that we thought were NBA-bound fell short?
-Will Max Christie stay at Rolling Meadows?
-How good is Glenbrook South?
-Are Loyola recruits Tom Welch and Marquise Kennedy even better than expected?
-How impressive was Bolingbrook's win against Springfield Southeast?

That and more...

EPISODE 83
00:00 – Two takes
15:15 – Thanksgiving tournament observations
35:02 – Mailbag
54:00 – Previewing this week’s games

No Shot Clock, Ep. 82: This season's storylines Nov 20, 2018

No Shot Clock: Storylines for the season

This episode starts up with a mailbag of listener questions.

-Has Simeon underachieved recently?

-Did anyone expect Marshall’s Alfonzo McKinnie to be so good?

-Can anyone but EJ Liddell win Mr. Basketball?

-Previewing the Quincy Thanksgiving Tournament

-How would the great King teams of the 90’s fare today?

Those questions and more.

Then we dive into our preseason All-State teams. Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien each select a first and a second team.

Next up is the episode’s feature segment: Storylines to watch this season. Mike and Joe talk the things they will be looking at closely this season.

The episode wraps up with a quick look at some of the week’s best games.

Thanks for listening.

EPISODE 82

02:17 – Mailbag of listener questions
30:00 – Preseason All-State teams
41:15 – Storylines to watch this season
55:20 – Previewing this week’s games

No Shot Clock, Ep. 81: Breaking down the preseason Super 25 Nov 12, 2018

Episode 81: Breaking down the preseason Super 25

Welcome to the 2018-19 basketball season. It’s the fifth year of No Shot Clock. Thanks to everyone for listening and sending in questions every week. The games start in just a week so there is a ton to preview.

This episode is all about the Sun-Times preseason Super 25. The rankings are revealed for the first time and we go in-depth on each team, starting with No. 1 all the way down to No. 25. Then we talk about the teams that just missed the cut.

Things begin with a mailbag of listener questions. Topics include:

-How do we determine which games to cover?
-What are the best Thanksgiving tournaments?
-The outlook for the North Suburban conference?
-Basketball book recommendations
-South suburban sleepers

Teams mentioned in this episode include: Zion-Benton, Benet, Richards, Loyola, Marian Catholic, St. Rita, Oswego East, Young, Mundelein, Evanston, Morgan Park, Bogan, Libertyville, Providence-St. Mel, Downers Grove North, Orr, Stevenson, Bloom, Bolingbrook, Notre Dame, Crete-Monee, Brother Rice, Hillcrest, Thornton, West Aurora, Geneva, Carmel, Waukegan, Homewood-Flossmoor, Leo, Uplift, Oak Park, St. Viator, TF North, Curie, Simeon, Warren, Lake Zurich, Lake Forest, Riverside-Brookfield, Glenbrook South, Naperville Central, Niles North, Evanston, St. Viator, TF South, Rich East, Rich South, Rich Central, Thornwood, Kenwood, DePaul Prep, Farragut, Kankakee, North Lawndale, Romeoville, New Trier.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 80: State finals rewind, listener mailbag Mar 21, 2018

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast.

The season is over, but there is so much to discuss. We take a look back at the Class 3A/4A state finals last weekend in Peoria. Then it is all questions as we tackle a huge mailbag of listener questions.

-A look ahead at next season's top teams
-Who will the top five players in Chicago be next season?
-What impact will Ayo Dosunmu have at Illinois?
-Could Orr and Morgan Park have beaten Belleville West?
-How does EJ Liddell compare to Quentin Richardson?
-Who wins a game of one-on-one between Dosunmu and THT?
-What was this season's biggest surprise?
-Are people getting bored watching the same CPS teams at state?
-Which game this season do we want to go back and watch again?

That and so much more. Thanks for listening this season, thanks for all the questions and thanks for loving high school basketball.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 79: State tournament preview Mar 14, 2018

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast.

We have arrived at the final weekend of the season. The podcast starts out with our Two Takes. Then we take a look back at last Friday's sectional finals and Tuesday's supersectional games.

We wrap things up with an in-depth preview of the Class 3A and Class 4A state tournament this weekend in Peoria. You can probably guess where that leads: more talk about Peoria and the state tournament and what should be done.

-Will the Class 4A semis be blowouts?
-Henricksen raves about Belleville West, plenty of EJ Liddell talk
-Breaking down Young's upset of Simeon
-Can anyone give Morgan Park a game?
-The rise of Larkin and Marian Catholic
-State predictions

Have a question for next week's episode? Email mobrien@suntimes.com

Please rate and review us on iTunes, it helps new listeners find the podcast.

No Shot Clock, Ep. 78: Regional review, sectional storylines Mar 06, 2018

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast. It was a busy week of regional playoff action capped off by a sensational Friday night of regional finals.

We start off this week's episode with our Two Takes and then take a look back at some of the regional upsets and talk about the games we attended.

Then the focus shifts to sectionals. We break down some of the top storylines to monitor this week.

-The Maine East sectional is up for grabs, is there a favorite?
-There were plenty of upsets in regionals, but almost all the No. 1 seeds have survived
-The Catholic League had a terrific run in the regionals. Which Catholic League teams can keep it up and can any win in Peoria?
That and much more.

Have a question for next week's episode? Email mobrien@suntimes.com

No Shot Clock, Ep. 77: State tournament preview Feb 27, 2018

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast. Just one topic in this week's episode: The Class 3A and Class 4A state tournaments.

We break down every sectional, give our semifinal picks and then make our predictions for Peoria.

Have a question for next week's episode? Email mobrien@suntimes.com

No Shot Clock, Ep. 76: Sectional underdogs Feb 20, 2018

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast. In this episode we dive into a listener mailbag and answer questions from listeners, give our Two Takes and then begin the state playoff preview.

We break down the intriguing underdogs in each sectional, the five and below seeds that could possibly knock off a top four seed.

Some of the topics:

-City title game discussion (so many technicals this season...)
-If Orr and Simeon played ten times, what would the result be?
-Why in-state colleges struggle to recruit local stars
-A look at all of this season's major upsets
-Rants about the ridiculous travel distances in regionals
-Why the City/Suburban Showdown is missed
-Advice for parents of high school basketball players
Have a question for next week's episode? Email mobrien@suntimes.com

That and much more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 75: Diving into the mailbag Feb 13, 2018

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast. It is mailbag time. We do our Two Takes and then hop into a massive mailbag full of listener questions.

Some of the topics:
-Is Talen Horton-Tucker the toughest player to guard?
-What will Simeon have next year?
-Who are the top five players in 2019?
-What happened with Illinois recruiting after 2005?
-Why is O'Brien watching Momence?
-What are the top three supersectionals?
-Sectional dark horses
-Could four DVC teams win regionals?
-Is Niles North underrated?
-Where should CPS hold the quarterfinals?
-Can anyone knock off Providence-St. Mel before the super?
-Will Belleville West or Normal West come to Chicago next season?
-Which Illinois coaches have hit the 800-win mark?

Have a question for next week's episode? Email mobrien@suntimes.com

That and much more...

No Shot Clock, Ep. 74: Public League playoff talk Feb 06, 2018

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen's weekly Chicago high school basketball podcast.

It is city tournament time. We break down the bracket, all the way from the first round games to possible title games. Picks are made and key games highlighted.

Some of this week's topics:

-Who are the area's top defenders?
-What's going on at Julian?
-Which teams could pull off first round upsets in the city tournament?
-Is this Orr's year?
-This season's best coaching jobs
-Which team should be the top seed in the Maine East sectional?
-What team is most likely to beat Simeon in the city playoffs?
-Young has turned things around, can the Dolphins make a charge?
-Andrew's unlikely hero, Dan Gierhahn

Have a question for next week's episode? Email mobrien@suntimes.com

That and much more...

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