The Basketball Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 285: Greg Neeley, The Power of an Adaptable Defense Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Greg Neeley, Piedmont University Head Coach

Piedmont University head coach Greg Neeley shares insights on the 2-1-2 zone and the power of an adaptable defense.

Greg Neeley finished his 10th season as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Piedmont University. Six of those ten seasons have seen the Lions finish .500 or better making him the winningest coach in Piedmont men’s basketball history.

Greg Neeley is also the creator of the immersionvideos.com product Unlock the Power of An Adaptable Defense: The 2-1-2 Pressure Zone Defense Mastery Series available at basketballzonedefense.com

Breakdown

1:00 - Defensive System and Deep Diving

5:00 - Teaching Zone One

7:30 - Rebuild

10:00 - Good Programs

14:00 - Analytics/Statistics

17:00 - Against Different Styles

20:00 - Developing Zone

24:00 - Giving Structure

25:48 - 26:50 - Hoopsalytics Ad 3

27:00 - Structured Freedom

30:00 - Adaptability

31:30 - Player Satisfaction

34:00 - Pace of Play on Offense

36:30 - Zone Defense Mastery Series

39:00 - Adaptable

42:30 - Constraint

45:00 - Man to Man Defense

48:00 - Basketball Immersion

50:30 - Successful Career in Coaching

53:00 - Conclusion

Greg Neeley’s Bio:

Bio: https://piedmontlions.com/staff-directory/greg-neeley/84

Website: https://immersionvideos.com/

Basketball Zone Defense Website: https://basketballzonedefense.com/

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 284: Josh King, Full Court Pressing and Playing in the Open Court Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Josh King, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg Head Coach

MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg head coach Josh King shares insights on full-court pressing and playing in the open court.

Josh King led Ludwigsburg to the playoffs in each of his three seasons as an assistant coach. In his first season as head coach, he led the team to a record of 22-12 overall and 12-6 in conference play in 2022-23

Josh King began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Vassar College, where he spent two seasons. He then moved on to become an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two seasons before joining the staff at the University of South Florida for three seasons.

King switched to professional basketball and became John Patrick 's assistant coach at the German Bundesliga club MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in 2018 . He contributed to the team becoming German runners-up in 2020 and finishing the Bundesliga season 2020-21 in first place in the main round. Ahead of the 2021-22 season, King took up the post of head coach at Czech Premier League side USK Prague. With Prague he reached the quarterfinals of the Czech Championship in 2022. After a season in the Czech Republic, King returned to Ludwigsburg, became the new head coach of the Bundesliga club and thus succeeded Patrick.

Breakdown

1:00 - Starting Practice Late

5:00 - Positionless

6:00 - Recruiting for Professional Level

8:00 - Pressing Style

9:00 - Playing in Open Court

11:00 - Coaching in Europe

12:30 - Pressing System

17:00 - Trapping and Forcing in Middle

20:00 - 8-Seconds

21:00 - Defensive Pressing System

22:48 - 23:51 - Hoopsalytics Ad 3

24:00 - Mistakes Make During Press

25:00 - Weak Hand Rule

28:00 - Fly By Concept

29:30 - Mindset

31:00 - Communication Cues

33:00 - Analytics for Press

35:00 - Fouling and FIBA World Cup

37:00 - Pressing and Transition Defense

39:00 - Toughest to Defend

41:00 - Ball Screen Coverage

45:00 - Advices for Coaches

Josh King’s Bio:

Bio: https://basketball.eurobasket.com/coach/Josh-King/23995

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachJoshKing

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 283: Kevin Burleson, Buy In, Staying Present, and NBA Coaching Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Kevin Burleson, Rio Grande NBA G-League Head Coach

Rio Grande NBA G-League head coach Kevin Burleson shares insights on buy-in, staying present, and NBA coaching.

Burleson is currently the head coach of Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He was previously assistant coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020 and served as the Timberwolves Head Coach during the 2022 NBA Summer League. Burleson has also worked as an assistant coach for Iowa Wolves and Memphis Grizzlies1.

Burleson comes from a prolific sporting family. Kevin and Nate Burleson are one of only two sets of siblings in which one played in the NBA and one in the NFL. Kevin played college basketball for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and began his professional career in the German basketball league. He played for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2005–06.

Breakdown

1:00 - Long Time Assistant Coach

5:00 - Player Development

7:00 - Winning

11:00 - Science Experiment for Basketball

13:30 - Buying Another Role

16:00 - Winning Culture

19:00 - Culture Piece

24:00 - Offensive Spacing Concepts

2:05 - 25:08 - Hoopsalytics Ad 3

27:30 - Holding a Spot

32:00 - Creating Space

34:00 - Managing Time

37:00 - Maintaining Pace

40:00 - Analytics

45:00 - Balancing Player Development

46:30 - Keep Growing

49:00 - Conclusion

Kevin Burleson’s Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Burleson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kevin_B12

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 282: DeLisha Milton-Jones, Keeping It Real, Drop Coverage, and Relatability Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Guest: DeLisha Milton-Jones, Old Dominion Head Coach

Old Dominion head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on keeping it real, drop coverage, and relatability.

DeLisha Milton-Jones is a 2022 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She had a decorated professional career in the WNBA and overseas.

She was a 2× WNBA champion and a 3× WNBA All-Star. In 2020 she became the head coach of the Old Dominion after previously an assistant coach at Syracuse and a head coach and assistant coach at Pepperdine. In her three seasons at Old Dominion, Milton-Jones has improved the overall record of the team posting back-to-back 20 win seasons the past two years. She has an 91–65 overall head coaching record.

Breakdown

1:00 - Shaping Coaching Philosophy

4:00 - Extra Pressure

8:00 - Shared Experience

11:00 - Drop Coverage

17:00 - Stance

20:00 - Cues for Recovery

23:00 - Pick and Pop Situation

27:00 - Mistakes on Drop Coverage

30:06 - 31:09 - IMM Videos Podcast ADS

32:00 - Rejecting Ball Screen

37:00 - Off The Ball

40:00 - Personnel

43:00 - Ownership in Defense

47:00 - Post Moves

52:00 - Fluff and Bad

54:00 - Recruiting Players

57:00 - Notetaking

1:00:00 - Old Dominion Basketball Program

DeLisha Milton-Jones’ Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLisha_Milton-Jones

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DelishaMJones

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 281: Kyle Smith, Nerdball Analytics Insights Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Kyle Smith, Washington State Head Coach

Washington State head coach Kyle Smith joins the Basketball Podcast to share Nerdball analytics insights.

In his first three seasons at Washington State, Smith has rebuilt the Cougars putting himself in rarified air at WSU as he has finished his first three seasons at .500 or better joining Tony Bennett as the only Cougars head coach to post .500 or better records in their first three seasons after taking over a sub-.500 club. In addition, he has posted back-to-back winning seasons, the first time in over a decade at WSU.

Smith began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater Hamilton College. He then moved to Division I as an assistant at Air Force, Saint Mary's, and San Diego. He got his first head coaching job at Columbia University in 2010, where he led the Lions to three postseason appearances and a 101-83 record in six seasons.

In 2016, Smith was hired as the head coach at the University of San Francisco, where he continued his success with three consecutive 20-win seasons and two postseason berths. He also implemented his signature "Nerdball" system, which uses analytics and data to evaluate players and opponents.

Breakdown

1:00 - Washington State Rebuild

5:00 - Nerdball System

9:00 - Data and Analytics

14:00 - Removing Biases

20:00 - Mindset Training

23:00 - Improvement

24:00 - 50 Categories

28:00 - Idea of Turning Threes

29:54 - 30:56 - Hoopsalytics Ad 3

34:00 - Watching the Process

37:00 - Isolation Efficiency

39:00 - Data

46:00 - Shooting Ball Handling

51:00 - Offensive Boards

56:00 - NBA

59:00 - Adopting the System

1:01:00 - Conclusion

Kyle Smith’s Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Smith_(basketball)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Coach_kylesmith

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 280: Jerrod Calhoun, Unlocking Offensive Efficiency and Success Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Jerrod Calhoun, Youngstown State Head Coach

Youngstown State head coach Jerrod Calhoun joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on unlocking offensive efficiency and success.

Jerrod Calhoun, who owns an 11-year career record of 220-134, has 96 wins at Youngstown State and owns a 76-52 record over the last four seasons, has elevated the Penguins’ basketball program to unprecedented success including the 2023 Horizon regular season championship, the first coach in program history to do so, and for which he was named 2023 Horizon Coach of the Year.

Jerrod Calhoun began his coaching career as an assistant at Walsh University from 2004 to 2006. He then joined Bob Huggins' staff at West Virginia, where he spent five seasons and helped the Mountaineers reach four NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 2010.

In 2012, Jerrod Calhoun became the head coach at D2 Fairmont State where he turned them into a national powerhouse, winning four conference titles and reaching the national championship game in 2017. He compiled a record of 124-38 in five seasons at Fairmont State, earning three conference Coach of the Year honors and two national Coach of the Year awards.

Breakdown

1:00 - Introduction

2:30 - Offense and Fight For Spacing

6:00 - Spain and Staff

9:00 - Adding and Subtracting

11:00 - Removing Ego and Attacking Matchups

17:00 - Shallow and Slide Cuts

20:00 - Partnership with Fairmount State

22:00 - Combining Structures

23:00 - Concept of Leveraging

28:00 - Developing Shooting

28:32 - 29:35 - Hoopsalytics AD 3

29:36 - Portals

34:00 - Diversity of Zones

37:00 - Youngstown State Practice

40:00 - Culture Clips

41:30 - Eliminating Ending

45:00 - Multiple Ball Screens

49:00 - Mentorship Program

53:00 - Bob Huggins

55:00 - Conclusion

Jerrod Calhoun’s Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerrod_Calhoun

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YSUCoachCalhoun

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 279: Andre Miller, How His Playing Career is Shaping His Coaching Philosophy Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Andre Miller, Former NBA Player and Current G-League Head Coach

Former NBA player and current G-League head coach Andre Miller joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on how his playing career is shaping his coaching philosophy.

Andre Miller is a former NBA player and the current head coach for the Grand Rapids Gold. Miller is a 17-year NBA veteran who brings extensive experience and basketball knowledge with him to Grand Rapids, having appeared in 1,304 career games, the 22nd most in NBA history.

Miller played college basketball at the University of Utah and was selected eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1999 NBA draft. He played for nine franchises (Cleveland, L.A. Clippers, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland, Washington, Sacramento, Minnesota and San Antonio) owning career averages of 12.5 points, 6.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 30.9 minutes per game.

After retiring from playing basketball in 2017, Miller became a coach. In January 2021, he was named head coach of the Balboa School’s postgraduate basketball team . Later that year, he was named head coach of the Grand Rapids Gold.

Breakdown

1:00 - Coaches that Influence Him

6:00 - Randy Whitman's Influence

8:00 - Becoming a Basketball Coach

11:00 - Wasted Possession

15:00 - G-League Perspective

18:30 - Pushing and Challenging Players

19:37 - 20:39 - Hoopalytics AD 3

23:00 - Less Practice Time

26:00 - Handle Winning

28:00 - Modern Game

31:30 - Direction

34:00 - Game Based Preparation

37:00 - Impact of the Trainer

38:00 - Advice to Players

Andre Miller’s Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Miller

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrebest24

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 278: Johnnie Harris, Building a Program, Staff Management, and Motivation Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Johnnie Harris, Auburn Head Coach

Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on building a program, staff management, and motivation.

In just her first season Johnnie Harris helped Auburn double its win total from the previous season and pick up three victories over nationally ranked opponents. The second season was also a step in the right direction for the program as the team finished with a winning record for the first time since 2019 and advanced to the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Prior to her arrival at Auburn, Johnnie Harris was named the 2018 WBCA National Assistant Coach of the Year. She spent 16 years combined at Arkansas, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, and spent the 2020-21 season as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Texas. She helped Texas to an Elite Eight appearance during the 2020-21 season, and she worked alongside Longhorn head coach Vic Schaefer the previous 10 years assisting Mississippi State to a pair of NCAA Championship game appearances. She was a central part of Mississippi State's success those eight seasons and is considered one of the nation's top recruiters.

Breakdown

1:00 - Experience as an Assistant Coach

3:00 - Celebrate Accomplishments

8:00 - Motivation

10:00 - Player Led

15:00 - Pressure Defense

17:30 - Recover to the Inside

18:00 - Mismatches

20:30 - Denial Defense

22:30 - Inbound Attack

24:19 - 25:27 - Hoopalytics 2

27:00 - Reps

29:00 - Advocate for Yourself

31:00 - Advice to Current Assistants

38:30 - Thinking About Business

40:00 - Solution Thinking

43:00 - Layers of Evaluation

46:00 - Conclusion

Johnnie Harris’ Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Harris_(basketball)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachJ_AU

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 277: Henrik Rödl, Philosophy, Connection, and Accountability Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Henrik Rödl, International Head Coach

International head coach Henrik Rödl joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on philosophy, connection, and accountability.

Henrik Rödl is the former German National Team head coach that culminated in the team reaching the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics. He also competed for Germany as a player in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Rodl has won championships in Germany as a player and a coach and is a past German League MVP alongside others like Dirk Nowitzki and Detlef Schrempf. He played college basketball in the US for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina where he won a national championship. Rodl has been head coach of ALBA Berlin, TBB Trier, Türk Telekom, and now Al Ittihad Alexandria.

Rödl started his coaching career in the youth ranks of ALBA Berlin before being named ALBA head coach in January 2005. He was released in June 2007, but stayed on with the club serving as director of the youth program and coach of the development squad. In 2010, he became the head coach of TBB Trier.

Breakdown

1:00 - Developing Egyptian Basketball

4:00 - Dean Smith

8:00 - Connecting with Former Players

12:30 - Showing Compassion

18:00 - Short Preparation

22:00 - Playing in Transition

22:59 - 24:06 - Hoopalytics 1

24:00 - Drag

26:00 - Small Steps

28:30 - Individual Workout Stuff

30:30 - Three-on-Three

33:00 - Tracking Game Statistics

34:00 - Deliver Film

37:00 - Winning Plays

41:00 - Right Environment

42:00 - Coaching Change

44:00 - Helping Other Coaches

Henrik Rödl’s Bio:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_R%C3%B6dl

Basketball Immersion

Website: http://basketballimmersion.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersion

Facebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersion

Immersion Videos:

Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Episode 276: Colby Blaine, Emotions, Sub Chart, Building Conceptual Players, and Zone Defense Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Guest: Colby Blaine, College of Idaho Head Coach

College of Idaho head coach Colby Blaine joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on emotions, sub chart, building conceptual players and zone defense.

Colby Blaine helped lead College of Idaho to the 2022-23 NAIA men's basketball national championship for the second national title in program history. He helped lead the Yotes on a school record 36-game winning streak and set other program records for wins (36), points scored (3,192), field goals made (1,195), field goals attempted (2,395), scoring margin (22.6), and tied the school record for scoring defense (63.3 ppg).

The National Association of Basketball Coaches named Colby Blaine as the 2023 NAIA Coach of the Year. Blaine earlier in the year was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year for a third time — the most in program history. He has previously been named the 2020 and 2022 CCC Coach of the Year and was honored as the 2020 NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year.

Breakdown

1:00 - National Champions

5:00 - Emotion

6:30 - Scouting

11:00 - Being Aggressive

15:00 - Substitution

19:30 - Tweaking

25:00 - Sub Chart

28:00 - Building Conceptual Players

30:37 - 31:50 - Hoopalytics Ads 4

31:50 - Think Outside the Box

35:00 - Practice Structure