A Pen And A Napkin

EPISODE #300!!! WOW!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who has followed along with A Pen And A Napkin; I hope that I've been able to help you out, even if it is in the smallest of ways . . . it has been my pleasure!

Today's podcast is with ESPN and NBA commentator Jay Bilas! We discuss Coach K's influence on him as a player and as a coach, along with his annual "Coaches Academy" he holds each year. We also discuss some questions asked by others, a season preview and much, much more!

It's been a great run; thank you so much for all of your support!

Tony and I have discussed how to take care of yourself for the short term, but this week we discuss a longer term view . . . how to sustain a long career. From organization to being a life long learner to knowing yourself, we've got a laundry list of tips to help coaches to not just thrive this year, but for many years. In addition, we've got trivia and a bunch of different topics in our TWIB segment, including the NBA gambling scandal and players from the G-League having collegiate eligibility. Enjoy!

Really excited to have on for episode #299 Dick Wettengel, the head girls basketball coach at Council Bluffs St. Albert's (IA). Coach has been involved with the game in the Council Bluffs area for over 50 years, and last year his squad cut down the nets in Des Moines. We discuss his influences, building his program brick by brick, pressure defense, sharing of athletes and much more. A really fun conversation with a coach who richly got his flowers this past spring!

The goal of every offense is to create the best shots for the best players, but how do you get down to the details of accomplishing that goal? This week, Tony and I break down the intricacies of getting great shots, from your set list to passing and screening. We also have a good TWIB segment, where we discuss Giannis, J-Kidd's new contract, a preview of the NCAA Top 10's and a preview of the NBA Pacific Division. Enjoy!

It's the best $5 I've spent in a while . . . after years of negotiation, I was finally able to bribe John Carrier from Nova Classic (MN) to come on the podcast! John and I discuss a bunch of different topics, including hiring AC's, offensive basketball, building a culture, making basketball fun for the players while also getting them to work hard, plus we take a deep dive into sharing the game and why it's important to be a life long learner. A great podcast with a bunch of great information!

There are very few people who we can associate with one word or phrase, but when you think of Nolan Richardson, "40 Minutes of Hell" immediately comes to mind! Coach Richardson was one of the best coaches of the 1980s and 90s in college basketball, leading Arkansas to its one and only national championship in 1994. We'll talk about the ups and downs of Coach Richardson's career, have some trivia, take a deep dive on the state of the WNBA and then break down what is perhaps the NBA's toughest division. Enjoy!

Chad Mustard is the boys basketball coach at Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School, and he has had a varied and exciting career. A former All-Stater in multiple sports in Nebraska who played multiple sports at the Division II level and eventually found himself on multiple NFL rosters, Coach Mustard brings those experiences and more to his coaching resume. In this episode, we talk about those things, along with fundraising, taking steps in growth in the program. pressbreaks, player development and much more. A really fun podcast with one of Omaha's best!

The first female team that we are breaking down on the "The Great Teams" podcast is a terrific one! Pat Summitt's last national championship team in 2008 finished the journey of going "back to back" with one of college basketball's greatest players, Candace Parker. We break down the roster, the schedule and the journey of this squad with Nate Wall and Jacob Brindle; enjoy!

We had a great time getting together before the Omaha Metro Basketball Coaches Association clinic last week! Dave Hubert of Ashland-Greenwood (NE), Bruce Chubick of Omaha Central and Derek Sonderland of Tri-Center Neola (IA) jumped on the roundtable to discuss a variety of topics gearing up towards the season, including practice planning, quotes and more!

One of the greatest challenges that faces most coaches is how much time and energy to devote to installing your offensive system. Spend too little time on it and your offense starts the season clunky and uneven, even moreso than it's already going to be. Spend too much time and other areas of your team suffers, like your team defense or rebounding. In this episode, Tony and I breakdown some ideas that you can use to help you install your offense and your sets, from time management to best practices in practice. We also have our trivia, a lively discussion on the WNBA playoffs, and a preview of the NBA's Southwest Division. Enjoy!