No Shot Clock

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. 

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

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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

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

That and a ton more…

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

That and a ton more…