The Monarchists Basketball Show

"I love this team." - Coach Mike Jones

The 2026–27 ODU Men's Basketball season is almost here, and Head Coach Mike Jones joins Aaron and Mike for Season 5, Episode 2 of The Monarchists Basketball Show!

Following exhibitions against VCU and Virginia State, Coach Jones gives Monarch Nation an inside look at a team he's excited about. From a revamped defensive philosophy to an emphasis on physicality, leadership, and playing with pace, he explains what makes this group different and why he's optimistic about the season ahead.

We also discuss the impact of new assistant coaches Jim Molinari and Orlando Vandross, the development of Zacch Wiggins, the leadership of Adante' Holiman and Bubu Benjamin, an injury update on Lucio Martini, and the challenge of establishing a rotation with so much depth.

Plus, Coach shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes details about how his staff evaluates personalities, teaches toughness, and prepares players to sacrifice for the good of the team.

The regular season tips off Monday, November 2, when ODU hosts Western Michigan at Chartway Arena in the MAC–Sun Belt Challenge.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Team Expectations

02:00 – New Assistant Coaches and Their Impact

07:00 – Installing ODU's New Defensive System

09:05 – Lessons Learned Against VCU

11:50 – Virginia State Exhibition and ODU Connections

13:30 – The Identity of This ODU Team

16:45 – Coaching, Communication and Building Culture

21:20 – Teaching Toughness and Finishing Through Contact

24:25 – Lucio Martini Injury Update

28:05 – The Development of Zacch Wiggins

31:05 – Adante' Holiman's Leadership and Scoring

34:10 – Why ODU Recruited Bubu Benjamin

37:50 – Playing Rotation, Depth and Emerging Guards

42:20 – Playing Time, Shot Attempts and Sacrifice

45:45 – Preparing for Western Michigan

48:30 – The Importance of ODU's Student Managers

54:45 – Building a Schedule to Win the Sun Belt

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This episode is presented by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Support ODU student-athletes and help build champions in the classroom, in competition, and in life.

#ODUBasketball #ODU #Monarchs #SunBelt

Old Dominion Basketball is back.

Head Coach Mike Jones joins The Monarchists Basketball Show for the first offseason episode to break down everything Monarch fans need to know before the 2026-27 season.

Coach Jones goes player-by-player through the entire transfer portal class, discusses every freshman, explains why Old Dominion intentionally built a longer, more athletic roster, and details how the coaching staff attacked the team's biggest weakness from last season.

We also discuss:

🏀 Every transfer addition and how each fits the roster

🏀 Freshman recruiting class

🏀 Defensive philosophy changes

🏀 Why wingspan matters as much as height

🏀 New assistant coaches Orlando Vandross and Jim Molinari

🏀 Professional basketball opportunities for Jordan Battle, KC Shaw, Cal and others

🏀 LJ Thomas' impressive business success after ODU

🏀 NCAA rule changes

🏀 Five-in-Five eligibility rule

🏀 2026-27 schedule news

🏀 Western Michigan season opener

🏀 Richmond exhibition update

🏀 Norfolk State rivalry

🏀 Golf tournament details

🏀 NBA offseason discussion

If you're an Old Dominion Basketball fan, this is one episode you don't want to miss.

Subscribe for exclusive ODU Basketball coverage all season long.

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💬 Tell us which newcomer you're most excited to watch.

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss another Monarchs Basketball Show.

#ODU #ODUBasketball #Monarchs #SunBelt #CollegeBasketball #TransferPortal

Chapters

00:00 Intro

1:05 NBA Finals thoughts

4:00 ODU seniors turning pro

7:20 LJ Thomas' incredible business success

10:00 Breaking down every transfer addition

10:25 Bubu Benjamin

11:45 Jotham Nweke

12:55 Adante' Holiman

14:20 Khoi Thurman

15:35 Kylan Howze

16:55 Lucio Martini

18:10 Zamoku Weluche-Ume

19:45 Why wingspan matters more than height

22:15 New assistant coaches

24:45 Building a better defense

26:00 Freshman class

26:20 Theo Gerges

27:10 CJ Lyons

28:15 CJ Harper

29:45 Ahmad Caver's endorsement

31:15 NCAA rule changes

37:20 Should college basketball switch to quarters?

39:55 Five-in-Five eligibility explained

44:55 Western Michigan season opener announced

45:50 ODU Basketball Golf Tournament

51:00 NBA offseason moves (Jalen Brown, Paul George, and more)

57:20 Richmond exhibition teaser

59:10 2026-27 schedule overview

1:01:00 Final thoughts

The Monarchists are back with another edition of The Monarchists Basketball Show, joined by Mike Jones to break down the season, what went wrong, and what comes next for Old Dominion Monarchs Men's Basketball.

Coach Jones gets brutally honest about expectations vs. reality, roster construction challenges, and the evolving landscape of the Sun Belt Conference. From recruiting JUCO talent and navigating the transfer portal to building a defensive identity that can win in March - nothing is off limits.

🔥 Topics include:

- Season recap and tough lessons learned

- Fixing the defense without sacrificing offense

- Transfer portal strategy (April 7–21 window)

- JUCO recruiting insights from Kansas

- How to build a roster to survive the Sun Belt gauntlet

- Rule changes that NEED to happen in college basketball

Coach Jones also delivers a powerful message to Monarch Nation about the future and why ODU basketball is far from finished.

💙 Subscribe now and stay locked in with the BEST and ONLY ODU podcast on the planet.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro (ODAF Support)

01:00 – Season recap: expectations vs reality

02:30 – Tough non-conference schedule lessons

04:00 – Fixing scheduling strategy moving forward

05:00 – Sun Belt expectations & roster evaluation

06:00 – Year 1 vs Year 2 roster construction

07:30 – Offensive improvement vs defensive struggles

08:45 – The challenge of finding two-way players

09:30 – Recruiting breakdown: JUCO scouting in Kansas

11:00 – Evaluating players beyond film

12:00 – The importance of coaching networks

13:30 – Truth vs bias in recruiting intel

15:00 – JUCO vs Division I mindset differences

17:00 – What players value about ODU facilities

18:30 – Building culture through recruiting

20:00 – Transfer portal strategy explained

21:30 – Selling opportunity at ODU

22:30 – Coach Jones’ growth as a head coach

24:00 – Sun Belt style diversity & challenges

26:00 – How close the Sun Belt really is

27:30 – Rule change #1: Goaltending review issue

30:00 – Rule change #2: Unlimited correct challenges

32:00 – Officiating consistency debate

35:00 – Building a roster to beat multiple styles

38:00 – Vision for ODU basketball’s future

39:00 – Message to Monarch Nation

Monarch Nation, this was a must-listen episode of The Monarchists Basketball Show.

Head Coach Mike Jones joins Aaron and Mike for a deep, honest breakdown of the week that was—what went wrong against ULM, how the team responded against Ohio, and why the next three games inside Chartway Arena will define the stretch run.

Coach Jones takes you inside:

- The emotional hangover from the road trip

- A powerful 6:00 AM practice that reset the culture

- Zacch Wiggins’ growth as a true freshman

- Cal’s impact when he stays out of foul trouble

- LJ’s clutch, ice-cold finish

- The goaltending no-call everyone’s still talking about

- Scouting Marshall and Georgia State

- Game-day preparation during doubleheaders

- What he learned from this season so far

- Ronnie Valentine’s jersey retirement on Valentine’s Day

- Why these final home games matter more than ever

Plus:

🎙️ A special message about The Mane Event w/ Coach Mike Jones at Afterglow Brewing on Thursday, 2/19 at 6PM and a plug for our upcoming episode with ODU Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Clarisse Machanguana, Mozambique flood relief, and a rallying call for Monarch Nation.

Go Fund Me: Rebuilding Clarisse's Home After Mozambique Floods https://gofund.me/00e5a6e74

The Mane Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6K2q3pGu/

Buckle up. This one has everything. Go Monarchs!

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro & ODAF Message

00:45 – ULM Recap: “We Didn’t Answer the Call”

01:55 – Mental Hangover from Texas State

02:35 – Ohio Win & Late Rebounding Surge

03:55 – Chartway Crowd Energy Impact

05:00 – The Goaltending No-Call Breakdown 😬

07:45 – The 6:00 AM Reset Practice

10:05 – Zacch Wiggins’ First Home Start

11:25 – Freshman Development & Work Ethic

12:35 – Finishing Through Contact & Physical Growth

13:45 – Cal’s Impact When Out of Foul Trouble

16:05 – The “Pass of the Year” Moment

17:30 – LJ’s Crunch-Time Takeover

19:50 – 16-of-18 From the Line & Only 6 Turnovers

20:55 – ODAF Mid-Roll

22:30 – Marshall Preview & Doubleheader Setup

24:10 – Game-Day Prep Changes Explained

25:20 – The Mitch Advantage (24/7 Access)

26:55 – Spurs Practice Facility Experience

28:15 – Ronnie Valentine Jersey Retirement ❤️

29:45 – Georgia State Preview

31:10 – Louisiana Game Reminder (President’s Day)

31:55 – Senior Day Discussion

33:40 – Conference Scheduling Frustrations

35:05 – The Mane Event at Afterglow Announcement

36:45 – Baseball Season & Clarisse Machanguana Tease 🌍

38:20 – Coach Jones’ Message to Monarch Nation

39:55 – Go Monarchs

The Monarchists Basketball Show is back with Head Coach Mike Jones as Old Dominion wraps up a critical road trip and turns the page toward two huge home games at Chartway Arena.

We break down the heartbreaker at Georgia Southern, the gritty win at App State, and what Coach Jones learned about his team’s growth, toughness, and maturity along the way. The conversation highlights Jordan Battle’s electric performance, Jared Turner’s confidence and development, and what it truly means to learn how to win in Sun Belt play.

Looking ahead, Coach Jones previews:

- A massive Wednesday night matchup vs. Troy

- A Saturday showdown vs. Louisiana

- The jersey retirement of ODU legend Ronnie Valentine

- Why alumni weekends, tradition, and fan support matter more than ever

This episode is all about growth, belief, and momentum as the Monarchs fight for positioning and prepare for the stretch run toward Pensacola.

🎧 Presented by The Pride of ODU

👉 Be a Monarchist. Join The Pride.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU

00:30 – Road trip recap & growth since last episode

01:20 – Georgia Southern heartbreak breakdown

02:50 – Free throws, officiating & attacking the rim

04:45 – Practice focus & late-game pressure

06:05 – Boone, App State & rivalry mentality

07:10 – Jordan Battle’s big night & infectious energy

09:00 – A “maturity win” and learning how to close games

10:30 – Jared Turner’s development & confidence

12:30 – What the team learned from the road trip

14:00 – Troy preview: shooting, defense & adjustments

16:10 – Handling multiple defensive looks

18:10 – Louisiana preview & defensive challenges

20:30 – Ronnie Valentine jersey retirement meaning

22:10 – Alumni weekend & Monarch tradition

24:15 – What fans should see now vs early season

26:15 – February urgency & Sun Belt positioning

27:30 – Final thoughts & Here Come The Monarchs

Old Dominion Basketball Head Coach Mike Jones joins The Monarchists Basketball Show to break down a pivotal Sun Belt road trip, highlight standout performances, and dive deep into what it will take for the Monarchs to stay in the thick of the conference race.

Coach Jones walks us through:

-The defensive tone-setting win at Coastal Carolina

-Robert Davis Jr.’s bounce-back performance and leadership

-The heartbreaking finish at James Madison and late-game execution

-What discipline really means in tight Sun Belt games

-How injuries impact the frontcourt and rebounding

-Preparing for major road tests at Georgia Southern and App State

-Why every single possession matters in this league

This episode is a must-listen for Monarch Nation as ODU battles through one of the toughest stretches of conference play.

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⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU

01:00 – Defensive mindset & fast start vs Coastal

02:10 – Why road trips shape Sun Belt standings

03:00 – Robert Davis Jr.’s impact beyond scoring

05:00 – Creating energy in tough road environments

06:40 – Quick turnarounds & second-time matchups

08:30 – Dominant first half vs JMU

10:00 – Life in the paint without key bigs

12:00 – Robert Davis Jr. injury update

13:00 – Film sessions, ball movement & rebounding

15:00 – Discipline becoming a team identity

17:20 – Coach Jones on Mark Cline’s influence

19:00 – Late-game execution & timeout strategy

23:00 – Breaking down Georgia Southern matchup

26:00 – What to expect at App State

28:00 – Coach Jones’ message to Monarch Nation

Old Dominion Basketball Head Coach Mike Jones joins The Monarchists Basketball Show for an honest, in-depth conversation about where the Monarchs stand as Sun Belt play heats up. Coach Jones breaks down the challenges of a tough non-conference schedule, early-game struggles, offensive flow, defensive execution, rebounding analytics, lineup decisions, and the leadership emerging inside the locker room. He also previews a massive matchup with Georgia Southern and addresses fan questions head-on — from slow starts to young player development to Sun Belt scheduling frustrations. Despite the bumps, one thing is clear: everything the Monarchs want to accomplish is still right in front of them.

🎙️ Real talk. Real insight. Real Monarch basketball.

👇 Get involved, drop your thoughts in the comments, and Go Monarchs.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – The Pride of ODU & Show Intro

01:00 – Season reflection since Villanova 02:15 – Non-conference scheduling & roster health

03:40 – JMU win, Coastal & App State lessons 05:10 – Slow starts & early-game focus issues

07:40 – Defensive execution & rebounding fundamentals

10:00 – Offensive flow & ball movement concerns

13:00 – Injuries, rotations & continuity challenges

15:10 – Analytics: box-outs, crashing & idle possessions

18:45 – “I’m gonna get mine” offense discussed

20:40 – Leadership emerging on the roster

24:00 – Young players, rotations & Zacch Wiggins

30:00 – Special teams in basketball & execution lapses

33:10 – What Coach wants to see in the next 3 games

36:00 – Georgia Southern scouting report

40:10 – Sun Belt scheduling frustrations

42:40 – Message to Monarch Nation & closing thoughts

Monarch Nation, we’re back with another episode of The Monarchists Basketball Show featuring Old Dominion Head Coach Mike Jones!

In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Coach Jones opens up about the team’s growth since the early-season road trip — and the fellas don’t hold back. We ask Coach some tough, honest questions about the struggles, lapses, and inconsistencies the Monarchs have shown so far this season, including what’s behind the offensive stagnation, defensive breakdowns, and difficulty maintaining momentum on the road.

Coach breaks down the lessons learned from four challenging road losses (Miami (OH), George Washington, Xavier, Drexel) and the positives gained from strong home performances against Randolph, Norfolk State, and Morgan State. He also explains how he’s balancing a roster full of former “go-to guys,” the importance of trust, and why becoming a more connected team is the key to unlocking their true potential.

You’ll also get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at ODU’s analytics system — from deflections to punctures to multi-side possessions — and how the coaching staff uses real-time data to guide decision-making.

The episode wraps with a preview of massive upcoming road matchups vs Villanova, William & Mary, Richmond, and George Mason… plus a powerful message to Monarch Nation about staying locked in as this team gears up for Sun Belt play.

Whether you’re looking for Xs and Os, honest discussions about growing pains, or pure ODU hoops passion… this episode delivers . . . despite problematic hotel internet towards the end.

Go Monarchs!

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Monarchists Basketball Show

00:32 – Coach Jones on Team Growth Since Miami (OH)

02:00 – Why Offense Sometimes Stalls & Breaking Old Habits

03:15 – Defensive Struggles: Technique, Trust & Fixing Blow-By Drives

05:20 – Inconsistency & Learning to Play Connected

07:10 – The Miami (OH) First Half & What “Good ODU Basketball” Looks Like

08:00 – Electric Atmosphere vs Norfolk State & Newcomer Reactions

09:00 – Home vs. Road: Fixing Runs & Stopping Momentum Swings

10:40 – Identifying a Leader When Things Go Wrong

11:00 – Zacch Wiggins’ Maturity & Freshman Impact

12:00 – Defensive Technique Deep Dive: Turning Hips vs Stepping Out

14:00 – What High School/AAU Doesn’t Always Teach Defensively

15:50 – Xavier Breakdown: Length, Matchups & Missed Responses

17:00 – Timeout Philosophy & Preparing for Sun Belt Crunch Time

19:00 – ODU’s Analytics System (Deflections, Punctures, Shot Clock Zones)

24:00 – Internet Chaos & Pepper the Dog’s Cameo

26:00 – Closing Thoughts from Mike & Aaron

28:20 – Final Message from Coach Jones

30:00 – Why Monarch Nation’s Support Matters

The Monarchists Basketball Show is back!

Coach Mike Jones joins Mike and Aaron to break down the Old Dominion University Men’s Basketball program as the season tips off. Coach Jones shares insights from the Costa Rica trip, talks about the team’s depth and personality, reveals what he learned from the exhibition vs. Hampton, and previews the upcoming matchup with Miami (OH).

He dives into the development of Scottie Hubbard and Zacch Wiggins, the team’s scoring potential, defensive growth, and what makes ODU’s depth their “superpower.” Plus, he discusses leadership in the locker room, the fan experience, the challenging but intentional road schedule, and why this season feels special for Monarch Nation.

🏀 Be a Monarchist. Join The Pride.

📖 Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Welcome Back to The Monarchists Basketball Show

01:00 – Coach Jones on Goals for Camp and Building Team Chemistry

02:00 – What the Costa Rica Trip Taught the Team

03:00 – The Value of Personality and Team Bonding

04:00 – Scottie Hubbard’s Transformation and Hard Work

05:00 – Freshman Standout Zacch Wiggins Impresses Early

06:00 – Depth is ODU’s “Superpower”

07:00 – Building Trust Through Practice and Game Situations

10:00 – Takeaways from the Exhibition vs. Hampton

12:00 – Learning Moments, Metrics, and Why the Exhibition Was Valuable

15:00 – Offensive Firepower and Style of Play This Season

17:00 – Defensive Identity and Game Plan Versatility

18:00 – Scouting Miami (OH) and the MAC Challenge

20:00 – A Tough Road Environment and What to Expect from Miami

22:00 – Rotations, Injuries, and Building Chemistry

24:00 – The Excitement Around ODU’s Depth and Talent

25:00 – Playing Small Ball and Creating Mismatches

27:00 – Shooting, Rebounding, and Offensive Confidence

28:00 – Players to Watch: KC Shaw, LJ Thomas, Drew McKenna, and More

30:00 – The Road Schedule and Preparing for the Sun Belt

32:00 – Fan Accessibility and Intentional Scheduling

33:00 – How NIL and Revenue Sharing Impact Scheduling

34:00 – Building Momentum from Last Season

35:00 – Leadership in the Locker Room

37:00 – Team Personalities, Energy, and Culture

38:00 – Meet the Monarchs Night and Fan Connection

40:00 – Making ODU Basketball Events More Accessible

42:00 – Will There Be a Basketball Breakfast This Year?

43:00 – Looking Ahead: Selection Sunday Dreams

44:00 – New Dining Hall, Future Plans, and Coach’s Vision

45:00 – Closing Thoughts: Excitement for the Season & Go Monarchs!

Mike talks with Mike Jones, Head Coach of Old Dominion Men's Basketball, to talk about their recent road trip, this week's trip to the peach state, the adversity they've faced, the lessons learned and a lot more.