Valley Hoops Insider Podcast

Richmond Register sports writer Nathan Hutchinson joins the podcast to talk about Eastern Kentucky's possible departure from the Ohio Valley Conference. 

From Division 3 to the top team in the Ohio Valley Conference, Luke Smith has always been a solid offensive performer and is now shining at highly successful Belmont. He talks about the transition from D3 to D1, point guard to two-guard, his desire to coach and his deep love for the Belmont program. 

Valparaiso junior guard Danse Sackey has traveled from Africa to Canada to Indiana and is playing basketball with a purpose. His mother is a pastor. His entire family has gone on several missions trips and he loves his Valpo teammates. He believes there are intentional things going on his life. 

Drew Hanlen trains some of the biggest names in the National Basketball Association. His organization, Pure Sweat helps train players, coaches, trainers and scouts at every basketball level. The former Belmont Bruin has been running camps, clinics and personal training sessions since he was in high school! Now he coaches NBA first round draft picks. 

Adam Donyes (Link Year Prep basketball coach) and Derrick Derrell were unlikely friends that met playing basketball and became life-long friends that led to both men growing into better people and helped them understand how to bridge the racial divide. One is black and one is white, but their lives were so similar in many respects that they found common ground in hoops and in their past hurts. 

Austin Peay basketball coach Matt Figger begins his fourth season in Clarksville, Tennessee with two star players in a star-studded Ohio Valley Conference. We discuss the uncertain nature of our national issues and the bright possibilities of the coming season. 

Valparaiso University Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera discusses the Valpo culture, coronavirus challenges, scheduling, race issues and changing NCAA rules. He also breaks down the Valpo roster and the program's transition into the Missouri Valley Conference. 

Illinois State is coming off its worst season since 2006 and have a reshuffled roster. Head coach Dan Muller is optimistic about the coming season while dealing with pandemic issues. This is his one-on-one conversation with Valley Hoops Insider Podcast host, Harry Schroeder. 

Ben Jacobson talks about scheduling games during a pandemic, social justices issues, his team and the retirement of Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin. 

Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin is retiring. His first interview after making the decision was with ValleyHoopsInsider.com's Harry Schroeder. They talk about the reasons for retiring, the joys of his job and some of the many high-lights of his 33 year career with the Valley. Elgin constantly brags on those with whom he works.