Hardwood Hustle

This week, Sam and TJ discuss 4 important tips and strategies for your player development that you’re going to want to incorporate right away. If you're interested in going deeper on this topic, or joining our community of coaches, go to https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/ to learn more about upcoming coaching tracks and membership. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your...

This week, is a reminder of the importance of the mindset and approach you bring to every practice and every game throughout the entire season. TJ and Sam discuss how to avoid complacency and maintain enthusiasm for the standards. Show Notes: • Practicing like you lost your last game • The value of consistency v. adjustments • Leading your team and having an edge • Competing and holding the rope i...

For most of us, the off-season is closer than we think. This week we’re joined by Mano Watsa, president of PGC Basketball to discuss how players, coaches, and parents can focus on the most important aspects of player development. Show Notes: • Introduction • Preparing players • Personal trainers and how to utilize them • Overskilled and underdeveloped • The quality of the experience: Time, Energy,...

This week TJ and Sam discuss coaching tips and strategies that impact winning and can make a big difference for your team and season. Show Notes: • Playing harder • Play hard, smart, and together • What loses • Coaching effort • Coaching examples • Identifying the standard without emotion • Avoid coaching out of frustration • The game is held hostage • Coaching the mistake • The role of analytics...

This week we discuss a quote from UCONN Men’s Coach, Dan Hurley about wanting his players to be obsessed, how we agree and disagree with his statement, and what that might look like for your team. Show Notes: • Coach Dan Hurley's quote • Helping your players love the game • Baseline standards and expectations • Understanding individual player perspectives • Not wanting obsessed players • How...

This week is a 4 quarters episode with TJ and Lisa discussing ball pressure, preparation, rebounding, and what we do in our culture when we’re winning versus when we’re losing. Show Notes: • Ball pressure • Compete and anticipate • Anticipate what they do if you apply pressure • Changing pressure – keep offense guessing • Mental pressure = mental fatigue • Teach players the nuance of pressure • Wh...

This week TJ and Sam hit on an important topic for coaches which is how you confront your players and be honest with where they’re at while also creating a team culture that genuinely cares about each other.  Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info. After analyzing over 100 million shots, basketball data scientists at Noah Basketball have uncovered the formula o...

Coach Micah Mills is back on the show to discuss troubleshooting your offense and player development in order to find solutions to your offensive frustrations midseason. Show Notes: 3 ways to look at offensive problem solving "Identify the problem so we can prescribe the right medicine" Being a "Defensive coach" Balance in using Sets  Determining your offensive identity  Start...

This week TJ and Sam discuss managing your roster in terms of number of players along with playing time decisions in order to limit the headaches and maximize the potential of your team. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info. After analyzing over 100 million shots, basketball data scientists at Noah Basketball have uncovered the formula of the perfect shot, he...

This week we’re talking about aspects of your program that make for a winning culture such as setting high standards, building accountability, and growing through conflict and adversity. Show Notes: Intro episode Levels to coaching and winning Reality of Accountability and holding the line on standards Being unattached emotionally to standards  Standards vs Rules Setting the Bar Having a powerful...

Joined by special guest, Jason Peery, this week we dive into how he built a successful high school program as he shares his best practices when it comes to creating drills, teaching the game, and developing players.  Show Notes: Coach Jason Peery's background Blood Drills Your motive in care is really important  Creating Connection  Clear expectations  Positive, negative or neutral coaching C...

This week TJ and Sam discuss how to start the season off right by knowing what you need out of your first practices, how to evaluate your first games, and setting up your team for success not just at the start, but throughout the season. Show Notes: • General Thoughts on how to prepare your team for the first game of the season • First week of practice • Identifying the goal • How can you stack th...

This week we discuss the offensive and defensive implications of the 3pt line, how it affects your players and it's changed all levels of the game. Show Notes: How the 3 is changing the game. Defensive implications The equalizer The Steph Curry effect Where coaching matters The next trend A coaching mistake Guess TJ’s favorite NBA player right now Value of players beyond the 3 The hardest tea...

This week Graham Maxwell joins the show to discuss how coaches can win in their relationships with opponents, players, and staff and why it can be the difference maker for you this season. Show Notes: • Opponent relationships • Healthy competition • Finding middle ground • Setting the example • Tony Bennett example • Staff relationships • Who over What • Coaching hard • Jockeying for positions • B...

In light of Coach Tony Bennett’s recent retirement announcement, we thought we’d honor his legacy and what he’s given to the game by reposting his 2021 interview with us where he laid out his foundation as a coach and how his team bounced back to win a National Championship. Show Notes: • 5 Pillars / Core Values • Getting player buy-in • How you face adversity • Knowing your Why • Vulnerability &a...

In the world of coaching and leadership we often hear phrases and mantras that serve our coaching in a positive way. And there's also statements and quotes that initial appeal to us and may even carry some truth, but if we put too much stock in them, they could also steer us in the wrong direction. Before we know it, we may end up be off course. This week TJ and Sam discuss different 'co...

This week TJ and Sam discuss the importance of practice design and share common mistakes you’ll want to avoid in your practice planning this season. Show Notes: • 1. Lack of preparation • Communication and delegation + more tips • Picking the right things to practice • Enrolling your players • Knowing your strengths and practices • What to pay attention to • 2. Distributing roles in practice • &qu...

This week we’re joined by Micah Mills, head coach at Wilmington College and PGC Coaching mentor to discuss managing the energy, emotions, and egos of your players as well as yourself. Show Notes: • Bringing energy & being your authentic self as a coach • Teach players how to bring their own energy • Individual hype numbers • Engaging with individual players • Managing your own energy • Changes...

A good passing team is a well coached team. This week we discuss all things related to helping your players be better passers this season. Show Notes: • Why you should consider being a pressing team. • Thinking ahead in your season • Developing better passers and emphasis in practice • "Passing is like leadership" • Executing your sets • "Make the simple play" • Inability to pa...

Building a successful program is all about how you cultivate the identity of the team. This week, TJ and Sam discuss 4 principles to help shape your team culture and strengthen your team identity in something bigger than any individual. Show Notes: • Topic Intro • Shared Ownership - Getting players to lead - Working through conflict • Shared suffering - giving players ownership • Individual Respon...

This week the team discusses “Less & More” -  where as coaches we should be looking to add more to our programs both on and off the court and where can we make additions by subtraction. Show Notes: What should players do less and more of? Relationships, social media, fundamentals What should parents do less and more of? Perspective, teaching, blaming, relationship building What should coaches...

TJ and Sam discuss the Xs and Os decisions all coaches have to make going into their preseason and the implications for your team. Show Notes: • Topic Intro OFFENSE • Why + Who = What + How • Does it matter if it's a fun offensive system to play in? • Balancing freedom & structure • Testing your team's IQ • Does your team know: - What they're hunting - How to hunt it - How to im...

This week we’re joined by Head Coach Missy Traversi from Army women’s basketball. With over 16 years of coaching experience at all levels, Missy shares how she’s developed as a leader, been able to adjust her team’s style of play and how the culture at West Point has shaped her coaching. Show Notes: • Leadership • Sprinting toward failure • Changing style of play • Understanding the analytics • Ge...

How does your team react when they face a high pressure defense? This week the discussion is around the habits, mindset, and principles you’ll want to instill next season in your players in order to be great at breaking and handling pressure. Show Notes: • Intro to Topic • Teaching necessary skills and habits • Flipping the mindset - Pressure is a facade • Being the aggressor • Making it part of y...

This week TJ and Sam discuss fundamentals, but maybe not in the same way you’re used to. They’re talking about how to develop and communicate core principles that set the foundation for your team’s success. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info. After analyzing over 100 million shots, basketball data scientists at Noah Basketball have uncovered the formula of...