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This Week’s Hoop Heads Podcast Episodes
ROUND TABLE 86 – HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE YOUR CULTURE SHOWS UP WHEN YOU’RE NOT IN THE GYM? – EPISODE 1214
Welcome to the 86th edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month.
February’s Round Table question is: How do you make sure your culture shows up when you’re not in the gym?
Our Coaching Lineup this month:
Jerry Buckley – Bishop Kenny (FL) High School
Stephen Halstead – Grace College
Chris Hicks – Midwest Basketball Club & Bleacher Prospect
Bob Krizancic – Mentor (OH) High
Dave McGreal – Penn State Altoona
Michael Rejniak – We Are D3
Chris Richardson – Wheeling University
Don Showalter – USA Basketball
WRAPPING UP NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND 2026 – EPISODE 1215
On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the highs and lows of NBA All-Star weekend including the unexpected early start times, the lack of stars in the dunk contest, participants who haven’t played this season (Dame this year/Mac McClung last year), Wemby bringing the intensity, Kawhi’s 31, KAT’s help defense, the USA vs World, the 4 “games” format, and the one tanking question that the NBA has to answer moving forward.
ANDREW SPALTER – CEO OF EAST GOES GLOBAL – EPISODE 1216
Andrew Spalter is the Founder and CEO of East Goes Global, an international operating partner that helps the world’s leading teams, talent, and brands expand, operate, and monetize across global markets.
East Goes Global serves as the international operating partner for over 20% of the NBA, supporting teams including the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and New Orleans Pelicans, as well as a roster of elite NBA talent spanning multiple eras of the league from legends like Dwyane Wade and Tracy McGrady to today’s international superstars, including Kevin Durant, Luka Dončić, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson, and many others.
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This Week’s Coaching Articles
This article explains that effective transition offense creates scoring opportunities before the defense is set and suggests coaches teach key principles such as lag-free reactions, sideline spacing, two-side breaks, and quick “bust-out” dribbles through game-like practice situations. It recommends modifying existing drills or using small-sided games to develop these skills while improving conditioning and decision-making in realistic contexts. The piece outlines several specific transition drills (like 4-on-3 and 5-on-4 scenarios) that emphasize spacing, quick passing, numerical advantages, and constraint-based learning to reinforce fast-break habits.
In this article Kelvin Sampson is quoted as stating that many coaches and leaders fail because they are passive-aggressive and avoid holding people accountable through difficult conversations. Sampson explains that strong culture requires constructive confrontation and attention to small details, because what leaders tolerate becomes the standard over time. The best leaders balance care with high expectations, understanding that true leadership means addressing problems directly rather than avoiding them./
This article highlights John Wooden’s leadership philosophy, emphasizing strong values, character, and leading with love while building a culture rooted in integrity and shared purpose. It explains that effective leaders act as teachers, focus on teamwork over individual success, control emotions, embrace adversity, and prioritize continuous learning and improvement. The article also stresses attention to small details, preparation, adaptability, and focusing on daily effort rather than outcomes as key principles for sustained success.
This Week’s NBA Articles
This article proposes a hypothetical NBA All-Star one-on-one tournament as a way to make All-Star Weekend more competitive and entertaining, evaluating players based on isolation scoring, defense, shooting, and ballhandling. It walks through a simulated bracket of 2026 All-Stars, analyzing matchups and showing how different styles, physical tools, and skill sets would translate to one-on-one play.
This article outlines major NBA offseason storylines, focusing on key decisions surrounding stars like LeBron James’ future, Austin Reaves’ contract situation with the Lakers, and the possibility of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade if the Bucks question his long-term commitment. It explains how team finances, draft assets, free agency, and playoff results could reshape the league’s hierarchy, with several franchises positioned to make major roster moves. The article also highlights broader league factors including a strong 2026 draft class, extension-eligible stars, and rising salary cap flexibility, that could significantly impact team strategies and player movement this summer.
This article outlines the biggest storylines for the NBA’s stretch run after the All-Star break, highlighting key developments that could shape playoff races, title contenders, and team strategies over the final months of the season. It focuses on major questions such as Jayson Tatum’s potential return from injury for the Celtics, tight standings battles, MVP competition, and how teams at the bottom may tank to improve draft position. The article emphasizes how injuries, roster decisions, and late-season momentum could significantly impact postseason matchups and the league’s overall landscape.
This Week’s College Basketball Articles
This article argues that Kansas star Darryn Peterson’s repeated absences and early exits from games have become a major concern and could threaten the team’s national title hopes despite his elite talent and projected No. 1 NBA Draft status. It details his injuries, limited availability, and decision to leave multiple games early, including a recent win over Oklahoma State, raising questions about his reliability and impact on team success. The article suggests that while Peterson’s ability is undeniable, Kansas coach Bill Self and the program face growing challenges managing his availability and maintaining consistency as the season progresses.
This article explains that Arkansas coach John Calipari suffered one of the worst losses of his coaching career after his Razorbacks lost to Alabama 117-115. Arkansas became the only Division I team in the last 30 seasons to score at least 115 points with fewer than 10 turnovers and still lose. Teams had previously been 247-0 over that span when reaching those marks.
This article explains how Belmont has built sustained success as a mid-major program through coaching stability and strong player development, but that success now comes with a “transfer portal tax” in the NIL era as larger programs frequently target and recruit its top players. It describes how the modern college basketball landscape forces successful mid-majors to constantly replace talent, adapt recruiting strategies, and manage roster turnover caused by financial incentives and increased player mobility. The article points out how Belmont’s experience reflects a broader shift in college basketball, where program success at lower levels often leads to losing developed players to wealthier power-conference schools, creating new challenges for long-term team building.
This Week’s YouTube Coaching Videos
This video breaks down how to improve defensive awareness. You’ll learn a step-by-step training process to see the entire court, not just the ball, using game film analysis. The video teaches techniques to help players anticipate plays and develop defensive IQ.
This video breaks down Steve Nash's pick-and-roll mastery by analyzing game film and showcasing subtle techniques to create scoring opportunities. Discover how Nash manipulates defenders and uses timing to gain advantages.
This video breaks down the science of basketball skill development and explains why traditional training methods often fail to transfer to live play. Using concepts from skill acquisition, ecological dynamics, constraints-led coaching, and differential learning, the video connects the research directly to basketball skills like finishing at the rim, ball screens, shooting, and decision-making.
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